Excellent entertainment, but you can easily read it in one sitting!

More a recipe book than a memoir.

Great traditional french recipes.

If you've been reading heavy, deep, take-themselves-way-too-seriously type books lately this might be just the ticket if you want to take a break. It's a fast read and if you enjoy reading recipes/cookbooks then you'll love this.

The entire second half of the book is a cookbook and every recipe looks great! I can't wait to try a few.

My only complaint is the use of French was a little tough for a non-French speaking person. I don't mind a word here and there but there were whole sentences and/or paragraphs occasionally. There was no translation so at times I felt a little left out. I completely understand why the author did this and since I like to also read books that use lots of Spanish (a language I do speak a bit of) I know if you speak French you'll love the book all the more for it.

If you love cooking, eating and want to read about some really lovely people then don't let the French thing stop you. Just don't be surprised.

The gastronomic diary of an American family in France, and of their most treasured possession, Clementine, their extraordinary cook who accompanies them to Marblehead, Massachusetts on the eve of World War II where she struggles with the American way of cooking while managing to retain her very French sensibilities