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Paul West #2
Merde Actually
'Edgier than Bryson, hits harder than Mayle'
The Times
A year after arriving in France, Englishman Paul West is still struggling with some fundamental questions:
What is the best way to scare a gendarme? Why are there no health warnings on French nudist beaches? And is it really polite to sleep with your boss's mistress?
Paul opens his English tea room, and mutates (temporarily) into a Parisian waiter; samples the pleasures of typically French hotel-room afternoons; and, on a return visit to the UK, sees the full horror of a British office party through Parisian eyes.
Meanwhile, he continues his search for the perfect French mademoiselle. But will Paul find l'amour �ternel, or will it all end in merde ?
MERDE ACTUALLY
In his second comedy of errors, Paul West continues to sabotage the entente cordiale.
Author's apology: 'I'd just like to say sorry to all the suppository fans out there, because in this book there are no suppositories. There are, however, lots of courgettes, and I see this as progress. Suppositories to courgettes - I think it proves that I'm developing as a writer.' Stephen Clarke
The Times
A year after arriving in France, Englishman Paul West is still struggling with some fundamental questions:
What is the best way to scare a gendarme? Why are there no health warnings on French nudist beaches? And is it really polite to sleep with your boss's mistress?
Paul opens his English tea room, and mutates (temporarily) into a Parisian waiter; samples the pleasures of typically French hotel-room afternoons; and, on a return visit to the UK, sees the full horror of a British office party through Parisian eyes.
Meanwhile, he continues his search for the perfect French mademoiselle. But will Paul find l'amour �ternel, or will it all end in merde ?
MERDE ACTUALLY
In his second comedy of errors, Paul West continues to sabotage the entente cordiale.
Author's apology: 'I'd just like to say sorry to all the suppository fans out there, because in this book there are no suppositories. There are, however, lots of courgettes, and I see this as progress. Suppositories to courgettes - I think it proves that I'm developing as a writer.' Stephen Clarke
411 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
95 people are currently reading
1172 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Clarke
31 books412 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Stephen Clarke is the bestselling author of seven books of fiction and nonfiction that satirize the peculiarities of French culture. In 2004, he self-published A Year in the Merde, a comic novel skewering contemporary French society. The novel was an instant success and has led to numerous follow-ups, including Dial M for Merde (2008), 1,000 Years of Annoying the French (2010), and Paris Revealed (2011). After working as a journalist for a French press group for ten years, Paris-based Clarke now has a regular spot on French cable TV, poking fun at French culture.
Stephen Clarke is the bestselling author of seven books of fiction and nonfiction that satirize the peculiarities of French culture. In 2004, he self-published A Year in the Merde, a comic novel skewering contemporary French society. The novel was an instant success and has led to numerous follow-ups, including Dial M for Merde (2008), 1,000 Years of Annoying the French (2010), and Paris Revealed (2011). After working as a journalist for a French press group for ten years, Paris-based Clarke now has a regular spot on French cable TV, poking fun at French culture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
October 5, 2017
Enjoyable fun :)
October 9, 2016
The main character wants to sleep with every french girl he meets, or they want to sleep with him. They usually do. That is literally the role of every female character in this book, which gets tiring.
October 4, 2011
I really enjoyed A Year In the Merde, the first book about Paul, a British businessman living in Paris. In that book, the hilarious clash of cultures and frustrations of doing business in France created a very humorous and satisfying story. This sequel is not as appealing.
Paul has struck out on his own in Paris, determined to open the tea room ("My Tea Is Rich") that was a focus of the first book. However, the tea room takes a backseat to Paul's romantic exploits. He's dating the lovely Florence but is pining for his ex-girlfriend Alexa. Having betrayed Alexa in the past, how can he win her back? The journey is not all that interesting. Many chapters are spent detailing Paul's visit with Florence's family in rural southern France, which is amusing but a clunky and ultimately irrelevant way to start the story. Then, there is much plot work designed to keep Paul and Alexa apart until he must finally make a bold move to get her attention. Ultimately, I didn't care all that much. I wanted more of Paris and the witty observations that permeated the first book. This was a disappointment.
