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wk52bookreviews's review against another edition
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 against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
middddd interesting concept, boring in execution
manadabomb's review against another edition
3.0
I've had a weird obsession with all things French since high school. Almost French was a really good (and yes, cute) book about Sarah's decision to leave Australia and move to France to be with a guy. Each chapter deals with issues she had in adapting to her new country.
Now I want to go to France.
Now I want to go to France.
aally_ddenford's review against another edition
3.0
i liked it a lot. for some reason i was expecting a fiction book about love, and instead i got a memoir about the cultural niches of France. but it was very well written and weirdly engaging. i wouldn’t read it again, but this is still a good read. i feel like i learnt a lot.
rankkaapina's review against another edition
5.0
This explained so much of my experience in France. Just what I needed, just the right time! Now I will go and imagine that I'm a chair... :)
Edit: I just read what some other people thought of the book and I was surprised that so many people disliked it. I get if you don't like the writing style, but the other major criticism seemed to be that we don't see the love story between Sarah & Frédéric. I guess it was advertised that way. For me, it wasn't about their love story but the relationship between Sarah and France. And yes, I've had so many similar experiences! And I love the way, even though frustrating at times, she does adjust to France and makes it her home. Also, I felt that the whole living between two countries came across really well. And the way she's not French, but she's not really Australian anymore either.
Edit: I just read what some other people thought of the book and I was surprised that so many people disliked it. I get if you don't like the writing style, but the other major criticism seemed to be that we don't see the love story between Sarah & Frédéric. I guess it was advertised that way. For me, it wasn't about their love story but the relationship between Sarah and France. And yes, I've had so many similar experiences! And I love the way, even though frustrating at times, she does adjust to France and makes it her home. Also, I felt that the whole living between two countries came across really well. And the way she's not French, but she's not really Australian anymore either.
upstatelibrarygal's review against another edition
4.0
This story of an Australian woman who meets and falls in love with a Frenchman, almost immediately moving to Paris to live with him, is a great illustration of what it's like to be an ex-patriate (particularly coming from a country with a relatively short history and moving to a place with a deep and rich history). The culture clash is evident and reminded me of my own experience living in Japan (a place of long history filled with tradition) as an American (from a place with a much more heterogeneous population and far shorter history). I found it comforting to know that many of us have similar experiences wherever we are. It was also a great glimpse into life in France.
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm. Okay. I'd been looking forward to this one for a while—I am perfectly happy to romanticise the idea of picking up and moving halfway across the world on a whim; ideally, I'd like to do the same when I finish grad school (minus the whim part). Turnbull is wonderfully descriptive about life in France, too: this isn't the sort of book where Paris is vaguely in the background. She's in Paris. Improving her language skills by leaps and bounds. Adapting to French ways of eating and socialising.
But, gosh. It's not that I fault her for experiencing culture shock—that's really to be expected. It's part of the theoretical beauty of picking up and moving like that. It takes so long for her to get past it, though: after three years of living in France, she finally decides that she has to 'forget how I did things in Australia and learn a new way of communicating that works in France' (184). That's a long way into the book to come to that realisation, you know? And again, I can't fault her for struggling, but I spent a lot of time wondering why she stayed. Was it the relationship? Because, well, details of the relationship were hazy enough that I wasn't really sure what kept them together, especially given Turnbull's difficulty assimilating. Or was it a faith that things would get easier if she stuck it out? Because I can respect that, except I didn't really see it.
Perhaps I am being unduly harsh. In many ways I was actually glad that she presented a more complex picture than starry-eyed romanticism (we'll get back to those starry eyes in [b:Only in Spain|18565281|Only in Spain A Foot-Stomping, Firecracker of a Memoir about Food, Flamenco, and Falling in Love|Nellie Bennett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400835791s/18565281.jpg|21765402]). And I appreciated her assessment, towards the end, that no matter how long she stays in France she'll never be truly French—that Australia calls to her, sometimes, and that on some level she'll always be an outsider in France. It ends up being, I think, a more complicated book than I originally gave it credit for, with plenty of food for thought.
