Former au pairs in France, unite!  Share the story of your (well-nourished) servitude!
936951
I was interested in this memoir because 10 years after Linda Kovic-Skow worked as an au pair in the Loire Valley, I also worked as a "jeune fille au pair" in the region.  It has occurred to me to write an account of my experience--different from hers, yet similar--but I always struggled with the issue of how to recapture the past, treat the actual people involved with confidentiality, etc.  (This is why writing fiction is in many ways so much easier--and why my novel Au Pair Report draws to some extent on my experiences, but much more upon my imagination and subsequent experiences working as an au pair counselor.)  I also thought capturing French conversation would be a challenge.  Kovic-Skow handles all these challenges with finesse.  She relied upon diaries for recalling events that took place over 30 years ago and did her best to conceal the identities and location of her host family (still, I would love to know whether they will find out about the book and what they would think of it).  The way she incorporates French into the narrative captures her initial confusion about the language and her gradual progress in understanding and speaking it.  I like that the French language itself becomes a minor character in the book, and wondered why she decided to stop the story at the point when she finally gets the freedom to study it formally.  I know now that she has a sequel in the works, so we can read more about that later.  French cuisine is, on the other hand, a major character in French Illusions, and I enjoyed reading about the meals she ate and helped to make.  At that point in time (1979, I think), the differences between American and French foodways were pretty dramatic, yet Kovic-Skow's Croatian background had exposed her to a more traditional food culture.  She tells a good story, and those of us who have had the experience she had of being "treated like a servant" can certainly relate to her story. It also reminds us of why it is so important for cultural exchange programs in general and au pair programs in particular to be closely regulated.  Even here in the U.S., where the State Dept. oversees au pair programs, there are abuses (I write about some of those in my novel, Au Pair Report).  Young women on their own are inherently vulnerable.  Young Linda, the heroine of French Illusions, has the courage to rescue herself from a bad situation and make the most of her sojourn abroad.  In spite of the big lie Linda has told to get her position in the first place, she is a pleasant and high-spirited young woman, and it is easy to root for her.  I just don't understand why she didn't take a French class at home before jetting off to the Loire Valley!
4729239
Camille is offered the job of a lifetime by her favourite fashion magazine to go away for one week to Costa Rica and record daily video blogs about her travel experiences.  She has this vision in her head of staying at a beautiful resort, sipping cocktails and having a fabulous time.  Therefore she packs accordingly, carefully choosing her outfits for each day she is there, making sure she has the right accessories to go with them, all her beauty products and of course her hair straightener.

A similar thing happens to Adam, he is a wildlife photographer who is asked to take up the job of following Camille around and capturing all the moments of her experience. Adam is initially reluctant to even do this as it's not really in his plans to do travel photography but Costa Rica could also give him some great work for his portfolio so he decides to go.

Camille was chosen for this assignment as she has a huge social media following on her fashion blog, this means some great exposure for this project.  I should mention that this is an eco-tourism trip so spa treatments and cocktails may be hard to find...

Before Adam even meets Camille he is convinced she will be a pain in his butt.  She is a city girl who is all about fashion and materialistic.  His mind was made up before he even got to Cost Rica.  To be fair his assumptions are somewhat true but when you take someone out of their comfort zone and place them in a completely different environment, it is surprising to see how they can quickly adapt.

To say that Camille is out of her depth on this trip would be an understatement.  However, although reluctant to try things at times, she really does make the most of her time in Costa Rica.  Her positive and happy disposition is something that Adam finds himself liking more each day.  She is a genuinely lovely person and Adam loves the experiences they are having together, especially seen through her eyes.  I loved the brutal honesty in her daily videos, she didn't sugar coat anything she was feeling or experiencing.

When you spend so much time in close proximity and share such incredible experiences, it is natural to form a bond with them.  There is a simmering attraction building between these two that seems to get stronger each day.  Adam lives in London and Camille in New York so the attraction between them is never going to be able to be explored but it wouldn't hurt to have harmless a little kiss right?

