A Chateau of One's Own: Restoration Misadventures in France

by Sam Juneau

Book by Sam Juneau

Genres: France, Travel

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Elaina Griffith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A crazy, fun, difficult at times, whirlwind of a real life adventure as experienced by the author and his family, while fixing up a French chateau. A quick read, an interesting look into cultural differences, and an assessment of the risks one must be willing to take when following your heart.

[Patti St · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realty of a romantic dream ...

... can punch the stuffing out of you. This memoir about a young couple who buy a chateaux, fix it up, and open a B & B is not for the faint hearted. We all have a dream. Some doable, some a bit over zealous. I see their love of owning a large chateaux in the country. The wide marble staircase, huge halls, fireplaces that could hold a football team standing up; I get that fantasy. They took that fantasy and ran to the finish line. Their story is about the ups and downs of renovating the massive home, while welcoming new additions to the family, as well as juggling with the financial realities of holding onto their dream. I enjoyed every word.

[Tansy Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite the renovating chateau fairy story I usually enjoy -- this one was much more grim, weird and seemed to be written by someone who a) had no idea what he was doing and b) made life difficult for everyone around him.

Oh and on top of it all, he hates renovating but made his wife live in a renovation hellscape winter after winter while he tried to raise the money from dayjobs to pay other people to do the renovation for them...

Less than inspiring all around, really. Give me the Strawbridges and their blend of competent optimism any day of the week!

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone's dream! A Chateau in France! This book was written simply,almost in diary form. Although hard to believe that people in general would buy such an enormous house and expect to live comfortably with so little money to support the adventure. If you can make the jump in belief then the massive problems they face can be acceptable. The help they get from neighbors friends and tradesmen is quite remarkable and it has been commented on by other writers. With a little more financial backup and acceptance of a different ,French way of life it could be a Paradise.
Interesting as a form of escapism! Still I would need more security and could not take such risks .
Enjoyable.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok, but something about the author's personality annoyed me. Flying all those cats over to France... really? Anyway, good does of reality for anyone who'd ever thought owning a B&B or a romantic falling down mansion would be all fun.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read but rather self indulgent and unsatisfyimg as an overall story. Sam disappointingly turns out to be in it for the money, I think I would have preferred to hear the tale from his cat loving, vegetarian wife Bud

[Irene Moyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight

Funny, anxious, earnest, enjoyable. This couple with stars in their eyes buys a fixed-upper chateau. With unsurprising hardship and expense as the result. All the while, there is still a sense of humor about it all. A fun read.

[Nicola L · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert: so disappointed to learn that they had sold the chateau after just 4 years.