Merde Actually
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Written by Stephen Clarke.
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Editorial Review (from Amazon.com)
A year after arriving in France, Englishman Paul West is still struggling with some fundamental questions: What is the best way to scare a gendarme? Why are there no health warnings on French nudist beaches? And is it really polite to sleep with your boss' mistress? Paul opens his English tea room, and mutates (temporarily) into a Parisian waiter; samples the pleasures of typically French hotel-room afternoons; and, on a return visit to the UK, sees the full horror of a British office party through Parisian eyes. Meanwhile, he continues his search for the perfect French mademoiselle. But will Paul find l'amour eternel, or will it all end in merde? In his second comedy of errors, Paul West continues to sabotage the entente cordiale. Author's apology: "I'd just like to say sorry to all the suppository fans out there, because in this book there are no suppositories. There are, however, lots of courgettes, and I see this as progress. Suppositories to courgettes - I think it proves that I'm developing as a writer." - Stephen Clarke.User Reviews (1) Login or create an account to write a review.
Colin thinks this book is Good.
Once again, Stephen Clarke raccounts to story of life in France from the anglo-saxon perspective. The humour is still wry and biting, and again, he deftly does not resort to sarcasm or hyperbole to show just how strange the French really are.
The book is immediately sympathetic to anyone from the English-speaking world who has lived in France. To everyone else, it may seem like he's making it all up, but no, life in France really is as he describes.
It's hardly a literary masterpiece, but it is a fun read; perfect for some light reading while darting through small Gallic towns on the SNCF.