Summer Reading List

French Spirits, Jeffrey Greene
Not just another fixer-upper in France.

Poet Jeffrey Greene didn't dream of living in Paris; he didn't plan the expatriate life; he just fell in love with a woman who happened to live in Paris. And when the phone bills mounted and the longing deepened he went there-and then in fell in love with France.

French Spirits is the story of the house in Burgundy, a presbytery, to be exact, that Jeffrey and Mary restored and visit on weekends to be restored. Like all books of this genre it is filled with accounts of unanticipated construction problems, serendipitous architectural discoveries, cultural confusion and charming or irascible local characters. But unlike so many of its predecessors its author is not self-absorbed and the personal pronoun is refreshingly an infrequent intruder.

But the most intriguing character of all is an American, Jeffrey's vivacious mother, who moves into the presbytery with them and begins a new and happy adventure-this woman deserves her own book.

So open a bottle of your favorite Burgundy and enjoy.


Our Paris, Edmund White
Originally published as Sketches from Memory , Our Paris is the literary equivalent of a collection of telegrams- perfectly realized recollections of a shared life in Paris. White's acute observations of the people and places that defined his Parisian neighborhood are underscored by the satirical sketches made by the lover who died eight years ago.

With this pint sized, power packed 141-page beauty I recommend a chilled bottle of rosé-Sancerre or Cote de Provence. And if you missed it:


The Flaneur, Edmund White
Flaneur- an aimless stroller who loses himself in the crowd, who has no destination and goes wherever caprice or curiosity directs his or her steps.

In the tradition of Léon-Paul Fargue in Le Piéton de Paris, White perambulates around Paris and uses these walks to teach us about the Marais and Jewish life in Paris, African-American experiences recalled over ribs at the Haynes Grill and the bookshops, cafés and monuments that fill every street with history. Finish that bottle of wine and linger over a calvados-ah Paris!


Murder in the Sentier, Cara Black
Young Cara Black is on her way with the highly acclaimed third installment of her Aimée Leduc Parisian investigations: Murder in the Sentier. Read Murder in the Marais and Murder in Belleville first and experience a young writer polishing her craft. Come Spring 2003 Aimée will be traipsing around the Bastille-can't wait. Read our recent interview with Cara Black


The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, Thad Carhart
Thad Carhart's wonderful first novel "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank" is a must. Read the PTEE interview and order an autographed copy. Read our recent interview with Thad Carhart

-- Terrance Gelenter