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French Illusions #1
French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley
****Due to myriad requests, I've extended and enhanced the ending to French Illusions, (September 21, 2013)****
In the summer of 1979, twenty-one-year-old Linda Kovic contracts to become an au pair for an wealthy French family in the Loire Valley. To secure the position, she pretends to speak the language, fully aware her deception will be discovered once she arrives at her destination. Based on the author’s diary, French Illusions captures Linda’s fascinating real-life story inside and outside the Château de Montclair. The over-bearing, Madame Dubois, her accommodating husband, Monsieur Dubois, and their two children are highlighted as Linda struggles to adapt to her new environment. Continually battling the language barrier, she signs up and attends classes at the local university in the nearby town of Tours, broadening her range of experiences. When she encounters, Adam, a handsome young student, her life with the Dubois family becomes more complicated, adding fuel to her internal battle for independence.
In the summer of 1979, twenty-one-year-old Linda Kovic contracts to become an au pair for an wealthy French family in the Loire Valley. To secure the position, she pretends to speak the language, fully aware her deception will be discovered once she arrives at her destination. Based on the author’s diary, French Illusions captures Linda’s fascinating real-life story inside and outside the Château de Montclair. The over-bearing, Madame Dubois, her accommodating husband, Monsieur Dubois, and their two children are highlighted as Linda struggles to adapt to her new environment. Continually battling the language barrier, she signs up and attends classes at the local university in the nearby town of Tours, broadening her range of experiences. When she encounters, Adam, a handsome young student, her life with the Dubois family becomes more complicated, adding fuel to her internal battle for independence.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
222 people are currently reading
2788 people want to read
About the author
Linda Kovic-Skow
4 books248 followersLinda Kovic-Skow is an award-winning nonfiction travel author of French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..., and French Illusions: From Tours to Paris - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2....
Originally from Seattle, she currently lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She has been married for 39 years and she has two daughters and three grandchildren. An enthusiastic traveler, Linda also enjoys hiking, boating, gardening and socializing with friends. French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, is her debut memoir and the culmination of a three-year project. The sequel, French Illusions: From Tours to Paris, recounts the rest of her adventure in France.
Originally from Seattle, she currently lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She has been married for 39 years and she has two daughters and three grandchildren. An enthusiastic traveler, Linda also enjoys hiking, boating, gardening and socializing with friends. French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, is her debut memoir and the culmination of a three-year project. The sequel, French Illusions: From Tours to Paris, recounts the rest of her adventure in France.
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October 14, 2014
"Memoir isn’t the summary of a life; it’s a window into a life, very much like a photograph in its selective composition. It may look like a casual and even random calling up of bygone events. It’s not; it’s a deliberate construction."
-----William Zinsser, an American writer, editor, literary critic, and teacher
Well to be honest, I thought that memoirs would bore me to death, so I never read one in my life. This is the first time, I read this incredible memoir of Linda Kovic-Skow called French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley. This is the first book of her memoir and all her diary entries from the summer of 1979, while working as an au pair for a French family in France, are extracted to craft out this amazingly beautiful memoir.
Thanks to the author, Linda Kovic-Skow, for providing me with a copy of her memoir, in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Before beginning this review, I must mention the meaning of "Au Pair", so as per Wikipedia, an "au pair" is a domestic assistant from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family.
Firstly, the book blurb is really very interesting, promising us with Linda's most intimate and private details during her stay with a French couple in an almost French castle. She saw an ad for the application of an Au Pair for a very wealthy French couple in Loire Valley, since she has set her aim on becoming a flight attendant, so she takes up this offer, in order to make a real-life experience and to show that she is a master in French language, by lying that she is very well-versed in French. All the while she was praying that her casual French speaking do not make that couple change their mind and throw her out of their home. But fortunately, she bags the job and unfortunately, she had to be a victim of that rude couple's torture. Although she was young and inexperienced in life, she become a sorry victim of Madame Dubois's constant bickering and bullying, but eventually, Linda, surprisingly, adusted in the family and to her situations and tried to suck up all the adventure and challenges thrown on to her path during her stay.
From the délicieux culinary tastes to the warmness of the French people to the smell of those grandiose vineyards to the traditional French customs, every tiny detail that Linda has captured is very sharp, enriching and striking. While reading the book, her eloquent and evocative words were my guide which transported me to Loire Valley throughout Linda's journey in France.
What more can I say about Linda's personality, apart from being beautiful, elegant and charming, she is honest and kind, and kudos to her braveness towards taking such a fearless step in her life, without thinking about the consequences. The author have skillfully frozen all the characters like that haughty French couple to the locals around the chateau, into her frame of this incredible photographic memoir.
When it is France, who doesn't fall in love at least for once? Linda too has found her love interest with a handsome and a very French man and her romance blossomed so beautifully like those serene French landscapes. She even makes so many friends, especially a young boy, with whom she used to bake and make pancakes, their chemistry was irrevocable. Her dedication towards learning the language will amaze you to its very core. The emotions are deep and emphatically painted. Unfortunately, the book ends with a cliff-hanger and many unanswered questions, so that has made me vouching for the next book of her memoir.
In short, her memoir is delicious (Linda cooks French cuisines for the host family which are tasty but very difficult to make) and remarkable like some French painting! Can't wait to read the next part of her memoir!
-----William Zinsser, an American writer, editor, literary critic, and teacher
Well to be honest, I thought that memoirs would bore me to death, so I never read one in my life. This is the first time, I read this incredible memoir of Linda Kovic-Skow called French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley. This is the first book of her memoir and all her diary entries from the summer of 1979, while working as an au pair for a French family in France, are extracted to craft out this amazingly beautiful memoir.
Thanks to the author, Linda Kovic-Skow, for providing me with a copy of her memoir, in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Before beginning this review, I must mention the meaning of "Au Pair", so as per Wikipedia, an "au pair" is a domestic assistant from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family.
Firstly, the book blurb is really very interesting, promising us with Linda's most intimate and private details during her stay with a French couple in an almost French castle. She saw an ad for the application of an Au Pair for a very wealthy French couple in Loire Valley, since she has set her aim on becoming a flight attendant, so she takes up this offer, in order to make a real-life experience and to show that she is a master in French language, by lying that she is very well-versed in French. All the while she was praying that her casual French speaking do not make that couple change their mind and throw her out of their home. But fortunately, she bags the job and unfortunately, she had to be a victim of that rude couple's torture. Although she was young and inexperienced in life, she become a sorry victim of Madame Dubois's constant bickering and bullying, but eventually, Linda, surprisingly, adusted in the family and to her situations and tried to suck up all the adventure and challenges thrown on to her path during her stay.
From the délicieux culinary tastes to the warmness of the French people to the smell of those grandiose vineyards to the traditional French customs, every tiny detail that Linda has captured is very sharp, enriching and striking. While reading the book, her eloquent and evocative words were my guide which transported me to Loire Valley throughout Linda's journey in France.
What more can I say about Linda's personality, apart from being beautiful, elegant and charming, she is honest and kind, and kudos to her braveness towards taking such a fearless step in her life, without thinking about the consequences. The author have skillfully frozen all the characters like that haughty French couple to the locals around the chateau, into her frame of this incredible photographic memoir.
