Dry January in France

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Keith Van Sickle

There is a program called Dry January that encourages drinkers to forgo alcohol for the month and ask themselves questions like: How many drinks do I have a day? Why? And how do I deal with the social pressure to drink?

Begun in the UK in 2013, Dry January has spread throughout the world. In 2020 it was launched in France as Défi de janvier (January challenge), but it was unclear if it would be welcomed in a country where wine is an important part of daily life.

Surprisingly, this month-without-alcohol has been a success, though not without controversy.

Read all about it in Bonjour Paris!

A Conversation with Author Mark Greenside

Posted on January 21, 2026 by Keith Van Sickle

In Mark Greenside is one of my favorite authors. His books are funny, thoughtful, and always a good read.

In 1992, at the age of 47, he bought a house—almost by accident—in a tiny Breton village. He has lived there ever since, splitting his time between Brittany and California.

His three books about life in France are full of self-deprecating humor and interesting insights. You can read my review of them at MyFrenchLife.

Even better, on February 7, I’ll be chatting with Mark about his life in Brittany. Please join us! You can find more details and sign up here.

France’s Most-Loved Bestsellers Now in English

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Keith Van Sickle

The French love to read—the average français knocks off more than a book a month. But what do they read? Is it all Proust and Flaubert or are there some page turners in there?

If you’d like to read like the French do, you’re in luck, because many of their recent best-sellers are now available in English. They are typically translated a few years after publication, especially the top prize winners.

I’ve put together a selection of recent best-sellers in France that you can read in English. You’ll find serious novels, thrillers, non-fiction, and France’s favorite Gaul, Asterix.

Read all about it in France Today!

How to Sound Like You are From Provence

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Keith Van Sickle

It’s a new year and in Provence people are telling each otherl Diéu nous fague la gràci de vèire l’an que vèn, e se noun sian pas mai, que noun fugen pas mens !

This is in the Provençal language and translates as “May God grant us the grace to see the new year, and if there are not more, let there be not be less!” In other words, even if no babies are born, let’s hope nobody dies!

I’ve always liked this expression and have learned a few more in my time in Provence. Most are in French, and some are pretty funny.

Read about 15 fun Provençal expressions in Frenchly!

Making French Friends

Posted on December 17, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

For the last 20 years, Val and I have split our time between California and Provence, and before that we lived and worked in Switzerland.

When we were in Switzerland, our social circle was mostly made up of fellow expats. But in France we wanted a difference experience–we wanted to make French friends.

Given the reputation the French have for being aloof, we expected this to be a struggle. But it wasn’t hard at all, and today some of our best friends are French. How did we do it? Read about some of the things we’ve learned in France Today!

Hostess Gifts à la Français

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

This is the time of year for holiday gatherings with friends and family. Val and I find that our social calendar is pretty packed between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

When you are invited to all these events, what should you bring for the hosts?

The French make an art of this, so Val and I try to follow their example. Would you like to thank your hosts in the French style? I’ve written an article with some tips for you, and you can read it in Frenchly!

French Crown Jewels Stolen!

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

You have probably seen the news about the French Crown Jewels. A few days ago, thieves broke into the Louvre in a brazen daylight robbery. With them went many of the crown jewels, a terrible loss.

People are often surprised that France even has crown jewels. Didn’t those go away with King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette?

I wrote about this a few months ago, but I thought it might be timely to republish that story. You can read it in France Today.

Book Clubs à la Française

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

All across the English-speaking world, book clubs are thriving. Those in America have more than 10 million members, and there are comparable memberships in Canada, the UK, and other countries.

They generally follow the same model: everyone reads a book, then the group meets to discuss it. But the French have a different take. In a cercle de lecture, or reading circle, everyone reads what they like. Val and I are members of a cercle de lecture in St-Rémy and it’s a fun twist on a classic formula.

Read about how French reading circles work and why you might enjoy one in France Today!

Why Learn French?

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

How important is French in today’s world, which English dominates in so many ways?

Is French useful or just a fun hobby for dilettantes? Is it a practical major for college students? And if you want to learn the language, what is the best way to go about it?

Let’s see what My French Life has to say about all this!

The French Try to Remake the World

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

Where did the metric system come from? If you order lobster thermidor, what does “thermidor” mean? Who would design a clock that had 100 minutes in every hour?

These all go back to the French Revolution. When the zealots weren’t busy chopping off heads, they decided to remake the world in a more “rational” way. Hence the metric system, new clocks, and a calendar where months had names like brumaire and thermidor.

Read all about these, er, “interesting” innovations in French Today!

Life in Provence

Keith Van Sickle

Category Archives: Culture