Paul has struck out on his own in Paris, determined to open the tea room ("My Tea Is Rich") that was a focus of the first book. However, the tea room takes a backseat to Paul's romantic exploits. He's dating the lovely Florence but is pining for his ex-girlfriend Alexa. Having betrayed Alexa in the past, how can he win her back? The journey is not all that interesting. Many chapters are spent detailing Paul's visit with Florence's family in rural southern France, which is amusing but a clunky and ultimately irrelevant way to start the story. Then, there is much plot work designed to keep Paul and Alexa apart until he must finally make a bold move to get her attention. Ultimately, I didn't care all that much. I wanted more of Paris and the witty observations that permeated the first book. This was a disappointment.
August 14, 2016
Merde actually: A review on Merde Actually
I cannot even begin to describe the problems with this book. First off, the narrator sounds like a twenty-something dudebro who cracks sexist jokes about women. As if that weren't bad enough, he's slightly ethnocentric in a subtle way that seems akin to anyone who voted yes for Brexit. He's so straight that it almost pains me to read page after page of his bullshit ramblings and observations on women and people of color.
Secondly, the plot. Or rather lack there of. To put it simply, this book wastes so many pages that you'll begin to wonder why you put up with 400 pages of who-knows what. I've seen bad soap operas with more story than this novel.
Tell you what. You want to learn how French people are? Go to France. Learn their culture. And don't compare it to your country of origin. Just accept it and appreciate it. But whatever you do, just don't read this book.
I cannot even begin to describe the problems with this book. First off, the narrator sounds like a twenty-something dudebro who cracks sexist jokes about women. As if that weren't bad enough, he's slightly ethnocentric in a subtle way that seems akin to anyone who voted yes for Brexit. He's so straight that it almost pains me to read page after page of his bullshit ramblings and observations on women and people of color.
Secondly, the plot. Or rather lack there of. To put it simply, this book wastes so many pages that you'll begin to wonder why you put up with 400 pages of who-knows what. I've seen bad soap operas with more story than this novel.
Tell you what. You want to learn how French people are? Go to France. Learn their culture. And don't compare it to your country of origin. Just accept it and appreciate it. But whatever you do, just don't read this book.
May 12, 2009
The first book "A year in The Merde" was great. Pointing a direct finger at all Parisian habits. The second book deserves just a shrug. A character driven love story set in France. Although funny- it's a story and does not maintain the stand up comedian wittiness of book #1.
November 5, 2023
the sexist sequel. i thought it would be more insightful due to… yanno the more time spent in france and therefore more witty references. alas. i was mistaken. i think there’s a few more in the series. do NOT bother.
concept: 1
writing: 2
readability: 3
length: 3
overall: 1,8/5
concept: 1
writing: 2
readability: 3
length: 3
overall: 1,8/5
July 17, 2021
not so funny as the first one but i enjoyed myself reading it.
April 12, 2011
Without trying to include spoilers, AYITM was about Paul West moving from London to France to help create English Style tea rooms in France, while working for a boss with questionable ethics. He has complete culture shock, dates a lot of girls and gets into quite a bit of trouble, all with the self-deprecating humor that the Brits are known for. He picks on the English, the French, vegetarians, and Americans, but in a way that you can’t help but love.
ITMFL picks up where the previous book left off for the most part. Paul is still in France, becoming more acclimated, but still having problems with tea rooms and women. It seems that the guy can never really catch a break. Yet, he seems to realize that a lot of his problems are his own doing. I loved the fact that Paul has really become more French than English in the course of this book, but realizes that he’s somewhere in between the cultures. He’s too English for the French, he’s too French for the English. But you can’t help but dig the guy. Also, his wit is amazing. I dare you to not laugh out loud.
While you wouldn’t need to read A Year In The Merde to follow this book, it probably would help explain some of the characters and why he interacts with them the way that he does. Although, minor explanations are included in a “if you’re just tuning in…” kind of way. Those for the faint of heart or are easily offended may want to read with caution. There are some explicit scenes and scenes that will make you squirm. All the French that is used in the book is translated into the closest English translation as well.
