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112 reviews for:
Almost French: The Story of an Australian Woman's Impetuous Heart and Finding Love in a Magical City
Sarah Turnbull
3.49 AVERAGE
112 reviews for:
Almost French: The Story of an Australian Woman's Impetuous Heart and Finding Love in a Magical City
Sarah Turnbull
3.49 AVERAGE
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.
I read this about ten years ago, when I was in the midst of my travel phase. It seemed to be a time when there were so many travel memoirs around, both in print and on film, and it was all about romanticising the idea of packing up and moving to an exotic place. I remember really enjoying this book back then and so when I read it this year for book club, I went into with rose coloured glasses. Times have changed though, and in my older and wiser state nowadays I must admit I wasn't as enamoured by Turnbull's writing as I was all those years ago. Personally, I think the book itself has become dated - it's written of a particular time, which is fine, but unlike some memoirs that are timeless, the themes and events that are referred to in Almost French are very much in the past, and from a 2023 perspective, are somewhat problematic. For example, the author's own ideas of feminism seem in contrast with how she views and speaks about French women in the book, and certainly now some comments raise an eyebrow. At times it is very much judging the French way of life, while she is justifying her own feelings of inadequacy. While the book is written as a fish out of water tale, some of the issues the character of Sarah encounters are of her own making - her reluctance to learn the language, her refusal to try to incorporate French ideas into her life (like fashion), her only making friends with other ex-pats rather than French women because of some thinly veiled jealously. To be honest it reeks of privilege, especially reading it again post-Covid and during the cost of living crisis. I noticed this time that the tone is not joyous or excited - and while the life in Paris is described in realistic (I assume) details, it lacks that romanticised notion of moving-to-Paris-for-love theme that the book suggests it it going to be about. There are good moments, I like her description of life with Maddie the Westie, I liked the moving story when their friends all helped, I liked the fashion week anecdotes. I wished there was more about the romance -we hardly learn anything about Frederic! I guess that Turnbull's choices were about creating a realistic experience of her time in France, but I feel that when reading a travel memoir, you want more of the sepia toned memories, the sparkling anecdotes, the funny and scary and sweet moments. I do, especially nowadays as travel has changed. At times I wondered if the character really enjoyed living in Paris, and whether she recognised how lucky she was to be able to do what she did - I wondered how she survived with no regular job?? Anyway, it was an okay read but it was interesting to see how my feelings towards it had changed over time.
A nicely written piece about what it is like for those non-French folks drawn to the heart of the county, hoping to live, love, and really be part of Paris. No matter how long you'll stay, even years and years, you'll always be an outsider, you'll always be "Almost French." Great read; great story - thanks for sharing.
I'm wavering between 3 and 4 on this one. I really liked the way she depicted the cultural gap between herself and her adopted country. I've spent a lot of time in Germany and have similar feelings; my best friend was born in the States, but has lived in Germany most of her adult life (for more than 20 years now) and has similar feelings. There's something about this book that doesn't quite satisfy, though. It's been a couple of years since I read it, so I don't remember enough to speculate on what it was. I gave it to my best friend a couple years ago and she had a similar reaction.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
I had high expectations of this book after hearing it spoken of so often over the years, but I found it just okay. Many of the observations are clearly of their time, or are now so commonplace that they just aren’t as interesting. Most of all, I really wanted more about the author’s life and the central relationship - but the reader only hears about their disagreements over cultural differences. This meant I found it difficult to connect with the story or understand her motivations for moving. I’d recommend Paris for Beginners by Rachael Coopes and Jayne Tuttle’s two Paris memoirs for a more personal memoir-style read about Paris.
It’s a sweet book but a little dull. Memoirs live & die by the author’s voice, and I honestly was just not that intrigued by her. There were some interesting moments, but overall I had to push myself to keep reading, basically skimming the last third.
It takes place in the mid to late 90s, in Paris. I enjoyed the first half, to 2/3 of the book more than the second half. The author reflected on culture differences and fitting in. The second half was more topic based. It was fine but a bit drawn out.
very enjoyable read -- great insight into French culture and life from an Australian living in France.
the pull of belonging to two places reminds me of Grandfather's Journey and other books that talk about this -- being in one place and missing another.
the pull of belonging to two places reminds me of Grandfather's Journey and other books that talk about this -- being in one place and missing another.
I loved this! Don't usually enjoy memoirs unless there's some "important" message, moral, etc. I laughed all the way through. I thought I knew enough French to get by, but after reading Turnbull's experiences, I have second, third, twentieth thoughts about trying out my French whenever I do take that dream trip to Paris and Provence. I was afraid when I started the book that it was more about her relationship and less about the country, but Turnbull was able to weave the personal with the "point" very nicely. I've already passed it on to two friends.
Great book, really interesting and glad I finally got around to reading it. It does nothing to make me want to move to France, (I would be a disaster over there, judging by what this has to say) but it makes for a good read.