But, gosh. It's not that I fault her for experiencing culture shock—that's really to be expected. It's part of the theoretical beauty of picking up and moving like that. It takes so long for her to get past it, though: after three years of living in France, she finally decides that she has to 'forget how I did things in Australia and learn a new way of communicating that works in France' (184). That's a long way into the book to come to that realisation, you know? And again, I can't fault her for struggling, but I spent a lot of time wondering why she stayed. Was it the relationship? Because, well, details of the relationship were hazy enough that I wasn't really sure what kept them together, especially given Turnbull's difficulty assimilating. Or was it a faith that things would get easier if she stuck it out? Because I can respect that, except I didn't really see it.
Perhaps I am being unduly harsh. In many ways I was actually glad that she presented a more complex picture than starry-eyed romanticism (we'll get back to those starry eyes in [b:Only in Spain|18565281|Only in Spain A Foot-Stomping, Firecracker of a Memoir about Food, Flamenco, and Falling in Love|Nellie Bennett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400835791s/18565281.jpg|21765402]). And I appreciated her assessment, towards the end, that no matter how long she stays in France she'll never be truly French—that Australia calls to her, sometimes, and that on some level she'll always be an outsider in France. It ends up being, I think, a more complicated book than I originally gave it credit for, with plenty of food for thought.
kalkie's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a wonderful book! However, before expanding more, I feel the need for a little bit of historical and geographical background.
I am Scottish. Therefore, unlike my English friends, I like the French people, I like France and France likes Scotland! This dates back to the 13th Century when Scotland and France formed the Auld Alliance to curtail the English expansion, and ever since the two countries have been friends and partners. Even now, when I travel to France and am met by the usual question "Etes-vous anglais?" (spoken, you have to understand, with a slight sneer and look of distaste); a smile, a roll of the eyes and a emphatic "Non!" followed by "Je suis écossaise" is usually followed by returned smiles and friendly chatter. The manner totally changes as soon as it is established you are a friend and not a foe.
Non-Europeans also have to realise that France, and more particularly Paris, is a unique linguistic island among the European capital cities. If one travels to Amsterdam, everyone speaks English. My poor 3-word Dutch vocabulary is next to useless! Even when you travel to Brussels, Berlin or Madrid, and speak bad French, German or Spanish, they will answer you in English. However in Paris, the overwhelming tendency is for the Parisians to avoid speaking English as long as possible. You can stutter over your tu and vous for hours, pronouncing the language in the most horrible way (a Scottish accent is not naturally used to forming French consonants!) and still the most able English-speaking Parisian will refuse to utter a word to help you out. It's not that they can't, they just think "well why should I?". This French attitude can seem arrogant, but to my mind it is a wonderful characteristic of the country (and certainly gives you a sense of achievement when your stumbling French finally gets understood and you get a result). That said, I have never quite forgiven the country for (literally) pointing and laughing at me when I was 14 years old, and my well practiced "demi kilo du jambon s'il vous plaît turned, accidentally - due to my Scottish accent and the local regional accent - into "deux mille kilo du jambon s'il vous plaît. For those of you who don't speak French, I'll let you find out what I said for yourself!
The final thing you have to realise about cultural differences is just how far removed Australia is from the attitudes seen in France. In Australia a spade is a spade and no-one is afraid to tell you that. Parties and barbecues are thrown with minimum excuse needed, and everyone is friendly and open and expected to join in. From my experiences in this wonderful country, no-one stands on ceremony. You are expected to join in, and if the food, people and music are there and you don't have a good time, then whose fault is it but your own? Australia is the epitome of a laid back, relaxed country where everyone chips in.
