Five Favourite French Books

In just five short days I will be on my way to France, and three weeks of European summer! Although I’ve travelled a fair bit I’ve never been to Europe. Apart from wanting to live in England one day, I’ve always wanted to visit France. Probably since the first time I saw Madeline, when I was about six, I’ve wanted to go there. It’s a school trip and I’m extremely excited. We are going to Paris, Rennes, Bordeaux, Nimes, La Ciotat, St Malo, Tours, Carcassonne, Arles and Nice. As there are five days to go I decided to make a list of my top five favourite books set in or about France.


1. Memoirs of a Showgirl - Shay Stafford

Shay Stafford was a girl from Brisbane who moved to Paris to work at the Moulin Rouge and then the Lido. I happen to love this book so much because not only is it about moving to Paris it’s a showbiz memoir. The fact she comes from the same city as I do also makes me realise anything’s possible! She wrote the book with the help of her husband who wrote the next book on my list.





2. A Town Like Paris: Falling in Love in the City of Light - Bryce Corbett

Bryce Corbett (wife to Shay Stafford) is an Australian journalist who moved to Paris when he applied for a job there, on a whim, while working in London. One of my favourite chapters in this book is when he talks about going to Italy one weekend for a festival where there is a huge tomato fight in the streets.





3. Madeline - Ludwig Bellman

As I mentioned earlier, as a child I loved Madeline. The fact that I’ve wanted to go to France for so long and the fact I chose to study French in high school I put down entirely to Madeline’s influence. I wanted to live in a house “all covered in vines” so badly. I can still recite bits of dialogue from the TV show by heart, let alone the songs.





4. Eloise in Paris – Kay Thompson

I love Eloise no matter where it is set, but Eloise in Paris is my favourite of the series. Eloise is a girl after my own heart. How can you not love someone who thinks linguine makes admirable fake nails? The fact I love these books may point to me having a slightly childish sense of humour, but I’m not bothered. If you have seen the movie but not read the books I would urge you too. The movie – even if it does have both Gavin Creel and Julie Andrews in it- is, in my opinion, not nearly as good as the books.





5. Phantom of the Opera – Gaston Leroux

Written in 1909 this book was, of course, the inspiration for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical. I think this book is a must read for any fans of the musical. However, don’t expect it to be like the musical, it’s much more gruesome. It’s a gothic horror rather than a romance. The plot of the musical does also differ quite a bit from the original novel. Even if you’re not a fan of the musical I would recommend this book. It’s nice and creepy without being terrifying or totally disgusting.