Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Fatima's Good Fortune” as Want to Read:
Fatima's Good Fortune
by
Freshly arrived from a beautiful Tunisian island to work for the exacting Countess Poulais du Roc, Fatima finds herselfin a city where even the most mundane tasks like walking the dog and buying the groceries prove baffling. But her natural compassion ensures her survival, and-unexpectedly-brings good fortune to those around her.
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
June 22nd 2005
by Miramax Books
(first published October 1st 2003)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Fatima's Good Fortune,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Fatima's Good Fortune
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Fatima's Good Fortune
On the surface, this is a cute little story about a woman, a newcomer who tries to find her way in Paris. But deep down, this is a pretty serious view about immigration in France and it shapes the country. I like Fatima, the main character, who is effortlessly likable. She's a woman from Tunisia who is considered unlucky, but apparently always has the greatest fortune. The plot, even though quite simple, is engaging and opening up our mind.
...more
I chose this book because I felt like reading something uplifting. I almost gave up after about 50 pages as I found the book shallow and trite, however kept going despite myself. In the end, I began to enjoy the colourful characters in this book, but could not really recommend it to anyone because of its lack of literary prowess. Readers who just want something quick and easy may enjoy it.
Starts off kinda slow and you wonder "Where's this going?" But then you really get into the book and begin to understand the character. Very feel-good...
...more
A wonderful and entertaining romp through 2002 Paris with plenty of quirky characters of all races and classes. There is humor, tragedy, and, of course, love. A heart-warming book which I highly recommend.
What a sweet story, I loved the main character! I found it hard to get into at first due to the number of characters and the little asides in French, but once I was immersed I really enjoyed the story and the way the characters grew during the tale. A good read.
I liked the variety of characters in this book. It was set in Paris which just made it more fun!
Loved this. I adore books set in Paris but longed for a more diverse perspective. This did it. The ending wasn’t as strong as the rest or it would have gotten full stars!
Lovely book about a Tunisian maid coming to Paris.
"Freshly arrived from a beautiful Tunisian island to work for the exacting Countess Poulais du Roc, Fatima finds herself in a city where even the most mundane tasks like walking the dog and buying the groceries prove baffling. But her natural compassion ensures her survival, and-unexpectedly-brings good fortune to those around her."
Fatima's younger sister, Rachida, moved from the Tunisian island of Djerba to Paris to make a better life for herself. She was working as a maid for the Countess wh ...more
Fatima's younger sister, Rachida, moved from the Tunisian island of Djerba to Paris to make a better life for herself. She was working as a maid for the Countess wh ...more
A cosy read. It's set in very posh Paris and is about the effect a "simple" woman from an Island off the coast of Tunisia has on the people she meets when she takes a job with an elderly Countess.
Fatima is a sweet, soulful character who isn't overly perfect or Pollyanna-ish, but rather is habitually unlucky, yet still positive, and is deeply empathetic to all she meets. She is aware that her misfortunes give her a rare depth of understanding,and she is greatly loved for her wise counsel and sym ...more
Fatima is a sweet, soulful character who isn't overly perfect or Pollyanna-ish, but rather is habitually unlucky, yet still positive, and is deeply empathetic to all she meets. She is aware that her misfortunes give her a rare depth of understanding,and she is greatly loved for her wise counsel and sym ...more
May 11, 2009
penelopewanders
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
rings-rays-loans-traded
Sent along with a map of Paris..
I very much enjoy almost all of this book... A lovely story about a simple (not in the pejorative sense) woman from Djerba who comes to Paris to replace her sister as a companion/maid for a Countess. I just felt the ending was a bit rushed somehow. With that exception, a very sweet read.
I very much enjoy almost all of this book... A lovely story about a simple (not in the pejorative sense) woman from Djerba who comes to Paris to replace her sister as a companion/maid for a Countess. I just felt the ending was a bit rushed somehow. With that exception, a very sweet read.
Not necessarily a life-changing, unbelievably penetrating book, but just lovely. Lovely, sympathetic, very human characters, an interesting, entertaining and pleasing plot, and I love Fatima. Overall a wonderful read.
It is interesting that this edition only has her name when the one i read had two authors. How do they manage writing a book together?? This book was a little weak with too many characters but I enjoyed it more as Fatima's luck and life changed.
...more
I love how Fatima transforms into this beautiful woman, which she already was but allowed people to see it. I love the adventure and the love in this book, and I almost forgot it's in Paris!! Where I've always dreamt of going.
...more
Three of five stars for this book. Too many characters and there are no footnotes for french utterances. Karakternya perlahan memikat hati. Fatima ran into misfortune during her past times, but because of her courtesy and generosity, Fatima found a flash of light and love from her surroundings.
It was Ok, nothing brilliant really. Has been compared with Joanne Harris, but nowhere near so good.
Just started this book, I like it so far, other than it's set in Paris and there's a lot of phrases in French!!! UGH! Any unlikely group of aquaintances...I like the dog.
...more
You will find it hard to put this book down. It only takes a few pages before you are wrapped up in the characters.
i loved how it made me understand the plight of the people from north africa as they work in France and other places in western europe. excellent book.
A beautifully told story that makes you believe that goodness is sometimes rewarded.
I love happy endings...
It brought back lots of nice memories of my trip to Paris. The chapter about Rachida's "fosse commune" grave moved me the most.
...more
It's not bad but I was led to believe it would be funnier than it turned out to be.
...more
Cute; Morrocan woman goes to Paris as mail
A lovely story - so pleasurable to read.
The kind of book that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. And it also gives the reader a lot to ponder, about life, love and our attitude to those around us.
A simple, okay read. I find nothing special or memorable from this book. The ending is happy. Crudely-happy, the 'happiness' being defined by a real worldly wealth.
...more
A tale about immigration quite pleasantly read. The characters are quite caricatural, I reckon.
Oct 19, 2015
Taurus Love
added it
Absolutely loved this story
A comedy about imigration. Nothing too serious but very enjoyable.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Related Articles
Mateo Askaripour is a Brooklyn-based writer whose debut novel, Black Buck—which Colson Whitehead calls a “mesmerizing novel, executing a high...
71 likes · 8 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