When it is France, who doesn't fall in love at least for once? Linda too has found her love interest with a handsome and a very French man and her romance blossomed so beautifully like those serene French landscapes. She even makes so many friends, especially a young boy, with whom she used to bake and make pancakes, their chemistry was irrevocable. Her dedication towards learning the language will amaze you to its very core. The emotions are deep and emphatically painted. Unfortunately, the book ends with a cliff-hanger and many unanswered questions, so that has made me vouching for the next book of her memoir.
In short, her memoir is delicious (Linda cooks French cuisines for the host family which are tasty but very difficult to make) and remarkable like some French painting! Can't wait to read the next part of her memoir!
November 20, 2015
French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley is the first of two memoirs based on the diary entries of the author, Linda Kovic-Skow. Back in 1979, when she was 21, Linda yearned to become a flight attendant. But this required speaking a second language, so she chose to learn French by becoming an au pair to a wealthy French family living in a château in the beautiful Loire Valley. Thrown in at the deep end, without knowing any French, Linda struggled to adapt to her new environment, not to mention certain difficult members of the family. And when she signed up for French classes at the university, and met another student, the handsome Adam, her life became even more complicated.
As an Australian living in France, I completely identified with the author’s predicament. Arriving here to take up with the Frenchman I’d met on holiday in Thailand, without a word of the lingo, I too floundered with the language, customs and traditions, yet immensely enjoyed the food, wine and history.
I felt I was reading the author’s diary entries a she was writing them, and as I accompanied Linda on her adventures and romances, I found myself sympathizing with her problems, and celebrating her triumphs.
By the end of the first book I felt I had truly come to know the author as a person; as she was then––a young girl struggling to find her way in a foreign country. Keen for more, I immediately purchased French Illusions Book 2, from Tours to Paris; which I also loved.
Highly personal and entertaining, as well as informational, I would recommend these stories for Francophiles and young girls thinking of becoming au pairs in France, or any foreign country for that matter.
As an Australian living in France, I completely identified with the author’s predicament. Arriving here to take up with the Frenchman I’d met on holiday in Thailand, without a word of the lingo, I too floundered with the language, customs and traditions, yet immensely enjoyed the food, wine and history.
I felt I was reading the author’s diary entries a she was writing them, and as I accompanied Linda on her adventures and romances, I found myself sympathizing with her problems, and celebrating her triumphs.
By the end of the first book I felt I had truly come to know the author as a person; as she was then––a young girl struggling to find her way in a foreign country. Keen for more, I immediately purchased French Illusions Book 2, from Tours to Paris; which I also loved.
Highly personal and entertaining, as well as informational, I would recommend these stories for Francophiles and young girls thinking of becoming au pairs in France, or any foreign country for that matter.
November 17, 2015
I LEFT THE DISHES
I know I’m really enjoying a book when I sit and ignore the dirty dishes to finish reading. It took me a few pages to get into the book, but once in, I was hooked. A great read, very descriptive and it flowed beautifully. I could identify with the author, feel her pain and frustration and the descriptions of the French family, buildings and customs were described so well I felt I was there with her in the Loire Valley. The only thing I found a little annoying is the repetition from French into English, but that’s because I understood the French, so it was like reading some words twice. But that’s not enough to lose any stars and I shall be off to buy the follow on book very soon. A good read, great entertainment.
I know I’m really enjoying a book when I sit and ignore the dirty dishes to finish reading. It took me a few pages to get into the book, but once in, I was hooked. A great read, very descriptive and it flowed beautifully. I could identify with the author, feel her pain and frustration and the descriptions of the French family, buildings and customs were described so well I felt I was there with her in the Loire Valley. The only thing I found a little annoying is the repetition from French into English, but that’s because I understood the French, so it was like reading some words twice. But that’s not enough to lose any stars and I shall be off to buy the follow on book very soon. A good read, great entertainment.
March 7, 2014
I really enjoyed this well written memoir. I have always wondered what it would be like to be an au pair, or a "nanny", as Americans say. After reading this novel, I can tell you it is not at all a "Mary Poppins" experience.
While I do feel that the author should not have lied about speaking French to get the job, all of us have been young and dumb at one time. Her boss, Madame Dubois, was just a mean spirited woman who has probably never cut anyone slack, even once, in her lifetime. Compassion, understanding, and forgiveness are not words found in Madame's vocabulary.
The author described her life in France so vividly that I almost felt as if I were there, too. I enjoyed reading all of the details of her time as an au pair to the sassy little Colette (a miniature version of her mother), sweet Antoine, and the adorable baby Jocelyn. I was rather surprised at the way the story ended. I was not expecting the tale to take the turn that it did, but nothing should be surprising when Madame Dubois is involved. I felt that the story ended very abruptly and I was expecting a little more of an ending.
I am anxiously awaiting the sequel so I can find out what happens next. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who would like to read about French culture, or anyone who has thoughts of becoming an au pair.
While I do feel that the author should not have lied about speaking French to get the job, all of us have been young and dumb at one time. Her boss, Madame Dubois, was just a mean spirited woman who has probably never cut anyone slack, even once, in her lifetime. Compassion, understanding, and forgiveness are not words found in Madame's vocabulary.
The author described her life in France so vividly that I almost felt as if I were there, too. I enjoyed reading all of the details of her time as an au pair to the sassy little Colette (a miniature version of her mother), sweet Antoine, and the adorable baby Jocelyn. I was rather surprised at the way the story ended. I was not expecting the tale to take the turn that it did, but nothing should be surprising when Madame Dubois is involved. I felt that the story ended very abruptly and I was expecting a little more of an ending.
I am anxiously awaiting the sequel so I can find out what happens next. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who would like to read about French culture, or anyone who has thoughts of becoming an au pair.
August 5, 2017
A story of a naive young American lying her way into a job as as au pair for a wealthy French family in the Loire Valley, this memoir by Linda Kovic-Skow has been well written. Madame Dubois comes across as a complex character. Heavily pregnant when Linda arrives, at first I thought that her behaviour towards Linda was a mixture of annoyance at her lie combined with a heavy dose of jealousy of this young, attractive woman. After all, pregnancy and the first few months after a baby is born are times of great emotional turbulence. Linda describes Madame as being unnecessarily harsh and over-demanding in her expectations. With little support in a country where she only spoke a few basic phrases of the language, Linda showed remarkable resilience in coping with her situation. The story is engaging, fast-paced and well-structured.
May 25, 2014
I'm admittedly a Francophile, but this is a wonderful memoir -- well told with believable characters and adventures.
July 19, 2018
I always have a tough time telling people I don't like their memoir. It feels like I'm telling them their life sucks, and that's (usually) not what I mean. In the case of Linda Kovic-Skow's memoir, I believe she has some cool stories to tell about her time in France but the end result here was not a great representation. The memoir was well-written in general but overall suffered from a lack of good editing. I understand that this is the first of more memoirs to come, focusing on the author's time in France, so it makes sense that this one only focused on her time as an au pair. However, there was not enough focus on her time as an au pair, and I found that quite a lot of her narrative consisted of generalizations.
