[(Last Tango in Toulouse)] [Author: Mary Moody] published on

by Mary Moody

The year of her fiftieth birthday, Mary Moody ran away from home, family and work for six months to live in a remote French village. Her book about these experiences, Au Revoir, struck a chord with tens of thousands of readers across Australia. Yet those experiences were to mark a beginning rather than an end. They were six months that turned the rest of her life upside down, as she bought a house in the village, persuaded her husband to sell the family home of twenty-five years and take up goose farming in central NSW and abandoned her television career in favour of writing about her travelling experiences.

Yet even these dramatic events were merely the outward signs of far deeper changes that challenged the stability of thirty years of monogamy and motherhood. To her surprise, Mary found herself grappling with the intense emotion of an affair, and its consequences on her marriage and family. Amid this turmoil, Mary also rediscovered a sister not seen by the family for nearly fifty years. Last Tango in Toulouse is Mary's compelling account of these tumultuous upjeavals in her life, and an affirmation of the power of family in overcoming the greatest challenges. Written with humour, warmth and passion, and an often searing honesty, Last Tango in Toulouse shows that life really can begin again at 50.

Author Information
Mary Moody has been a prolific gardening author and a presenter on ABC TV's Gardening Australia. Au Revoir - Running Away from Home at Fifty was published in 2001. She lives near Bathurst in NSW and in southwest France.

Genres: Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction, Travel

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 3 out of 5]

No doubt I am not part of the target demographic for this book. It used to belong to my mum, and it somehow found it's way onto my bookshelf, so I thought, why not? This was written by a television presenter which pretty much guaranteed a solid readership. If not written by someone with a public profile, I'm not sure it would have made it. However, that is a seperate issue.

Much of The Last Tango in Toulouse had nothing to do with the author's last tango in Toulouse which was the end of the affair she had. Well written and interesting though it was, all the talk about gardens and French cuisine didn't really do it for me. What did do it for me was the way she described her affair and its consequences. How I managed to relate to the feelings of a 50 something woman with whom I appear to have very little in common, I do not know. Yet, I found her honesty compelling. I was also intrigued by her husband's reaction to the affair. The Last Tango In Toulouse is worth reading just for the affair narrative, but if you like gardening, travelling and eating then you'll enjoy the rest of it as well.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I'm sure this book (sequel to Au revoir) would interest many who actually know the author as an Australian TV persona, I didn't really find all the talk about gardens, her travels and uncountable lunches, dinners and wine drinking with her large family and the friends she made in France, interesting. What I did find interesting was the affair this 50+ lady in mid crisis had, her thoughts and feelings that led her to have an affair, the consequences her actions had and the reaction of her husband. All other relationships were superficially covered and another interesting topic - the reunion with her sister whom she hadn't seen for 50 years - only scratched the surface of feelings that such a meeting must have evoked.

[Pamela Briant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Mary Moody's journey in Australia, France, England, Kathmandu, Canada, etc. Lots of little anecdotes that made each of the trips memorable. Great discriptions of the many characters she has met and befriended along the way. It is also the story of Mary's emotional journey and how she deals with who she is and why she is the person she is now. It is a coming of age, albeit at 50. Enjoyable to read, cooking, plants and animals feature prominently in the book, as does her wonferful family. Without meeting "the man from Toulouse" I wonder if Mary and her husband would have achieved the relationship they now have. It made them both reassess their relationship and appreciate their partner for who they are.

[Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Curious enough about "what next" after Mary Moody's first novel Au Revoir: Running Away from Home at Fifty in this series to embark on the next, I was rewarded adequately as the author covers a lot of ground geographically and subjectively and there is as much to relate to as it is varied. If you want to step outside your own imperfect life for a while and into the story of someone else's albeit more exotic than my own, there's a pleasant experience in reading Last Tango in Toulouse.

[Caroline Cassell · Rating 1 out of 5]

an autobiographical account of a TV presenter who decides that she has the right to sexual experience with someone other than her husband whom she has no intention of leaving. I found the book self-indulgent and mildly irritating. Lots of meals and wonderful friends.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this would be an improvement on her first book. I was wrong!

[Pam Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book

[Karen Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

really much more dull than i expected. not particularly recommended e cept for bits about life in village france.

[Denise Covey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final in the trilogy I think! Great finding yourself theme as Mary runs away from Australia to find herself in France.

[Lorelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. The authors view of life after 50.

[Kelv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smooth prose that is confident and relatable. An honest memoir which is deep and considered. For me, just too many characters, with too many quirks, in too many locations/events to make this polished. Although, I did enjoy some scenes and challenges and ensuing adventure. Although, the various segues from family, friends and neighbours, in Bathurst, Frayssinet-le-Gelat, to Toulouse, Nepal, Canada... with numerous anecdotes just adds to stray leads...
The affair is written to justify and explain, then with self reflection and this is all changed to, perhaps guilt and sorrow = personal development.

The connection with Margaret was good - a loose end, closed. Whereas, exploration of Jon and Margaret meeting had me speculating... there is another level of intrigue in their relationship/reunion.

[Chris Avalon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, couldn't put it down and can't wait to read Au Revoir. I've just picked up The Long Hot Summer and excited to get into that one. Mary writes from the heart and brings you on her journey. I may not necessarily agree with everything she does but neither does she and she comes from a good place. She tells the story of a working mum that has given so much of her life to everyone else and is lucky enough to be able to afford the adventures that many of us would only dream of. Her raw account and self examination is executed in a well written and thoughtful manner. Perhaps I see a lot of myself in Mary, or at least what I would love to do (except for some of the beauty procedures!) or perhaps it is that she writes in a way that I feel like I know her.

[Paul Ransom · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a curious beast. On one level it is a fast paced, easy reading autobio from a much loved TV personality that unpacks her 'mid-life crisis' in an honest and warm hearted way. And yet, 'Last Tango In Toulouse' is a strangely bloodless retelling. Mary Moody barely skims the surface. The emotion and depth of revelation you might expect is missing. Instead, what we get is a bright & breezy magazine style puff piece. This, I feel, is more likely the result of editorial intervention. In fact, this book is so lean, so uptempo, that it smacks of marketing trivia - which is our loss, because Moody's tale could have been deeply affecting, rather than just light, frothy and fun.

[Marijana Stojanovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Mary's sence of humor and her writing style.As someone who lived in Bathurst area in the same time as she is in this book,it is really close to home.She didn't go too much into details about a lot of things,which now makes me want to read the previous book as well.I am highly recommending this book and Mary as the writer.

[Maria Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time l have read this book, l love Mary's writing, she is so alive and lives life to the full. l share a common interest in gardening and cooking with her, so l enjoy all of her books. This book written with such honesty and humour which is in all her books

[Geraldine Furini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the audiobook, very good narrator.

[Christine Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. An easy read and very real.

[Pamela Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book too and can't wait to read the others.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's just say, I'm glad it all turned out OK in the end for Moody and her family. It could have easily gone completely pear shaped.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary is a great author. Another great read. In love with rural France now.

[MaryLisa Gavenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good on her: She gets herself a sweet little house in France, a sweet little farm back home, and has a sweet little extramarital affair with a Frenchman who sounds like heaven on earth.

If you never wanted to have an affair before, you will when you read this.

And if you want visuals, check out the farm and house interior here: https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/st...

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary speaks candidly about her first love affair while travelling overseas in France. Honest, raw and very confronting. Such an easy book to read as Mary writes with her heart and soul.