A review by kimb2
The English Experience by Julie Schumacher

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.”