One of my not-so-secret literary passions is travel writing, specifically European travel writing. Frances Mayes of Under the Tuscan Sun fame, Bill Bryson of A Walk in the Woods Fame, Julia Child of French culinary cooking fame, and more. Peter Mayle is another favorite. He tends to focus on Provence and pastoral France and his works are simple, fun, beautifully written and vibrant in their description and depiction of French life -- a lifestyle so at odds with American day-to-day life.
If travel writing or travelogues are not in your TBR, I recommend them immensely. Below I've added an interview with Peter Mayle (author of A Year in Provence) to introduce you to the art of travel writing and introduce you to a new favorite genre.
~Enjoy