Paris, 1952 -- An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef with an indomitable wit and decidedly French airs--an instructor by name of Julia Child. Amongst classes of the L'Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, with pots and pans and prim Paris wives learning to sauté in the French way, Kat Fontaine learns much more than she bargained for.
Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, Kat soon finds a simple cookery class unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war and questions about the high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .
Rue, 1943 -- Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter information to agents within the burgeoning OSS, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.
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I love historical fiction, especially the ones that are different and unique. I have been reading historical fiction for years and have read a few different versions and takes on WWII. What I loved about The French Kitchen was that it differed from any other historical fiction I have read. This book's level of detail was outstanding; as a reader, it makes everything easier for me to visualize. As I read, I could see it so clearly; like a movie playing in my mind. That was my favorite part of the book. The story started out interesting, but halfway through, it seemed to shift to a slower pace for me, only to pick up again after a few chapters. Also, the shift between the different timelines was slightly confusing for me at the beginning. But as I continued reading the story, I understood why she structured it that way.
Of all the characters in the book, Kat was my favorite. I admired her courage, resilience, and how she never gave up looking for her brother. Although I enjoyed reading from Manon’s perspective, I always looked forward to reading Kat’s story. Although sometimes I was afraid of how Kat’s story might end. I liked the way that Cambron had a way where all the characters stood out, even the main characters. Even though I cannot begin to imagine what they had to endure, reading this book, I felt as if I did. It was as if I was stepping into their shoes. I still cannot get these characters out of my mind. Incredible.
I heard of Julia Child, but I knew her as a chef. I had no idea about her backstory, which was fascinating. I even found myself researching after I finished the book. What I loved about the book is the powerful friendships and relationships between the characters. I could go on about this book, but I don’t want to give the story away; you must read it to find out for yourself. This is my 2nd book by Kristy Cambron and so far, my favorite. I cannot wait to check out the others.
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