In the Merde for Love
by Stephen Clarke
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 114)
Read in December, 2006
Most novels about Anglo expats in Paris tend to fall back on the same handful of cliches. "A Year in the Merde" ignored all of these to forge new ones, which "In the Merde for Love" continues to do. But I think "In the Merde for Love" is a more character-driven, and as such there are fewer witty vignettes. The writing, though, remains extremely funny.
Back then, I didn't understand something very important about sitting in a cafe in a non-touristy part of rura...more
Back then, I didn't understand something very important about sitting in a cafe in a non-touristy part of rura...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who's studied French, been to France or just loves the country
I picked this up on my recent trip to Washington. It's about a British man and his adventures living in France with French women and trying to set up a British tea salon. There were some moments that literally caused me to laugh out loud, which is somewhat emabarrassing when you're waiting for your plane to board at the airport. I do think people who don't know French might not get all the jokes -- of course, this being written by a British guy, I felt like I needed a British to American Engli...more
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Read in June, 2007
In the sequel to A Year in the Merde, Paul goes on a disastrous holiday with his new French girlfriend -- first to the Dordogne countryside, where he manages to nearly poison her mother by accident and second, to the beach near La Rochelle, where he ends up having to babysit her lascivious lush of a father. Finally returning to Paris, Paul finds out that construction of the independent tea shop he is trying to open is behind schedule due to lax French workers and an absent lawyer.
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Read in August, 2007
I read A Year In The Merde last year and really enjoyed it. I'm a bit of a Francophile, so it was interesting to see France from a Brit's perspective. This sequel was just as enjoyable as the first. I just love his writing style - he has a great sense of humor. I look forward to the next book, which I think comes out next Spring here in the US.
Now if I could just see France for myself!
Now if I could just see France for myself!
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Read in June, 2006
This is the second book I've read by this author. The first one "A Year in the Merde," was really great. This second book started off really funny but began to drag as I got further into it. As the title implies, this time the author's focus is more on his love life and a bit on the English tea room the author opened in France…or so the story goes.
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
fun girls/francophiles
hilarious story of british man living in france and struggling with relationships. his depiction of french social idiosychrosies is spot on.
i read much of this while in bed and deathly ill, and it made me laugh out loud many times.
pas mal, eh?
i read much of this while in bed and deathly ill, and it made me laugh out loud many times.
pas mal, eh?
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Read in April, 2008
I loved the first one by Stephen Clarke - "A Year in the Merde". Laughed my head off. This one is funny so far, too, but the plot is verrry thin so far. I'll hang in and see if the story picks up...hopefully that will happen soon. I'll report back!
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone who has a love-hate relationship with the french
Quite funny, not as good as the first one, though (but maybe it's just because the jokes and portraits of French life are repeating themselves). Nonetheless, a lot of fun for anyone who's ever had to deal with the French.
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Read in March, 2008
This book has it's funny moments and I liked the ending, but I didn't like this as much as A Year in the Merde. Although it's necessary for the "merde" part, Paul's sleeping around is starting to bother me.
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Read in September, 2006
recommends it for:
Francophiles
I read this book right before leaving for Paris and it adequately prepared me for the absurdity that was to ensue. A hilarious account of life and love in France.
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Read in January, 2008
Worth reading if you liked the first, but not as funny. There are not as many (mis)adventures and the plot is a little weak.
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A light, funny, quick read. Not much brainpower required, which is good, because I'm lacking in that department these days.
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Not as good as the first -- probably because some of the humor is similar -- but has its funny moments.
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Not as good as the first one but still full of interesting observations about the French/British gap.
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Read in June, 2007
Pretty amusing light reading. In the end, I didn't really care about any of the characters.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone who's not lame.
French people are assholes, and mostly incompetent. I would really like to go there.
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A bit overly cutesy/cliche but still funny and occasionally inciteful
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Read in August, 2007
I'd say only read this if you really, really liked the first one.
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