Rating: 
Summary: It's too bad
Review: the way this book turned out. I really wanted to like it, & expected to. The writing was good & the use of the diaries & letters well done to facilitate the story, but I just didn't enjoy it, although I did finish it. Right away I was surprised to read that they took jars of baby food & disposable diapers along. I was born in 1947 & so remember the 50s quite well. I had a baby sister & there were lots of other babies in the neighborhood at the time & my memory is of canned baby food in that era, not glass jars. Nor did I ever hear of disposable diapers for sale during that period; in fact, when my first child was born in 1967 they were uncommon, expensive & hard to find, so that seemed odd. Afterwards I decided it was the father's personality that most put me off the whole book. He really came across as patronizing & completely horrible imo. In real life he might not have been as totally obnoxious as he seemed in the book; I certainly hope not, for the sake of the others in the family.
Rating: 
Summary: A College Student's Perspective
Review: This book was given as a present and with most presents you don't find out how good they are until you unwrap them. I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book. For two reasons, the first one being, I'm a college student and there is no FUN in reading. The second one being a bit more personal. This book is about my grandparents who I never had the privilege of meeting. But unlike others I was able to learn what they were like through the voice of my grandmother in this book.
A book truly is a present you can open again and again. Not only was I able to learn more about them but I found myself laughing out loud many of times. This really is a wonderfully well written book about a very great family (not that i'm biased) and you will find yourself not being able to put this book down or even controling how loud or hard you laugh. It is a must read for everyone of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Superb surprise!
Review: This delightful little book has long preceded the more recent popular genre of Frances Mayes, Peter Mayle, and other American ex-patriots living abroad and by far outclasses them in its originality and fresh outlook. Written from a 1950s memoir, this book captures the true adventure it was like to live abroad in a foreign country that was NOT used to seeing Americans among its midst. Mary Littell's humor and quips turn seemingly ordinary scenes and transactions in the southern French town of Montpellier into sparkling, humorous, unforgettable moments. This was a delightful, charming, and completely addicting book - I could not put it down! I have enthusiastically recommended it to family and friends.
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