BookwormBy John Andrews
I thought Newsletter readers were entitled to a break from my recommendations, which is why you have not heard from me during the winter months. I hope, however, that you are all suitably refreshed to commence some serious reading now that spring is creeping up on us.
I would like to start the new season with a very fresh part-biography by Sarah Turnbull, an Australian freelance Paris-based writer, who shares her frustration with us in trying to come to terms not only with living in Paris and trying to learn the language and customs of the Parisians, but also coping with a very correct and well-connected fiancé Frederic.
Almost French, published by Bantam, is a delight from the first page to the end. Put together a very French Frenchman with a strong-willed Australian girl and the result is some hilarious cultural clashes. Sarah’s clothes, her laugh, her conversation – even how much she drinks – sets her apart from her fiancé and his friends. The language, the misunderstandings, the suspicion of the local shopkeepers, the perception of the French that Australians know nothing about food, all blend into a funny, perceptive and poignant tale. Almost French will delight at every level, but is a warning to those who think that they can move to France without very careful preparation, and without a fluent knowledge of the language and understanding of the customs and traditions of the country.