(What are Customer Discussions?)
Customer Discussions > fiction forum

Books set in France? Suggestions welcome!


Sort: Oldest first | Newest first
Showing 1-25 of 66 posts in this discussion
Initial post: 2 Jul 2012 11:22:41 BDT
A. Newbery says:
Hi all,
I'm going to the Cote d'Azur for my holidays and I want to get in the mood for going. I'm looking at something along the lines of 'Chocolat' - something heartwarming & lovely really as I generally like to read quite dark & serious books. Any suggestions welcome whether fiction or non-fiction. Thanks in advance!
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
Posted on 2 Jul 2012 11:33:26 BDT
Karen Stewart says:
Have you read any of Joanne Harris' other books set in France? They are all good, The Lollipop Shoes, Blackberry Wine, Five Quarters of the Orange and Holy Fools I liked, didn't finish Coastliners but I will try it again at some point. I'm very much looking forward to reading Peaches for Monsieur le Cure.
Deborah Lawrenson The Lantern is set in Provence - it is a good read too.
Report abuse
1 of 1 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
Posted on 2 Jul 2012 13:06:42 BDT
Huck Flynn says:
Suskind's "Perfume" or the thrillers of Fred Vargas
Report abuse
1 of 1 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 2 Jul 2012 20:48:07 BDT
Last edited by the author on 2 Jul 2012 21:02:35 BDT
gille liath says:
I've never holidayed in the South of France, but if I did I'd want it to be just like Jean De Florette.

(Not the plot, I hasten to say without giving it away; but the ongbience.)
Report abuse
1 of 2 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 3 Jul 2012 11:46:11 BDT
A. Newbery says:
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the suggestion. I enjoyed Chocolat but haven't read any others, think I'll look into getting more of hers as I found Chocolat very evocative.
Haven't heard of The Lantern-will definitely check it out :)
Thanks again!
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 3 Jul 2012 11:47:05 BDT
A. Newbery says:
Oh yes, loved Perfume. Will look into this Vargas chap. Much obliged!
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 3 Jul 2012 11:52:47 BDT
Karen Stewart says:
The Lollipop Shoes is a follow up to Chocolat - I recommend you start there, then read 5 Quarters and Blackberry Wine. Holy Fools is set in Medieval times, but still a good read. I love Joanne Harris' books!
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 3 Jul 2012 16:56:47 BDT
Madame Bovary says:
Hi A
What about some of Kate Mosse's books (no..the other one!) Labrynthe, The Winter Ghosts? I know 'old' literature can be a bit heavy for a summer hol, but I love Maupassant's short stories for their unexpected twists, and of course he was living the French mood! Daisy Waugh wrote a book called Bordeaux Housewives that I really enjoyed reading on hols one year. Cote d'Azur - lucky you...I think the furthest I'll get is Tenby (and that's only if I get my a into gear and book it!!)
Report abuse
1 of 2 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
Posted on 3 Jul 2012 17:51:21 BDT
Josey Wales says:
Peter Mayle's books are quite good. A Year in Provence is very good
Report abuse
1 of 2 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
Posted on 3 Jul 2012 18:04:26 BDT
Miss M says:
I'd recommend some from 'the archives':

The Rock Pool - Cyril Connolly
Loser Takes All - Graham Greene
A Compass Error - Sybille Bedford

And, although technically not the south of France, seems like Elizabeth Arnim's Enchanted April would invoke the holiday spirit?
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
Posted on 3 Jul 2012 18:14:12 BDT
Miss M says:
Also second the Peter Mayle books, plus Stephen Clarke's 'A Year in the Merde' books are pretty funny (first is the best.)
And there's Rumer Godden's 'Greengage Summer.'

Two detective series I've enjoyed:
Bruno Chief of Police - Martin Walker (this one is more light-hearted)
Jacquot and the Waterman - Martin O'Brian (more serious police procedural, but descriptions of Marseilles and environs are wonderful.)
Report abuse
0 of 1 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
Posted on 6 Jul 2012 23:22:14 BDT
Sanderae says:
Bonjour Tristesse - set in the South of France - written in the 1950s by a very young writer - short and brilliantly written.
Report abuse
2 of 2 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
Posted on 7 Jul 2012 00:27:13 BDT
Gwyneth Baker says:
I'll second Martin O'Brien's books, the Jaquot series set in Marseille. Fantastic. Devoured them all!
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 7 Jul 2012 19:00:35 BDT
Last edited by the author on 7 Jul 2012 19:02:06 BDT
LEP says:
Susanne O'Leary has written several books set in France e.g. Finding Margo

