AROUND HOME : Pierre Deux’s Normandy: A French Country Style and Source Book : BY LINDA DANNENBERG, PIERRE LEVEC AND PIERRE MOULIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY GUY BOUCHET (Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1988)

THIS IS THE second in a series of life-style books based on the unique personalities of each of the regions of France by the authors of “Pierre Deux’s French Country.” The two Pierres--renowned authorities on French design and furniture, and partners in the successful Pierre Deux stores--and photographer Guy Bouchet have brought this colorful and historical region to life. It’s easy to see why Normandy long ago became a favorite weekend and vacation destination for Parisian society.

This charming, fertile land is dotted with historic chateaux and cottages set in a lush landscape; its diffused quality of light gave rise to the impressionists’ art form. The most typical regional architecture is the wood-ribbed, half-timber style, though other styles range from slate-roofed stone or brick manor houses to more humble thatched-roof cottages and tall, narrow costal dwellings. The authors offer an insider’s view into several homes, meticulously maintained, restored and beautifully furnished with fine antiques, ancestral portraits and intricately carved wooden antiques of the region. Also shown are a special breed of artisans and crafts persons--furniture makers, world-renowned lace makers, coppersmiths and bell makers. Regional cuisine--restaurants and the chefs who create it--titillates the pallette.

Not overlooked pictorially are the beaches--including the American Military Cemetery at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer--and their strategic role in the Allied invasion of June 1944. At the end of the book is a travel guide that includes suggestions for what to see, what and where to eat and where to stay throughout the province. ($35)