Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris

by Sarah Turnbull

Book Overview

The charming true story of a spirited young woman who finds adventure--and the love of her life--in Paris.

"This isn't like me. I'm not the sort of girl who crosses continents to meet up with a man she hardly knows. Paris hadn't even been part of my travel plan..."

A delightful, fresh twist on the travel memoir, Almost French takes us on a tour that is fraught with culture clashes but rife with deadpan humor. Sarah Turnbull's stint in Paris...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592400825
• ISBN13: 9781592400829
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

I haven't stopped laughing!

This book is so true! I also live in Europe, and a lot of things in the book hold true for Europeans, not just the French. Sarah Turnbull tells both the highs and lows of living in France. I learned a few things from the book too, for example, how to select cheese, fish, and a few dishes. Also, I have always wondered why French women are always dressed in their "Sunday Best" clothing when I see them in a cafe' or in the supermarket. Now, I know. Wonderful book, very light hearted and informative.

Will whoever borrowed it last give it back? Please?

Sarah Turnbull, an Australian journalist, takes a year off work to travel. While she is roaming around Europe she meets a Parisian named Frederic, who invites her to visit him in Paris. It sounds like a good idea at the time; she does, although by the time her plane lands at Charles de Gaulle she is beginning to wonder what possessed her to agree to stay with essentially a complete and total stranger.The visit goes well, though; so well, in fact, that she moves permanently not just to Paris, but into Frederic's apartment. The memoir that follows is a charming and amusing account of two cultures, embodied by two very different people -- the uptight, nattily dressed Frenchman and the casual, easy-going Aussie -- trying to coexist in a small space. He is appalled when she wears her sweat pants to pick up her morning baguette ("But it's not nice for the baker!"); she doesn't understand his sense of humor. This is a happy story that ends with a wedding, but not before the author has myriad battles with the language, countless misunderstandings with the the customs of the place, and some truly homesick spells yearning for Australia.I found this book laugh-out-loud funny (although I'll admit my reaction may have been a little extreme) because I have spent time in Paris and saw myself very clearly in Ms. Turnbull's language struggles, efforts to get a journalistic career going, and just general befuddlement. I've passed my copy on to some travelling companions who felt the same way I did. But even if you've never been to France, "Almost French" is well-worth reading for the entertainment value alone. The descriptions are apt. The voice is personable and interesting, so much so that by the time you've finished, you'll feel not just that you've visited Paris, but as if you've made a new friend while you were there.

A truly fabulous read.

Turnbull takes every day life events and turns them into a witty and inspiring tale. A must read for anyone living overseas or just if you fantasize about it.