F is for France, a Curious Cabinet of French Wonders by Piu Eatwell

As much as I love reading historical fiction and biographies, it’s always nice to switch to lighter novels every once in a while. F is for France was sitting pretty on the “Featured Books” shelf at my local library—I took it as a sign to check out right away.

Each chapter dissects France’s culture in perfect bite-size facts that are made more memorable with the author’s fun, quirky descriptions. Eatwell looks beyond the traditional guidebooks and focuses on more local lore to offer readers a fresh take on Paris—her British-born sensibilities reveal themselves in several instances where she artfully illustrates some cultural differences between France and England

A few of my favorite passages are Coffee, Champagne, Oysters, Paris, Restaurants…

If you’re starting holiday gift shopping, F is for France is a great gift for yourself or for the Francophile in your life.