When Rose City Reader recently posted an extensive list of novels with French connections, I went looking for my copy of Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France by Kristin Espinasse.
The book is a collection of essays — originally written as blog posts –about Kristin Espinasse’s daily struggles and triumphs as an American living in France with her French husband and family. Each essay focuses on a few related French words and phrases that tie together with events that occurred. At the end of each is a glossary explaining each French word or phrase used in the text.
Words in a French Life is an absolutely delightful book to help increase both vocabulary and an understanding of French culture for high school and college-level students as well as adults. Even though I have never studied French, I found it totally enjoyable to read.
If you would like to get a taste of what the book is like and find out more, be sure to visit Espinasse’s blog French Word A Day, which is still active in 2020. As a bonus, on the blog she includes audio clips with pronunciations and gorgeous photographs. What a resource!
