#67: The Little French Bistro

Yesterday I finished The Little French Bistro, the latest by Nina George. I read The Little Paris Bookshop last month. The Little French Bistro has some similarities to the Little Paris Bookshop and on the whole I think I preferred the Bookshop, mostly because of the discussions about books and reading.

The Little French Bistro: On a trip to Paris, 60 year old Marianne decides that she has had enough: enough of her loveless marriage, of never being able to do what she wants, scrimping, and of life. Dramatically she tries to drown herself in the Seine but is rescued by some good Samaritans. During her hospital stay, she finds a painted tile of the Breton village of Kerdruc and decides to journey there and subsequently end her life.

The land and the sea in Kerdruc prove to have an irresistible hold on Marianne and she is quickly drawn into village life there. She begins work in the local bistro and befriends the locals (Jean-Remy the cook, Genevieve the hotel owner, Camille, and Yann. She also develops a reputation as a white witch because of her love of the sea. Marianne also finds love and happiness. However, a t.v. bulletin from her husband and a chance citing cause her to question everything. When the opportunity arises, will Marianne return to Germany and her former life or will she stay in France?

Kerdruc is the tiny circle on the map. There is quite a bit about Breton folklore in the novel, and some use of Breton. The novel appears to have been published under the title The Little Breton Bistro as well; this is fitting given the historical attitudes and disputes between the people of Brittany and France (this is mentioned in the novel). 

I found this link for a BookTrail of the novel. The Booktrail allows readers or travelers to trace Marianne's journey across France. http://www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/little-breton-bistro/