French By Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France [Paperback]

Rebecca S. Ramsey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2007

Can a family of five from deep in the heart of Dixie find happiness smack dab in the middle of France?

French By Heart is the story of an all-American family pulling up stakes and finding a new home in Clermont-Ferrand, a city four hours south of Paris known more for its smoke-spitting factories and car dealerships than for its location in the Auvergne, the lush heartland of France dotted with crumbling castles and sunflower fields. The Ramseys are not jet-setters; they’re a regular family with big-hearted and rambunctious kids. Quickly their lives go from covered-dish suppers to smoky dinner parties with heated polemics, from being surrounded by Southern hospitality to receiving funny looks if the children play in the yard without shoes.

A charming tale with world-class characters, French By Heart reads like letters from your funniest friend. More than just a slice of life in France, it’s a heartwarming account of a family coming of age and learning what “home sweet home” really means.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First-time author Ramsey adopts a sweet but never cloying tone to tell the charming story of her family's four-year stint in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Ramsey, a young mother of three whose husband's company relocates them to France, recounts what it feels like to sell the family home in South Carolina, say good-bye to everyone you know and move overseas. Rather than tell the story chronologically, Ramsey links the narrative to everyday events recalling the pitfalls and petite triumphs inherent in each encounter. Moreover, because the family's command of French is minimal, routine tasks often become embarrassing lessons. Ultimately, Ramsey and her family embrace their adopted country's language and customs. Entering a bookstore, she finds herself surrounded by graceful young women in high heels, short skirts and stylish leather blazers, while she is "standing there in my big red field jacket and clunky black clogs… like a frumpy giant." Ramsey acknowledges telling "the whole truth, even when it makes me look ridiculous"—and this results in an endearing memoir. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

This account of contemporary life among the French eschews the glamour of Paris and Provence for one of France's more prosaic quarters. The Ramsey family abandons the comforts of Greer, South Carolina, to pursue a job opportunity in Clermont-Ferrand, a grimy industrial city in France's Massif Central known chiefly for the headquarters of the Michelin Tire Company. The Ramseys transport their household to France, including their small children, a cat, and even a piano. With her husband ensconced at his office, Ramsey must cope with everyday life's challenges. Struggling with an unfamiliar tongue and with quick-to-judge Auvergnats, Ramsey consistently embarrasses herself with malaprops. Even a simple visit to the local bank frustrates as she struggles with a mystifying, intimidating security system. Incorrigibly American, Ramsey appreciates the tiny neighborhood shops beloved by both natives and tourists, but she nevertheless finds herself irresistibly drawn to the local American-inspired supermarket with its one-stop efficiency. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (April 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076792522X
• ISBN-13: 978-0767925228
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #530,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, Heartwarming Memoir about France, April 24, 2007

By 

Alison - See all my reviews

This review is from: French By Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France (Paperback)

French By Heart is all that a travel memoir should be. Not only does it transport you to France, but it's funny, charming, and reads like a good novel. You won't be able to put it down!

This book follows the true story of the Ramsey family, who move from the deep South to the heart of France when the husband is transferred there for work. They even bring their piano and their aging cat!

And as you watch them acclimate, you fall in love with the Ramsey family, their quixotic French neighbors, and life in la belle France.

If you love travel memoirs or books about France, this is next up on your reading list. It's the best travel memoir I've read in a very long time.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brought Back Memories!, April 27, 2007

By 

J. Kittel "jkittel" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: French By Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France (Paperback)

I could not put this book down! I am a fellow Michelin wife who has also lived in France. I do not know Rebecca Ramsey; but I really enjoyed this book. It brought back a lot of memories.

Whether you have lived in France or not this is one of those books where it is enjoyable to read about someone's experiences living in a foreign country, especially with small children. I'm always trying to find books about expats in different countries, but this one hit closest to home. I'm happy to see a Michelin wife has written about her life in France. Good for you Rebecca Ramsey!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book For Summer Reading, June 23, 2007

By 

William Sieredzki - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: French By Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France (Paperback)

In France, one would call this a very good "summer" book - light and lots of good stories. The text is lively and it is easy to picture the people and the events. For example, the first day of school where the teachers call the students and march them into the school, or the search for the circus poster where I can imagine the French driver stares as Becky tries to pull a poster from a pole. The stories are told clearly from a love of France - they make fun of French people, but in a nice way. Americans are not left out, as Becky correctly points out "You can always tell an American by white tennis shoes."

If you are an American who plans on living in France for a few years this book is a must read - these are some of the surprises in store for you. If you have ties to France, you will laugh along as Becky relates her tales that you should easily relate to. And if you are neither, the book will be a fun introduction into French culture.