I loved this slow building story about really appreciating nature and how much more there is to see when you take away technology and switch off from the online world.  Most young people I know couldn't comprehend not having their mobile phone or the internet for an hour, let alone a whole week. I was also so impressed with the level of information in this story, it was so interesting to hear about the history of Costa Rica and the environmental issues they are currently facing. This was just as much an educational journey for me as it was a fun romance story.  I also love that this was a collaboration between Jillian and her daughter Kenzie.
2621144
If you've ever wondered what it's like to relocate to a different country (specifically France) or need a quick respite from daily life, do yourself a favor and read this book. I have a strange fascination for books that describe what its like to live the expat life in France. Having done it myself, I find each story shares a different view on the experience of settling into a different culture. In this book, the author strikes an upbeat tone even amongst the numerous challenges they faced as she delightfully recounts the sojourn that landed she and her husband in Saint Remy de Provence. Her descriptions of life in France are right on. Highly recommended for arm-chair travelers and those searching for new vistas.
465583
This book is incredibly helpful for anyone (English-speaking) trying to avoid eating gluten while traveling in France.  The author does an exceptionally thorough job explaining how to ask for gluten-free foods in French, and she includes an extensive list of key vocabulary, which was helpful in supporting our limited French communication skills.  Even on our first day, when we were incredibly jet-lagged and our basic French conversation skills hadn't quite caught up to us, we simply brought the book with us to our first restaurant and showed our waiter a copy of the page that the author provides explaining "gluten-free" and celiac disease.  Awesome!!  The restaurant listings, and the various ways the locations are listed in Paris (alpha, neighborhood, type of establishment) was very helpful. We traveled through Paris, Lyon, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence using the recommendations of the book (and we ate EXTREMELY well!).  By the end of our trip, when we were in the rural town of Castellane (very small, so it's not included in the book), we were able to have an entire conversation (mostly in French!) with our waitress using the information and skills we had gleaned from The Gluten-Free Guide to France!!  Highly, highly recommended.
2416844
Cet appareil ne fonctionne pas bien, beaucoup de brouillage. J'ai tout essay, changement de fils, changement de pc. Est-ce que je peux le retourner ? Merci
473704
You will want to leave too! A journey about paris, life, love, career and marriage!
3159986
I loved this book!  Having spent my formative years (late 20's, 30's) in Berkeley hanging with half of the foodies mentioned in this wonderfully written story, I was so homesick for those days and inspired to get back into the "food" world.  Ruth captures the excitement of the hot chefs movement which was influenced by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse. Of course Julia Child is the grande dame who really got all of these American chefs going but that's another story in itself.  I too visited M.F.K Fisher in her cute Sonoma house and she described the woman to a tee.  Couldn't put the book down, a fantastic read. Can't wait for more!  Also can't wait to go back for some Chez Panisse cafe meals.....and many more days in Paris....
Keep writing Ruth!
1652054
I love stories like this where the author gives you a glimpse into a period of their life and shares all of their experiences and their own personal reactions and feelings - the good, the bad and the ugly.  It's like feeling what it was like to be them, in another country, alone and scared but pushing themselves to embrace the challenge and learn from their travels.  I don't necessarily think this was supposed to be a book about France or traveling abroad; it's a piece of somebody's life that they decided to share with others - and I'm glad they did!  The author is delightfully witty and hilarious, which I enjoy.  This is my kind of book.  I highly recommend this - a very interesting and fun read all the way through!
3997648
As a person who followed my own passion to a culinary career in Life Part II, I loved reading this joyous and inspiring account of Kathleen Flinn's escape into Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Her personal life lessons learned, recipes, and lively realistic accounts of her daily life in Paris were fascinating. I simply could not seem to put this book down!

It seemed more appealing than the copy of Eat, Pray, Love which is next on my reading list.

