More Tales of a Stranger in a Charming Land

AT HOME IN FRANCE: Tales of an American and Her House Abroad by Ann Barry (Ballantine, $20).

Maybe it’s the water. Maybe the wine. Maybe those little disks of soft cheese that melt deliciously over crusty bread. I don’t know, but something over there makes Anglo-American writers go gaga over southern France.

More than a decade ago, Ann Barry bought a cottage near the Dordogne River. Twice a year, she returns for short stays, trading the reality of New York City for the romance of Gaul. This is France’s “ac” country: Aurillac, Payrac, Bergerac and Barry’s own village of Carennac. It’s west and a bit north of Peter Mayle’s Provence, but readers will recognize the cast of characters that Barry describes: the reserved-but-ultimately-friendly neighbors, the petty bureaucrats, the farm folk who dish up amazing foods.

Even less happens to Barry in Carennac than happened to Mayle during his year in Provence. At least it seems less. Barry’s rather solitary personality, lack of irony and forthright love of the place makes “At Home” a low-key set of tales. Aside from her house, Barry’s only passion seems to be food. And her search for le meilleur pain du monde (the best bread in the world) is a fine example of how to turn the smallest of episodes into a charming, even exciting, adventure.

“At Home” does have its charms, although they are in direct proportion to one’s tolerance for mild reminiscence and the minutiae of French country life.

Quick trip:

CHECKLIST FOR A PERFECT HONEYMOON by Suzanne Rodriguez-Hunter (Doubleday, $7.99, paperback). Despite the fact that the first section is titled “Tools,” I don’t think Rodriguez-Hunter is a satirist. “Checklist” seems to be a primer for travel virgins. It’s monumentally obvious (a departure-day tip: “Lock all doors and windows securely.”) and perversely gushy (“Caressed by gentle trade winds and balmy weather, perfumed by bright red and blazing yellow flowers, Hawaii is our most exotic state.”).

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