French Toast: An American in Paris Celebrates the Maddening Mysteries of the French (Hardcover)

by Harriet Welty Rochefort (Author) "I arrived in France not just from United States but from Shenandoah, a small town in Iowa.]..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, Philippe Harriet, Baronne Staffe (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
During the 1970s, Rochefort moved from Shenandoah, Iowa, to Paris, where she met and married her husband, Philippe. Here, she offers her reflections on what it's like to be the wife of a Frenchman and the mother of two French-American children. Although presented with a confidence that comes with long experience, the observations shared (Rochefort's but also those of French and fellow expatriate friends) are hardly illuminating. Rochefort relies on her experiences with French in-laws and friends to conclude that the French, unlike their American counterparts, would rather talk about sex than money, are quarrelsome and require their children to work hard in school. She finds that French wives are wonderful cooks who allow their husbands to dominate the conversation at parties and are always responsible for packing their husbands' suitcases. French husbands, according to Rochefort, really do shower less than American men but are infinitely more relaxed and adept at flirtation and seduction. (She comments that a single woman can live safely in France because French men aren't as oppressively aggressive as American men). In sum, her memoir, though competently written, trades in what appear to be old stereotypes?which, even if true, bring nothing new to our understanding of the French. Agent, Regula Noetzli.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Did you know that in Paris it is quite normal to bang the cars in front and back of you as you maneuver in and out of a parking place? Or that you should fold and not cut the lettuce in your salad and that even fruit is eaten with a knife and fork? Fortunately, for those unacquainted with the finer points of French etiquette, Rochefort's book bridges the culture gap admirably. The Iowa-born author is a freelance journalist married to a Frenchman and has lived in France for over 20 years. Drawing on personal experience, she records her observations about Frenchwomen; French attitudes to food, sex, love, marriage, and money; the French educational system; and the dynamics of living in Paris. Some stereotypes are reinforced, but this chatty, informative book is great fun to read and over too soon. Recommended for public libraries.?Ravi Shenoy, Hinsdale P.L., IL
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (November 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312199783
• ISBN-13: 978-0312199784
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #299,806 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars OK, but very thin and lacking much insight , April 11, 2005

By	International Diva - See all my reviews

I found some of her insights interesting, and a few caused me to chuckle. But this book really serves to reinforce French stereotypes, so it's not very illuminating. The writing isn't great, and in some places, it's just plain sloppy.

I'd recommend "Almost French" by Sarah Turnbull over this book. It's more thoughtful, better written and more insightful. Her husband does not come off well in the book, as other reviewers have noted. Not recommended.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French Toast: An American in Paris, August 3, 2000

By	Tony Dickin (LAVENDER BAY, NSW AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews

What a fabulous little book. Easy to read and packed with every day, helpful information. Even though my wife and I are devout francophiles, and live part of every year France, we still are astounded by the little nuances that can bring a conversation or meeting to a halt. For example, when four people say goodbye never cross each others hands when you shake - it seems to invoke the devel.

This book is now standard issue in our family for any friends who come to stay with us in France. Five stars for entertainment and practical information. Let's hope there is a sequel.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an informative, quick read, October 17, 1999

By A Customer

After years of misunderstanding my French sister-in-law, the mystery has been cleared up thanks to Harriet. I read this book in one sitting, laughed quite a bit and came to understand many things which have puzzled me over the years: differences in child rearing, eating habits and attitudes toward people, life, marriage and many other things. I even lent the book to my sister-in-law and she thought it was amusing and insightful.