This charming little book was written by an American woman who has lived the last 20+ years in France with her French husband and 2 French-American sons. The author was born and raised in Iowa, but an adventurous spirit led her across the Atlantic when she was a young woman, and she has remained ever since. This book provides an overview of why the French are the way they are, and covers such topics as the French educational system, why Parisian women always look so chic, how French men differ from Americans, and the French love of food.
The book is (or should be considered, IMO) light-hearted -- I've seen several reviews that claim that she has simply reinforced stereotypes of the French, but I tend to think that those reviewers were taking this book a little too seriously. Whether her descriptions are accurate or not, I can't say, as I've never been to France, although I hope to rectify that situation before too many more years. Some of the reviews take the author to task for not providing a very in-depth view of the French, but I don't think that was ever her goal in writing this book. Frankly, I find it somewhat ridiculous to expect an analytical outlook in a book that explains why you see poodles riding alone in taxis through the streets of Paris (turns out the owners are sending them to the groomers, and the groomers then send them home -- who knew?).
I found this book delightful. There were several moments when I found myself chuckling and wondering how much was accurate and how much exaggerated, and I'm dying to go to France to find out for myself. One of the key points that the author makes about the French is how they find joy in simple things. Reading this book definitely meets that criteria.
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