A Year in the Merde
by Stephen Clarke
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
misogynists who also hate France
This started off so promisingly with snarky but charming British banter about France's little annoying idiosyncrasies that anyone who has spent any time in France can appreciate. The main character, a British twenty-something, chronicles his year living in France while working for a corrupt corporate sleaze bag who wants help marketing tea rooms in Paris. It turns out that the main character is also a sleaze bag AND a "whinge cow" as he so aptly dubs whiners. By the month of Februar...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
people (especially Brits) who've visited/lived/worked in France, especially Paris.
The novel starts off with a Lucky Jim-esque narrative based around riffs on the differences between Anglo-Franco relations in the office and bed, before getting sidetracked into the purchase of a farmhouse, and concluding with a return to Paris and straying into whodunit territory. Or should that be terroir?
It's not bad, but it's not great. You'll find it amusing if you read lads' mags or like Jeremy Clarkson (I did and do), or if you have first-hand/premier-main (?) knowledge of the French ...more
It's not bad, but it's not great. You'll find it amusing if you read lads' mags or like Jeremy Clarkson (I did and do), or if you have first-hand/premier-main (?) knowledge of the French ...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
would-be expatriates, BBC america subscribers and those in love with Paris.
maybe it's the bitter british wit that had me cracking up. or the utterly unmistakable french idioms and cultural habits that clarke speaks of. this is as much a love story to the difficult and unique little slice of the world called france as it is a travelogue of a misguided anglo in the heart of the franco republic. anyone who has been to paris for more than a few days will understand the strange, if snobby, attitude paul faces. anyone who's ever been to a country where they didn't speak ...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
Ex pats
My boyfriend bought me this book for Christmas, because I'm a closest Francophile. I'd never heard of it, so I was skeptical at first. But a few pages in, I was hooked. Paul West is a British ex pat living in Paris. Clark paints him as kind of a clueless douchebag, but in a really funny way.
I laughed out loud at some parts, and shook my head at others. This character is a guy I'd probably despise if I actually knew him, but on paper he's very amusing, especially because when you've had enou...more
I laughed out loud at some parts, and shook my head at others. This character is a guy I'd probably despise if I actually knew him, but on paper he's very amusing, especially because when you've had enou...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
francophones
I couldn't help myself; this book absolutely cracked me up. That may be because the author's descriptions of countless strikes by trash collectors, public transportation workers, police officers, and journalists brought back fond memories of my own stay in France--during which I also stepped in a fair amount of merde. The audiobook was particularly good, with the dramatist's illustraions of the countless miscommunications between francophones and anglophones. The story line is about Paul West...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Foreigners who have lived in Paris
Having only lived in Paris for three months, I still find a lot to relate to in books written by ex-pats from Anglo-speaking countries living in Paris (see Almost French, Paris to the Moon, Something to Declare, etc.). This book, did have a fair bit of amusing tidbits to relate to and a somewhat entertaining plot to go with it. Unfortunately, perhaps it's because he's British or because he's male (though, that didn't seem to matter for Julian Barnes), but writing style of this book comes off a...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
francophiles
The first thing to know is that the year runs September to May, a French year in the view of the narrator. Paul West has been hired to open a chain of English tea shops in France, but it's clear from the beginning that this project is not going to end well. There is, of course, the fact that Mr. West doesn't really speak much French, a liability when he tries to work with his team. His misadventures both at work and as he tries to establish a social life illustrate aspects of French daily cul...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone interested in France or French culture
I am planning on moving to France in a month or so, and a friend recommended this book to me. I loved it! It was hilarious and provided an all too telling glimpse into French culture. Anyone who is planning on traveling to France or is simply a Francophile like myself would love this book which tells the story of a fictional British businessman who moves to France for a year in order to open up a series of English tea shops in France. Reading of his adventures (and misadventures) in the City of ...more
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A friend told me to pick this up because I am something of a Francophile and it didn't disappoint.
It's not really an auto-biography, but once you've read some of the storyline, it becomes clear why the author changed names and details. It isn't A Moveable Feast, but it's an enjoyable and sometimes hilarious read.
I know some people will be put off by his somewhat puerile viewpoints and aims, but I really enjoyed the book for the fact that it seemed so unabashedly male. He's not a mysogini...more
It's not really an auto-biography, but once you've read some of the storyline, it becomes clear why the author changed names and details. It isn't A Moveable Feast, but it's an enjoyable and sometimes hilarious read.
I know some people will be put off by his somewhat puerile viewpoints and aims, but I really enjoyed the book for the fact that it seemed so unabashedly male. He's not a mysogini...more
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Predictable mocking humour of French people mangling the English language, of French people disdaining English food, of Parisian hostility, of the French work ethic and strikes, of French sexual mores, of French duplicity and conniving, etc. Funny if you like snobbish English cultural superiority.