I recommend this to any culinary dreamers out there. This book made me want to enroll there myself, although the butchering of animals was the only unappealing part.
1505784
I've been reading this tale about a woman in France, a good read!  I couldn't put it down, from Part 1 Foundation through Part 4 Reclamation, it's a triumphant journey of the heart.  Laura Moran's colorful reflections on life, love and one of the most beautiful countries in the world will make you laugh and sometimes even cry as she fights to retain her sanity after she is knocked off her feet.
Her use of Facebook posts make the read kitschy and paint an intriguing  picture of how people interact now that social networking is embedded into our day to day lives.
The details Moran provides about Paris provide the reader with a trip to France without ever leaving their couches.
Fill your glass and take a trip with Ell J.  she won't let you down.
3598418
I savored each chapter in this book not only for the recipes but for the story and how it progressed from a student year in Paris to the family move to renovating the house to starting a new life in France. She talks about how culturally the day to day life in France is so different from living in the USA, challenging yet magical. She writes about how she adapts to the daily life, the market, the butcher, the conflicts and resolution of having an adorable centuries old former convent with restriction of the deed and rights of way established long before the Pilgrims arrived in the New World. Her recipes she shares at the end of each chapter are not necessarily hers but of the various people in town that she has befriended. Recipes that are passed down from generations tweaked for modern day preparation. I loved this book. I also was amazed that her husband did the entire renovation of this house, saving the aggravation of finding reliable labor and craftsmanship. A true labor of love, both of them, he with the house renovation, she with her books and cooking school. She is living my dream!
1624384
Very interesting account of living on one's own in France!  Diane had a good grasp of French before she began her eight month's stay, but was able to really immerse herself in the language.
4036042
It was a joy to read My Grape Escape especially as we also have a house in France in Brittany, we also know all about dry and wet rot.....dealing with Notairs...........ordering materials and waiting and waiting for them all to come in (we have 2...but not 4...need to order)  I did feel for Laura and Franck as at times you DO wonder WHAT HAVE WE DONE!!!!!
When going into Laura's web site to  see the properties that she rents out for holidays I was very surprised to see the pictures of  Le Mason Des euux looking just as I had imagined it to look, even down to the Green bedroom walls and the book sheaves in the fire place.  If I can persuade my husband  to have a holiday then we would be travelling south and stay I hope  in her house, looking forward to the next book soon,  Elizabeth jezequel
4267740
Traveling independently has its rewards! I feel compelled to share some of the B&B's that we have stayed in as a result of this book. When we look back on our trips, we remember the warmth of the hosts who shared their home with us and waved goodbye as we left.
# 359 en route to Lourdes. I felt like I was staying in a doll house. Everything was PERFECT! The hosts were lovely people. The evening meal was excellent.
# 334 just south of Toulouse. The owners will enchant you in this lovely farmhouse. They make sure that everyone has GOOD TIME at the evening meal! English is not necessary! The owner's have hosted guests from all over the world!!!
#386 Normandy. This a a perfectly lovely half-timbered farmhouse. The owners will make you feel like family!
We will be using this guide again for the 4th time this September. So far, I have chosen # 567, #672, #336 and #334 (listed above). I will keep you updated! I always choose B&B's where some English is spoken. I always look for comments concerning the hosts hospitality. You can spend as little as $. and take home memories that will last a lifetime!
...If we can help .... Spain or France???
...julie and gordon foster
561722
I really enjoyed this book and disappointed when I finished it but look forward to reading the 2nd memoir to find out how  it all works out for Linda in France. Love reading about Tours and the Loire region.
Linda was very brave and tolerant considering the way she was treated as an Au pair.
2765304
Reading this book was like taking a trip to Anguilla in my mind, each sitting bringing lovely images of the sun, beach, food, local life. On the same level as Under the Tuscan Sun or the Provence books (complete with recipes scattered throughout), this book is a great account of the experiences of a foreigner adapting to a new culture/setting. Those who have travelled to the Caribbean will surely laugh out loud at some of the more typical experiences (both good and bad) that the Blanchards have in moving to and opening their restaurant. Ultimately, the story is a love letter to the island of Anguilla and its residents. I hope to travel there soon and dine at Blanchard's too!
1867163
Finished "My Life In France" by Julia Child and Alex Prud'Homme last night. Very enjoyable read, but I think it could have used a bit more aggressive editing. There were two sections of "we went here and ate this fabulous food with these folks while drinking this wine" for page after page after page, and the year plus that they lived in Norway and very much enjoyed it was glossed over in less than one chapter. Nonetheless, I checked out the movie "Julie and Julia" for another watch, as well as "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," so clearly I was inspired.