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Blame It on Paris
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Product Description
even if she doesn’t like the French?
Laura has spent most of her adult life avoiding serious relationships, flitting around the world, and keeping her romantic expectations comfortably low. The last thing she wants is to have her globe-trotting ways curtailed by a messy emotional entanglement. As far as she’s concerned, chocolate is just as satisfying as true love--and a lot less complicated.
The cultural differences alone are enough to kill any relationship, even if Laura wanted one. She’s from small-town Georgia. He’s a sophisticated Parisian. They go together like grits and escargot.
Unless she comes to her senses soon, she could end up ruining her life with a beautiful romance. . . .
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #291263 in Books
- Published on: 2006-10-03
- Released on: 2006-10-03
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 384 pages
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Florand's debut novel is the semiautobiographical story of the intercontinental courtship of Laura H— and Sébastien Florand. Laura, in Paris for a year on a Fulbright in 2001, isn't looking for love, but after her friends dare her, she invites to a party the hot bistro waiter she's been salivating over. They, of course, hit it off; Sébastien proves to be suave, romantic and smart, and a talented artist to boot. When Laura's scholarship ends, she returns to America, but unable to bear their separation, she quits her Ph.D. program and returns to Paris to live with Sébastien in an apartment "smaller than most American cars." Clashing cultures—she's from rural Georgia—supply much of the humor; after Laura and Sébastien decide to marry, his extended family flies to Georgia to see the couple wed at her family home, and though the French contingent's reactions to American culture—no wine on Sundays?— are funny, preparations for the epic French village wedding are much more interesting. The lovers' quarrels, however, are tedious, and Florand's lengthy descriptions of the vast spools of red tape the couple encounter while trying to secure work permits and visas seem extraneous in this frothy French confection of a novel. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Southern belle Laura is perfectly happy to spend her time as a graduate student in Paris gorging on chocolate, complaining about rude locals, and eschewing any sort of romance. Enter Sebastien, a cute waiter-aspiring graphic artist. What starts as a crush turns into a full-fledged relationship, and soon Laura is contemplating staying in Paris, and maybe even marrying. What follows is a sometimes hilarious and sometimes ridiculous adventure involving four weddings, two in rural Georgia and two in France. Florand's romance relies heavily on cultural stereotypes and misunderstandings to set up humorous situations. Ultimately, it's how well Laura and Sebastien's families take to each other, and to helping the newlyweds, that generates the sweet surprise. This is a fun, frothy tale for anyone who has ever conjured up a dashing foreigner to sweep her off her feet. Readers will be happy to live vicariously in Laura's French fairy tale. Aleksandra Kostovski
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
“This delightful book should come with a warning label: do not read while traveling, otherwise other passengers will wonder why you keep laughing aloud and shouting ‘Vive la Laura Florand!’”--Cassandra King, author of The Sunday Wife on Blame It on Paris
“I was taught in high school chemistry never to combine two ingredients whose properties you don’t fully understand. Well, Laura Florand ignored that advice and mixed a Parisian gentleman with a Southern lady, and what she got, predictably, was combustible. Blame It on Paris is a charming, light-hearted romp through a cross-cultural quagmire that proves that love, if it can’t conquer all, certainly is a match for a couple with families at different ends of the universe.”--Larry Habegger, editor, Travelers’ Tales Paris
"A fabulous romp from Paris to Podunk and back again. Loved it." (Haywood Smith, New York Times bestselling author of the Red Hat Club series )
"Laura Florand offers up an outsider's oddly inside view of Paris. Do yourself a favor: Read this book." (Joshilyn Jackson, author of Gods in Alabama )
"A romantic, hilarious souffle of a story! Move over, Bridget Jones. Charming and laugh-out-loud funny." (Deborah Smith, New York Times bestselling author of A Place to Call Home )
"Delightful!" (Cassandra King, author of The Sunday Wife )
"A charming, light-hearted romp through a cross-cultural quagmire." (Larry Habegger, editor, Travelers' Tales Paris )
Customer Reviews
Brilliant!!!
Hi Laura, my wife gave me "Blame It On Paris"... I kept putting it aside, because, hey, I thought it was a "chick book". Well, yeah, it is a chick book... But, also, your novel is funny, smart, romantic, fun, interesting and, like your husband, quite charming. I really enjoyed meeting your in-laws and your mom, your dad and your brothers... I especially enjoyed the story about why your dad built the "French" fountain at your childhood home (I have five kids, now grown, and there is never a time when they are NOT in my thoughts). Your father must have been an amazing person... but then, ALL dads are pretty amazing, aren't they? Best wishes to you in your writing career, and to your new family. Regards, Jeff Zekas [...].
The funniest book I've read in ages!
I typically read about 3 books a week, and this is the funniest book I've read in a very long time. I had a hard time putting it down. The swamp scene, the interview with the organist, and the French wedding really stand out, but just the way she writes cracked me up. I am eagerly looking forward to a sequel!
A Wonderful Read!
I'll begin by saying I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The characters were delightful--charming and quirky without being the caricatures so many chick-lit writers rely on. In fact, in spite of the cover and young female first person narrator, I found this book more like the classic "A Year in Provence" than the fluffy faire typical of humorous chick-lit. Having spent a lot of time in France, and Paris in particular, I found Ms. Florand's observations both amusing and dead on (although I've always adored the French without having to marry into the culture). The love story is funny and sweet and, thank god, Ms. Florand didn't resort to the unfortunate romance convention of describing the physical side in graphic detail. I read several books a week and this is one of the best I've read this year.
