Reviews

The English Experience by Julie Schumacher

Only show reviews with written explanations

cheryl70's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kimb2's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is the third book in a series and I have to say, I didn’t feel I had to read the other books to enjoy this one. In fact, this is my first book by this author.

Jason Fitger, a long suffering and very lonely professor, is forced to lead a group of students on an experience abroad in London. He isn’t exactly enthused about the prospect. He hates London and generally doesn’t like people. The blurb for the book outlines the students well. He is stuck with “a claustrophobe with a juvenile detention record, a student who erroneously believes he is headed for the Caribbean, a pair of unreconciled lovers, a set of undifferentiated twins, and one young woman who has never been away from her cat before.” This description sold me on the book and that I love London.

What I liked about this story was that although the students were “seeing” the sites of London and surrounds, they were also learning to “see” themselves and their connections to other people. It is a character study, but also a study of the human condition.

I loved the humour and the cynicism and the poignancy. I loved that the students writings were part of the story. Some of these writings are hilarious, others have a much deeper meaning.

As a person who loves London, I really enjoyed reading about the exploits of these characters at the different attractions.

I kind of wish the story was longer. It was just so clever. In any event, I loved it.

“We nearly killed each other in a town called Lower Slaughter.”

adevans16's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.5

Hilarious,

rebeccawells's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As an ex-academic, I find Schumacher’s trilogy cathartic, very funny and also deeply humane

dantheman83's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

katieneedsabiggerbookshelf's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

When the professor that was meant to go can no longer, Jason is the last person the dean wants to send with the group of students oversees for study abroad. In his defense, it’s not exactly what Jason wants to do with his break either. He sucks it up and hits the Uk with an incredibly diverse group of kids. A claustrophobic student with a record, twins that he couldn’t tell apart if you paid him, a girl that has never left her cat, and a couple that are fighting after he was caught cheating, just to name a few!

This book was just delightfully funny. It is told mostly in the stories that the students turn in to Jason at the end of each day and let me tell you, some of them have me laughing out loud. All these students are a bit kooky, but in just the best and worst ways at the same time. I loved the style this book was written in, it pulled me in and left me continually wanting more.