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115 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
115 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 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.
funny
lighthearted
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
After studying abroad in France, I really enjoyed reading an Australian establishing herself in a new culture. Reading about her time in France reminded me of my time there. It was fun reading about how she gets settled in a new place and a new life.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Interesting but not what I expected. Written well and didn't get bored.
slow-paced
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
lighthearted
relaxing
A revealing insight. All the more refreshing for not being in the 'Year in Provence' mould. Don't fall under the illusion that this is anecdotes of "we woke up and there were goats in the veg patch"! Rather, this is a memoir of adjusting to French manners, mores and etiquette in mid-90s Paris. And how differences in culture do genuinely affect relationships and personal well-being.
If I'm making it sound scholarly, well, it's not - it is written with a light-touch - but these aren't anecdotes set in 'tourist Paris' but rather in dinner-party Paris, grocery-shopping Paris, administrative Paris. Too many books about adapting to a new culture focus on wilder extremes - "Brooklyn Woman moves to Turkmenistan" - that sort of premise. But this is reassuringly and realistically more subtle and I think, all the better for it.
It's likely that French culture has softened or changed in the decades since (this book predates social-media) and, if "un cocktail" operates along different lines now, well, so be it. This is a snapshot of how society ticked back then and it still makes for an absorbing read.
If I'm making it sound scholarly, well, it's not - it is written with a light-touch - but these aren't anecdotes set in 'tourist Paris' but rather in dinner-party Paris, grocery-shopping Paris, administrative Paris. Too many books about adapting to a new culture focus on wilder extremes - "Brooklyn Woman moves to Turkmenistan" - that sort of premise. But this is reassuringly and realistically more subtle and I think, all the better for it.
It's likely that French culture has softened or changed in the decades since (this book predates social-media) and, if "un cocktail" operates along different lines now, well, so be it. This is a snapshot of how society ticked back then and it still makes for an absorbing read.