On Tour 07/10/24-08/25/24 “Civilisation Francaise” by Mary Fleming

Release Date: July 16, 2024

About The Book:

When recent college graduate Lily Owens enrolls in the Civilisation Française course

at the Sorbonne in 1982, she hopes to put a difficult childhood behind her and to find

direction for adulthood.

She moves into an historic mansion on the place des Vosges where her job is helping

elderly, half-blind Amenia Quinon, another ex-pat American. Unbeknownst to Lily, Amenia is haunted by memories of World War II, as is her Jewish housekeeper, Germaine.

The three women live alone in this house of silence and secrets, mostly revolving in their own worlds, until Lily secretly lets her friend, Thibaud, move into the empty wing. When Thibaud lets in others, the abandoned part of the house quickly turns into a squat, causing turmoil and distress among the three women, but ultimately bringing them closer together.

About The Author:

Mary Fleming was born in Chicago and has lived in France for many years. After working as a journalist and consultant, she turned to fiction and has written two other novels, Someone Else and The Art of Regret. Her bi-weekly photo-essay, A Paris-Perche Diary, tracks city and country (Normandy) life. Find her online at website: https://maryfleming.co/, blog: A Paris Perche Diary, and Instagram: @flemingm6

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flemingm6

Book Blurbs:

“In Mary Fleming’s absorbing and affecting novel, a young American takes a course in French civilization and learns more than she bargains for – about sex, cooking, and a family’s unhappy past – and is the better for it. So is the reader.” —Lily Tuck, author of The News from Paraguay and winner of the National Book Award for Fiction

“Two women live uneasily on separate floors of a decrepit mansion in Paris. The younger can’t envision any future for herself. The older woman’s wish to live is failing. Mary Fleming weaves their stories together in Civilisation Française, a haunting novel about the pull of time past and future, and the courage to live fully one’s life and death.”—Laura Furman, author of Tuxedo Park and The Mother Who Stayed

Anyone who has spent her junior year abroad (or not) will love this Balzacian tale of a dark old house in Paris, a powerful old woman, strangely closed-off rooms, and a young American heroine with whom to explore the mysteries of French culture. This book will either take you back or introduce you afresh to the wonders of French life.”

—Diane Johnson, author of Le Divorce, Le Mariage and L’Affaire

Bloggers On Tour:

July 10th- Cassie’s Book Reviews https://instagram.com/cassies_books_reviews

July 15th- Joannas Bookshelf https://instagram.com/joannasbookshelf

July 17th- Tiffany Vt4 https://instagram.com/tiffanyvt4

July 18th – Nurse Bookie https://instagram.com/nurse_bookie

July 19th- Books Love And Understanding https://instagram.com/booksloveandunderstanding

July 20th- Novels and Latte Book Club –https://www.facebook.com/groups/357651988042629

July 20th- Plains Reading https://instagram.com/plains_reading

July 20th- Reading Is My Remedy https://instagram.com/reading_is_my_remedy

July 22nd- Lindas Book Obsession https://www.facebook.com/lindasbookobsession/

July 23rd – Rozier Reads and Wine https://instagram.com/rozierreadsandwine