I loved the format of the book as well. The book is divided into somewhat lengthy sections, but each section has smaller chapters. Yet, it’s almost superfluous because the whole narration flows so smoothly. It’s almost like Clarke is handing you a convenient stopping place. I love the British terms for things as well, and all the French. I’m a bit obsessed.
But my favorite part is why he includes Merde in all the titles. Having not been to Paris, I am not sure how accurate this is, but there is the belief that the French, particularly the Parisians do not pick up after their dogs so there is all kinds of dog merde in the streets. The title for the first book, A Year in the Merde is a spoof of the popular A Year in Provence. Get it? But that’s not the best part, the best part is that the book I was reading prior to this one, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, also takes place in Paris. There is a part not too long after Anna lands in Paris that she observes that there isn’t any dog poop on the streets. When I read that I almost fell off my chair and then called Matt. We decided that someone isn’t telling us the whole story. We just may have to go to Paris someday to find out.
ITMFL picks up where the previous book left off for the most part. Paul is still in France, becoming more acclimated, but still having problems with tea rooms and women. It seems that the guy can never really catch a break. Yet, he seems to realize that a lot of his problems are his own doing. I loved the fact that Paul has really become more French than English in the course of this book, but realizes that he’s somewhere in between the cultures. He’s too English for the French, he’s too French for the English. But you can’t help but dig the guy. Also, his wit is amazing. I dare you to not laugh out loud.
While you wouldn’t need to read A Year In The Merde to follow this book, it probably would help explain some of the characters and why he interacts with them the way that he does. Although, minor explanations are included in a “if you’re just tuning in…” kind of way. Those for the faint of heart or are easily offended may want to read with caution. There are some explicit scenes and scenes that will make you squirm. All the French that is used in the book is translated into the closest English translation as well.
I loved the format of the book as well. The book is divided into somewhat lengthy sections, but each section has smaller chapters. Yet, it’s almost superfluous because the whole narration flows so smoothly. It’s almost like Clarke is handing you a convenient stopping place. I love the British terms for things as well, and all the French. I’m a bit obsessed.
But my favorite part is why he includes Merde in all the titles. Having not been to Paris, I am not sure how accurate this is, but there is the belief that the French, particularly the Parisians do not pick up after their dogs so there is all kinds of dog merde in the streets. The title for the first book, A Year in the Merde is a spoof of the popular A Year in Provence. Get it? But that’s not the best part, the best part is that the book I was reading prior to this one, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, also takes place in Paris. There is a part not too long after Anna lands in Paris that she observes that there isn’t any dog poop on the streets. When I read that I almost fell off my chair and then called Matt. We decided that someone isn’t telling us the whole story. We just may have to go to Paris someday to find out.
August 3, 2011
When I started this book, I was still under the impression that the series was in some way autobiographical. You'd have thought that I could have noticed the difference in the name of the author and that of the character, but this had evaded my attention when I read the first one, and continued to as I started this one.
The book was actually more enjoyable for knowing that it's not about actual events, which would have left me with far less sympathy for the characters. As it was, I found it more easy to enjoy as caricature than as reportage. Subtract the concern that people are actually like this, and my vague unease in rewarding them for it by buying their books, and this is an entertaining cultural jaunt.
The book was actually more enjoyable for knowing that it's not about actual events, which would have left me with far less sympathy for the characters. As it was, I found it more easy to enjoy as caricature than as reportage. Subtract the concern that people are actually like this, and my vague unease in rewarding them for it by buying their books, and this is an entertaining cultural jaunt.
March 8, 2016
Ja ir vēlme pēc izklaidējošas literatūras, turklāt ar patiesi foršu informāciju par parīziešiem un francūžiem, Klārka grāmatas ir lieliskas. Labs darbs sava žanra ietvaros!!!
October 26, 2017
Bleh. The French cultural stuff is the best part. The narrator is insufferable.
