Synopses & Reviews
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 Turnbulls stint in Paris was only supposed to last a week. Chance had brought Sarah and Frédéric together in Bucharest, and on impulse she decides to take him up on his offer to visit him in the worlds most romantic city. Sacrificing Vegemite for vichyssoise, the feisty journalist does her best to fit in, although her conversation, her laugh, and even her wardrobe advertise her foreign status.
But as she navigates the highs and lows of this strange new world, from life in a bustling quartier and surviving Parisian dinner parties to covering haute couture fashion shows and discovering the paradoxes of French culture, little by little Sarah falls under its spell: maddening, mysterious, and charged with that French specialtyseduction.
a love song to Paris and France, yes, but a love song in a minor key
Sarah Turnbull seems to have gotten a lot closer to the real thing than most of us who will always be on the outside looking in...
--Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World
jewels of insightand the book shines with themmake Almost French a worthy read. Turnbulls story will entertain, and edify, both armchair travelers and those of us nutty enough to try living here.
--Joe Ray, The Boston Globe
Turnbulls memoir is a charming, insightful meditation.
--USA Today
full of honest ups and downs
its explorations of the cultural quicksand Turnbull gradually adapts to are fascinating. I hope to visit Paris one day, and am grateful to learn so many ways to avoid being an ugly American.
--Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer
Youll love this true story of a woman who left her life behind for a sexy foreigner.
--Cosmopolitan
Anyone who finds herself in a situation like Turnbulls
will be luckier; shell have Turnbulls warm, clear prose to soothe frayed nerves.
Newsday
Review
"In an unpretentious manner, the strong yet empathetic Turnbull relates the transition from her Australian home to a new life with her French fiance, adding a good twist of dry, self-deprecating humor." Library Journal
Review
"An engaging story of a sometimes rocky but ultimately affectionate relationship with another culture." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
A delightful, fresh twist on the travel memoir,
Almost French takes readers on a tour that is fraught with culture clashes but rife with deadpan humor and on every page, the tour guide is falling more deeply in love, not just with her French boyfriend, but with her newly adopted country.
Sarah Turnbull's stint in Paris was only supposed to last a week. Chance had brought Sarah and Frederic together in Bucharest, and on impulse she decided to take him up on his offer to visit him in the world's most romantic city. Sacrificing Vegemite for vichyssoise, the feisty Sydney journalist does her best to fit in, although her conversation, her laugh, and her wardrobe all advertise her foreigner status. The reality of living in France turns out to be dramatically different from her expectations, yet she finds herself unable to resist Paris's maddening, mysterious charm. Bit by bit she discovers the paradoxes of French life the hard way, and learns to survive Parisian dinner parties. Her journalism career starts to flourish as she learns to cover and dress for the haute couture fashion shows. An entertaining tale of being a fish out of water in one of the world's most magical cities, Almost French is sure to enchant both seasoned and armchair travelers who have made Frances Mayes and Peter Mayle such phenomenally bestselling authors.
Synopsis
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 was only supposed to last a week. Chance had brought Sarah and Frédéric together in Bucharest, and on impulse she decided to take him up on his offer to visit him in the world's most romantic city. Sacrificing Vegemite for vichyssoise, the feisty Sydney journalist does her best to fit in, although her conversation, her laugh, and even her wardrobe advertise her foreigner status. But as she navigates the highs and lows of this strange new world, from life in a bustling quatier and surviving Parisian dinner parties to covering the haute couture fashion shows and discovering the hard way the paradoxes of France today, little by little Sarah falls under its spell: maddening, mysterious, and charged with that French specialty-séduction.
An entertaining tale of being a fish out of water, Almost French is an enthralling read as Sarah Turnbull leads us on a magical tour of this seductive place-and culture-that has captured her heart
Synopsis
The memoir of a young diplomats wife who must reinvent her dream of living in Parisone dish at a time When journalist Ann Mahs diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately begins plotting gastronomic adventures à deux. Then her husband is called away to Iraq on a year-long postalone. Suddenly, Anns vision of a romantic sojourn in the City of Light is turned upside down.
So, not unlike another diplomatic wife, Julia Child, Ann must find a life for herself in a new city. Journeying through Paris and the surrounding regions of France, Ann combats her loneliness by seeking out the perfect pain au chocolat and learning the way the andouillette sausage is really made. She explores the history and taste of everything from boeuf Bourguignon to soupe au pistou to the crispiest of buckwheat crepes. And somewhere between Paris and the south of France, she uncovers a few of lifes truths.
Like Sarah Turnbulls Almost French and Julie Powells New York Times bestseller Julie and Julia, Mastering the Art of French Eating is interwoven with the lively characters Ann meets and the traditional recipes she samples. Both funny and intelligent, this is a story about loveof food, family, and France.
Synopsis
In this lushly written follow-up to Almost French, Sarah Turnbull explores a new paradise: Tahiti.
Having shared her story in her bestselling memoir, Almost French, Australian writer Sarah Turnbull seemed to have had more than her fair share of dreams come true. While Sarah went on to carve out an idyllic life in Paris with her husband, Frederic, there was still one dream she was beginning to fear might be impossiblestarting a family. Then out of the blue an opportunity to embark on another adventure offered a new beginningand new hope. Leaving behind life in the worlds most romantic and beautiful city was never going to be easy. But it helps when your destination is another paradise on earth: Tahiti.
Synopsis
In this lushly written follow-up to Almost French, Sarah Turnbull explores a new paradise: Tahiti.
Having shared her story in her bestselling memoir, Almost French, Australian writer Sarah Turnbull seemed to have had more than her fair share of dreams come true. While Sarah went on to carve out an idyllic life in Paris with her husband, Frederic, there was still one dream she was beginning to fear might be impossiblestarting a family. Then out of the blue an opportunity to embark on another adventure offered a new beginningand new hope. Leaving behind life in the worlds most romantic and beautiful city was never going to be easy. But it helps when your destination is another paradise on earth: Tahiti.
Synopsis
The memoir of a young diplomats wife who must reinvent her dream of living in Parisone dish at a time When journalist Ann Mahs diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately begins plotting gastronomic adventures à deux. Then her husband is called away to Iraq on a year-long postalone. Suddenly, Anns vision of a romantic sojourn in the City of Light is turned upside down.
So, not unlike another diplomatic wife, Julia Child, Ann must find a life for herself in a new city. Journeying through Paris and the surrounding regions of France, Ann combats her loneliness by seeking out the perfect pain au chocolat and learning the way the andouillette sausage is really made. She explores the history and taste of everything from boeuf Bourguignon to soupe au pistou to the crispiest of buckwheat crepes. And somewhere between Paris and the south of France, she uncovers a few of lifes truths.
Like Sarah Turnbulls Almost French and Julie Powells New York Times bestseller Julie and Julia, Mastering the Art of French Eating is interwoven with the lively characters Ann meets and the traditional recipes she samples. Both funny and intelligent, this is a story about loveof food, family, and France.
About the Author
Sarah Turnbull is the author of the international bestseller Almost French. Formerly a television journalist with SBS in Sydney, she began working as a freelance writer following her move to Paris in 1994. After nearly a decade in France, Sarah spent several years on an island near Tahiti. She now lives in Sydney with her husband, Frederic.