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What French Women Know About Love, Sex and Other Matters of the Heart and Mind
A primer on the ineffable, je ne sais quoi appeal of the French woman.
I t's not the shoes, the scarves, or the lipstick that gives French women their allure. It's this: French women don't give a damn. They don't expect men to understand them. They don't care about being liked or being like everyone else. They generally reject notions of packaged beauty. They accept the pa...more
I t's not the shoes, the scarves, or the lipstick that gives French women their allure. It's this: French women don't give a damn. They don't expect men to understand them. They don't care about being liked or being like everyone else. They generally reject notions of packaged beauty. They accept the pa...more
Hardcover, 244 pages
Published
September 25th 2009
by Piatkus Books
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I found myself in the "sex" isle while at the library a week or two ago. There was lots of giggling and then I proceeded to walk out with a dozen books. Very mature.
I read reviews for a lot of the books and I remember reading a lot of negative ones about this book. Women were UP IN ARMS about the (not so favourable) comparisons between American's and the French. I can see what they were getting at now. It's the TONE in which Debra Ollivier explains the different outlooks bet...more
I read reviews for a lot of the books and I remember reading a lot of negative ones about this book. Women were UP IN ARMS about the (not so favourable) comparisons between American's and the French. I can see what they were getting at now. It's the TONE in which Debra Ollivier explains the different outlooks bet...more
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I'm not going to get embroiled in all the hoo~ha about this book. What I am going to do is quote an excerpt from an interview with Vanessa Paradis aka 'Mrs' Johnny Depp, who, when asked the question "'You've been with Johnny for more than a decade. What are the secrets of a long~lasting relationship"? replied "Love, respect...and patience" which in a nut shell corroborates one of the messages contained in this book, your husband is your best friend? really? this is not the w...more
If American author, Debra Olliver, sat down at my kitchen table and mentioned that she had lived in France for ten years with her French husband, and I in my exuberance asked her to tell me all about French women over coffee, What French Women Know would be a transcript of the resulting conversation. In a lengthy conversational essay, Olliver expounds on every personal anecdote, pop culture reference, and quote she can muster relating to the French woman—a woman who boasts an internationally ac...more
I really enjoyed this book. I'd rather give it a 3.5 stars since I preferred the author/narrator when she spoke in the French accent. She seemed to rush the English portions a bit. I think she was nervous.
There is a lot of food for thought in this tiny tome. I felt like I was getting an opportunity to look into a Frenchman's mind which is very insightful since I live with one. It explains a lot: the nonchalance, the aloofness, the unfriendliness ... I could go on but then you'l...more
There is a lot of food for thought in this tiny tome. I felt like I was getting an opportunity to look into a Frenchman's mind which is very insightful since I live with one. It explains a lot: the nonchalance, the aloofness, the unfriendliness ... I could go on but then you'l...more
One and a half stars -- one for the subject matter; half for the text. "What French Women Know" struck me as purporting to be a bit more intellectual than the author's previous book, "Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl," in assessing the products of America's feel-good culture and a society in which people are taught to embrace their imperfections, themselves and their opinions. Ollivier tries to have fun discussing why French society fosters indepen...more
This is a mostly fun look at cultural differences from an anecdotal perspective, but which is heavily spiced with quotes from french women and research. Occasionally the tone becomes more serious when the author explores opportunities for north americans to relax, control the world and detail relationships less, fear anatomy less, worship material goods less, and to love themselves more.
The author's style is fresh, but cliché at times. She italicized french expressions that americans...more
The author's style is fresh, but cliché at times. She italicized french expressions that americans...more
I was a little disappointed when I started reading this when I discovered that it was just another view by an American embedded in Paris. My disappointment faded, however as the author turned against the social mores of American life with a persistent ferocity. She does not go so far as to say that the French way of life is perfect, or even 'near' perfect, but she does say that many aspects of French life are superior to the American Way.
I found myself agreeing with every frankly l...more
I found myself agreeing with every frankly l...more
I read Debra Ollivier's previous book, "Entre Nous," and enjoyed it thoroughly. I jumped at the opportunity to review "What French Women Know," as I was certain that the well-known expatriate columniste for "Le Monde" would share more of her interesting insights to French culture.
Ollivier did not disappoint. She writes about friendships, dating (a concept the French do not really have), cooking and shopping -- and how French women look at all of these ...more
Ollivier did not disappoint. She writes about friendships, dating (a concept the French do not really have), cooking and shopping -- and how French women look at all of these ...more
I'm not going to put this on my total crap shelf because she had a few points. Like, if Americans were less focused on the idea that a relationship is only a success (or worthwhile) if it ends in marriage, they'd be happier in general and not strangle the life out of different kinds of romance. Also, a little discretion would not go amiss in our reality TV culture.