"Almost French" details the life of Australian journalist Sarah Turnbull after she decides, on a whim, to go and visit a Frenchman she met briefly while back-packing through Eastern Europe. This is a well-written and funny account of her experiences in France as an outsider. Starting from the beginning of her relationship with Frédèric (I hope I have the grave and acute the right way round!) she details their initial misunderstandings in each other's language - which often result in amusing anecdotes. This is followed by non-stop confusion surrounding etiquette of living in Paris, her experiences at Parisian dinner parties and with Frédèric's friends and family, and the isolation she feels as an "Anglo Saxon" in Paris. It reads as an honest account of her frustration and joy in Paris, and very quickly the reader gets sucked into her new life. The book contains just the right amount of detail so the reader doesn't get bogged down in the minutiae of life, while still being able to follow what is happening. My only criticism of the book would be that, towards the end, she tries to look back on her experiences and wrap up the story in a manner which doesn't altogether sit well with the writing style of the rest of the book. However I thought this was a wonderful read and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
I will be really interested to see what other people have to say about this book - particularly those in France and Australia.
I am Scottish. Therefore, unlike my English friends, I like the French people, I like France and France likes Scotland! This dates back to the 13th Century when Scotland and France formed the Auld Alliance to curtail the English expansion, and ever since the two countries have been friends and partners. Even now, when I travel to France and am met by the usual question "Etes-vous anglais?" (spoken, you have to understand, with a slight sneer and look of distaste); a smile, a roll of the eyes and a emphatic "Non!" followed by "Je suis écossaise" is usually followed by returned smiles and friendly chatter. The manner totally changes as soon as it is established you are a friend and not a foe.
Non-Europeans also have to realise that France, and more particularly Paris, is a unique linguistic island among the European capital cities. If one travels to Amsterdam, everyone speaks English. My poor 3-word Dutch vocabulary is next to useless! Even when you travel to Brussels, Berlin or Madrid, and speak bad French, German or Spanish, they will answer you in English. However in Paris, the overwhelming tendency is for the Parisians to avoid speaking English as long as possible. You can stutter over your tu and vous for hours, pronouncing the language in the most horrible way (a Scottish accent is not naturally used to forming French consonants!) and still the most able English-speaking Parisian will refuse to utter a word to help you out. It's not that they can't, they just think "well why should I?". This French attitude can seem arrogant, but to my mind it is a wonderful characteristic of the country (and certainly gives you a sense of achievement when your stumbling French finally gets understood and you get a result). That said, I have never quite forgiven the country for (literally) pointing and laughing at me when I was 14 years old, and my well practiced "demi kilo du jambon s'il vous plaît turned, accidentally - due to my Scottish accent and the local regional accent - into "deux mille kilo du jambon s'il vous plaît. For those of you who don't speak French, I'll let you find out what I said for yourself!
The final thing you have to realise about cultural differences is just how far removed Australia is from the attitudes seen in France. In Australia a spade is a spade and no-one is afraid to tell you that. Parties and barbecues are thrown with minimum excuse needed, and everyone is friendly and open and expected to join in. From my experiences in this wonderful country, no-one stands on ceremony. You are expected to join in, and if the food, people and music are there and you don't have a good time, then whose fault is it but your own? Australia is the epitome of a laid back, relaxed country where everyone chips in.
"Almost French" details the life of Australian journalist Sarah Turnbull after she decides, on a whim, to go and visit a Frenchman she met briefly while back-packing through Eastern Europe. This is a well-written and funny account of her experiences in France as an outsider. Starting from the beginning of her relationship with Frédèric (I hope I have the grave and acute the right way round!) she details their initial misunderstandings in each other's language - which often result in amusing anecdotes. This is followed by non-stop confusion surrounding etiquette of living in Paris, her experiences at Parisian dinner parties and with Frédèric's friends and family, and the isolation she feels as an "Anglo Saxon" in Paris. It reads as an honest account of her frustration and joy in Paris, and very quickly the reader gets sucked into her new life. The book contains just the right amount of detail so the reader doesn't get bogged down in the minutiae of life, while still being able to follow what is happening. My only criticism of the book would be that, towards the end, she tries to look back on her experiences and wrap up the story in a manner which doesn't altogether sit well with the writing style of the rest of the book. However I thought this was a wonderful read and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
I will be really interested to see what other people have to say about this book - particularly those in France and Australia.
sabitrikkhatri's review against another edition
dnf @35%
her inability to adapt to france and the french language got old really quickly
complain more please, not
her inability to adapt to france and the french language got old really quickly
complain more please, not