My love of reading

Last weekend, I caught myself being passionate during a conversation about books. However, while I used to read 2 books a day growing up then eventually reading about 2-3 books a week as a young adult, I soon let life get in the way. Anyhow, the spark I felt discussing some of my best books, made me feel like a fraud. I decided to make a point to read again. I started reading on Tuesday (November 14th) and could not put the book down, finishing it early Wednesday morning. Then I read another book though smaller then I even caught myself having started last night my third book within 2 days. I read The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus, followed by Le diable by Léon Tolstoï and I am now reading The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway. I have to admit there is nothing like being captivated by a good book.

More books about the magic of the Kitchen

I recently had the pleasure to read "My Life in France" by Julia Child with Alex Prud' homme.  I also read "My Berlin Kitchen" by Luisa Weiss. While, I admit I found the book of the Wednesday Chef easy to read, I really loved "My Life in France". Perhaps, as I grew up in Paris, France, I am a partial judge, though I enjoyed it as it illustrates clearly how so many of us first discovered the magic of the Kitchen. Enjoy!

• My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud' homme
• My Berlin Kitchen - A Love Story (with Recipes) by Luisa Weiss
• Pinic in Provence - A Memoir with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard (author of Lunch in Paris)

• Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas

If you enjoy good food

While I enjoy reading, I also love good food hence I combine the two once in a while. A few years ago, "Julie and Julia" movie reminded me that I wasn't alone to enjoy good food. This led me over the years to read some memoir/biography/autobiography cook related topic. Plus, I am French, how can I not enjoy reading about food and not get excited and inspired to try the recipes myself. So, here a list to inspire some of you maybe:

• Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard
• The Sharper Your Knife The Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn
• The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn
• The dirty Life by Kristin Kimball
• A bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell
• The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz
• A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
• Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle
• Apron Anxiety by Alyssa Shelasky
• A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg

If anyone has any suggestion for another food related book, I am always on the lookout for another good read. 

History vs biographies

Since a teenager, I enjoyed reading history books related to WWI and WWII as felt some stories helped me comprehend better what happened. Most importantly, I felt that reading them was my duty as to never forget what had happened so to not repeat it. Hence, it all started with a book assigned in History: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. I read it in French. Then follow many other books: If This Is A Man by Primo Levi, Night by Elie Wiesel, A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal, Rosa Park: My Story, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry... these are some of my favorite books related to history.

Jack London vs R. D. Lawrence

A few years ago, I fell in love with Jack London's Call of the Wild, White Fang and most recently Tales of the Klondike. This year, I discovered R. D. Lawrence's The North Runner and Secret go the Wolves. 

I enjoyed reading Jack London's books as I felt I was transported out there in the Yukon. Similarly to White Fang, The North Runner appears to be the real "White Fang". Lawrence tells his story about his real "White Fang", a half breed wolf dog named Yukon, who was abused though slowly learns to trust him. A true friendship between both results. If you liked reading Jack London, then I highly suggest this book for you. 

Secret go the Wolves tells another true story: Lawrence rescued two young wolf cubs, Matta and Wa, that he and his wife rehabilitate in the goal to return to the wilderness. Lawrence as a biologist, describes not just his story but also tells us about wolves. I really enjoyed reading it. 

"A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog." Jack London