Made in France, My Diary

I decided to try to find Made in France products each time I made a purchase and keep a Made in France Diary.

The idea sprang from my exercise diary. I write down on my calendar each time I get some exercise, riding my bike, taking a walk for errands or fun or taking a class. Keeping a diary helps me to keep that focus and make sure I move. I have a nice record of my constitutional outings. It is very satisfying to be able to look back and see that I pretty much get my requisite 30 minutes each day, plus needing to make an entry on the calendar gets me up and out; I get both satisfaction and encouragement.

I decided to apply that to my Made in France year. A diary, technically a monthly of what I buy and if it is MIF. I decided I was not going to be obsessive and buy ONLY MIF, like this guy Benjamin Carle who in 2014 made a project of transforming his life and apartment to only MIF. Benjamin was un peu extrême - in his words- abo…

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  • 25 octobre 2025
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The Encyclopedia of Thriller writers

At Bill & Rosa's Book Room, we know the importance of a good thriller and especially, the right thriller at the right time, so to help you choose we wrote a short encyclopedia of thriller writers, some background about each one, their writing style and their best-known characters and series. All you have to do is decide which one best suits your mood! The encyclopedia is published in installments. The first part focused on American Thriller writers - a surprising number of whom come from New Jersey! The second part is around British thriller writers including 2 Scottish Tartan noir authors. Third part focuses on Scandinavian. Please feel free to request other author profiles in the comment section. Let us know who you think we should include. To see which of these Thriller writers is currently in stock (we have tons!) at the Book Room you can browse our inventory online here.  American Thriller writers Kathy Reichs Born in Chicago, 1948. She majored in anthropology…
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  • 12 octobre 2025
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Thrillers set in Paris

Paris! What a better place for mystery. Such an intriguing setting. A body found in the Seine, Cold War spies, World War II subversions and escapes, art and history crimes. There are many novels of crime and thrillers set in Paris, our fair city full of phantoms. Think ahead for great Paris-themed Christmas gifts. Offer your friends or family thrillers set in Paris! What a better place for a mysterious setting. Or a memoir about how funny life can be here for the expat. https://fusac.fr/anglo-authors-in-paris/ Or browse our Paris/France selection for just the right book about historic restaurants, Paris walks, Paris movies, Paris design and fashion. We have a wide variety on a special shelf. Here's a few of the thrillers set in Paris to whet your whistle. Cara Black is a bestselling American mystery writer. She is best known for her Aimée Leduc mystery novels featuring a female Paris-based private investigator. Her first novel Murder in the Marais was nominated fo…
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  • 6 octobre 2025
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Book Room Events

Upcoming Book Room Events:   Saturday 28 November 16:00 Author Nicky Gentil will be discussing her book Bilingual Parenting: A Practical Guide. Please keep in mind that this is not an event for childre. Free, please sign up by e-mail at brbookroom@gmail.com Saturday 05 December 16:00 Join Lisa Allen, Pastry Chef, Chocolatier and Level 2 Certified Chocolate Taster, for an in-depth introduction to the world of fine flavor, single origin chocolate, how it's made and what it can taste like. Free, please sign up by e-mail at brbookroom@gmail.com Old book craft workshops: Paper flowers, Journals, Pop-up cards, Mobile making, Christmas crackers. Textile workshops, Children’s story time and more! Read more about the Book Room https://www.fusac.fr/bill-rosas-book-room/
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  • 29 septembre 2025
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Learn French Fast: Why Immersion Outpaces the Classroom

Learn French Fast: Why French Immersion Outpaces the Classroom by Georgiana MAES ONESIM, FITH Many learners of la langue de Molière face the same dilemma: how can I learn French fast? While traditional language schools provide structure, they often progress slowly. By contrast, immersion in France offers an accelerated, life-changing path to fluency. CEFR Levels: Setting Clear Goals The CEFR scale (A1–C2) is the global standard for language proficiency. A1–A2: basics like introducing yourself or asking for directions. B1–B2: confidence in conversations, following the news, working in French. C1–C2: near-native fluency for academic or professional contexts. Most universities require B2, many employers expect it, and residency procedures often demand B1 oral skills. Knowing these benchmarks helps you plan realistically. Why Traditional Classes Can Be Slow The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) estimates 600–750 hours for English speakers to reach …
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  • 25 septembre 2025
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Do you Wero?

