Tout Soul: The Pursuit of Happiness in Rural France [Kindle Edition]

Karen Wheeler (Author)

Book Description

A French Memoir. Having quit her fast-paced life as a fashion editor in London for a new life in France, Karen appears to have it all: a cute dog, a charismatic Portuguese
boyfriend and a quirky collection of French and expat friends. But then she makes a discovery that changes everything.

In the year that follows, she decides to cure heartbreak by seeking happiness in small things. But nothing could have prepared her for the tragedy to come...

Tout Soul will make you laugh and make you cry in equal measure.

Product Details

• File Size: 677 KB
• Print Length: 400 pages
• Publisher: Sweet Pea Publishing (February 23, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007D0AT1K
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,925 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #46 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Travel > Europe > France

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tout Soul March 27, 2012

By K.R. Clifton

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I happen to pick up Karen Wheeler's first book, Tout Sweet, off the bottom shelve in a book store. Since I love France, I thought it might be a fun read and had nothing else to read at the time. It was so much fun that I read all 3 book, Tout Sweet, Toute Allure and Tout Soul in one month.

My favorite chapter was "Cucumber Juice". It's her humorous story of a visit to a spa in Spain.

I recommend her series of books to anyone needing a short escape from everyday life. She takes you away to her village in France. You meet her friends, neighbors and her little dog, Biff.

Since most writers write only one book per year, I am sorry I have to wait a year to read her next one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another good read June 6, 2012

By Judith A Lord

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you love reading stories on life in rural France, this is indeed a pearler.

Having read Karen's first 2 books, I couldn't wait for the third to be published. Once again, I was not disappointed. What a wonderful read of her continuing ups and downs of life in rural France. There are so many little funny anecdotes of French village life that one cannot believe they are true. As I live in rural Brittany, I can assure you that these delightful little cameos of people and life are quite authentic, which makes them more endearing.

And what an ending! It really knocked my socks off and moved me to tears. I cannot wait for the next edition of Karen's life and loves in this gorgeous country. Keep up the good work.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Summer Read June 4, 2012

By Silvana

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I anxiously waited a year for Tout Soul to be released after having read and loved Tout Sweet and Tout Allure. Tout Soul was completely engaging from the first chapter and a wonderful continuatiion of the author's journey.

This book's storyline continues with the musings and experiences of Karen Wheeler in rural France and Luis (the Lion) with many unexpected bumps and bends along the road. I laughed at the charming and witty account of the author's adventures and cried along with her as she faced one of life's most difficult situations. I applaud her joie de vivre, tennacity and strength in embracing all that life offers and her growth process along the way and privileged to be able to share it all with her.

This book was the perfect start to my summer reading and look forward to her next book.

More About the Author

Karen Wheeler is an award-winning fashion and beauty writer and former Fashion Editor of the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Born near Liverpool in the north of England, she studied Modern History at Kings College, London University and worked briefly at Sotheby's art auctioneers before embarking on a career in fashion journalism.

During her career she has interviewed many of fashion's top names including Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani and Calvin Klein and has written on a regular basis for many national newspapers and supplements including the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Sunday Times Style, The Mail on Sunday and ES magazine. She is also a three times winner of the Jasmine Literary award for writing about fragrance.

She moved to France in August 2005 thanks to several random twists of fate, initially planning to stay for a year. Five years and two books later, she is still enjoying 'la vie rurale' and fortunately, most of her neighbours - many of whom feature in Tout Sweet and Toute Allure - are still speaking to her. She is currently working on her third book.

More information about the author can be found on her blog, www.toutsweet.net, which charts her everyday life in France and at www.karenwheeler.co.uk. She also writes a regular column for Living France magazine, in which she shares more tales from the Poitou-Charentes.