The author spent quite a lot of time telling the reader how terrible her time with her host family was but it just didn't come across quite as much as she wanted it to. While I definitely got the sense that Madame took advantage of her situation and worked her very hard, I didn't come away with quite the impression of abusive treatment that she wanted the reader to feel toward Madame; instead I got the impression that the author was an entitled whiner. I understand that SHE felt abused by the treatment but I kept waiting for something bigger or more to happen, and it never did. I came away with the impression that a lot of her problems were self-created. Madame likely had a poor impression of her because she lied about her ability to speak French fluently. She flew ACROSS THE WORLD on a lie, and Madame still welcomed her into her home and allowed her to accept the job. That is much more charitable than I would have been. I'm sure that initial impression impacted Madame's subsequent treatment of the author and, while I found some of her actions to be a bit extreme, I honestly can't say I blame her. The author complained about being put to work and about not being given excessive amounts of time to socialize with her friends but instead of getting the feeling she was being mistreated I felt she was whining. She was there to work. She was being paid to do the things Madame asked her to do. The only reason she was allowed to go to Tours (during her work hours, by the way) was through Madame's generosity. It was Madame's idea for the author to go to Tours two days a week and she allowed her to do it. She could have easily said no. And my thought throughout the entire memoir was "Who paid for her classes?" Probably Madame. The author constantly complained about not being given the time to learn French but that's not what she was there for. It wasn't her employer's problem; she thought she was getting an au pair who already spoke French. The author got her position based on a deception.
In addition to my issues with the author's representation of her host family, I was annoyed by the amount of time spent discussing men, and the number of different men the author kissed or was involved with over the course of three months. I'm not a prude, by any means, but it felt that every other page was dedicated to a man she was pining over. It wasn't what I wanted, or was expecting, to read about.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author spent quite a lot of time telling the reader how terrible her time with her host family was but it just didn't come across quite as much as she wanted it to. While I definitely got the sense that Madame took advantage of her situation and worked her very hard, I didn't come away with quite the impression of abusive treatment that she wanted the reader to feel toward Madame; instead I got the impression that the author was an entitled whiner. I understand that SHE felt abused by the treatment but I kept waiting for something bigger or more to happen, and it never did. I came away with the impression that a lot of her problems were self-created. Madame likely had a poor impression of her because she lied about her ability to speak French fluently. She flew ACROSS THE WORLD on a lie, and Madame still welcomed her into her home and allowed her to accept the job. That is much more charitable than I would have been. I'm sure that initial impression impacted Madame's subsequent treatment of the author and, while I found some of her actions to be a bit extreme, I honestly can't say I blame her. The author complained about being put to work and about not being given excessive amounts of time to socialize with her friends but instead of getting the feeling she was being mistreated I felt she was whining. She was there to work. She was being paid to do the things Madame asked her to do. The only reason she was allowed to go to Tours (during her work hours, by the way) was through Madame's generosity. It was Madame's idea for the author to go to Tours two days a week and she allowed her to do it. She could have easily said no. And my thought throughout the entire memoir was "Who paid for her classes?" Probably Madame. The author constantly complained about not being given the time to learn French but that's not what she was there for. It wasn't her employer's problem; she thought she was getting an au pair who already spoke French. The author got her position based on a deception.
In addition to my issues with the author's representation of her host family, I was annoyed by the amount of time spent discussing men, and the number of different men the author kissed or was involved with over the course of three months. I'm not a prude, by any means, but it felt that every other page was dedicated to a man she was pining over. It wasn't what I wanted, or was expecting, to read about.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2013
Linda Kovic-Skow’s debut memoir, French Illusions is a captivating, well-crafted, believable story of a twenty-one year-old young woman who, despite not being able to speak French, takes off to become an au pair for a wealthy French family in the Loire Valley of France. I was riveted to this story and once I started reading it, I could not put it down.
The author takes us through the painstaking process of facing the haughty, overbearing Madame Dubois, the matriarch of the family, immediately setting the tone of the main obstacle and challenge she has to deal with-proving herself and maintaining her job.
Kovic-Skow’s writing is descriptive and engaging as she weaves in details of the culture and environment in a way that brings the reader right into the scene. Interspersing French phrases, she gives the reader the sense of alienation she experiences. The characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional. The conflict and tension between her and Madame Dubois and her children, especially her petulant and disrespectful seven-year-old daughter are palpable and real. This unfair treatment she endures at the hands of her ruthless employer serves to help the reader empathize with her plight as she weaves in her reflections and attempts to work through the demands and lack of respect she endures. I found myself rooting for her and feeling some relief that Madame Dubois’ husband is far more reasonable and compassionate. His accommodation to his wife though does add to the tension. I appreciate how the author presents the light moments and positive, caring people who help her along the way as well as the dark moments.
Her weekly escape into a nearby town to attend French classes provides adventure and romance. She meets friends her own age and falls in love with a handsome and caring Frenchman. This presents further complications for her as Madame Dubois undermines any attempts for her to have a life outside of her au pair role. She eventually breaks free and leaves the reader cheering for her resolve and courage to move on from her oppressive situation. My only complaint is that I felt it ended too soon with her staying on to finish her semester. I was left with many questions about the rest of her story. But that can be considered a testimony to her ability to hook me into wanting to know more. I am hoping she will do a sequel. A captivating memoir filled with challenges, adventure and romance. I feel like I took a trip to France and lived through her experience.
The author takes us through the painstaking process of facing the haughty, overbearing Madame Dubois, the matriarch of the family, immediately setting the tone of the main obstacle and challenge she has to deal with-proving herself and maintaining her job.
Kovic-Skow’s writing is descriptive and engaging as she weaves in details of the culture and environment in a way that brings the reader right into the scene. Interspersing French phrases, she gives the reader the sense of alienation she experiences. The characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional. The conflict and tension between her and Madame Dubois and her children, especially her petulant and disrespectful seven-year-old daughter are palpable and real. This unfair treatment she endures at the hands of her ruthless employer serves to help the reader empathize with her plight as she weaves in her reflections and attempts to work through the demands and lack of respect she endures. I found myself rooting for her and feeling some relief that Madame Dubois’ husband is far more reasonable and compassionate. His accommodation to his wife though does add to the tension. I appreciate how the author presents the light moments and positive, caring people who help her along the way as well as the dark moments.
Her weekly escape into a nearby town to attend French classes provides adventure and romance. She meets friends her own age and falls in love with a handsome and caring Frenchman. This presents further complications for her as Madame Dubois undermines any attempts for her to have a life outside of her au pair role. She eventually breaks free and leaves the reader cheering for her resolve and courage to move on from her oppressive situation. My only complaint is that I felt it ended too soon with her staying on to finish her semester. I was left with many questions about the rest of her story. But that can be considered a testimony to her ability to hook me into wanting to know more. I am hoping she will do a sequel. A captivating memoir filled with challenges, adventure and romance. I feel like I took a trip to France and lived through her experience.
September 3, 2014
Great book! I initially read this because I had to read a nonfiction book for school, but it ended up being no chore. The plot isn't action pact or complex but it keeps you turning pages to see how her life ends up. I didn't like how it didn't tie up all the ends. The story ended with a lot of loose ends that should have been resolved. I understand that there is a second book that could fix it all up and that this is nonfiction, so she could not have made up events to close off the book, but I still believe she could have ended it better. There was a lot of bias in this book. In some of the arguments between Linda and Madame, Linda played victim and had personal pity parties. Of course Madame was evil to her but Linda cried victim a little too much. Also she plays herself up a little too much. I mean every time she walks down the street someone hits on her and she has like 4 guys fawning over her in the duration of the book. That doesn't happen to anyone so this lady needs to calm down. Overall though, this book wasn't too bad.
