That’s not to say that we can’t have a good conversation about it here, but as in France, there’s so much contradiction in what we believe in and what we actually do. Plus, globalization is so closely connected to politics, labor and economics, subjects that have so much emotional baggage for many people.

I have a feeling that if I lived in Paris, I’d feel quite at home there as well. You’re very lucky that you’ve found your soul’s true abode!

Dear Randal, well, I’d still love to read it, but I may not review it. I have this thing about reviewing the work of friends, even if they wrote like Jodi Picoult. I would, however, gladly promote it from the rooftops! Besides, just based on what I’ve read on your blog alone, I’m certain it’ll make for excellent reading.

Dear Josephine, merci for your compliments! I’m so pleased that my book reviews are well-received, since they’re my favorite part of my blog.

Like you, I always was and will remain a big fan of Anne Barone. But I fear that her well of ideas have run dry. On the other hand, she’ll always be able to profit from her previous books, which remain an inspiration to me.

Salut,
Marjorie

Trust me, you don’t want to see my book, novella, whatever it’s called. It’s bad.

I won’t pretend that I have the French figured out, but my experiences have helped me sort out some of the myths and realities. Having a daughter in public schools in Paris exposed me to a diverse cross-section of French women. While there are some insights to be gleaned from the generalities in Chic & Slim, the realities are much more complex, contradictory and interesting in my view.

As for me, I’m still very much American, but I feel like I’m my “better me” when I’m living here. I recently was in California and saw a friend I had met while living in Switzerland. She told me I looked fantastic and that Paris is obviously good for me. I do feel more at home here than I do anywhere else I’ve lived. No one would mistake me for a French woman, but that’s ok, I’m not trying to pass for one. In fact it’s the international flavor of Paris that attracts me perhaps more than anything else.

I haven’t read Ms. Barone’s new book, although it doesn’t sound like my cuppa. Any mention of “mondialisation” can get quite a conversation going here. My daughter, who is in the equivalent of 10th grade in a French lycee, had to write an essay about the evils of globalization. But the only birthday parties she went to “chez McDo” when she was little were for her French friends — and some of their parents had the nerve to blame me for bringing McDonalds to their shores! I haven’t gauged the concern about Chinese exports here, but you’ll find plenty of French people shopping at Tang Freres (a large Chinese grocery store) on the weekends.

As usual, things are rather complex and contradictory here . . .

Uhm, was I really that mean? I guess I look at it this way: if I’m going to spend some of my hard-earned money on an author’s work, they’d better make it worth my while by producing a good product. If I don’t like the story, that’s one thing; however, at least make the effort to a) edit it properly, and b) come up with something original. I feel as if I wasted a little more than two hours of my life on this book, and I don’t want anyone else to go through the same.

As a writer, I desperately want to support other writers as well, but not those who can’t be bothered to correct even their interviewees’ glaring mistakes (which make the latter sound like morons). It gives self-publishing a very bad name, not to mention create ill will among her fans who wonder if she has anything else left to say.

I, on the other hand, am looking forward to your book!

Chere Marsi, bonjour and merci for your comment! It’s too bad that Ms. Barone appears to be a one-note musician, as like you I thought her original book was eye-opening and very instructive, grammatical mistakes notwithstanding. I think I read the original Chic and Slim several times, and still do on occasion. I don’t intend to re-read this latest effort, though. The original books pretty much have all the inspiration I need.

Have a lovely Valentine’s Day!

Salut,
Marjorie

Anne B’s first book changed my life. When I bought it in 1998, I thought it was the freshest, cleverest, greatest, and most revolutionary set of ideas I’d ever seen encapsulated in a tiny little book, and it spoke (in sexy Franglish) directly to my heart. This latest effort makes me feel really glum, and I think you hit the nail on its proverbial head with every single point you’ve made!

Amities,
Marsi