February 3, 2019
Meh, actually.
January 4, 2020
Some funny moments but as many reviewers said too much sex-oriented storylines. Women characterization gets tiring very quickly.
February 26, 2023
paul west gaslighting himself through the female french population
March 16, 2024
The second book in the series and just a nice bit of fluff. The main character is a bit of an arse and in real life I would probably dislike him intensely. But it was a fun ride and I look forward to reading the next book at some point in the future.
March 4, 2021
Stephen Clarke pokračuje líčením anglo-francouzských nesnází. Skvělá oddechovka, akorát mě štvou jeho vztahy. Líčení (zlo)zvyků Angličanů a Francouzů je lepší.
August 16, 2023
Mega śmieszna i prawdziwa. Interakcje z Francuzami w końcu mają sens
July 18, 2013
The edition I have read has a white cover and two snails behind a cup of English(?) tea. Anyways, I read this book based on my French cousin's recommendation. To sum it up, Paul West is an Englishman morphing into a Frenchman. Though he originally aimed to open an English tea room in the middle of Paris, the main plot revolves around his [needlessly] complicated relationships with French women. Plus, there's a lot of cultural puns (that I'm happy to get considering I arrived in France a few days ago). This book would definitely be enjoyed (and fully understood) by the Brits or people who know stuff about English (UK) culture. Though do not fret! The writing is easy to comprehend and Paul the narrator explains his jokes so that readers will get it. The only pun I don't understand is the Yann Kerbollock'd. I do get it has something to do with having a funny name (like Peter Burns sounding like Péter Burnes meaning Fart-bum or whatever in French) but I'm not familiar with British slang. Other than that, I seriously appreciate the humour. There's sarcasm and gags, and the funniest part was the office Christmas party. Also, Paul's jokes tend to reference past events in the novel so it feels more intimate (because it feels as if his personal inside jokes are being shared with the reader). All in all, I think it was a funny read and considering this is the second book in a series, it does well on its own. A total comedy for sure mixed with romance and satire. I also want to add that I like the other characters. They're just as peculiar. For example, Benoît who fell in love with a tea urn, Jean-Pierre who hypnotizes any women with his eyes, Nathalie the married woman who sleeps with other men to feel alive, Alexa the obvious hipster and true love interest, Florence's dad, and the fishermen. Anyways, my favourite jokes:
Anyways I'm off to the Louvre myself!
Anyways I'm off to the Louvre myself!
August 13, 2012
Merde Actually is a sequel to "A Year in the Merde". In this novel, the protagonist Paul continues with his (mis)adventure in France. He is now trying to open his English tea chain "My Tea is Rich" and at the same time having troubles with his personal love life.
While the first part was mostly focused on the cultural differences between England and France, this one is written in a typical love story fashion with not much on cultural issues. Obviously there are bit of episodes like the trouble he has with French inspector (gendarme) and the business authorities in getting the right French translation of his menu but they are very less and countable. Most of the story goes waste in chasing his half French exotic girlfriend and his issues with her family. The second part focuses on his troubles with his ex whom he wants back.
The brief pages on his return to London and trying to live back in his native country with a French background are interesting and does throw light on "the culture" Great Britain has now turned to. the difference in night life between the two countries is contrasting and really makes you wonder which is going in the right direction.
Overall its an "ok" but fast read.
While the first part was mostly focused on the cultural differences between England and France, this one is written in a typical love story fashion with not much on cultural issues. Obviously there are bit of episodes like the trouble he has with French inspector (gendarme) and the business authorities in getting the right French translation of his menu but they are very less and countable. Most of the story goes waste in chasing his half French exotic girlfriend and his issues with her family. The second part focuses on his troubles with his ex whom he wants back.
The brief pages on his return to London and trying to live back in his native country with a French background are interesting and does throw light on "the culture" Great Britain has now turned to. the difference in night life between the two countries is contrasting and really makes you wonder which is going in the right direction.
Overall its an "ok" but fast read.
