Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table: Book Two—Nord-Pas-De-Calais, Normandy, Brittany, Loire and Auvergne

Bumpus, a retired American family therapist, collects culinary traditions and oral histories in this amiable but frustratingly uninsightful sequel, which offers a glimpse into the lesser-known regions of France. Bumpus departs Paris with her friend and interpreter, Josiane, on a road trip toward the Atlantic coast to learn the ways of cuisine pauvre, which translates as “poor kitchen,” as opposed to haute cuisine, through interviews conducted in people’s homes. It’s an inviting premise, but from the book’s outset the narrative bogs down with dialogue that advances neither the book’s themes nor character studies and, puzzlingly, far outnumbers any discussion about food. In Le Havre, Karyn, whom Bumpus knew in the U.S., is encouraged to speak just as much about her vacations as a child to the Balaeric Islands, “to a resort with a swimming pool,” as she is about her grandmother’s favorite recipes. Bumpus tells readers her conversation with Louisette, a French-Algerian woman in Rouen, “gave me a totally new perspective and appreciation of Algeria and the wonderfully rich influences that country has given to France,” though beyond learning that not all French women who marry Algerian men are oppressed, she doesn’t explain what those influences are. Foods and experiences are repeatedly described as “wonderful,” “marvelous,” or “delightful.” Armchair travelers searching for transportive tales of food and culture might want to look elsewhere. [em](Aug.) [/em]