repost: Books + Movies That Give Me Summer Nostalgia

**Because of recent events, it didn’t feel appropriate to post, and going forward I promise to more inclusive on TFI in my coverage of women and have stories in the works. In the meantime, this is a repost of last year, which feels appropriate since everyone’s summer plans have been, for the most part, upended.

One of the intrinsic pleasures of summer is a certain nostalgia I think most of us feel when we eat certain foods, smell distinct scents, and remember the rituals of travel, place and time that we experience during the season. Books and movies also play a role.

I have two favorite books about summer that I return to again and again because the writers are able to conjure up those kind of evocative feelings in a way that seems almost tangible. My all-time favorite is The House in France by Gully Wells. If you haven’t read it, and you love the idea of the South of France in summer, I cannot recommend it enough. The second, which was gifted by a friend is The Greek House: The Story of a Painter’s Love Affair with the Island of Sifnos by Christian Brechneff. I have never been to Greece and long to. This charming memoir makes me want to visit even more.

Movie wise, I always love rewatching Bonjour Tristesse starring Jean Seaberg and David Niven (it’s also somewhat fun to read) that takes place in the South of France, and Contempt (or Le Mepris in French) starring Brigitte Bardot, Goddard’s film set on the island of Capri. Both not only give me major wanderlust, but the clothes are quite fantastic too.