November 11, 2014
I love memoirs, and I love France, so this was a fun book for me. I was once an au pair in France, too, and reading about the author's troubles with her French family made me feel very grateful in retrospect to have had much kinder and less demanding employers. I enjoyed hearing about the author's daily interactions with the mother, father, and children at home in the family's chateau, as well as her excursions out to a nearby college to find French classes and friends. I'll be looking forward to reading the second half of this story when it is published.
November 10, 2016
A refreshing and different memoir-I enjoyed it all over again in audiobook format.
I've read quite a few memoirs of people retiring and moving to Spain, Italy and Greece but this is something different. Linda tells of when she was twenty-one and working as a medical assistant for a family practice clinic in Seattle. Her real ambition was to be a flight attendant with an International Airline. The only stumbling block was that she needed to be able to speak another language. This is Linda's story of how she went to France to work as an Au Pair to try and 'drop herself in at the deep end' to learn the language as she went along.
She wasn't entirely honest with the Dubois family who she went to work for as she told them that she could already speak French. At first, on finding out her deception, they seemed quite tolerant and helped her to enrol in classes to learn the language. Gradually Madame Dubois asks more and more of Linda so that she gets to the point of wondering if she can cope with the job anymore.
Linda does quite an amount of cooking with Madame and there are some lovely descriptions of the foods in the book which evoke smells and taste. I really enjoyed this, it was nice easy listening with fairly short chapters. It's intriguing, you are kept guessing as Madame Dubois's behaviour is changeable, it must have been very confusing for the young Linda. There's a bit of romance in here too, a lovely varied read.
I really liked the audio version of this book. It was read very well. There was a nice tone to the narrator's voice. I could imagine her as Linda with her American accent. I am no expert but I thought her French accent was also excellent, not overdone, it was very natural. I've already enjoyed this book a couple of years ago in kindle format; it's good to hear it and experience it again from another angle. The narrator really made it come to life. I loved her French accent-both for the actual French, and when she was portraying Madame Dubois speaking English with a French accent. An excellent production.
I've read quite a few memoirs of people retiring and moving to Spain, Italy and Greece but this is something different. Linda tells of when she was twenty-one and working as a medical assistant for a family practice clinic in Seattle. Her real ambition was to be a flight attendant with an International Airline. The only stumbling block was that she needed to be able to speak another language. This is Linda's story of how she went to France to work as an Au Pair to try and 'drop herself in at the deep end' to learn the language as she went along.
She wasn't entirely honest with the Dubois family who she went to work for as she told them that she could already speak French. At first, on finding out her deception, they seemed quite tolerant and helped her to enrol in classes to learn the language. Gradually Madame Dubois asks more and more of Linda so that she gets to the point of wondering if she can cope with the job anymore.
Linda does quite an amount of cooking with Madame and there are some lovely descriptions of the foods in the book which evoke smells and taste. I really enjoyed this, it was nice easy listening with fairly short chapters. It's intriguing, you are kept guessing as Madame Dubois's behaviour is changeable, it must have been very confusing for the young Linda. There's a bit of romance in here too, a lovely varied read.
I really liked the audio version of this book. It was read very well. There was a nice tone to the narrator's voice. I could imagine her as Linda with her American accent. I am no expert but I thought her French accent was also excellent, not overdone, it was very natural. I've already enjoyed this book a couple of years ago in kindle format; it's good to hear it and experience it again from another angle. The narrator really made it come to life. I loved her French accent-both for the actual French, and when she was portraying Madame Dubois speaking English with a French accent. An excellent production.
December 15, 2013
This memoir is set in the late 1970s in a chateau in the Loire where Linda, a young twenty-something, arrives from the US to perfect her French as an au pair for a year. It is her dream in life to work for an airline, but to do so she must have a foreign language and she will stop at nothing to fulfil her dream. Linda’s determination and strength of character are two of her traits that stood out for me during the book, especially as she put herself in a very awkward position. Her host family were expecting their third child imminently so hormones and emotions were running very high throughout the chateau when Linda arrives in their lives. They were also expecting her to be a competent French speaker, but she wasn’t and this made settling in even more difficult and not just for Linda. I can’t begin to imagine how different and difficult life in this chateau with two young children who don’t speak your language, a grumpy new mum and a tiny baby, must have been for Linda. This was years before the Internet, so contact with friends back home was limited to letters and an occasional phone call to her parents. I do know I’m not as brave as Linda and could not have done what she did, but she seems to have given the experience her best shot. Life wasn’t easy, but her language begins to improve, she meets some friendly faces and shares some lovely snippets of French family life and student life in and around Tours and the Loire. It was an interesting peek into a different life in a different era.
I know Linda is currently working on the second part of her time spent in France, but I would have liked this book to carry on a little longer. There is quite some excitement towards the end and then she just leaves us. This is great to ensure interest in the story for book two, but it felt a bit abrupt for me as I think her real adventure in France is just about to begin. I will be looking out for book two.
I know Linda is currently working on the second part of her time spent in France, but I would have liked this book to carry on a little longer. There is quite some excitement towards the end and then she just leaves us. This is great to ensure interest in the story for book two, but it felt a bit abrupt for me as I think her real adventure in France is just about to begin. I will be looking out for book two.
September 20, 2014
A refreshing and different memoir.
I've read quite a few memoirs of people retiring and moving to Spain, Italy and Greece but this is something different. Linda tells of when she was twenty-one and working as a medical assistant for a family practice clinic in Seattle. Her real ambition was to be a flight attendant with an International Airline. The only stumbling block was that she needed to be able to speak another language. This is Linda's story of how she went to France to work as an Au Pair to try and 'drop herself in at the deep end' to learn the language as she went along. She wasn't entirely honest with the Dubois family who she went to work for as she told them that she could already speak French. At first, on finding out her deception, they seemed quite tolerant and helped her to enrol in classes to learn the language. Gradually Madame Dubois asks more and more of Linda so that she gets to the point of wondering if she can cope with the job anymore. This book has a great beginning, very easy to get into. It is fast-moving, to the point and Linda's enthusiastic, bubbly personality bursts through the writing. Linda does quite an amount of cooking with Madame and there are some lovely descriptions of the foods in the book which evoke smells and taste. I like how she presents a 'taster' sentence at the beginning of a chapter, hinting at what is going to be happening without giving too much away so you just have to read on to find out. I really enjoyed this, it was nice easy reading with fairly short chapters. It's intriguing, you are kept guessing as Madame Dubois's behaviour is changeable, it must have been very confusing for the young Linda. There's a bit of romance in here too, a lovely varied read. I understand that a follow-up is being written and I look forward to that very much. Great read, I really enjoyed it.
