Customer Reviews

Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Entre Nous is a delightful, easy read about French women's "certain something".

If you find the French intriguing (French WOMEN in particular), you will most likely enjoy this lighthearted look at the culture, lifestyle and attitudes of the women and people of France.

Not meant to be taken TOO seriously, this book is the author's personal take on why so much mystery surrounds French women. You may find yourself sharing her point of view by the time you finish reading.

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud

I lived in Taiwan, this book about French "girls"could easily apply to the Taiwanese "girls". But let me add my 2 cents of thought. Through the book it mentions all the time that most french guy has a mistress (the same in Taiwan). Can you explain how a "wonderful, svelte, smart, etc etc "French girl who according to the book, just get into anything if there is quality in it, got into a non quality relationship that requires that her husband to have a mistress so the texture of the family will be rich, according to the author ?
Let me set straight, American women may be described as frumpy, just wear flat shoes, and sweaters, whatever, but the average American "girl"certainly does not need to comform herself that her husband needs a mistress out of marriage.
So the quality that French girls put in their relationship, dressing, high heel shoes (Prada if possible) is a waste of time. Let me add one more cent. Many women worldly have been asked the same question: "What did he saw in her ? " when they see their guys getting a mistress that is not perfectly svelte, has wrinkles all over, is frumpy (remember Lady Di and Prince Charles and of course, the famous Camilla).
Like Lady Di, peoples in the society sell the women the message that to be successful, loved, happy, you need to be really svelte, have a perfect no. 6 size , go under the knife, glicolic acid, whatever so your guy will stick around. This profits only the peoples in the business. Believe that the old proverb "Love is in the eyes of the beholder"is a really useful one when you are about to invest in a dress, shoe, beauty products, etc. There is no formula to be a wonderful "girl", just be yourself (size 6, 8, or even 22), instead of aiming to be a French, American or whatever race of girl. These formulas are funny to read but frankly, they don't work in real life.

My origin is half-French, I spend most of my day in France, travel very often to Paris and my best friends are French or Swiss French. At first I was shocked to discover how very French I actually turn out to be as described in the book, and how the traditions and values that I've been bequeathed are so very French too. But then the word "archetypal" is mentioned in the prologue and you'd better bear in mind all throughout your reading that this book is more about the ideal French woman and how to bring out the archetypal French woman in you rather than a description of what French women actually are like. Though many of my friends and acquaintances fit into the French girl description, I know scores of French women who are nosey, frumpy, tacky and very gauche. Especially if you've never been to France, don't be misled: this book is full of the typical prejudices and stereotypes about the French woman as seen through the gawking eyes of the American outsider. That is, the French woman as we would like to believe she is. There are also some mistakes, like ascribing Madame de Pompadour as Louis XIV's lover (she was Louis XV's)and the fact that many of the women reviewed (Anaïs Nin, Catherine de Medici, Marie Antoinette or Pauline de Rothschild) are not even French. Anyway, the book makes interesting beach reading. The prose is feisty, fast-paced and you'll find it hard to put down.

i absolutely love this book. It is an excellent guide for any woman who wants to celebrate her feminity. It provides a common sense approach to managing aspects of a womans life that often get overlooked in the daily rush of 'survival' north america. the author encourages women to find beauty and poetry in the everyday; to enjoy the simple things that and find happiness and joy in everyday existance. This book is not a self-help book per say, but it has changed my life much more than the common 'Dr. Phil-esque' advice. The author gives tips on how to build a wardrobe (citing certain up-to date brands and designers), cooking a simple yet elegant meal (with recipes), etiquette, and suggestions on how to further develop your unique, classy and irresistable self.

Je suis Française, du Canada, mais Française tout de même. Je déplore ce genre de bouquin. Que de stéréotypes! La beauté du genre humain est dans ses différences, donc mesdemoiselles et mesdames des États-Unis, appréciez qui vous êtes dans votre culture et dans vos qualités plutôt que de chercher à ressembler à ce qui n'est pas VOUS. Soyez fières d'être Américaines comme je suis fière d'être Canadienne-Française et jetez ce livre à la poubelle. Votre façon d'être toute naturelle et votre personnalité, si vous l'assumez et vous l'aimez, fera de vous quelqu'un qui a ce "je ne sais quoi". Croyez en vous-mêmes, pas en un livre...

