Keeping France fresh with some good reads

It's no secret: countless numbers of people have fallen head-over-heels in love with France, her people, and her food. Fortunately for the masses, many of those individuals also happen to be as skilled with pen and ink as with their verbal praise. Though I have no concrete idea of how many new books about France are published each year, I imagine that it must be in the hundreds.

Being as avid a reader as I am a traveler and Francophile, I've picked up some great reads on France, the majority written by foreigners who visited the country and were captivated with what they found.

Here's some suggested reading for those who have carried on a long-term love affair with France and for those who have just started to discover her charms:

One of my favourite writers on the subject of France is Peter Mayle, English writer and foodie.

His first book, A Year in Provence, is about just that--he and his wife, Annie's, decision to retire from their drab jobs in England, and to move to Provence cold-turkey. Mayle, with a rollicking wit and attention to detail, captures what we love and love to hate about France and the French. The book is a pleasure to read, as truthful as it is humourous.

The experiences he describes include: installing a heating system and trying to track down French handimen over the summer; buying a car; the battle over green v. red peppers in a traditional Provencal dish; the sudden onslaught of English invites; and Peter and Annie's participation in an annual goat-race. Tons of fun. The sequel to the book, Encore Provence, is just as good, if not better than the original.

Another fantastic and fast read from Peter Mayle, French Lessons chronichles his "adventures with knife, fork, and corkscrew" across France. A die-hard foodie and bon vivant, Mayle speaks of his first trip to France and his first encounter with French cuisine, and his subsequent decision (many years later), to embark on a trip to attend all the major French food festivals over the course of a year. From the truffle worshippers to the "perfect thighs" of the Vittel grenouilles, to the patriotic Bourg-en-Bresse chickens (the best chickens in the world, which ironically sport the colours of the tricouleur), Mayle's book literally makes your mouth water. If you ever need cooking inspiration, look no further.

Of course. I don't even think that this needs explanation. If you've ever wanted to cook anything, Julia can show you how to do it. Sure, everything includes at least 3 sticks of butter. Maybe it's not the best thing for your cholesterol. But, heck, you only live once. Also, if this is any consolation, Julia Child lived to be 94 (I think?). If she could eat this well and not die of a heart attack at 30, something's done right.

Ok, so I have not actually read this book, but both of my parents have and have loved it. An account of the World's Fair in Paris that led to the construction of the iconic symbol of France, the Eiffel Tower, this book also examines the cultural changes and clashes in France and the United States during the same period.