Oh, what a wonderful summer it has been!
Did you have fun? I hope you did.
Summertime in Aveyron
Maxence, the boys and I enjoyed a marvelous July vacation — we are juilletistes, the French word for those who take their holiday in July, as opposed to aoûtiens who go away in August. I love that the language has a term for it.
We spent our break in Aveyron, a low-mountain region about three hours north of Toulouse, and we adored everything about it. We rented a house with a sweeping view over an untouched valley and a vegetable garden where we could pick zucchinis, tomatoes, and kale.
We explored medieval castles and organic farms, rented a boat to relax on a lake, did short hikes, enjoyed barbecues, and joined communal village meals cooked in 15th-century wood-fired ovens and served on long barn tables. We filled our lungs with fresh air, made new friends, and returned home happy and a little sun-kissed.
August Bliss in Paris
We were back at the start of August and, apart from a short trip to my parents’ house in the Vosges, we spent most of the month in a blissfully empty Paris. I always forget how much I love the city in August until I experience it again.
It’s calm — many Parisians are away at the beach — so the places that remain open are quiet, and those of us around exchange amused looks: “Can you believe we have the city to ourselves?”
For work, August is when I reflect, strategize, and plan new projects with few interruptions. It’s a productive month for thinking and plotting. How was your August?
Tasting Paris on Pre-Order!
One highlight of my month was reviewing the first-pass pages of my upcoming cookbook, Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local. Seeing the proofs — photos, stories, recipes, and sidebars — is thrilling. The book features gorgeous photography, and I’ve been sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses on Instagram Stories.
I’m excited to share that the book is scheduled for release on March 20, 2018 and is already available for pre-order through retailers in North America and other English-language markets. We will also be offering translation rights to foreign publishers, and I’ll update you as those deals develop.
Things That Make Me Happy
• If you wish you had more time for nonfiction, I’ve been enjoying the Blinkist app, which provides concise 15-minute summaries you can read or listen to. For curious people with limited time, it’s a great way to sample books and decide which ones deserve a deeper read. The free version offers one title per day; a paid subscription gives full access to thousands of summaries.
• I’ve been working on improving my speaking voice to make it richer and more sustainable for podcast recording, guided tours, and talks. I recently signed up for Roger Love’s online course, and the daily ten-minute exercises — fun enough to do with the kids — are already noticeable in my recordings.
• For Paris-focused listening, two podcasts I recommend are Oliver Gee’s The Earful Tower, which covers a wide range of topics about living in Paris and France, and The New Paris, co-hosted by my friend Lindsey Tramuta, which complements her book of the same name. Both offer thoughtful, entertaining perspectives on the city.
• For my monthly museum challenge this summer, I visited the Château de Messilhac in July and then saw the David Hockney exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in August. I was especially struck by his double portraits and his expressive ink drawings.
• For my monthly poem challenge I memorized Jean Moréas’s “Belle Lune d’argent” in July and Sylvia Plath’s haunting “Mirror” in August. Is there a poem that’s speaking to you right now?
• All summer I carried a Clea bag from the French brand Petite Mendigote. It’s beautifully made and incredibly handy for stashing essentials when you’re out and about with kids.
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