For chick lit - Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot

Then there's always the Inspector Maigrat (sp?) novels
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
Posted on 8 Jul 2012 11:48:47 BDT
Last edited by the author on 11 Jul 2012 22:36:39 BDT
Doublell says:
If you Google 'Novels set in France' it comes up with a number of answers.
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
Posted on 9 Jul 2012 14:27:20 BDT
F. Nath says:
[Customers don't think this post adds to the discussion. Show post anyway. Show all unhelpful posts.]
Posted on 9 Jul 2012 18:44:55 BDT
Ryan Williams says:
The Statement, by Brian Moore. A superior thriller about a Nazi war criminal, based on the real-life case of Paul Touvier.
Report abuse
0 of 1 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
Posted on 9 Jul 2012 20:28:53 BDT
Dogmatix says:
How about " Charlotte Grey " by Sebastien Faulks, set in wartime France but it does have love and adventure.
Report abuse
1 of 2 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 9 Jul 2012 21:41:21 BDT
Devizes64 says:
Try Sasha Faulks's "Loving Amelie". It's not set completely in France but a good part of it is as it tracks an Anglo/French relationship. Highly recommend
Report abuse
Do you think this post adds to the discussion?  Yes No
Posted on 10 Jul 2012 00:29:25 BDT
T says:
More pop stuff would be Agatha Christie's the Blue Train (Paris to Nice) and do watch mr bean's holiday for a comic version of the same route.
Report abuse
0 of 1 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
Posted on 10 Jul 2012 04:52:15 BDT
Serena South says:
A Chapel in the Woods by Susan Louineau. I haven't read it myself and it hasn't been very well publicised, but it's got very good reviews!
Report abuse
0 of 4 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
Posted on 11 Jul 2012 10:03:26 BDT
neverendings says:
Michele Roberts has written a lot of literary novels set in France. My personal recommendations would be Amelie Nothomb ('AntiChrista', 'Book of Proper Names', many more) and of course the classic, Colette (personal favourites 'Gigi', and 'Claudine in Paris').
Report abuse
0 of 1 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 11 Jul 2012 16:22:03 BDT
Last edited by the author on 11 Jul 2012 16:33:42 BDT
LEP says:
Clochemerle - Gabriel Chavallier (village conflict after the local mayor wants to construct a new public toilet opposite the church)
Report abuse
0 of 1 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 11 Jul 2012 16:26:53 BDT
Last edited by the author on 11 Jul 2012 16:27:45 BDT
LEP says:
The Matchmaker of Perigord - Julia Stuart
Report abuse
0 of 1 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
In reply to an earlier post on 11 Jul 2012 16:36:16 BDT
LEP says:
Light of the Moon - Luanne Rice (set in the Camargue, good book).
Report abuse
0 of 2 people think this post adds to the discussion. Do you?  Yes No
‹ Previous 1 2 3 Next ›
[Add comment]
Add your own message to the discussion
To insert a product link use the format: [[ASIN:ASIN product-title]] (What's this?)
Prompts for sign-in
 
Guidelines


Recent discussions in the fiction forum

Discussion Replies Latest Post
Announcement
Important Announcement from Amazon.UK 		392 7 days ago
Self-published books: pain or gain? 5773 7 minutes ago
Books that publicly embarrassed you 76 17 minutes ago
Prissy? 79 1 hour ago
I know parodying Dan Brown is as hard as yawning... 0 6 hours ago
Dancing with Statues - Irish romance/mystery - Free on 16 May 10 6 hours ago
Kate Mosse novels 7 9 hours ago
Laugh out loud good read, any recommendations? 65 10 hours ago
Come on - why don't we write our own book right here in the fiction forum ? I'll do the first sentence, and then jump in....hold on, here we go... 7102 15 hours ago
Please keep self promo for the Meet Our Authors Forum! 398 20 hours ago
how can you make a profit selling books on amazon? 86 1 day ago
Problems exclusive to Fiction writers. 0 2 days ago
› See all discussions...   › Start a new discussion

Active discussions in related forums  
   

More Customer Discussions

Most active community forums
Most active product forums

Amazon forums

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

    Your Shopping Basket is empty.

    Give it purpose -- fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    There's a problem previewing your shopping basket at the moment.

    Check your Internet connection and go to your cart, or try again.

    View Shopping Basket (0 items)
       

      This discussion

      Discussion in:  fiction forum
      Participants:  40
      Total posts:  66
      Initial post:  2 Jul 2012
      Latest post:  27 Feb 2013
      New! Receive e-mail when new posts are made.
      Tracked by 6 customers
      [RSS Feed] RSS Feed
      (Report abuse)
      Search Customer Discussions