Readings: Starting 2025 with few books

Longer STORY in Easy FRENCH: Voyage en France, the nº 2 out of 7 books of reading book by French writer and university teacher Sylvie Lainé.

Discover French through a charming and humorous short novel!

This Longer Story in Easy French is perfect for advanced beginners eager to dive into an engaging narrative while improving their language skills.

Follow the delightful adventures of Louis, a passionate learner of French, and his modestly fluent wife, Melba. Together, they navigate hilarious misunderstandings and cultural mishaps, with Melba often stepping in to save the day.

What makes this book special?

• No dictionary needed: French-English glossaries are provided under each paragraph, introducing you to key words and expressions in context. This unique structure allows you to focus on the story while effortlessly building your vocabulary.
• Comprehensive support: At the end of the book, a large French-English dictionary with over 1,500 words and expressions lets you revisit any term from the story, complete with its gender and precise translation.
• Engaging and structured: Designed for learners at A2-B1 levels on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), this short novel offers a captivating plot that keeps you motivated as you improve your French.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to strengthen your existing skills, Longer Story in Easy French combines humor, storytelling, and effective language learning techniques to make French learning a pleasure!

Another example of Sylvie Lainé entertaining reading books? Long Novel in easy French: Tour de France en Camping-car or Short Stories in Easy French: Vo 747 pour Paris.

Enjoy!

Half Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy, Tieghan Gerard (@halfbakerdharvest, @clarksonpotter) 

Mega-bestselling author Tieghan Gerard is busier than ever—always creating recipes, taking photographs, and collaborating with friends. In her fourth cookbook, she returns with a collection of more than 120 recipes that reflect the way she cooks now: simple ingredients, easy to get on the table, short on time yet big on flavor.
 
Having cooked for her large family from a young age, Tieghan loves the feeling of sharing great food—and now she wants to share that feeling with you. This collection leans into the comfort food she’s known for, but with an eye toward getting it ready in a hurry. With many recipes doable in one pot or pan, most in under forty-five minutes, and a more-is-more focus on flavor (but not ingredients), you’ll be feasting fast. Start your day with Maple Bacon Pancakes with Bourbon Maple Syrup, snack on Cheesy Roasted Shallot Bread, and make Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Bang Bang Sauce your family’s new favorite. Enjoy delicious twists like Sheet Pan Mac & Cheese with All the Crispy Edges, and, of course, finish it all off with something sweet, like a Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cake with Cream Cheese Icing.
 
Relying on basic ingredients and Tieghan’s signature knack for making sauces and dressings that you’ll want to double to keep on hand at all times, these recipes will make your meals feel like a warm hug. If you’ve ever needed a belly full of comfort and a plate bursting with fresh, unexpected flavors—and wanted it all right now—Half Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy is for you.

The Sourdough Bible: The Ultimate Resource for Great Bread at Home, Elaine Boddy (@elaine_foodbod, @pagestreetpublishing)

No more throwing out failed starter, getting bored with the same old loaf or being too intimidated to even start! This all- in-one handbook is packed with sourdough whisperer Elaine Boddy’s most current and comprehensive wisdom, not to mention more than 75 recipes to fuel your creativity. From new tips on how to maintain your starter on your schedule, to her most in-depth master recipes yet (with step by step photos for each one!) and expanded FAQ and troubleshooting sections, Elaine’s guidance will turn any home baker into a sourdough pro.

Once you’ve got the basics of your starter, move on to Elaine’s renowned master recipes for basic loaves, buns, pizzas, focaccia and more. Then dive into tons of creative flavor variations on the master recipes like the cozy Semolina and Pumpkin Loaf or a Cheese and Jalapeño Loaf with a warm, tangy crumb. Elevate your everyday sandwiches and toasts with breads like the wholesome Einkorn Pumpernickel Square Loaf or a Honey-Enriched Jam-Filled Babka. Delight in smaller bakes like indulgent Whole-Grain and Chocolate Hot Cross Buns or the snackable Blue Cheese and Fig Baby Focaccias.

Every step of the way, you’ll enjoy Elaine’s signature “no- fuss” approach to sourdough, which will equip you with the confidence and knowledge to have fun baking up your own delicious concoctions. This practical guide is guaranteed to keep your sourdough journey fun, exciting and successful for years to come.

And, to finish an architural note, here is Notre-Dame Cathedral : The Work of Centuries of Julie Claustre, Darwin Smith, Elisabeth Lusset (Gallimard Découvertes Gallimard) : Built on the Île de la Cité during the Middle Ages, Notre-Dame Cathedral is an integral part of French history.

The sacred presence of the cathedral, a major monument of Gothic architecture and an emblem of power throughout its existence, has never ceased to inspire the popular imagination. Indeed, Notre-Dame, the "mile zero" used to measure distances, is one of the nerve centers of France.

On April 15, 2019, the burning of Viollet-le-Duc's spire provoked considerable emotion around the world, providing a stark reminder that the building belongs to a shared heritage.

Thanks to both traditional know-how and the latest technology, the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral has revived interest in its architecture and the history linking us to the living monument, the most visited in the world.

This last book works as a reminder too of the Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals of Ken Follett, published in 2019 : In this short, spellbinding non-fiction book, international bestselling author Ken Follett describes the emotions that gripped him when he learned about the fire that threatened to destroy one of the greatest cathedrals in the world - the Notre-Dame de Paris. Follett then tells the story of the cathedral, from its construction to the role it has played across time and history, and he reveals the influence that the Notre-Dame had upon cathedrals around the world and on the writing of one of Follett's most famous and beloved novels, The Pillars of the Earth.