Can an insecure American woman find happiness with a sexy Parisian waiter--even if she doesn't like the French?I'm so glad I spent yesterday reading this book. My husband kept asking me what I was smiling at. It's a wonderfully witty book that takes an interesting and funny American look at Paris and then turns that witty view on America from a very funny French point of view.
Laura has spent most of her adult life avoiding serious relationships, flitting around the world, and keeping her romantic expectations comfortably low. The last thing she wants is to have her globe-trotting ways curtailed by a messy emotional entanglement. As far as she's concerned, chocolate is just as satisfying as true love--and a lot less complicated.
So how, in the name of all that is romantic, has she managed to get involved with a dangerously charming Frenchman named Sebastien? And only weeks before she's scheduled to leave Paris for good?
Everyone knows that Frenchmen are chain-smoking, manic-depressive, faithless, male chauvinistic, perfectionist snobs. What's worse, they live in France.
The cultural differences alone are enough to kill any relationship, even if Laura wanted one. She's from small-town Georgia. He's a sophisticated Parisian. They go together like grits and escargot.
But Sebastien isn't just any Frenchman. He's a gorgeous, sweet, sexy, graphic artist who seems to find Laura adorable for reasons she can't begin to comprehend. As the days slip by, she's finding it harder and harder to say adieu.
Unless she comes to her senses soon, she could end up ruining her life with a beautiful romance. . . .
It's a delightful look at what I hope are average American and French families. Her dealings with bureaucracies on both sides of the Atlantic are priceless. The interesting Catholic Priests she's encountered remind me of some from my childhood. And apparently septic tanks in France aren't any better than those in the States. I want to spend the 4th of July with Mrs. Florand's family in Georgia and I want to visit Mr. Florand's for the next fetes villageoises.
Just a few random thought...
- Mayonnaise needs to be refrigerated as does uncooked and cooked chicken, no matter what the French think.
- 11 year olds shouldn't be allowed to work a crane.
- "Mamie" reminded me of my grandmother, that was her nickname.
- "mon petite chou" reminded me of my grandfather, that's what he called us when we were little.
- Being a chocoholic Paris might be worth visiting.
- America needs PACS.
- Paris needs a little more green space if someone raised there is so easily impressed by squirrels.
A delightful, witty and sweet tale, and a really good read.
8 comments:
Wasn't it fun? And I totally agree with the points you mention. It reads like a Chick Lit romance but it's real life. How great is that? ;)
Jayne, honestly, I'm hoping she's got more books in the works, this was terrific. Her voice is Chick Lit in style, but at it's very best. Thanks for finding it--LOL.
ah paris seem to be coming in vogue or something. i have like 3 books i can read what i tlike to move there and live there and then come back to america. i wonder how canadians fare there? we are not the same as american no no. yet we are so much the same.this kinda stuff is so interesting. it why i loved that movie with meg ryan in movie french kiss. no great movie like when harry met sally in a long time are we due? your book sound great . i dotn read modern chick lit but this one u talked about sound so intriguing. maybe you would like the book call
year in the merde by stephen clarke
mm my other book is by woman called and her book is called umm- almost french by sarah turnbull love and a new life in paris. travel memoir mmm not sure that anyone cuppa tea but it might be good to get over a spell of not beign able to read maybe. but to really visit paris i dont know. fantasy and real life are the same . ah well
All right, now I totally need to go hunt this book down! :P
mamx, I'll look for those books, thanks.
Nath, I really enjoyed this I hope you do too.
Thank you, Tara Marie! Jayne sent me over here to enjoy the compliments. I think she suspects that after so much time in Paris, where, when people say "Not bad" they think they have praised you to the moon and stars and given you the big ankles*, I need some American-style praise. (*I don't know why the big ankles. No one can ever really explain it to me. But then, when they ask me why we say "a big head" I can never really think of an intelligent way to explain that either.)
Anyway, THANK you. I love your random thoughts and I am going to send all my relatives here so that they can see it is NOT a sign of my eccentricity that I object to mayonnaise and crane issues.
For the Canadians: I lived with lots of Canadians while I was in Paris. Some of them are even in the book. They had similar culture shocks to mine except that they did not get cold and, in fact, were excessively MOCKING in tone, I feel, when they were standing around in T-shirts and I was shivering in multiple layers of sweaters and wool coats and scarves.
Laura,
I really enjoyed this and being from NY I probably would have joined the Canadians--LOL. Through most of the winter I wear a denim jacket or a down vest.
Big head/big ankles I guess it's all about swelling something, which could really be taken wrong. :)
I'll do my best and spread the word--this one's worth reading.
See, I almost said that about swelling something, but I restrained myself. Thank you again! I really enjoyed this review. And I'm glad you enjoyed Blame It on Paris!
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