The big problem with the book is that the main character is not very likable. He is shallow, selfish, immature, manipulative and not very engaging as a comic hero. There are no real characters in the ...more
The big problem with the book is that the main character is not very likable. He is shallow, selfish, immature, manipulative and not very engaging as a comic hero. There are no real characters in the ...more
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Read in January, 2007
There were a lot of inside jokes to this book that I am not sure one would get if they have not been to France. Since Tracy and I were there for 6 months, this book had me rolling. If you should decide you want a real life glimpse into France then I think this book puts it pretty straight forward. He is a bit critical at times, but I think he hits it right on the nose. I can't tell you how many times I felt his same frustration with the french people while I was there. Oh and the dog poop everyw...more
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Read in September, 2006
recommends it for:
people looking for a crappy beach book
This book, despite being easy to read, is not good. Clarke comes across as a culturally imperialistic ass (IMHO), and his writing is clunky and just...not worth much. The book can be summed up with the following pattern: craaaaazy French business world story, hilarious anecdote about daily life/paperwork, chick he bangs. Rinse, repeat. The sequel is much worse though, so if you must, read this one.
PS: I don't know about the business world, but I have lived in France awhile now, and very few ...more
PS: I don't know about the business world, but I have lived in France awhile now, and very few ...more
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Read in March, 2007
This was entertaining but I didn't love it. In fact I got bored halfway through, but it did pick up and by the end I liked it. He didn't really introduce any strong personalities until the middle/end so it took me that long to get attached to some of the people. I'm willing to give his other books a chance. But one thing I am a bit confused on: it's considered non-fiction BUT he creates this "character" that's not 100 % him (he uses a different name than his own etc...)- so it all left...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Emilie by:
Marionrecommends it for: Anyone interested in French culture
This book is a lot of fun for those who have visited France, whether while on vacation, studying, or working. It reads as a fiction novel cum travel guide and can be quite amusing for this reason. It moves quickly, and is very readable and cute. At times, Clarke's writing seems a bit precious, as though he is either still trying to find his voice as a writer as well as his character's voice, or just trying too hard in general. Overall, though, this is easily overlooked because in the long ru...more
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Read in November, 2007
What a cool book! Our protaganist Paul West strikes it lucky with a job offer that leads him to cross the Channel and start work in Paris. Misadventures abound. As someone who has lived in a foreign country (not France thoush), I can empathize with the British protaganist and his oft-felt frustration at trying to get by in France. It's even better as I've learnt a little French before - it just makes all the jokes that more real. I would say you have to know at least a little about both the UK a...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in October, 2007
Paul West is a British man who has taken a job in France. This book follows his first year. I found the descriptions of French culture and their relationship with the British interesting. The story line is a little predictable and it could have been a lot funnier than it was. But once you got past Paul's obsession with fantasizing about having sex with every woman he meets it still made for a light read.
I plan to check out the next book in the series "Merde Actually" just to see w...more
I plan to check out the next book in the series "Merde Actually" just to see w...more
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Read in January, 2001
recommends it for:
francophobics
Never been to France? Never plan to go?
If you want a truly insulting, xenophobic experience of "French Culture" then read this book. Otherwise, you could run into the middle of the Champs Elysées and scream in your most loud, incomprehensible, slang English, "I THINK THIS COUNTRY SUCKS BUT I'D PREFER TO BE HERE INSULTING THE MOST STEREOTYPICAL CLICHES AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS RATHER THAN BACK AT HOME WHERE EVERYTHING IS ORDINARY AND BORING."
If you like it better at hom
If you want a truly insulting, xenophobic experience of "French Culture" then read this book. Otherwise, you could run into the middle of the Champs Elysées and scream in your most loud, incomprehensible, slang English, "I THINK THIS COUNTRY SUCKS BUT I'D PREFER TO BE HERE INSULTING THE MOST STEREOTYPICAL CLICHES AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS RATHER THAN BACK AT HOME WHERE EVERYTHING IS ORDINARY AND BORING."
If you like it better at hom
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in June, 2007
Based on the author's own experiences, A Year in the Merde is the antithesis of A Year in Provence and all those other expatriate memoirs that flaunt their love and comfort in their adopted country. Paul West is a frisky Englishman sent to Paris to help start a chain of British-style tea shops, that to his chagrin, is to be called "My Tea Is Rich." The novel recounts his misadventures in love and at the workplace complete with linguistic mishaps and his unfortunate luck w...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Marci by:
Nicole Woodsrecommends it for: Someone traveling to Paris
While traveling in Paris, I read this book--about an English man who lives in Paris for one year to star a tea startup organization of all things. It was great to read this book while traveling because it went into all the funny nuances of France. The guy is kind of a dog though, but you root for him in the end. The book, while a bit extreme, highlights the cultural differences--pitting two cultures both known for their high sense of themselves. A good read for traveling.
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Read in May, 2005
recommends it for:
Francophiles
Even though this book is supposedly a work of fiction, I have a sneaking suspicion that Clarke, a Brit who lives in France, has based much of his stories on factual events. I really enjoyed the author's dry, sarcastic sense of humor. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an appreciation of French culture. I enjoyed this book so much that I anxiously awaited the author's second book, In the Merde for Love, but it wasn't as enjoyable as this first book.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.41 (568 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.44 (484 ratings) number of reviews: 160popular shelves
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