I've read quite a few memoirs of people retiring and moving to Spain, Italy and Greece but this is something different. Linda tells of when she was twenty-one and working as a medical assistant for a family practice clinic in Seattle. Her real ambition was to be a flight attendant with an International Airline. The only stumbling block was that she needed to be able to speak another language. This is Linda's story of how she went to France to work as an Au Pair to try and 'drop herself in at the deep end' to learn the language as she went along. She wasn't entirely honest with the Dubois family who she went to work for as she told them that she could already speak French. At first, on finding out her deception, they seemed quite tolerant and helped her to enrol in classes to learn the language. Gradually Madame Dubois asks more and more of Linda so that she gets to the point of wondering if she can cope with the job anymore. This book has a great beginning, very easy to get into. It is fast-moving, to the point and Linda's enthusiastic, bubbly personality bursts through the writing. Linda does quite an amount of cooking with Madame and there are some lovely descriptions of the foods in the book which evoke smells and taste. I like how she presents a 'taster' sentence at the beginning of a chapter, hinting at what is going to be happening without giving too much away so you just have to read on to find out. I really enjoyed this, it was nice easy reading with fairly short chapters. It's intriguing, you are kept guessing as Madame Dubois's behaviour is changeable, it must have been very confusing for the young Linda. There's a bit of romance in here too, a lovely varied read. I understand that a follow-up is being written and I look forward to that very much. Great read, I really enjoyed it.
December 31, 2012
Eloquently told, this heartwarming memoir is simply riveting. As Kovic learns to navigate a new culture and cope with a difficult employer, she opens her heart to romance and adventure. Filled with rich descriptions, the beauty of France comes alive. Kovic's time abroad is made easier by the handful of friends she finds along the way, but a difficult relationship with the mistress of the house and her daughter creates a great deal of tension and homesickness. The reader is eager to follow the journey found in this captivating memoir to discover if it ends in triumph or tragedy.
If you enjoy a slowly evolving story filled with adventure, romance, and touches of humor, French Illusions by Linda Kovic-Skow should be on your wish list.
If you enjoy a slowly evolving story filled with adventure, romance, and touches of humor, French Illusions by Linda Kovic-Skow should be on your wish list.
December 12, 2012
There was a lot to like about this book. The author's dialogue between the characters was natural and organic. Her contentious situation with Madame Dubois was recounted as if it had just happened. (At times, I felt like an unwitting intruder who walked into a tense and uncomfortable situation.) I particularly liked a tender reminiscence cooking with her mom when she was a little girl. And the climax of the book was explosively palpable. I also loved the peppered French language throughout the book too.
If you want to get a sense of France (so much to love about this place) and what it feels like to be an Au Pair in a foreign place, I definitely recommend the read.
If you want to get a sense of France (so much to love about this place) and what it feels like to be an Au Pair in a foreign place, I definitely recommend the read.
November 9, 2014
I loved this book very much reminded me of my youth and some of the things I got up to.
What more can i say except I enjoyed it very much, and cant wait to read the follow up to this adventure.
What more can i say except I enjoyed it very much, and cant wait to read the follow up to this adventure.
September 13, 2023
Linda wants to become a flight attendant, but needs to be able to speak a second language. She decides to move to France as an au pair, even though she doesn't speak a word of the language, as she thinks this will be the best way to learn to speak French. The family who employ her think she can already speak French, and Madame especially is very annoyed by her deception. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I enjoyed reading about Linda's au pair duties, and how she made friends, despite her language difficulties. The book ends on somewhat of a cliff hanger, and I'm looking forward to the conclusion of the story in book two. Definitely a recommended read.
March 18, 2017
As a die-hard Francophile I was immediately drawn to the title and lovely cover of this book. It didn’t disappoint.
The author describes her brave ambitions to learn French by travelling from her home in the States and immersing herself in a culture that proves to be more than problematical. Taking a job as an Au Pair girl, Linda is economical with the truth about her ability to speak the language. What follows is the captivating story of her bittersweet experiences with the family who employ her, and the relationships she develops as she seeks to improve her skills.
The author’s easy way with words makes the book very entertaining and terrific to read. I love her descriptions of the places she visits and the chateau environment. I feel for her as she tries to overcome the problems, and admire her for battling to make things right. It’s clear that she tries her best.
The book is very well written and certainly caused me to want to read the sequel.
The author describes her brave ambitions to learn French by travelling from her home in the States and immersing herself in a culture that proves to be more than problematical. Taking a job as an Au Pair girl, Linda is economical with the truth about her ability to speak the language. What follows is the captivating story of her bittersweet experiences with the family who employ her, and the relationships she develops as she seeks to improve her skills.
The author’s easy way with words makes the book very entertaining and terrific to read. I love her descriptions of the places she visits and the chateau environment. I feel for her as she tries to overcome the problems, and admire her for battling to make things right. It’s clear that she tries her best.
The book is very well written and certainly caused me to want to read the sequel.
September 20, 2022
I sped through this charming memoir. It reads like a fictional Hallmark movie which makes it all the more intriguing since it’s a true story. I will absolutely be checking out the sequel to see what happens next.
May 5, 2013
I loved this book all the way until the end. I have recently discovered that the author is intending to release another book, and from what I understand it will continue where this one left off. I am thankful for this, as the way this book ended was definitely a negative for me. I wanted to know more! What happened to the author, did she learn what she came to learn? Did she get the job she was hoping for? So many questions.
From the beginning of Linda's book, it is easy to love her. She is open, honest and definitely has the type of personality you want your heroine to have, whether the book is fiction or reality. I couldn't help but root for Linda throughout her trials with her host family, even when I thought she acted as a bit of a brat herself. Listening to her internal thoughts about what she went through and her desire to achieve her goals made this book feel close to my heart.
I applaud the adventurous spirit of the author and her decision to keep journal entries from that chapter of her life. What great material to have later to inspire a book! While I enjoyed the entire memoir, my favourite part of this book would have to be the author's descriptions of the many places she visited and the people she met along the way. While I think she could definitely have made a better impression on the family she worked for if she had been honest about her lack of French language skills from the beginning, she is a pioneer. Her drive and desire to learn the language from those in the actual country was inspiring. Not many people would have been gutsy enough to do what Linda did.
I also particularly enjoyed the relationship between Linda and Antoine. The Kind heart of the author was apparent in her actions toward the children, even when she struggled with them.
There is some romance, and I appreciated the way the author handled it. While sex scenes are not necessarily automatically offensive, there is something about memoirs that makes me uncomfortable if they are filled with them. This author manages to hint at her experiences without going into too much detail, leaving the reader to decide exactly what happened. Great writing.
When you step into reading this book, you learn a lot about French customs, French cuisine and wine. You also get the opportunity to brush up on your French skills a bit and get to step outside yourself and live an adventure through the eyes of the author. I read this book in one sitting with very few breaks in between and found myself enthralled in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of this memoir.
In the end, I was disappointed that the book ended. I could have kept reading about Linda's experiences without stopping anytime in the foreseeable future. The end of the book leaves many unanswered questions, that I am assuming the author will be answering in her next book. Were this a standalone, I would be very disappointed with the way the book ended, but with the knowledge that she is writing another book to continue with her story, I can't fault this one. One thing is for sure, if you read this book, you will be anxiously awaiting the next.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes books about travel, memoirs or just a good story that came from the recollections and heart of the author. Read it, you will be glad you did. Overall, this was a VERY enjoyable read that gave me many reasons to wish I could drop everything and head off to France!
From the beginning of Linda's book, it is easy to love her. She is open, honest and definitely has the type of personality you want your heroine to have, whether the book is fiction or reality. I couldn't help but root for Linda throughout her trials with her host family, even when I thought she acted as a bit of a brat herself. Listening to her internal thoughts about what she went through and her desire to achieve her goals made this book feel close to my heart.
