Reviews

Picnic in Provence: A Memoir with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard

jlsjourneys's review against another edition

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4.0

This was an absolutely delightful read (whilst in Provence, no less) and deeper than I expected with insights on culture, parenting, identity, and ambition. Really loved the author’s honesty & kind perspective on her new home. And I actually want to cook some of the recipes, which came as a delightful surprise. Recommended for fans of the American-moves-to-France-and-learns-how-to-live-and-eat genre.

yodamom's review against another edition

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5.0

Fantastic timing I started this along with the Tour de France 2016. I made the recipes, absorbed the advice, laughed with her misadventures while watching the bikes travel through France.
This book is more than just a memoir. It is a journey of self discovery, enjoying life , simplifying and finding the career that fits. This is also a cookbook, filled with tasty recipes, filled with fresh whole ingredients, seasonal and healthy. There are some very important life lessons learned, simple common sense no voodoo magic or doctor visits necessary. Honest, eyeopening and educational.

When a city girl from New York, marries a frenchman and moves overseas her life is already altered to the extreme. While on a historical hunting adventure through France they stumble onto a town that will alter their lives in a massive way. They buy an old home, previously lived in by a French poet, her husband admires, they get pregnant, change career plans and directions, and she learns to function as local, slowly and sometimes painfully.

Her moments with the French government, child care, child birth and attitude of raising children is eyeopening. They seem to have such a better grasp on the humanity of bringing children into the world and the woman's needs. The governmental laid back attitude is a hard adjustment for her, as it would be for any of us who are always rushed to finish, get ahead, to get their first.

I found some of the lessons she learned useful in my own life. Her happiness in infectious! A slight adjustment in my attitude has made a nice change. I have one phrase stuck in my head that came from a man who commented when she broke the unwritten rule of eating while on the go "Watch your kilos" The diet/meal schedule was simple. I gave it a go for 3 weeks, my family loved the large lunches, the soups and fresh breads for dinner, the fresh fruit desserts and didn't miss snacking at all.

I am going out to get her other book Lunch in Paris this week.
Thank you Goodreads for offering this in your giveaway that I won. :D

sydneysreads__'s review against another edition

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1.0

book club pick. DNF.

bbqish's review against another edition

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Didn't enjoy reading about their kid

ekim0808's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.25

k8linthegr8's review

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funny inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.75

margauxdr's review against another edition

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funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.25

smitchy's review against another edition

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4.0

An entertaining personal and gastronomic journey through the author's life in France and her move, with her family, out of Paris to a small village in Provence.
Recipes at the end of every chapter let you create the dishes she makes yourself. This is a joyful celebration of food and connection. The author also discusses her experience of motherhood and her own relationship with her parents but that part of the story is interwoven and connected to her present life so never feels like unnecessary detail.
This is one to read if you love Peter Mayle's books. Be aware it will make you hungry!

lavoiture's review against another edition

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3.0

It was fine, like her first book. Sweet stories and yummy-looking recipes. But nothing earth shattering or particularly new.

melissakuzma's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved Lunch in Paris and I loved Picnic in Provence. I can't decide where I want to live more, Paris or Cereste! Just like in LiP, PiP has tons of great recipes. I have made her lentil dish from LiP dozens of times and it's one of my favorites, and there are many I can't wait to try from the new book.