March 22, 2015
At the beginning of the book I was already asking myself how I'd put up with it. But during it I think it got a little better or at least bearable. I even laughed out loud of a Perrier joke.
But how can I enjoy a book/series if I really really dislike the main character? Paul West is arrogant and takes stereotypes way too far. He's always saying how everybody else is annoying but in fact he is the one who is annoying. He goes the whole first and second (and probably all) books criticizing/making fun of the French but when someone criticizes/makes fun of English people it's like the end of the world. Do what I say, don't do what I do? Not here, mate.
I read the first two books but now I feel I can't continue with these series any longer. I can't handle this guy anymore.
But how can I enjoy a book/series if I really really dislike the main character? Paul West is arrogant and takes stereotypes way too far. He's always saying how everybody else is annoying but in fact he is the one who is annoying. He goes the whole first and second (and probably all) books criticizing/making fun of the French but when someone criticizes/makes fun of English people it's like the end of the world. Do what I say, don't do what I do? Not here, mate.
I read the first two books but now I feel I can't continue with these series any longer. I can't handle this guy anymore.
June 29, 2015
what a deception! I got the second (this one) and third tome at a book fair, and began reading them the wrong way, the other one first. It did not matter, easy to follow and it made me laugh. When I grabbed this one, I was expecting the same kind of flippant humor, better because the author was in France, dealing with the daily merde.
I found a description of drunken evenings and unbridled lust. Lust for any woman around, with terms I found upsetting about the downgrade of female beauty with time. In other words, the guys are just looking at women like a farmer at his cattle. Really nice and interesting...
If I knew where to find the first one, I would get it, just to check where it stands.
I found a description of drunken evenings and unbridled lust. Lust for any woman around, with terms I found upsetting about the downgrade of female beauty with time. In other words, the guys are just looking at women like a farmer at his cattle. Really nice and interesting...
If I knew where to find the first one, I would get it, just to check where it stands.
December 22, 2016
It feels like a movie, and a good one to watch in Christmas season.
I caught up with Paul's adventure along the two countries that have quite a history, after abandoning it for like a year or so. And it was still as bemusing.
All the fun and sarcasm were there, mingled with Paul's struggle to get out of the 'merde' he'd been in, while trying to take back the love he'd accidentally 'thrown away.'
I had many a good laugh, and an 'aww' at the end, when I thought 'Damn it's not gonna be a happy ending.'
Annoying as the first book and this sequel are to some, they seem enjoyable to me, and I recommend it to those who want to have a look at France through and eye of a British who lives and works in France with all its 'merde'.
I caught up with Paul's adventure along the two countries that have quite a history, after abandoning it for like a year or so. And it was still as bemusing.
All the fun and sarcasm were there, mingled with Paul's struggle to get out of the 'merde' he'd been in, while trying to take back the love he'd accidentally 'thrown away.'
I had many a good laugh, and an 'aww' at the end, when I thought 'Damn it's not gonna be a happy ending.'
Annoying as the first book and this sequel are to some, they seem enjoyable to me, and I recommend it to those who want to have a look at France through and eye of a British who lives and works in France with all its 'merde'.
September 11, 2010
A big let down from the first book, then again it is often the case with sequels. Paul West's charm in the first book was his naivety and is trouble adapting and understanding his new surroundings. This one focus more, on his poor choices in relationships and shows at times his selfish nature as well as his immaturity and it doesn't flow into an interesting narrative most of the time. One hit wonder? Time will tell.
May 4, 2015
this book's good fun, i got it from a friend who was giving it away. it's very light reading, but if you know a little about the two countries involved (England and France), then you will have a laugh while reading it. the story's nothing special really, it's the way he writes that make the book worth reading, as well as all the cultural observations that are hilarious - about both sides of the Channel. kept me good company on a long-distance flight!
December 10, 2009
Unfortunately no where near as good as the first one. This was just a story about a guy drinking, getting drunk, doing stupid things and regretting it the next day. Mix that in with him talking about thinking about sex, trying to have sex and having sex. I expected something wittier, but was sadly let down...