I applaud the adventurous spirit of the author and her decision to keep journal entries from that chapter of her life. What great material to have later to inspire a book! While I enjoyed the entire memoir, my favourite part of this book would have to be the author's descriptions of the many places she visited and the people she met along the way. While I think she could definitely have made a better impression on the family she worked for if she had been honest about her lack of French language skills from the beginning, she is a pioneer. Her drive and desire to learn the language from those in the actual country was inspiring. Not many people would have been gutsy enough to do what Linda did.
I also particularly enjoyed the relationship between Linda and Antoine. The Kind heart of the author was apparent in her actions toward the children, even when she struggled with them.
There is some romance, and I appreciated the way the author handled it. While sex scenes are not necessarily automatically offensive, there is something about memoirs that makes me uncomfortable if they are filled with them. This author manages to hint at her experiences without going into too much detail, leaving the reader to decide exactly what happened. Great writing.
When you step into reading this book, you learn a lot about French customs, French cuisine and wine. You also get the opportunity to brush up on your French skills a bit and get to step outside yourself and live an adventure through the eyes of the author. I read this book in one sitting with very few breaks in between and found myself enthralled in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of this memoir.
In the end, I was disappointed that the book ended. I could have kept reading about Linda's experiences without stopping anytime in the foreseeable future. The end of the book leaves many unanswered questions, that I am assuming the author will be answering in her next book. Were this a standalone, I would be very disappointed with the way the book ended, but with the knowledge that she is writing another book to continue with her story, I can't fault this one. One thing is for sure, if you read this book, you will be anxiously awaiting the next.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes books about travel, memoirs or just a good story that came from the recollections and heart of the author. Read it, you will be glad you did. Overall, this was a VERY enjoyable read that gave me many reasons to wish I could drop everything and head off to France!
February 16, 2013
I was interested in this memoir because 10 years after Linda Kovic-Skow worked as an au pair in the Loire Valley, I also worked as a "jeune fille au pair" in the region. It has occurred to me to write an account of my experience--different from hers, yet similar--but I always struggled with the issue of how to recapture the past, treat the actual people involved with confidentiality, etc. (This is why writing fiction is in many ways so much easier--and why my novel Au Pair Report draws to some extent on my experiences, but much more upon my imagination and subsequent experiences working as an au pair counselor.) I also thought capturing French conversation would be a challenge. Kovic-Skow handles all these challenges with finesse. She relied upon diaries for recalling events that took place over 30 years ago and did her best to conceal the identities and location of her host family (still, I would love to know whether they will find out about the book and what they would think of it). The way she incorporates French into the narrative captures her initial confusion about the language and her gradual progress in understanding and speaking it. I like that the French language itself becomes a minor character in the book, and wondered why she decided to stop the story at the point when she finally gets the freedom to study it formally. I know now that she has a sequel in the works, so we can read more about that later. French cuisine is, on the other hand, a major character in French Illusions, and I enjoyed reading about the meals she ate and helped to make. At that point in time (1979, I think), the differences between American and French foodways were pretty dramatic, yet Kovic-Skow's Croatian background had exposed her to a more traditional food culture. She tells a good story, and those of us who have had the experience she had of being "treated like a servant" can certainly relate to her story. It also reminds us of why it is so important for cultural exchange programs in general and au pair programs in particular to be closely regulated. Even here in the U.S., where the State Dept. oversees au pair programs, there are abuses (I write about some of those in my novel, Au Pair Report). Young women on their own are inherently vulnerable. Young Linda, the heroine of French Illusions, has the courage to rescue herself from a bad situation and make the most of her sojourn abroad. In spite of the big lie Linda has told to get her position in the first place, she is a pleasant and high-spirited young woman, and it is easy to root for her. I just don't understand why she didn't take a French class at home before jetting off to the Loire Valley!
March 8, 2013
Linda lead the life I would have wanted to live in my teen years (minus the au pair taking care of children). I always wanted to be a flight attendant and live abroad. I was too short on the flight attendant part and I was never going to babysit anyone's children on a full time basis.
It all started when author Linda wanted to work for the airlines. Finding out that she needed to speak another language she decided that she would be an au pair in France and learn the language so that she could fly to France. The part of the program that she did not take into account was that she would need to speak French. The author had a French speaker complete her application.
All was well until she met the family that she was going to work for an au pair for...or more specifically the madame of the house. Of course it is understandable that Madame was upset that that Linda did not speak French. But given she was about 8 months pregnant she decided to keep Linda. All was downhill from here. While every story has two sides, Madame comes across as the meanest crankiest person one could be stuck working for in a foreign country where one did not speak the language. When Linda takes ill with the flu Madame gives her barely a moment to get better warning her that she had better not infect the household. While Linda was expected to do light house work she found herself beating carpets and serving guests. Of course no visit to France would be complete without a married man hitting on you (it was one of the guests). My favourite was when Linda complained that there was no heat in her room and she was told to send home for warmer clothing.
To her credit Linda tries to make the best of the situation despite all the challenges. Madame's daughter is a mini Madame, snarky and undermining Linda. The young boy is a delight to spend time with and Linda enjoys baking and making him pancakes.
Trying to learn French Linda takes classes at a university in a nearby town. Here she meets some college kids and finds herself a cute boyfriend. Interacting with other English speaker and young people her age gives her some sanity.
After months of torture Linda makes a decision to quit. Once again Madame's true colours come out as she kicks Linda out of the house.
I give Linda credit for trying to make the best of a situation. Along the way she is able to experience some of the treasures of France. Messieur teaches her about wine and dinner at the house is always a culinary experience.
Should you read this book...without a doubt. It is fun and keeps your attention throughout. You want Linda to succeed and not succumb to tears.
It all started when author Linda wanted to work for the airlines. Finding out that she needed to speak another language she decided that she would be an au pair in France and learn the language so that she could fly to France. The part of the program that she did not take into account was that she would need to speak French. The author had a French speaker complete her application.
All was well until she met the family that she was going to work for an au pair for...or more specifically the madame of the house. Of course it is understandable that Madame was upset that that Linda did not speak French. But given she was about 8 months pregnant she decided to keep Linda. All was downhill from here. While every story has two sides, Madame comes across as the meanest crankiest person one could be stuck working for in a foreign country where one did not speak the language. When Linda takes ill with the flu Madame gives her barely a moment to get better warning her that she had better not infect the household. While Linda was expected to do light house work she found herself beating carpets and serving guests. Of course no visit to France would be complete without a married man hitting on you (it was one of the guests). My favourite was when Linda complained that there was no heat in her room and she was told to send home for warmer clothing.
To her credit Linda tries to make the best of the situation despite all the challenges. Madame's daughter is a mini Madame, snarky and undermining Linda. The young boy is a delight to spend time with and Linda enjoys baking and making him pancakes.
Trying to learn French Linda takes classes at a university in a nearby town. Here she meets some college kids and finds herself a cute boyfriend. Interacting with other English speaker and young people her age gives her some sanity.
After months of torture Linda makes a decision to quit. Once again Madame's true colours come out as she kicks Linda out of the house.
I give Linda credit for trying to make the best of a situation. Along the way she is able to experience some of the treasures of France. Messieur teaches her about wine and dinner at the house is always a culinary experience.
