A Book Review--A Unique Travel Memoir

  

I first learned about author Carole Bumpus when she was a Guest Blogger on Kathy Pooler's blog. Carole was promoting her latest book which is a travel memoir filled with family stories and foods of the northern regions of France. I was intrigued for two reasons. I am half French in heritage, and I have traveled that region in the past. Maybe reason number three is that I enjoy learning about ethnic foods, and tasting them and cooking them. 

I ordered "Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table" which is actually Book 2. Book 1 is the same format but centered on the southern part of France. I love family stories, and this book is chock full of them. 

Carole, an American, is guided through a three-week tour of regions like Brittany, Normandy, Auvergne, and the Loire Valley by a French friend named of Josianne. It is through Josianne that Carole is able to visit everyday homes of the French people to hear about their traditions and family stories, especially memories of what life was like during WWII when they were under German occupancy. Even though both WWI and WWII happened many years earlier, they still influence these families.

On a few nights, they stayed in B&Bs and even a castle, all of which were filled with local color and more good food. Otherwise, the two women were guests in the homes of Josianne's friends and family.

The author is treated to numerous delightful meals, many of which stemmed from peasant foods, called 'cuisine pauvre' in French. She and Josianne also ate some meals in restaurants in small villages that served excellent meals allowing for interviews with the chefs.

One reason Carole and Josianne set out on the trip was to trace the places where Josianne's mother had lived, to learn about her family heritage which was a bit of a mystery, and to visit her gravesite. Marcelle had been a mother to Josianne but a friend to Carole. Her story is woven through many of the stories of the people Josianne introduces to Carole.

The author has the ability to bring you with her into the homes she visited. I felt as if I were meeting these same people and hearing their family stories first-hand. I longed to taste the foods described.

There is a section of recipes if you'd care to try your hand at some French peasant cooking. 

The book received the Silver Medal Europe for Best Regional Non-Fiction, 2020 IPPY Awards. 

For those who have traveled to France and those who have not, this culinary adventure would be of interest. Many of the family stories stayed with me days after I finished reading the book. Foodies will revel in the descriptions of the meals. If you're looking for something entertaining and informative, give this book a try. Find it at Amazon or by doing a search on the title and author. It is a large size paperback. 

Note:  Carole made recordings and took copious notes with the help of Josianne interpreting for the people they visited. She used much of the information to write a novel based on Marcelle's life. Her book is titled "A Cup of Redemption."