January in Essoyes (2019)
“This month I found myself inside our village church on three separate occasions–two of them large public events that filled the church with people–once with people mourning, once with them celebrating. The other time I found myself inside there completely alone, not exactly seeking solace, but finding it anyway…
Remembering Madame Cintrat…
“…this year, on the evening of New Year’s Day, the church bells in Essoyes tolled. They were not pealing joyously, as they had that very morning, to welcome a new year: they were now tolling mournfully, because Mme. Cintrat had died on Christmas Day,..”
Continue Reading January 27, 2019 at 8:56 am Leave a comment
Book Review: The Gardener of Eden by David Downie
A review of David Downie’s (wonderful) new book, The Gardener of Eden…
Continue Reading January 21, 2019 at 12:54 pm Leave a comment
Demystifying the French
Thank you so much, Sara Somers, for this wonderful chance to tell people about my new book, Demystifying the French. I’m so glad you liked it and found it helpful. Janet
As I told you in my last blog about la politesse, while finishing it up, my friend, Janet Hulstrand, asked me if I would read and review her latest book: Demystifying the French. How to Love Them and Make them Love You (What you’ve heard about them is not entirely true….). I love reading most anything and, as it turned out, this was a very special read. I learned a lot. The book is small and can be read quickly. You can earmark pages you want to return to and give more thought to it. I highly recommend that anyone visiting France for the first or the twentieth time, read this book. I think that means I give it five stars!
The book is broken down into two parts. The first part is made up of what she calls: Essential Tips for Even Very Brief Encounters. Saying Bonjour is…
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Announcing “Demystifying the French”
“Demystifying the French: How to Love Them, and Make Them Love You,” is now available for purchase.
Bonne Nouvelle Année d’Essoyes (2019)
“…And so we have arrived at a New Year that many of us hope will be better than the last one. This morning there was a rich, melodious, joyous pealing of the church bells to usher in the New Year…”
End-of-Autumn Thoughts…
“…I was lucky to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving this year with a wonderfully mixed group of American, French, and British friends at the home of the one other American in Essoyes this weekend….”
Continue Reading November 26, 2018 at 2:23 pm Leave a comment
A Fond and Sad Farewell to Bernard Pharisien, Beloved Son of Essoyes
A tribute to our beloved local historian…how we will miss him!
Remembering War, Looking Toward Peace: Armistice Day, 2018
It was an emotionally intense week in France last week as the country marked the 100th year anniversary of the end of the First World War….
Continue Reading November 13, 2018 at 10:23 am Leave a comment
An interview with Lin Wenjie, recipient of the Bourse Renoir
An interview with artist Lin Wenjie, recipient of the 2016 Bourse Renoir….(in English and in French)
Continue Reading October 26, 2018 at 10:01 am Leave a comment
Writing from the Heart, Reading for the Road 