May 25, 2018
misogynistic crap
February 1, 2021
Stereotypical, sexist and bland.
September 11, 2023
Light-hearted entertainment. Slightly too sex-heavy for my taste but the recent hype around the Bridgerton-series suggest people enjoy that.
February 15, 2016
Plăcută, relaxantă și amuzantă.
O carte de vacanță.
O carte de vacanță.
December 17, 2017
I like reading this kind of books when someone decides to move in a foreign country or travels extensively abroad or works in a multicultural environment, that been light humor novels or more serious non-fiction stuff...
The thing is that having go through such an experience doesn't make you necessarily a good author or doesn't always produce a story interesting enough for others to read. "Merde Actually" is a fictional story based on the writer's true experience as a Brit moving to France and stands somewhere in the middle literature-wise. Not a bad read but not great either.
Personally I got a bit bored by the author's choice to create some premise for his book, based mostly on the main character's sexual life and love problems. A dull choice, firstly because it seemed to serve as the author's fantasy of getting laid with beautiful women and secondly because some good sex is great for the people involved but not that much interesting when you read about it.The attraction of those books is to focus on different mentalities and life styles due to cultural background, not on romances and love troubles that can happen anywhere! The romance or sex encounters of the protagonist didn't offer much revelation about the cultural element because naturally the narrator didn't go into much detail.
I enjoyed much more the parts of the book involving interactions among the main character and other random people like the bureaucrats or the policemen or his house mates or his staff and I warmed up mostly on the tea room business stuff and especially the chapter about customer service and idiot clients. The London part of the story in the consultants company was okey-ish too.
In general I felt the book wasn't that much funny, some plot-lines were simply not realistic and the humor was often too forced. It's not exactly a book I didn't like, but on the whole it wasn't a book I enjoyed much either.
Last but not least, although at first the book didn't remind me anything, I caught my self recognizing much of the story on the second half of the book. I thought I haven't read this novel before but after all maybe I've read it a loooong time ago? Otherwise an other explanation is that it's a story told frequently and it's easy to recognize where it's heading, nothing new here I guess...
Μου αρέσει να διαβάζω βιβλία τέτοιας θεματολογίας, αλλά κάποια είναι περισσότερο καλά από άλλα. Αυτό εδώ το βρήκα μέτριο. Ο συγγραφέας προσπαθεί πολύ να φανεί αστείος χωρίς να το καταφέρνει πάντα, ενώ προσπαθεί να δημιουργήσει μια υποτυπώδη κεντρική πλοκή βασιζόμενος στην προσπάθεια του Άγγλου ήρωά του να ανοίξει ένα Tea Room στο Παρίσι και κυρίως στις ερωτικές του περιπέτειες.
Για να είμαι ειλικρινής βρήκα το ερωτικό/ρομαντικό κομμάτι πολύ βαρετό κι αυτό καταλαμβάνει το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του βιβλίου. Βρήκα τα σημεία όπου ο ήρωας συνομιλεί με ανθρώπους που δεν έχει σκοπό να ρίξει στο κρεββάτι ή μόλις έριξε στο κρεββάτι ή προσπαθεί να πείσει ότι δεν έριξε άλλες στο κρεββάτι από την τελευταία φορά που την είχε ρίξει στο κρεββάτι για να την ρίξει στο κρεββάτι πολύ πιο ενδιαφέροντα. Αλλά αυτά καταλαμβάνουν μικρό μέρος του βιβλίου.
Ευχαριστήθηκα ιδιαίτερα το κεφάλαιο σχετικά με την εξυπηρέτηση πελατών όπου κάποιοι πελάτες συμπεριφέρονται σαν κόπανοι και πως θα έπρεπε να το χειριστεί το προσωπικό του tea room και πως τελικά το χειρίζεται... Φαίνεται ότι έχω εμπειρία στο θέμα,ε;
Ένα μέτριο βιβλίο να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του, αλλά όχι κάτι το εξαιρετικό. Θα περίμενα ο συγγραφέας να έχει δώσει μεγαλύτερη βάση στις πολιτιστικές διαφορές μεταξύ Αγγλικής και Βρετανικής κουλτούρας και όχι να δημιουργήσει ένα alter ego που απλά κοιμάται με όμορφες γυναίκες.
