Open Book Comes to Normandy

With Scott Simon, of NPR, and his co-host and wife, Caroline Simon

I love living in France, holding French citizenship, and enjoying everything that a life in France comprises. I’ve written much about this of course, most of it involving the procuring and preparation of food and those behind this valiant and noble effort.  I will mention that this love affair is eternal, despite the current roller coaster of politics we are enduring. 

Now and then, though, I’m homesick.  I ward this off in many ways. When we first moved to France, it was with a subscription to the International Herald Tribune delivered into the mailbox every day.  Somehow, turning the pages of an English language newspaper was a touch of home.  So was the BBC (not quite home but almost).  And then, when it became so easy to channel other favorite sources of information, NPR (National Public Radio) became my go to, that familiar, lulling voice of home. And Scott Simon has long been one of my favorite NPR contributors. 

When I received an email from Caroline Simon, who is married to Scott, inviting me to be a guest on their podcast, Open Book, I said yes without hesitation.  Begun during the pandemic confinement in 2020, the Simon’s started Open Book as a way to bring joy into their lives. An entire family affair that involved one of their teenage daughters as technical crew, it continues to bring together their very personal interests regarding books, authors, and subjects of daily interest.  Like the Simons, it is smart, fun, and lively and I considered it an honor to be invited. 

The Simons arrived at my home in Normandy on a cool, sunny afternoon that compelled us to begin the interview in the garden, among the riotous flowers and the sunny face of the church across the street.  I watch Open Book so I knew the repartee would be fun, but I didn’t expect that depth of the questions, several which of gave me pause for reflection. 

I had baked traditional Norman sand cookies, sablés, for the Simons, thinking to give them an untasted regional treat.  However, when Caroline walked into the kitchen and saw the cut glass dish heaped with dainty little blonde cookies, she cried out with delight “sablés!”   It turns out her mother was French, she came to France regularly as a child, and now she and Scott have an apartment in Deauville, just over an hour from my home, sablé country.  Who knew? But it created a bond.

We spent a good part of a lovely sunny afternoon together, in the garden then later in the kitchen.  As we progressed, I discovered what I’d expected from the Simons and more.  Deep interest in everything, vast cultural experience and knowledge, a true and profound love of writing and reading, and a distinguished and humble respect that can come from practiced journalists accustomed to eking out information and stories from their subjects.

To see the interviews, follow these links, they’ll lead you to X (formerly…you know what).  And subscribe to Open Book.  It’s a rich, cultural event nearly every day.

https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1PlKQDbRMOzxE

https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1rmGPMoZdpbJN