By 
Mary Fleming, the Author of “Civilisation Francaise” has written an intriguing novel. The Genres for this book are contemporary Women Fiction, Coming of Age Fiction, Psychological Fiction, and Fiction. The author vividly describes the landscape and the dramatic characters.The timeline for this book is around 1982, when Lily Owns goes to France to enroll in the Civilization Francaise course, trying to find out what her goals are in life. Lily is a recent college graduate and speaks fluid French, although she comes from America. Lily finds work helping to take care of an older woman, Amenia, who is losing her eyesight, and lives in enormous historical mansion. Germaine is Amenia’s housekeeper and friend. The mansion, and the three women all have secrets.Although they are different ages, the women live together.
Lily meets different characters at her course and becomes friends with Thibaud, and some girls. When Thibaud has no place to live, Lily helps Thibaud live in empty wing of the house. She is keeping this a secret from Amenia and Germaine, or trying too. Before long, there are different squatters living in the house, and Lily now has more problems.
I enjoyed Lily’s adventures in the kitchen and the description of the many creative meals she learned to make. I appreciated the glimpse into past French history. I would recommend this book to others.
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