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114 reviews for:
Almost French: The Story of an Australian Woman's Impetuous Heart and Finding Love in a Magical City
Sarah Turnbull
3.48 AVERAGE
114 reviews for:
Almost French: The Story of an Australian Woman's Impetuous Heart and Finding Love in a Magical City
Sarah Turnbull
3.48 AVERAGE
I liked this much more than I thought. Not as funny as Bill Bryson, this look at another culture is insightful, but doesn't try to accomplish anything (it doesn't try to make you like or dislike the French - for which I think the author should be applauded).
Ms.Turnbull is definitely insightful, and her observations about the French and Paris and even how this country deals with its food and its government are spot on. Recounting the tale of how she came to visit Paris, fell in love, and became a citizen if fraught with a few stories that will make you uncomfortable, but a few that are fascinating and tell you so much about the mindset of the French it's astounding. (The story of how her boyfriend checked into a hotel, then began rearranging the room to align with his French sensibilities is so indicative of their sense of aesthetics I am still recounting it to people).
All in all, a great read for anyone with a fascination of things French.
Ms.Turnbull is definitely insightful, and her observations about the French and Paris and even how this country deals with its food and its government are spot on. Recounting the tale of how she came to visit Paris, fell in love, and became a citizen if fraught with a few stories that will make you uncomfortable, but a few that are fascinating and tell you so much about the mindset of the French it's astounding. (The story of how her boyfriend checked into a hotel, then began rearranging the room to align with his French sensibilities is so indicative of their sense of aesthetics I am still recounting it to people).
All in all, a great read for anyone with a fascination of things French.
I am a masochist. I force myself to read books about anglos living in France...and then get really riled up and wonder what country they were REALLY living in. I can see the France's imperfections, I can even list them. It would take me a couple of hours---but in the end, there are imperfections and then there are generalizations.
This book was different. She presented the country, warts and all....and even looked into her motivation in living in France. Her insight and comments were on par and a reminder as to why I love this country so much (and hate it on the same page).
This book was different. She presented the country, warts and all....and even looked into her motivation in living in France. Her insight and comments were on par and a reminder as to why I love this country so much (and hate it on the same page).
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
You can read my full review of this book at: http://oddfeather.co/2017/05/29/review-almost-french-by-sarah-turnbull/
One of my favourite books, Turnbull's style is fun and very readable. Her anecdotes are fascinating, and her observations on the problem of belonging to two places are poignant and moving.
One of my favourite books, Turnbull's style is fun and very readable. Her anecdotes are fascinating, and her observations on the problem of belonging to two places are poignant and moving.
lighthearted true story of a non-frenchwoman attempting to live peacefully with the french. a good story as well as an interesting culture study.
Exceedingly dull and poorly written.
As someone in quite a similar situation (I'm an NZ girl with a French partner) I can testify as to the truthfulness of her account - it was nice to see expressed in words what I felt at times during my first months in France! Only disappointment was that the 'love story' aspect was not expanded upon at all. I was left wondering how a relationship that seemed to start on little more than a whim evolved into obviously a very succesful and loving partnership spanning two cultures.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