Should you read this book...without a doubt. It is fun and keeps your attention throughout. You want Linda to succeed and not succumb to tears.
October 1, 2014
When I was 14 years old, my parents sent me to Ireland for 3 weeks so that I could practice the English language I was learning in school. This was a full immersion trip which meant I would stay with an Irish family for the whole duration of my stay with no contact with other French speaking students. The family who hosted me lived in the suburbs of Dublin, and they had a girl my age who had decided before I even arrived that she didn’t like me. She went out with her friends, and left me at home with nothing to do. With virtually no money and very little experience due to my age, I couldn’t very well go exploring Ireland on my own! Let me tell you that these were the longest 3 weeks of my life! I felt all alone in the world.
But this was nothing compared to what Linda Kovic-Skow went through when she went to France to be an au pair. Her plan was to spend a year there in order to learn the language. When she applied for the job, she lied about already speaking French but she thought she would learn quickly once immersed in day-to-day life. She arrived in the Loire Valley in the summer of 1979, and the Dubois family welcomed her in the Château de Montclair despite her not speaking French. Linda started taking care of Colette, 7, and Antoine, 4, while pregnant Mme Dubois was getting more and more demanding, treating her like a servant.
Based on the author’s diary while she lived in France, French Illusions is a delightful read, and I couldn’t put it down. Needless to say, I identified strongly with Linda due to our shared bad travelling experiences, but I think most readers would do so too. Unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised by Mme Dubois’ behavior since she belonged to an aristocratic family, and she probably considered the au pair as paid help. I must stress though that not all French natives are like that, and I think the author was successful at showing it. After all, she bonded with several French people while she was staying at the Château de Montclair. However, I thought that the story kind of had an abrupt ending that could have been smoothed over. There will be a second book though that will come out in late 2014, French Illusions: From Tours to Paris, so maybe when the 2 volumes are read back-to-back this won’t stand out as much… I can’t wait to read the sequel to Linda’s adventures!
French Illusions was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
But this was nothing compared to what Linda Kovic-Skow went through when she went to France to be an au pair. Her plan was to spend a year there in order to learn the language. When she applied for the job, she lied about already speaking French but she thought she would learn quickly once immersed in day-to-day life. She arrived in the Loire Valley in the summer of 1979, and the Dubois family welcomed her in the Château de Montclair despite her not speaking French. Linda started taking care of Colette, 7, and Antoine, 4, while pregnant Mme Dubois was getting more and more demanding, treating her like a servant.
Based on the author’s diary while she lived in France, French Illusions is a delightful read, and I couldn’t put it down. Needless to say, I identified strongly with Linda due to our shared bad travelling experiences, but I think most readers would do so too. Unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised by Mme Dubois’ behavior since she belonged to an aristocratic family, and she probably considered the au pair as paid help. I must stress though that not all French natives are like that, and I think the author was successful at showing it. After all, she bonded with several French people while she was staying at the Château de Montclair. However, I thought that the story kind of had an abrupt ending that could have been smoothed over. There will be a second book though that will come out in late 2014, French Illusions: From Tours to Paris, so maybe when the 2 volumes are read back-to-back this won’t stand out as much… I can’t wait to read the sequel to Linda’s adventures!
French Illusions was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
June 24, 2013
I was given a copy of French Illusions free in return for writing a review.
Linda Kovik-Skow wrote her book based on the diary she kept as a young woman working in France as an au pair. I thought the story sounded very interesting - an intimate look inside the home of a wealthy family living in a small French village. I was a little taken aback by the lie Linda told about speaking French in order to get the job, but I admired her courage and determination to salvage the situation. Learning a foreign language is hard and doing it by immersion is even harder (I've done it). She suffered homesickness and ill treatment at the hands of the Madame, but she seemed to adjust to France without much culture shock. I couldn't help but think that if Linda had been a little older and more experienced, the Madame wouldn't have been able to bully and overwork her to such a degree. But we all have to grow up and learn through our experiences, and Linda made the most of her adventure.
Linda wrote about the chateau, the town and the people she encountered in wonderful, colorful detail. I could almost smell the baguettes at the boulangerie, and see the vineyards and castles. I loved reading about the sumptuous meals and the wine and desserts the family ate, and I loved the way the Chateau raised much of its own produce. Making yogurt and baking bread at home are far from the modern American experience, but Linda took it all in stride. I laughed at her discovery that this wealthy family didn't own a clothes dryer because I had the same shock when living in Europe.
I enjoyed the sprinklings of French conversation throughout her book, and the helpful translations. Add in a little romance and adorable children (well, two out of three were adorable), and this was a very enjoyable book.
I thought the book ended a little too abruptly, even knowing that she is busy writing a sequel that addresses the time after she left her position as au pair. I'm looking forward to the sequel, to see how Linda's time in France turned out!
Linda Kovik-Skow wrote her book based on the diary she kept as a young woman working in France as an au pair. I thought the story sounded very interesting - an intimate look inside the home of a wealthy family living in a small French village. I was a little taken aback by the lie Linda told about speaking French in order to get the job, but I admired her courage and determination to salvage the situation. Learning a foreign language is hard and doing it by immersion is even harder (I've done it). She suffered homesickness and ill treatment at the hands of the Madame, but she seemed to adjust to France without much culture shock. I couldn't help but think that if Linda had been a little older and more experienced, the Madame wouldn't have been able to bully and overwork her to such a degree. But we all have to grow up and learn through our experiences, and Linda made the most of her adventure.
Linda wrote about the chateau, the town and the people she encountered in wonderful, colorful detail. I could almost smell the baguettes at the boulangerie, and see the vineyards and castles. I loved reading about the sumptuous meals and the wine and desserts the family ate, and I loved the way the Chateau raised much of its own produce. Making yogurt and baking bread at home are far from the modern American experience, but Linda took it all in stride. I laughed at her discovery that this wealthy family didn't own a clothes dryer because I had the same shock when living in Europe.
I enjoyed the sprinklings of French conversation throughout her book, and the helpful translations. Add in a little romance and adorable children (well, two out of three were adorable), and this was a very enjoyable book.
I thought the book ended a little too abruptly, even knowing that she is busy writing a sequel that addresses the time after she left her position as au pair. I'm looking forward to the sequel, to see how Linda's time in France turned out!
May 29, 2013
From the moment I opened French Illusions I was hooked! Linda Kovic-Skow is a young woman who desperately wants to change careers. After some research, Linda decides to pursue a career as a flight attendant.
Though she is invited for an interview, Linda is not offered the position on the basis that she does not speak a second language. Linda's disappointment leads her to devise a very deceptive plan. One that finds her hired as an au pair and moving to France to live in a castle.
It seemed like it would be the perfect situation and all would be well. At least that's what Linda hoped for! When Linda meets Madame Dubois, she immediately confesses that she fibbed on the application form. Needless to say Madame Dubois is unimpressed and upset. However, Linda's plea and explanation are enough for Monsieur and Madame Dubois to reconsider firing Linda.
Though Madame Dubois claims to forgive Linda for fibbing on her application form. Madame Dubois and her daughter Collette seem to be on a mission to make Linda pay for her deception. I came to fear Madame Dubois's wrath and disliked Collette's bratty behavior. I felt that Linda was treated like a modern day Cinderella.
