Episode 39: France
Summary: Bienvenue à Coeurs et Poignards, where today we’ll be armchair traveling to France for the next episode in our Summer Jetset Series! Both Holly and Devin have spent quality time in the country already; Devin is francophone and has lived in both Paris and Bordeaux, and Holly visited the south of France on her honeymoon (on top of other visits!). They agree that French culture resonates with their lifestyles, values, and dreams - passion, great food, relaxed lifestyle, art and millions of dead bodies buried in the Catacombs.
Topics Discussed:
The Dagger (5:21): Holly discussed Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker, the first book in a delightful, 21-book murder mystery series following Benoît "Bruno" Courrèges as he dines, delves, and detects in the fictional southwestern French town of Saint Dénis. Holly’s key takeaways were:
While Bruno is typically peaceful (never wears his gun, never arrests anyone, lives in a restored shepherd’s cottage), a murder has disrupted the tranquility of St. Dénis; a North African man is found dead with a swastika carved into his chest. Walker then explores the role of police in small, tight-knit communities and corruption that extends into an international community.
While murder is a focal point of the book (obviously) so is the outstanding cuisine of France. Replete with descriptions of local dishes, ingredients, and cooking techniques, the novel becomes vivid by engaging all five senses and providing the reader an opportunity to explore the impact of gastronomy on the culture and local economy.
Ultimately this novel and the subsequent series explores the charm and idyllic nature of rural communities in southern France. The identity, sense of belonging, and prejudices of folks in the tiny town unveil to the reader the tensions we may all encounter; tradition vs. modernity, diversity vs. homogeneity, globalization vs. local culture.
The Heart (17:36): Devin discussed The Paris Connection by Lorraine Brown, a novel that follows protagonist Hannah as she is separated from her boyfriend, Simon, on an overnight train destined for Amsterdam but half of which splits off (with Hannah in the wrong section) to Paris. What follows is a day of hijinks, self-discovery, and the intrigue of new connections. Devin’s key takeaways were:
When Hannah finds herself in Paris with no luggage, phone charger, and very little money, she ends up relying on the generosity of a disgruntled (and attractive) parisian man named Léo. In spite of her hesitation and negative perception of Léo at the start, Hannah soon finds herself on the back of his moped experiencing Paris in a way she never has before.
With a spice rating of “negative chili peppers,” this novel strikes Devin more as a self-discovery, almost coming-of-age story than a true romance. Brown created an amazing premise with one real challenge; the timeframe in which Hannah and Léo need to figure it out and fall in love. Almost too reliant on the “love at first sight” (in French, coup de foudre i.e. lightning strike) trope, the reader misses out on the joy of a slower, more organic evolution of chemistry between the main pairing.
Ultimately, it is the vivid and detailed tour around the key neighborhoods of Paris that keep the reader beside Hannah through this novel; Brown animates the city in all its glory, giving proper attention to the architecture, character, cuisine, and atmosphere of the iconic City of Lights.
Hot On the Shelf (35:13):
What’s Making Our Hearts Race (38:03):
Holly: Sex and the City
Devin: Platonic on AppleTV
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