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Je T'aime A La Folie
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?
Having spent two years alone in France, doing his best to survive in a foreign land, and failing miserably to woo a dishy French copine, Michael Wright has everything he ever wanted: manly powertools; a cat, chickens and sheep; earthy neighbours; an aircraft and a grand piano. Yet he is still alone and - in a moment of rare self-knowledge - decides that the only way to find the girl of his dreams is to stop looking for her. Yet barely a week after coming to this momentous decision, an email from an old school friend re-introduces him to Alice - a paid-up city girl who speaks only three words of French and comes with an expensive shoe habit and a deep-rooted mistrust of the countryside. Even worse, she lives and works on the far side of the Atlantic, in Baltimore, USA.
And so begins an unlikely romance, conducted across two continents, as Michael the rustic hermit struggles to unlearn his lessons in living alone and contemplates the alarming prospect of sharing his French life (not to mention his aeroplane) with someone else...
Having spent two years alone in France, doing his best to survive in a foreign land, and failing miserably to woo a dishy French copine, Michael Wright has everything he ever wanted: manly powertools; a cat, chickens and sheep; earthy neighbours; an aircraft and a grand piano. Yet he is still alone and - in a moment of rare self-knowledge - decides that the only way to find the girl of his dreams is to stop looking for her. Yet barely a week after coming to this momentous decision, an email from an old school friend re-introduces him to Alice - a paid-up city girl who speaks only three words of French and comes with an expensive shoe habit and a deep-rooted mistrust of the countryside. Even worse, she lives and works on the far side of the Atlantic, in Baltimore, USA.
And so begins an unlikely romance, conducted across two continents, as Michael the rustic hermit struggles to unlearn his lessons in living alone and contemplates the alarming prospect of sharing his French life (not to mention his aeroplane) with someone else...
471 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2009
11 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Michael Wright
2 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 19, 2025
Having enjoyed the first book so much I wondered if the second in the series would live up to expectations? I wasn’t disappointed. Indeed I wonder if I might have enjoyed this book even more than the first. I found the author’s sense of humour appealing and I felt the I was totally on his wavelength regarding his views on life. Wanting to have a flight in a Spitfire is definitely an ambition we both want to achieve. The challenge of moving to rural France also appeals. Perhaps if I was 20 years younger I might have the courage to do what the author did and move from England, though I would have the benefit of taking a partner with me, that is, my wife.
Removing the trappings of many aspects of modern life appeals greatly and investing time and affection in animals is something I would find to be extremely rewarding.
His search for a partner made the book all the more interesting and the loss of some of his treasured livestock to predators was a sadness that I could understand. Having challenges of the weather, maintaining and developing an older property, and searching for a soulmate helped me develop an empathy for the author.
I was truly sad when I finished the book because I didn’t want the adventure to end. There were many times that I laughed out loud at his descriptions of his adventures but conversely was upset at some of his challenges and predicaments.
Having a close friend who moved to France five years ago put the authors experiences in perspective and made me wish even more that I was younger so that I could live in a country that I enjoy more after every visit.
Tres bien.
Removing the trappings of many aspects of modern life appeals greatly and investing time and affection in animals is something I would find to be extremely rewarding.
His search for a partner made the book all the more interesting and the loss of some of his treasured livestock to predators was a sadness that I could understand. Having challenges of the weather, maintaining and developing an older property, and searching for a soulmate helped me develop an empathy for the author.
I was truly sad when I finished the book because I didn’t want the adventure to end. There were many times that I laughed out loud at his descriptions of his adventures but conversely was upset at some of his challenges and predicaments.
Having a close friend who moved to France five years ago put the authors experiences in perspective and made me wish even more that I was younger so that I could live in a country that I enjoy more after every visit.
Tres bien.
September 6, 2010
Je t'aime a La Folie is an absolutely adorable recounting of one man's quest to find true love while raising goats in the middle of nowhere countryside of darkest France. I have to say that my LEAST favorite thing about this book was the author's constant reference to where he lived as "darkest France." I got over the darkest fairly quickly and found myself pretending it wasn't there.
And that's the worst thing I have to say about this book. And let's face it, if the worst thing I can say about a book is that the author overuses the term "darkest France," it must be a pretty good book.
And this absolutely was.
While it was regularly repeated that no woman could survive at Michael's home, which he referred to as La Folie (because all homes in Southern France must, of course, have names), I find myself immediately falling for the charm of his quaint life amongst his chickens and goats. With his graceful, somewhat humorous (although I have to admit - there was some humor I just didn't get - times when laughing happened and I truly did NOT understand why) writing style, Michael drew me right into his world, and I was absolutely more than happy to be there. By the end of the book, I felt like Gaston the goat, Martha the hen, and Cat (who actually IS a cat) were my own, and I was sad when I was forced back to reality to discover that, no, they were Michael's animals.