BUT. Okay, this is not a scholarly work. Got it. But it should still make sense, and her arguments should be logical and ...more
BUT. Okay, this is not a scholarly work. Got it. But it should still make sense, and her arguments should be logical and ...more
The book is exactly what it claims to be: a quick, fun examination of cultural differences in Lady Stuff (romance, bodies, relationships, diet) between French and American women. Besides her own experiences, the author includes quips from friends, popular culture, and philosophers to highlight the attitudes and stereotypes surrounding women in the two cultures. She keeps it light, highlighting that examining others allows us to see our own quirks, while lambasting The Rules mentality that Amer...more
It's always good to see how much greener(or not)it is on the other side or ANY side to be honest.As an American girl,I've always kind of looked to the French in admiration or my bogus second-hand emulation.I think it's a book that a lot of American females should read.It goes into detail about and gives you the background on all the lovely French stereotypes.After reading this book,I became even more of Francophile than I already was:)This book is for people who are interested in being a bit mor...more
You know, it's just so strange to casually pick up what you think is going to be a quick light read that won't make any dents in your head, and find that some author just nails you when you least expected it. This woman explained some important things about living the good life, that has nothing to do with how we're taught to live the good life as AMERICANS. Really nothing. French women, it seems, are brought up in an adult culture, a confident culture, a culture that applauds the breaking of ru...more
This read like an essay - a lot of quotes by others which means a lot of text devoted to who it was and what they wrote. I will be reading one of the books referenced in the book - Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't be Wrong.
I wanted to read this book after reading about it in Parents Magazine. I thought there would have been more about the differences in parenting etc...but in the whole book, all I found were the same two references that I read about in the magazine article.
Now...more
I wanted to read this book after reading about it in Parents Magazine. I thought there would have been more about the differences in parenting etc...but in the whole book, all I found were the same two references that I read about in the magazine article.
Now...more
There are many explanations of what French women know.
But I adore their fundamental attitude: they love Men a lot a lot. And not surprisingly, the compliment is repaid by French men: they love Women a lot a lot. So the foundation is always there to build upon.
French women know men need a lot of tolerance and looking after. This view offers a certain relief in the "battle of the sexes" as it is played out in the States.
This book gets to the core of t...more
But I adore their fundamental attitude: they love Men a lot a lot. And not surprisingly, the compliment is repaid by French men: they love Women a lot a lot. So the foundation is always there to build upon.
French women know men need a lot of tolerance and looking after. This view offers a certain relief in the "battle of the sexes" as it is played out in the States.
This book gets to the core of t...more
As I spent the latter part of the year internet dating I thought that some self help may be in order to improve my love life. So I delved into this book with an open mind. The book is not so much about what French women know but it is more of a comparative view of French culture as compared to the Puritanical American views of the author. I found some of the book to be insightful in ways that our Puritan values have shaped how we as a culture view love, sex, and even friendships with the oppos...more
interesting to note that in America there is only one beauty the blond bimbo whereas in France beauty can take many different sides and intelligence is valued for a woman. The author points out that in America it is all about youth and fitting that narrow ideal whereas in France it is about adulthood and women regardless of age are/ feel sexy. They don't obsess about being the perfect woman and go to extremes about obsessing about their husband and children, being the perfect wife and mother...more
This is kind of a follow up to her Entre Nous, Finding your inner French Girl which I very much enjoyed when it came out six years ago or so. But I think this book is better. The writing is more sophisticated, and I found she really captures the mindset of the French, and shows the Americans the differences. One of my favorite ideas is the notion that a little imperfection is sexier - lets stop worrying about how many abs we can do, or whether the refridgerator needs to be wiped down. Let someth...more
Jools
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So, let me preface this by saying that I do not find all Americans irritating. I honestly don’t, I have friends who are American and I find them warm, charming and intelligent. However, I have found this book and its author vastly irritating. The main thing that really got up my nose was Ollivier’s tendency to refer to English and Commonwealth (her term, not mine) readers as “Anglo”, as in Anglo-Saxon. She just lumps us all in together as one, which I found really crass. She’s basically making t...more
Earlier this week, as I headed to my job, a man in my building asked me out after a few minutes of conversation. I thought this rather abrupt, as in this short conversation, it was clearly established that we had absolutely nothing in common, especially when his main point of conversation was saying in multiple ways, "You're one of those artsy chicks, right?" and also made sure to mention how much his car cost (that he had just wrecked the week before). Regrettably, I gave him my num...more
This book is not for uptight, fundamentalist, flag-waving Americans who eat Freedom Fries.
