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dereadergal's review
2.0
I was a bit disappointed in this book. I assumed it was going to have a little more tale of the love between the author and her Frenchman and a little bit less whining about not fitting in in France. I know it must be hard being an outsider, but it was just a bit much, so much that I wondered why she stuck through all the turmoil...I assume it was because she loved her man, but it surely didn't depict much of that in this book.
juliemanning's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
irishtraveller's review
4.0
A longtime Francophile, I love these kinds of books. While Sarah Turnbull is Australian, some of her perspectives and thoughts are very American. It was fascinating to read how her thought processes and ideas slowly changed to reflect that of the French--or to at least understand French thinking. Some of the events she experiences are at once hilarious and humiliating, yet Sarah sticks it out, determined to remain in France with the man who drew her there--Frédéric.
As a reader, we see from Sarah's perspective how Frédéric was forced to change as well, becoming more lax with his French societal rules and stipulations. By the end, they had come to a cultural understanding.
Sarah has a writing style that is conversational...I felt as if I were sitting down to tea with a good friend to hear all about her French adventures. And at points, I felt as if I should be taking notes about French culture so that the next time I'm there, I can fit in better. But I learned that a foreigner can never really be mistaken for a Frenchman. We will always be on the outside looking in one way or another.
As a reader, we see from Sarah's perspective how Frédéric was forced to change as well, becoming more lax with his French societal rules and stipulations. By the end, they had come to a cultural understanding.
Sarah has a writing style that is conversational...I felt as if I were sitting down to tea with a good friend to hear all about her French adventures. And at points, I felt as if I should be taking notes about French culture so that the next time I'm there, I can fit in better. But I learned that a foreigner can never really be mistaken for a Frenchman. We will always be on the outside looking in one way or another.
diptiramblesaboutbooks's review against another edition
5.0
3 stars for the book in general, 0.5 bonus for vulnerability, 0.5 for the way everything's concluded, and 1 star bonus for the relatability.
fyi: my ramblings have moved to:
https://girlandmonologues.medium.com/thebookmonologues-almost-french-a-new-life-in-paris-80c9b1127c48
fyi: my ramblings have moved to:
https://girlandmonologues.medium.com/thebookmonologues-almost-french-a-new-life-in-paris-80c9b1127c48
wk52bookreviews's review
4.0
A comical look of living life in Paris from the standpoint of an Australian journalist. It's light, fun, and brutally honest.
lara_hoffy's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
middddd interesting concept, boring in execution