Wero is coming Did you know that each time you use a payment card there is a cost to the merchant? Did you know that it costs even more if your card is a Premium MasterCard or Visa? It also costs the business more if your card is from outside the EU or if the card is of a professional nature but there is no additional service provided to the merchant. For each transaction the shop, service provider or restaurant pays between 1.5 and 5% depending on the card used. And it’s the little guy that pays the most since there are volume discounts! Sure, everyone benefits from the ease of using a card as opposed to cash, but do you realize how much it is costing you and the business accepting the card? And that the cost of the service is higher just because the card is a different color? Visa and MC charge the merchant more for the same service if your card is of a higher grade. Plus a lot of cards charge YOU for foreign transactions. When you think about the trillions of transaction…
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  • 19 septembre 2025
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English Books Paris: What’s New at Bill & Rosa’s Book Room

Each month in the Book Room online, we recommend newly published books.

A REMARKABLE MAN, DR. SHUNTARO HIDA FROM HIROSHIMA TO FUKUSHIMA is a poignant, eye-opening portrait of a witness to the atomic bomb who dedicated his life to treating and advocating for radiation survivors. This book is chilling, edifying and inspiring all at the same time.

As a young doctor, Shuntaro Hida (1917–2017) played an essential role in the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing, which he witnessed firsthand only six kilometers from ground zero. Tending to the overwhelming number of victims from day one until his death, Hida spent more than sixty years developing an unparalleled understanding of the harmful effects of internal and external radiation.

Through intimate, thoughtful interviews and compelling reportage, and personal reflection Marc Petitjean has created a worthy tribute to this charismatic, determined man who stood up to complicit businesses and gov…

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  • 13 septembre 2025
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Water in Paris, part 6: Tidbits

Water in Paris, Part 6: Tidbits Continuing our series of articles on water in Paris here we present a list of odds and ends or tidbits about and around water in Paris. The motto of Paris « Fluctuat nec mergitur » is closely linked to the Seine. It is a Latin phrase which means  Tossed by the waves, but never sinks. In French Il est battu par les flots, mais ne sombre pas. The motto dates from antiquity and was used, along with a ship, on the arms of the corporation des Nautes (the water merchants). The first recorded flood of Paris was in 585. The original bateaux-mouches dating from the 19th century were named for Mouche, a section of the city of Lyon where they were built. Bathhouses were first created along the Seine in 1688. The first warm baths were available in 1761 and in 1785 the first swimming area was created along with the first swimming school in the world. The quays of the Seine are a UNESCO World Heritage site from pont de Sully to pont d'Iéna. …
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  • 7 septembre 2025
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Water in Paris, Part 5: The Paris Canals

Water in Paris Part 5: The Paris Canals The city of Paris is the proprietor of and responsible for a fluvial network of 130km of canals which cross 5 departments (Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis, Seine-et-Marne, Oise and Aisne) and two regions (Île-de-France et Picardie). There are three canals that interconnect: canal de l’Ourcq brings in water from the rivers Ourcq and Marne to feed the canals Saint Martin and Saint Denis. The construction of the Paris canal network was ordered by Napoleon I in 1802 as a way of providing fresh water to Paris which was out-growing its sources. It was also instrumental in transporting goods including food and building materials by boat, with two ports established at the Port de l'Arsenal and the Bassin de la Villette. This was the first time that the same waterway was to be used for navigation and drinking water. It took 23 years to complete the network of canals. Rest assured the canal water is no longer used for drinking water, but it is still m…
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  • 31 août 2025
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