I love it when an author has me on his side, and with such an honest recounting of Wright's year (or two) looking for love in France, he DEFINITELY had me on his side. Everything he thought or felt, he laid it all out there for us to see, and that made this book fabulous. While I'm still not entirely sure what a spitfire is, they were important to Wright and thus became important to me. While his friends did not seem like people I would normally enjoy, through his eyes they became boisterous, fabulous people. Wright is such a compassionate, forgiving person that I couldn't help but root for him all the way through.
My biggest disappointment is that I read this book before reading his first recounting of life in France, C'est La Folie. You can bet, though, that I'll be trying to get my hands on that first chance I get.
And that's the worst thing I have to say about this book. And let's face it, if the worst thing I can say about a book is that the author overuses the term "darkest France," it must be a pretty good book.
And this absolutely was.
While it was regularly repeated that no woman could survive at Michael's home, which he referred to as La Folie (because all homes in Southern France must, of course, have names), I find myself immediately falling for the charm of his quaint life amongst his chickens and goats. With his graceful, somewhat humorous (although I have to admit - there was some humor I just didn't get - times when laughing happened and I truly did NOT understand why) writing style, Michael drew me right into his world, and I was absolutely more than happy to be there. By the end of the book, I felt like Gaston the goat, Martha the hen, and Cat (who actually IS a cat) were my own, and I was sad when I was forced back to reality to discover that, no, they were Michael's animals.
I love it when an author has me on his side, and with such an honest recounting of Wright's year (or two) looking for love in France, he DEFINITELY had me on his side. Everything he thought or felt, he laid it all out there for us to see, and that made this book fabulous. While I'm still not entirely sure what a spitfire is, they were important to Wright and thus became important to me. While his friends did not seem like people I would normally enjoy, through his eyes they became boisterous, fabulous people. Wright is such a compassionate, forgiving person that I couldn't help but root for him all the way through.
My biggest disappointment is that I read this book before reading his first recounting of life in France, C'est La Folie. You can bet, though, that I'll be trying to get my hands on that first chance I get.
August 21, 2012
Not really that impressed.
I read 'C'est la Folie' three years ago, before moving to the same region of France that Michael Wright lives. I thought it was witty and insightful. I also follow his newspaper column, so was keen to read this sequel.
There's too much repetition; there's less wit; the local characters, who's antics provided so much of the enjoyment of the first book, are less well drawn. Even his romance, which forms the basis of the book, seems almost unbelievable. It's almost like he wanted to fill a book's worth of pages, without revealing too much detail, or compromising his privacy. I would've preferred some more warts and all.
I read 'C'est la Folie' three years ago, before moving to the same region of France that Michael Wright lives. I thought it was witty and insightful. I also follow his newspaper column, so was keen to read this sequel.
There's too much repetition; there's less wit; the local characters, who's antics provided so much of the enjoyment of the first book, are less well drawn. Even his romance, which forms the basis of the book, seems almost unbelievable. It's almost like he wanted to fill a book's worth of pages, without revealing too much detail, or compromising his privacy. I would've preferred some more warts and all.
January 19, 2019
Loved this more than the first (as much as I loved the first) as it really seemed like a complete story. Love the honesty and how Wright makes each character and the spirit of Jolibois come alive. I felt quite emotional at some points, and truly felt like I was experiencing just a bit of the joy and sadness in parts (don’t want any spoilers here). Recommend.
October 1, 2019
This has been quite a slow autobiography. At first I thought it was going to be really good but then the pace dropped off.
I think what the book needed was the people that were featured to have heard more definition to them. You truly didn’t get to know who they were unlike some previous Autobiographies of life in France.
I think what the book needed was the people that were featured to have heard more definition to them. You truly didn’t get to know who they were unlike some previous Autobiographies of life in France.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2025
A lovely read: the author's quest for someone to share his life, to fly a Spitfire and to reach the level of manly-hood he wished for since childhood. His life in the French countryside brings him closer to nature and to the awareness of the changing seasons, not only in nature but in life as well.
September 21, 2018
I love this book. It made me laugh, cry, thoughtful and happy. A real contender!
June 22, 2019
Another fun installment of Michaels's adventures in rural France...
June 25, 2020
3.5. Enjoyed all the bits about living abroad, but the rest was a bit mushy in this book. Preferred the first.
June 14, 2022
Loved this book equally as much as it’s predecessor!
February 25, 2013
This book should be not shelved in the Travel section but with the Mills & Boons. Having spent the first part of the book bleating on about his quest for a "sexy copine", Mr Wright then spent the second part of the book recording the progress of his burgeoning affair in meticulous, at times embarrassing, detail. I give him two stars because at least he knows how to write.
August 13, 2010
Beautifully entertaining book, Michael Wright did it again!!!!!!!
December 17, 2017
Sequel to "La Folie". Equally as good as the first.
January 20, 2012
Another enjoyable outing with Michael Wright.
June 8, 2013
Nice light-hearted look at the English living abroad
December 29, 2013
Excellent.... makes you think you have the courage and finance to make that break
November 19, 2014
Nice light read, but a little too cliched and tidy for my liking.
March 6, 2021
I loved it all over again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2016
I didn't enjoy it as much as his first one.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews