This is a fun and informative read. Mah and her diplomat husband were offered a post in France, but just after they moved into their apartment, hubbie's orders were changed: a year in Baghdad, no spouses allowed. It was a plum assignment, not to be turned down.
That left Mah on her own, bereft, bored, and lonely. So she thinks about another diplomat's wife: Julia Child. She decides to spend the year studying, researching, cooking, and eating classic French dishes, including boeuf bourgignon, cassoulet, and even the dreaded andouillette.
There are lots of tidbits of French culture buried here, and a few forays into French history. It's a quick read - highly readable and worth picking up.
My only negative comment is that Mah is a bit too self-deprecating. For example, when a waiter corrects her when she tries to order her steak frites "moyen" and he suggests "a point" she cringes at the criticism. (I would have thanked the waiter gratefully.) This kind of behavior is repeated several times. But this is a minor quibble; the book is well worth reading.
I've now started "A Bite-Sized History of France" by Stéphane Hénaut and Jeni Mitchell. So far, so good. I'll report back later.