I am French from Canada, but anyway, I'm French. I deplore that kind of book. So many stereotypes! The beauty of human gender is is its differences, so, Miss and Misses from USA, appreciate who you are and do not try to look like someone else. Be proud of being American like I'm proud of being French-Canadian and put this book in garbage. Your natural way of being yourself and your personnality, if you assume it and if you like it, will make you the person with that "je ne sais quoi". Believe in yourself, not in a book... And I'm sorry for my poor translation.

I finished this book last night and could easily keep it on hand as a reference for wonderful, conscious, elegant, sophisticated living. (Unfortunately, I borrowed it from the library and have to take it back. :( ) While this book doesn't cover many things I would have liked to known, you read the last page with an indirect knowledge of how a French girl would act in most situations. The best thing I got from this book (I took notes as I read) was a wealth of names of French people to look up (Pauline de Rothschild), French movie recommendations (Milou en Mai), French books to read, including wonderful cookbooks to peruse (Mastering the Art of French Cooking), and entertaining tips. Read this book and savor all the wonderful things that can be learned from it. For anyone interested in a fresh take on life!

I really enjoyed this book. The author's observations really got me thinking about cultural norms and the presumptions/habits we make just because, seemingly, "everybody else does it this way."

Several aspects in this book - including dining, child rearing, pleasure-seeking - all drive home a key message of prioritizing quality over quantity in all facets of life. This made a lot of sense to me - and I've become inspired to incorporate such 'Frenchisms' into my life.

Olivier is an enthusiastic and adoring commentator on culture of upper class France with good insight on this refined and ancient society. And her description of the concrete support the French government gives to families (maternal leave, affordable child care) puts the self-righteous lip service of our government to shame. I think this would be an excellent book to read before visiting France, if only to assure that you don't add to the myth of the "Ugly American Abroad".
However, if you are an American girl who, amazingly, manages to live with style, discretion and good food despite the lack of exposure to France, prepare to feel a little incredulous at the white-hot adoration with which Olivier describes her French girl while asserting her (and the French's) fondness for her description of the overly enthusiastic puppy-sish, sweats-clad, Velveeta-munching American girl. (Velveeta? I've never bought Velveeta in my life!)
As a native of California who has found much style, grace, and rituals of good food in my home region as did my sister Californians, M.F.K. Fischer and Julia Child, I am pleased that Olivier has found such joy in her culture by marriage. However, I hope I do not sound too jingoistic when I say that in her very acceptance and appreciation of the French culture (a very American/Californian trait) Olivier tends to treat her native culture with thinly veiled condescension ....a very French trait.

While there isn't anything too startingly *new* in this slim volume, I quite liked it, so I'm recommending it to all of you ladies who'd like some very light, frothy non-fiction for that three hour plane trip, or to curl up with just before bed. While a load of these sorts of books abounds right now, this author comes to her task honestly: she lived in France for 10 years, and from her likeable photo on the back cover, she's the kind of american everywoman whose point of view really might come in handy for those of us who wouldn't mind picking up a little french style. I thought her take on french women was admiring withOUT lapsing into the sort of "self-hating american" all-things-european adoration I've seen plenty of in various fashion magazines. Really a collection of ruminations on what it means to be french. And sociologists take note: her pages on the VERY different approach frenchwomen take to interpersonal relations(when meeting a new person/potential gal pal, general socializing, office demeanor, etc.)are from my limited experience absolutely on the money. In addition to the entertainment value, I'm going to try to adopt the described "french" qualities of self-restraint in gabbing, at least; I'm sure my success will be limited, but every little soupcon helps!

I found this book informative, as I have never been to France, nor studied French. I am, however, very interested in the lifestyle of a culture who takes pleasure in the simple, everyday 'pleasures'. I also love to cook and eat, and view food and wine as sensual pleasures to savor and enjoy, like the French do. I was hoping to get other ideas from the French to make everyday chores into something that delights me and makes me feel good.

I did like the little boxed 'footnotes' Ollivier included all over. Most of them included movies or lists I want to commit to my file for examples of French and simple living...and I do love movies, books, and lists!

The reason I gave the book 4 stars out of 5 is, though I really enjoyed the book and will keep it to reread, there are no color pictures. The book could have been so much better had there been photos to 'see', as well.