Customer Reviews

Wicked French

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

 

 

I hope everyone realizes that this book is not actually meant to be used in France. I mean, there may be a rare occasion or two where you might actually be able to put it into practice, but for the most part I wouldn't recommend it. Some of the phrases are extremely insulting or are exaggerated for comic effect. What I mean is that French people don't really go around saying that the wine they're drinking has "wrinkled buttocks." The entire series of "Wicked" books is, in my opinion, one big tongue-in-cheek kind of joke. They work best for people who have been to these countries and/or have familiarity with some of the customs and thus can appreciate the humor. They're tiny, fun, and cheap; I've had mine for years and I still thumb through them from time to time for a quick laugh. Howard Tomb and the illustrator, Jared Lee, have more than a touch of comic genius.

Well, anyone can tell when reading this little book that it is meant to be a humorous guide and not intended for actual practice. I found some of the sayings entertaining but not really practical even for friends to say amongst themselves jokingly. As a polyglot and a student, I have found numerous other series of language books that do a much better job of addressing idioms, colloquialisms, and slang for those truly interested in acquiring a working knowledge of a certain language. As far as a good set of books to check out for French slang, I highly recommend the "Street French" series and in particular, the third book, "The Best of Naughty French."

The best thing about this small but very potent book is flexibility. Not only does it allow a tourist a limited linguistic advantage but it also provides valuable insight as a cultural tool. While this book may help explain why the French think of Jerry Lewis as a comic genius, it doesn't excuse it.

I did enjoy this book.Its not really something you would take with you on a holiday to France.Its more of a good humour book.Its really a novelty book.Plenty of phrases here to learn and laugh over.It even shows you how to pronounce each phrase.Thats a good thing you wont find in many books.For the money its a bargain.Makes an ideal giftAnd,Its a good laugh.

Well, I don't think I will be using many of the phrases in this book unless I truly want to offend someone. Still, it was fun to read and is useful for gaining a better feel for the more ... ah, ... "colloquial" applications of the language. I bought my copy about 5 years ago in San Francisco and I found myself chuckling and laughing in the bookstore. I wish the author would expand it beyond its 64 pages.

This book is hysterical and, while memorizing and using certain phrases could lead to various detainments, the book gives you the flavour of what to expect! It's also a good read if no one you know speaks French and you have things you would like to say but not have interpreted...

Via simply, directly and graphically spelling it all out in triple parallel ongoing charts in the whole book -- "Wicked French" does encourage an easy start at proper pronunciation via good accent for letters, words and phrases -- and provides a relief from relentless hard study -- and may even serve as a source of shared happy-silly-ness for special French folks that you meet and know a little. The grammar and patterns are correct and timely as well -- if mostly informal. Some folks may take this small booklet too seriously -- yet, afterall, it does have the title "Wicked French". Indeed, it's not too useful for utter strangers -- who may figure YOU are utterly strange -- if you really cast phrases at them from this fine and fun item -- such as crazy lingo from the section "Friendly Customs Agents and Their Machine Guns". Anyone that actually casts phrases from this section at such real agents -- likely deserves the bullets cast back -- or at least being whipped with a Darwin Fish in return +++

This book is hilarious to read when you're fed up with French class or those audio language courses that have been torturing you. Perhaps a gift for the disaffected student (not for the average under age crowd, however!)
Worth it alone for the phrase "The (such and such wine) is forever a sublime ferret in my underpants."
Really, I'm tempted to give it 5 stars just for that phrase.
But, as others have said, this book is useful only for its hilarity -- it is not a practical phrase book!

I'm french and I bought that book for my american wife who is learning french. I thought that it would be a good book so that she can progress with slang.
The book itself is just completely wrong, probably because it was originally written in 1959... so slang and wicked catch phrases have changed a lot since then! Almost all of them just sound silly for any french guy in 2009.

This is a funny book for any of you who have been to france or studied thier current culture. Otherwise, you may not understand what this author is joking about French people in the book. Also, I recomend this book for those who are studing french and for those who are planning to go there to "turn the tables" on the french people.