The thing is that having go through such an experience doesn't make you necessarily a good author or doesn't always produce a story interesting enough for others to read. "Merde Actually" is a fictional story based on the writer's true experience as a Brit moving to France and stands somewhere in the middle literature-wise. Not a bad read but not great either.
Personally I got a bit bored by the author's choice to create some premise for his book, based mostly on the main character's sexual life and love problems. A dull choice, firstly because it seemed to serve as the author's fantasy of getting laid with beautiful women and secondly because some good sex is great for the people involved but not that much interesting when you read about it.The attraction of those books is to focus on different mentalities and life styles due to cultural background, not on romances and love troubles that can happen anywhere! The romance or sex encounters of the protagonist didn't offer much revelation about the cultural element because naturally the narrator didn't go into much detail.
I enjoyed much more the parts of the book involving interactions among the main character and other random people like the bureaucrats or the policemen or his house mates or his staff and I warmed up mostly on the tea room business stuff and especially the chapter about customer service and idiot clients. The London part of the story in the consultants company was okey-ish too.
In general I felt the book wasn't that much funny, some plot-lines were simply not realistic and the humor was often too forced. It's not exactly a book I didn't like, but on the whole it wasn't a book I enjoyed much either.
Last but not least, although at first the book didn't remind me anything, I caught my self recognizing much of the story on the second half of the book. I thought I haven't read this novel before but after all maybe I've read it a loooong time ago? Otherwise an other explanation is that it's a story told frequently and it's easy to recognize where it's heading, nothing new here I guess...
Μου αρέσει να διαβάζω βιβλία τέτοιας θεματολογίας, αλλά κάποια είναι περισσότερο καλά από άλλα. Αυτό εδώ το βρήκα μέτριο. Ο συγγραφέας προσπαθεί πολύ να φανεί αστείος χωρίς να το καταφέρνει πάντα, ενώ προσπαθεί να δημιουργήσει μια υποτυπώδη κεντρική πλοκή βασιζόμενος στην προσπάθεια του Άγγλου ήρωά του να ανοίξει ένα Tea Room στο Παρίσι και κυρίως στις ερωτικές του περιπέτειες.
Για να είμαι ειλικρινής βρήκα το ερωτικό/ρομαντικό κομμάτι πολύ βαρετό κι αυτό καταλαμβάνει το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του βιβλίου. Βρήκα τα σημεία όπου ο ήρωας συνομιλεί με ανθρώπους που δεν έχει σκοπό να ρίξει στο κρεββάτι ή μόλις έριξε στο κρεββάτι ή προσπαθεί να πείσει ότι δεν έριξε άλλες στο κρεββάτι από την τελευταία φορά που την είχε ρίξει στο κρεββάτι για να την ρίξει στο κρεββάτι πολύ πιο ενδιαφέροντα. Αλλά αυτά καταλαμβάνουν μικρό μέρος του βιβλίου.
Ευχαριστήθηκα ιδιαίτερα το κεφάλαιο σχετικά με την εξυπηρέτηση πελατών όπου κάποιοι πελάτες συμπεριφέρονται σαν κόπανοι και πως θα έπρεπε να το χειριστεί το προσωπικό του tea room και πως τελικά το χειρίζεται... Φαίνεται ότι έχω εμπειρία στο θέμα,ε;
Ένα μέτριο βιβλίο να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του, αλλά όχι κάτι το εξαιρετικό. Θα περίμενα ο συγγραφέας να έχει δώσει μεγαλύτερη βάση στις πολιτιστικές διαφορές μεταξύ Αγγλικής και Βρετανικής κουλτούρας και όχι να δημιουργήσει ένα alter ego που απλά κοιμάται με όμορφες γυναίκες.
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