French-Inspired Summer Reading: 2014 Edition

School’s out, beach bags are packed: summer is here! Which means it’s time for a round-up of some of the best French-themed reads of the season. The advantage? Many of them serve several purposes. Cookbooks and guidebooks now come brimming with the kinds of rich stories you won’t be able to put down and are liable to inspire your next vacation. They also factor among my favorites this year. Here are a few of my picks:

‘The Paris Journal, Part I‘ by Nichole & Evan Roberston
What began as an e-book has become a stunning, printed story narrated by an anonymous, solo traveler intent on unraveling the city’s multi-layered spirit over the course of one day. Seventeen chapters will leave you wanting more but rest assured: this is the first of several tales Nichole and Evan have ready to unfurl.

‘Hungry for Paris’ (2nd Edition) and ‘Hungry for France’ by Alec Lobrano
Not one but two must-have food bibles from the ever-prolific food and travel writer Alec Lobrano. France is essentially a vast canvas for culinary discovery, one that drew Alec in from his days as European correspondent for Gourmet Magazine. Take that experience, a finely-tuned palate and a profound appreciation…

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