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!

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!

All About French Literature

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

France is a famously literary country. The country’s authors have won more Nobel Prizes in Literature than any other, and the French read more books than anyone else—a whopping 17 per year!

I’ve put together a few articles for those interested in French literature. Want to know about a top crime novelist? Or the bad boy of French literature? Or maybe you are interested in graphic novels, which the French adore.

I’ve also got the story of a forgotten French masterpiece that’s been called “possibly the best-selling novel of all time”!

You can read all about these and more in My French Life!

Provençal Legends: Mont Ventoux and the Mistral

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

I always thought that Mont Ventoux came by its name because it is windy at the top, and venteux means “windy” in French. It’s a common misconception, but it’s not true. In fact, the word comes from Vintur, an ancient god worshiped by the Albiques, a Celtic tribe that once lived in the area.

Not only that, but the Mistral, the famous and sometimes-violent wind of Provence, is actually Vintur’s son! He’s a capricious child who throws tantrums when he doesn’t want to go to bed, hence the wildness of the wind. And there used to be an Albique ceremony to calm the boy and get him to go nighty-night.

I learned this in a very entertaining book called Le Dit du Mistral by Olivier Mak-Bouchard. It’s a fun story, full of legends and local expressions (though while most of the legends are true I suspect there’s some artistic license from time to time.)

Read more about these Provençal legends in Perfectly Provence!

Provence: Insider Tips

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

This past spring I was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Alliance Française of Pasadena, one of the most active groups in the US. I gave a Zoom presentation about Provence and answered questions about the life that Val and I live there.

It was a fun session, with lots of good back and forth, and you can watch the recording if you’d like. There are a few minutes of club business at the start that you can skip if you want; I come on at about the four-and-a-half minute mark.

Here’s the link!

Book Ideas for the France-Lover in Your Life

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Keith Van Sickle

Christmas is coming and you might be having a hard time coming up with gift ideas. I am here to help!

The French are famously literary, but they don’t sit around reading Proust and Molière all day. They like a good page-turner as well as anyone else. So how about gifting a book that was a top seller in France, but has recently been translated into English? It would be a great gift for a France-lover, or someone who loves good books, or both!

I’ve put together a list of 11 books that covers a lot of bases.You’ll find serious reads, thrillers, inspiring tales, and even a touch of science fiction!

Read all about it in France Today!

Michel Houellebecq, the Bad Boy of French Literature

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Keith Van Sickle

Michel Houellebecq has been called France’s greatest living writer, a worthy successor to the likes of Camus and Céline. He has also been called an enfant terrible and a provocateur.

His books have sold millions, been translated into dozens of languages, and won many awards.

I love Houellebecq’s books, and I also hate them. But love them or hate them, I can’t stop reading them.

Who is Michel Houellebecq? And should you read his books?

Read all about it in My French Life!

A Holiday Gift for the France Lover in Your Life?

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Keith Van Sickle

France has a long and rich literary tradition, and the country has won more Nobel Prizes in Literature than any other. But that doesn’t mean that all French books are stuffy and boring–there are plenty of ripping good reads coming out of France!

But where do you find them? One good place to start is by looking at the winners of France’s literary awards. Many of these winners later get translated into English and are widely available. I’ve read a number of these books and really enjoyed them.

There are six big French literary prizes and they’ve all just been awarded. I’ve written an article describing them, to give you an idea what they are all about. If you want to skip the article, here’s on thing to remember: the Goncourt Prize. It’s the biggest of the Big Six awards and the books that win this are almost always great.

Read all about it in My French Life!

8 Books for Francophiles to Lose Themselves In

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Keith Van Sickle

A good book on your bedside table can offer refuge like none other. Whether you need to unwind for 30 minutes while your baby naps; you need to dream someone else’s dreams before bed; or you wake in the middle of the night and need to while away the wee hours; here are eight books you can lean on.

I was one of the Frenchly writers who was asked to contribute their favorites–both old and new–for you to consider for yourself or someone special in your life while colder weather descends.

Read all about it at Frenchly!

Life in Provence

Keith Van Sickle

Tag Archives: #Books