Thankfully, Madame Dubois granted Linda permission once a week to attend courses at the University and despite Linda's horrendous conditions, she did make a few friends and had a budding romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading French Illusions and Linda's vivid descriptions made it seem as if I was journeying with her in France. I also appreciated the way in which she weaves the French language and the English translations.
I cannot wait to read the sequel--French Encore. The ending left me filled with unanswered questions.
Though she is invited for an interview, Linda is not offered the position on the basis that she does not speak a second language. Linda's disappointment leads her to devise a very deceptive plan. One that finds her hired as an au pair and moving to France to live in a castle.
It seemed like it would be the perfect situation and all would be well. At least that's what Linda hoped for! When Linda meets Madame Dubois, she immediately confesses that she fibbed on the application form. Needless to say Madame Dubois is unimpressed and upset. However, Linda's plea and explanation are enough for Monsieur and Madame Dubois to reconsider firing Linda.
Though Madame Dubois claims to forgive Linda for fibbing on her application form. Madame Dubois and her daughter Collette seem to be on a mission to make Linda pay for her deception. I came to fear Madame Dubois's wrath and disliked Collette's bratty behavior. I felt that Linda was treated like a modern day Cinderella.
Thankfully, Madame Dubois granted Linda permission once a week to attend courses at the University and despite Linda's horrendous conditions, she did make a few friends and had a budding romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading French Illusions and Linda's vivid descriptions made it seem as if I was journeying with her in France. I also appreciated the way in which she weaves the French language and the English translations.
I cannot wait to read the sequel--French Encore. The ending left me filled with unanswered questions.
March 13, 2013
French Illusions is an interesting true story of Linda Kovic-Skow and her dreams of becoming an international stewardess. In order to do this she is told she needs to be bilingual. She decides to become an au pair in France so she can learn the language, the only problem is that she took the job knowing that she could not speak the language. She figured she could learn as she went along. Once she had the position she did come clean with Madame Dubois, who was not too happy but decided to keep Linda as her employee. Between Madame, her husband and the two of the children (the youngest just a baby) Linda did learn some of the language and culture.
As Linda settles into her job, she comes to love the children especially the little boy in her charge. The daughter on the other hand does not seem to care for her but Linda perseveres. She wants to become more fluent and signs up for classes but Madame is not real happy with Linda and often makes Linda feel useless and is demeaning to her
I think being an au pair would be a fun and challenging position to have especially in another country and I think, even though things weren't ideal for Linda, I would imagine that it was a rewarding experience for her. I enjoyed reading this book and was tickled when Linda finally told Madame how she felt. The one thing I would ask Linda is, 'Did you ever become a stewardess'?
As Linda settles into her job, she comes to love the children especially the little boy in her charge. The daughter on the other hand does not seem to care for her but Linda perseveres. She wants to become more fluent and signs up for classes but Madame is not real happy with Linda and often makes Linda feel useless and is demeaning to her
I think being an au pair would be a fun and challenging position to have especially in another country and I think, even though things weren't ideal for Linda, I would imagine that it was a rewarding experience for her. I enjoyed reading this book and was tickled when Linda finally told Madame how she felt. The one thing I would ask Linda is, 'Did you ever become a stewardess'?
August 6, 2013
Linda Kovic’s story of her time spent as an au pair in France is not an easy one, especially because her knowledge of French is very limited. As is sometimes the case, Kovic finds that she has very little free time and her French employer demands her to complete more and more tasks that were not part of her job description. Feeling isolated, homesick, and misunderstood, the author tries to make the best of her situation while doing everything she can to learn to speak French.
This book truly carried me away to the Loire Valley in France and I was completely engaged from the first page. Kovic’s memoir had it all-romance, adventure, culture, and history. The author’s descriptions of the landscapes, architecture, and local markets were vivid and captured the essence of life in the Loire Valley.
I am an avid reader of travel memoirs and French Illusions is one that I can highly recommend. It is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read that will satisfy any yearnings for travel.
Jill Dobbe, Author
HERE WE ARE & THERE WE GO: Teaching and Traveling With Kids in Tow
This book truly carried me away to the Loire Valley in France and I was completely engaged from the first page. Kovic’s memoir had it all-romance, adventure, culture, and history. The author’s descriptions of the landscapes, architecture, and local markets were vivid and captured the essence of life in the Loire Valley.
I am an avid reader of travel memoirs and French Illusions is one that I can highly recommend. It is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read that will satisfy any yearnings for travel.
Jill Dobbe, Author
HERE WE ARE & THERE WE GO: Teaching and Traveling With Kids in Tow
December 5, 2014
Interesting read and fantastic details about life in 1979 in an aristocratic family's château told by their adventurous American au pair... Linda Kovic-Skow recreates the delicious meals and domestic drudgery with great aplomb.
This was a time when au pairs couldn't find new friends on facebook groups and have an instant life - we can feel Linda's isolation and the icy chill of her unheated garret room as well as Madame's relentless grudge against her. It's just as well that she didn't take up with Marcel! But I do wonder if adult Antoine might have a thing for pretty blondes having had such a lovely au pair but no closure to their close relationship. As for Colette, oh la la, she's probably in therapy as I write.
Very entertaining and I loved the descriptions of the meals and other daily details. The '80s American youth vocab was also "Right on!" It made me want to go find a bottle of Tabu perfume on ebay to evoke an early childhood sensory memory!
This was a time when au pairs couldn't find new friends on facebook groups and have an instant life - we can feel Linda's isolation and the icy chill of her unheated garret room as well as Madame's relentless grudge against her. It's just as well that she didn't take up with Marcel! But I do wonder if adult Antoine might have a thing for pretty blondes having had such a lovely au pair but no closure to their close relationship. As for Colette, oh la la, she's probably in therapy as I write.
Very entertaining and I loved the descriptions of the meals and other daily details. The '80s American youth vocab was also "Right on!" It made me want to go find a bottle of Tabu perfume on ebay to evoke an early childhood sensory memory!
August 4, 2015
I really enjoyed this Memoir - easy to read and follow and I believe the Author 'shone' through in her writing. I've never read anything about being an au pair before and so I wasn't sure what to expect. As a young woman the Author left her home in America for the Loire Valley in France - Having a wish to work for an International Airline - Linda needs a 2nd language… She leaves for France determined she will learn French as an au pair - it's not quite that straight-forward though… I'm not going to give too much away about the heart of this Memoir eg the family, chateau, towns, friends and love!! It's a good read and definitely left me wanting 'more'… I now need the second 'helping' from Linda Kovac-Skow - I've got to find out what happened next. I have no problem recommending this Memoir - It's a light read that keeps you turning the pages - oh yes, I liked the 'french' included in the book.
July 19, 2015
What a story! The author sets off to France for a job as an au pair, having failed to admit that she couldn’t speak French. However, she gets the job but it soon becomes apparent that she is being exploited by her employer the formidable Madame Dubois. Nevertheless she battles on, not wanting to admit defeat but eventually it all comes to a head and she finds herself mercilessly cast out. I loved the honesty of the writing and the way her relationship with little Antoine is described. There is a smattering of French dialogue throughout which highlights her determination to learn the language. There are also lovely details about the Loire area and some rather good recipes as well. My sympathies were with Linda and now I must read the sequel to see what this intrepid young lady did next! Very entertaining and highly recommended.
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