Customer Reviews

Postcards from France

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On the cover of this book, the publisher exudes, "A delightfully irresistible, charming account of a young American girl's year abroad." For once, this kind of description is actually an understatement. Yes, the book is in fact "delightfully irresistible" and truly charming. But the writing is also exceptionally limpid and evocative and betrays an exceptional maturity and talent. Megan McNeill Libby gives us beautifully impressionistic portraits of France, the French, and her very personal struggles, disasters, and triumphs. Her depiction of the French is extraordinarily perceptive and from my own experience living in France totally accurate. At times, I laughed until I cried; more frequently, I caught myself involuntarily smiling and nodding in agreement. But the deeper reward of reading this book is simply seeing the way that Ms. Libby writes and thinks. She is one of those rare authors with whom one falls in love after (no, during) a single reading. I am normally sparing with my praise, but I readily admit to being a gourmand for this book. Merci bien, Megan, and please give us more!

The author of Postcards from France, Megan Libby, was just 16 when she went to France in 1994 as your typical AFS student. But she wasn't typical: she had her eyes wide open and was able to record, in a series of letters and postcards sent back home, what a humbling experience it is to be a newcomer in another culture. By turns comedic, touching, insightful, and revealing, Postcards from France is always refreshing - and it's highly likely this talented young author will go on to write more books that will be a pleasure to read.

I am planning on studying abroad to France in 2003 and this book has helped me out in many ways. It told me exactly what I need to know before I go, how the French people are, the school system, and it gave me encouragement. Just reading about how she doesn't regret going makes me want to go even more. I just wished she would have added more about how to handle so much school! Anyway, this book is great to read, even if you aren't planning on going to France. It has a lot of interesting facts that I could never imagine possible. Great book.

Yes, this book is very witty and very easy to read. I am en route to France for a year next year as an American exchange student, and I found this book to be very helpful for every aspect of the process--except I wish she added more information like "Why did she switch host families?" and about school. She barely mentioned anything about homework, the lycée, or anything like that. But I loved everything else about the book. It was intriguing and exciting. And also, it's a very nice quick read. If you are, going to be, or was an exchange student, this book is a must-have. Anther book I recommend is The Exchange Student Survival Kit. Au revoir!

Libby perfectly captures the trip in chapter-size stories, each with a different subject on France and French Culture. And throughout the book Libby recounts her struggle with the laungauge. Years of schooling didn't help much.

Think back to when you were a teenager, and the vivid memories that you keep with you. Libby's experiences are not much different, only their in the France (along with trips to England and Switzerland). This book is perfect for anyone, but especially children and parents thinking about spending anytime abroad. It's a book that you want to read more about Libby's further trips.

The moment I saw this book in the bookstore, I knew I had to get it because Megan did what I have always wanted to do: be an exchange student in another country. This book is just so charming, delightful, and cute. I finally was able to be an exchange student this summer in a Spanish speaking country, and while I was not gone a whole academic year but only for a couple of weeks, I always had this book by my side because so many things were the same. So if you have ever been an exchange student before/hosted one in America, or are going too I recomend this book right away, and if you are just looking for a good book to read you'll have a ball.

It's definitely a great read, and especially so if you can relate to it. I'm glad someone finally wrote a book like this. For those that can't relate at the moment, maybe it'll inspire you to learn a foreign language. Now all that's missing after reading the book is an autograph from the wonderful author of the book ...

I've been on two two week exchanges to France...both the best experiences thus far in my life. I related with this book so well. I laughed, I cried, and then I read it again. My parents read it, and have decided that after my two two week exchange experiences, and my one week family vacation experience (when I was nine) in France, that it's time for me to go spend a year there. I loved every page of this book. The author did a good job of conveying the feelings of an exchange student. She told of how it isn't always easy, but in the end you don't want to leave. Thank you Megan for an inspiring book that has helped to mold my future...I'll bring your book with me when I go to France...and I'll treasure it for the rest of my life

I absolutely loved this book!! It tells the story of a girl going away from home and into a whole new culture. I loved reading about all the different French cultures and experiences. I also thought this was a great book to show you what to expect and how to react when in a whole new surrounding. I highly recommend this book to people of all ages.

I use this book to provide students with up-to-date cultural info, as well as present them with impressions from someone in their age category. It's the book I give to students as a gift, and I wish the publisher would continue to offer it in the hardback version rather than just the paperback for longtime use.