Got your attention, didn't I?
Seriously though, this book is a cultural comparison, at times quite snarky, of French and American women. If you are easily offended, I suggest you leave this book alone.
I enjoyed this book. I enjoy cultural studies that expand my concept of what it means to be human. Each chapter discusses a specific theme - Men, Mystery, Rules, Perfectio...more
Got your attention, didn't I?
Seriously though, this book is a cultural comparison, at times quite snarky, of French and American women. If you are easily offended, I suggest you leave this book alone.
I enjoyed this book. I enjoy cultural studies that expand my concept of what it means to be human. Each chapter discusses a specific theme - Men, Mystery, Rules, Perfectio...more
While I am more than half way through I felt I needed to write something on this book. It has spurred a new thought process. I find myself looking at everything asking, "how would I do this if I we're French?" or "would I say this or that if I were French?" for example, while at starbucks today I saw a sign that read "There is no smoking at Starbucks - inside or out." my first though was "oh, now the French would NOT be ok with that!" I am loving the defin...more
Humorous and enjoyable little light read of a book. Small sparkling moments of inspiration all the way through it.
Reminds me why I managed to resist my Francophile mother’s efforts to turn me into one too, (as the arrogance gets to you after a while), and my Americanophile peers (the brash naivety you know, tedious). This book actually ‘felt’ quite American toward the end, but I don’t hold that against it. I would recommend it and I would re-read it.
Reminds me why I managed to resist my Francophile mother’s efforts to turn me into one too, (as the arrogance gets to you after a while), and my Americanophile peers (the brash naivety you know, tedious). This book actually ‘felt’ quite American toward the end, but I don’t hold that against it. I would recommend it and I would re-read it.
This book's title had a LOT of promise, and I was excited to read it as a motivation to live with more joie de verve. I found the writing uninviting and a little too much about the author's own life. With "French Women Don't Get Fat" her personal stories were quite helpful to the overall message -- in this one it wasn't really the case. I really WANTED to like this book, but was left disappointed.
One of the best books I've read. I'm going to read it again right away. A humourous, articulate, and incredibly empowering discussion on how femininity, sensuality, and sexuality are all defined, rejected, subjected, and embraced in both North America and France.
I particularly enjoyed that Ollivier does not make us North American women feel inferior to the French Woman, which is no small feat in a discussion of these sensitive matters.
I want to give a copy of this book to e...more
I particularly enjoyed that Ollivier does not make us North American women feel inferior to the French Woman, which is no small feat in a discussion of these sensitive matters.
I want to give a copy of this book to e...more
Hmmm, I'm doomed to be fat because of my sympathic American sisters. If we were mean and callus about each others weight like the French then we'd be a skinny nation, according to Olliver. This isn't all she said. I like this book for the fact that she shed light on the French mindset. I may have been French in my other life, except for the weight part.
This is not a scientific study, but somewhat based on previous observations (some serious, some not), with a healthy dose of the author's own extensive experiences -- which make the books much more entertaining. For anyone interested in how the French (and especially the French women) think.
Written from a journalistic perspective, where each of her thoughts, whether introduced by her own observations, are all supported by concurring statements or historic literature. Loved her perspectives. So well written. I read it in a day. And I'll read it many more times.
This book seemed to glorify the French culture and put down the American culture in stereotypical ways. I get it, "The French are more relaxed and less materialistic." But some Americans are too. I didn't appreciate it's broad cultural generalizations.
Interesting book for Francofiles. It started and ended well, but I felt the middle tended to drift and did not have some of the cohesion the beginning and end have. Otherwise, the book is fairly engaging and an enjoyable read.
This may be a good book but the author and publisher quoted a full page from my blog without attributing it. Lame at best, unethical at worst. Read about it here.
http://pollyvousfrancais.blogspot.com/20...
http://pollyvousfrancais.blogspot.com/20...
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good book, but.... | 2 | 31 | Jan 04, 2010 08:31am |
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Ollivier lived in France for over ten years, had her two children there, and became a dual citizen. She currently divides her time between Paris and Los Angeles, where she lives with her family, and is at work on a historical novel.
More about Debra Ollivier...
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