French Obsessions: Coffee-table books to start French conversations

As a neurotic librophile, I take great pride in showing off beautifully binded, exquisitly hard-covered books that I am passionate about - mainly on the topic of France (French language spruiking to the next level).

Placing some interesting French culture books on my coffee table can inspire some wonderful conversations with friends and family. I have sourced all the delicious hard-back copies of my books on rotation:

French Women Don’t Get Fat – Mireille Giuliano 

As Mireille Guiliano states, it's a book about helping women feel bien dans sa peau. In other words, a book about understanding the true pleasures of eating (that's my mantra!). It's almost a pre-successor of the mindfulness movement or 'slow eating'. I also find that talking about 'French diets' brings up the conversation on French wine - the famous French Paradox. 

The French Paradox concerns the fact that although the French seem to consume a high-fat diet, there is low incidence of heart disease... so maybe c'est grâce au vin rouge, n'est-ce pas? (And all French people crossed their fingers in hope.) Based on studies around this 'catch phrase', the minor study on the Mediterranean diet with "moderate consumption" of wine took hold as social truth for good heart health. To cut a long story short, look up scientist 'Serge Renaud' for a good food chat on this topic.

The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Just the teacher in me wants everyone to discuss the pure genius of Le Petit Prince. From simple childhood souvenirs to a discussion on how the Little Prince shows us how we have lost our childhood imaginations and our abilities to look beyond our adult restrictions. I no-one at the table has yet read the Little Prince, ask them to draw you a sheep!

It's also a great read for any friends who come over with children. A great chance to read them a passage and share a few beautiful quotes from Saint-Exupery:

"On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux."
"All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it."
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.” 

Toujours Tingo - Adam Jacot de Boinod

I came across this book in a second-hand bookstore years ago, and it has been the start of so many great conversations about idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms. 

Some of my favourite topics on French language expressions are the amount of vocabulary around 'cows' - ah la vache, vachement bien, parler comme une vache espagnol...  

How about the French vegetabl-isms. Tu es choux, faire le poireau, être en rang d'oignon...

And finish up by being stood up by un lapin.

The New Paris - Lindsey Tramuta

Most of us foreigners have a romantic notice of Paris as it has been through history - the gothic architecture, Haussmanian buildings, Hemingway's Paris,  the French Revolution... but what about the revolutionary movements of today?

Especially as a Melbournian, a topic that always come up is the quality of coffee in Paris. The New Paris has a wonderful podcast which interviews local Parisians about new and upcoming issues. Have a listen to the coffee conversation about the new movement in Paris for improving the daily 'grind'.

How to be Parisian (wherever you are) - Sophie Mas, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, Anne Berest

Everyone loves to discuss stereotypical French dress. From the mariniere, to the beret with boots and a cigarette. It's a beautiful book which talks about the stereotypical modern day Parisian woman from a Parisian woman's perspective, scattered with gorgeous photos, articles and poems. 

However, a conversation on French stereotypes opens a larger conversation on which stereotypes really exist in France. You have the turtleneck and man bag kind of man, to the sports clothes and runners kind of man. The simple-dressed, plain coloured woman, to the high-heeled, fine labelled woman. 

Books from your own French travels

There is nothing quite like your own travel collection to spark a good conversation. On my coffee table at the moment, I have maps of Lyon where my partner and I lived for a year. We have so many fond memories of our time in Lyon, and we just love the city and its beautiful streets. 

Not only do I love the impressionist paintings in the Orsay, but the book comes with a hilarious personal travel story... 

What is on your coffee table?