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A Tour of the Heart: A Seductive Cycling Trip Through France
A Tour of the Heart: A Seductive Cycling Trip Through France, part memoir, part love story, is a romantic ode to the most visited country in the world.
Told by a proudly-feminine and sophisticated travel writer, an expert in all things French, searching for harmony and true love with her super-cyclist boyfriend. A Tour of the Heart will keep you bien captivé through its many twists and turns.
A Tour of the Heart highlights the life of a travel writer, France, cycling, food and wine, the Tour de France and the joys and travails of traveling à deux. The freedom, the challenges, the ups and downs, the discoveries around every bend, pedaling the bucolic roads of France is an adventure—and so is their love…
“Maribeth is a first-rate tour guide.”
Associated Press
Told by a proudly-feminine and sophisticated travel writer, an expert in all things French, searching for harmony and true love with her super-cyclist boyfriend. A Tour of the Heart will keep you bien captivé through its many twists and turns.
A Tour of the Heart highlights the life of a travel writer, France, cycling, food and wine, the Tour de France and the joys and travails of traveling à deux. The freedom, the challenges, the ups and downs, the discoveries around every bend, pedaling the bucolic roads of France is an adventure—and so is their love…
“Maribeth is a first-rate tour guide.”
Associated Press
- GenresTravelNonfictionFrance
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2012
17 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Maribeth Clemente
6 books4 followersMARIBETH CLEMENTE is the author of The Chic Shopper's Guide to Paris, The Riches of Paris: A Shopping and Touring Guide, The Riches of France: A Shopping and Touring Guide to the French Provinces and now A Tour of the Heart: A Seductive Cycling Trip Through France. She lived eleven years in France and then moved to Colorado where she has lived for over a decade. Maribeth hosts Travel Fun, a talk radio show on KOTO, blogs on her website, www.bonjourcolorado.com, and writes for various travel publications and websites. For more related to her new book, A Tour of the Heart, including a travel guide to the regions she covers in this book, visit www.atouroftheheart.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 16, 2013
Sometimes there are books you pick up that just seem to click, it could be writing style or subject matter or both. This was one of those books for me. Yes it is set in France and yes traveling and cycling are involved, but it is more than just a cycle tour of France book as it has the added emotions of a good chicklit in it too. The book is as much the journey of Maribeth's relationship with her new(ish) boyfriend as the journey they take through France, and I enjoyed the personal side of the story. Cycling with a mechanically minded man is never easy, and I know, but to undertake a trip like this relatively early in their relationship was quite a test. Maribeth you are not the only one to have had the gear-changing lecture as you are cycling along, or been left lagging far behind.
From the beginning I loved Maribeth's style, the descriptions of the areas they visit and their meals transported me from the cold foggy winter into the delights of holidaying in France. Although I will admit to being insanely jealous of the doors that opened to her because of her status as journaliste americaine!
The book is set in two parts, the first part their journey through France the second their return to cover the 2001 Tour de France. Set at the height of Lance Armstrong's fame, things have a different edge to them now, but she certainly portrays the hype and excitement of the time.
This is probably not the book for you if you are a bloke looking for a book on cycling in France, as like her companion Pete you may find there is not enough cycling, however if you want an inside snoop at what goes on in the mind of a woman read on - but be aware, be very aware! It certainly brought back memories of how with boyfriend number one I was constantly trying to analyse the relationship and work out how I could change or become a better fit, in order to make `us' work. Something I had forgotten I'd done as maybe when you find the person who fits just right you don't need to analyse any more - either that or it is just an age/length of time together thing.
Maribeth is a travel writer who has lived in France and obviously loves France so it is no surprise that the one thing that came across and stayed with me in this book is her descriptions of France, the places they visit and the food they taste.
From the beginning I loved Maribeth's style, the descriptions of the areas they visit and their meals transported me from the cold foggy winter into the delights of holidaying in France. Although I will admit to being insanely jealous of the doors that opened to her because of her status as journaliste americaine!
The book is set in two parts, the first part their journey through France the second their return to cover the 2001 Tour de France. Set at the height of Lance Armstrong's fame, things have a different edge to them now, but she certainly portrays the hype and excitement of the time.
This is probably not the book for you if you are a bloke looking for a book on cycling in France, as like her companion Pete you may find there is not enough cycling, however if you want an inside snoop at what goes on in the mind of a woman read on - but be aware, be very aware! It certainly brought back memories of how with boyfriend number one I was constantly trying to analyse the relationship and work out how I could change or become a better fit, in order to make `us' work. Something I had forgotten I'd done as maybe when you find the person who fits just right you don't need to analyse any more - either that or it is just an age/length of time together thing.
Maribeth is a travel writer who has lived in France and obviously loves France so it is no surprise that the one thing that came across and stayed with me in this book is her descriptions of France, the places they visit and the food they taste.
December 12, 2014
A delightful memoir cum travelogue set in France. Maribeth Clemente is a seasoned travel writer and her experience shows through the crisp and assured writing. She conveys immense enthusiasm for cycling which culminates in being present at a couple of stages of the Tour de France, coupled with her clear love of France.
She sets off with boyfriend Pete in the late Summer of 2000, a time before the public demise of Lance Armstrong, and they start their tour in Paris; from there the route will encompass Alsace, Burgundy, Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon and the South West Basque area. Their remit is to enjoy the countryside and take in the sights, whilst savouring the food and discovering a wealth of beautiful accommodation (no, not jealous at all). Interwoven into the itinerary are some of the stages of the Tour De France, which is a terrific challenge for Pete, who is a cycliste extraordinaire, determined, resilient and focussed. Maribeth does on occasion seem to struggle to keep up with his devotion to his sport.
Travelogue set in FRANCE (“through pain comes transformation”)
Travelogue set in FRANCE (“through pain comes transformation”)There is cycling jargon aplenty but not enough for ennui. The peloton (essentially group riding) has its purpose, drafting is avoided; the riders will often need to replenish around 8-9000 calories per day (they even were spotted having a glass of wine of an evening!); and having read this memoir, I will watch the event with greater interest as she explains some of the intricacies with aplomb. Imagine, for example as Pete climbs the Ventoux, a mountain in Provence where the Mistral wind can howl mercilessly – the Tour de France riders whizz up it like it is a Sunday stroll. Imagine getting lost as night falls as she tries to get back from Nuits-St-Georges to Beaune, the tension and anxiety are palpable (remember, Sat Navs weren’t ubiquitous when she was writing this memoir). Or erring onto the highway with lorries thundering past…
Enjoy the foodie moments, ginger honey ice cream, a Blanquette de Limoux, Collioure being the ‘only place’ to eat anchovies and Agen the place for the top plums (prunes); experience through her eyes the maïs festival in Laàs and stay with her in the company of Georges and Marc at the Domaine de Clavié..
She interweaves French into the text and gently enables understanding, which makes it feel more of an altogether French experience. She is an American writer and therefore the text is American – and as ever UK English and American English can be poles apart, the rift widening every year I think. Amusingly, “You’ve bonked” has a very different meaning in UK English than it clearly does in American!
Oh, and what becomes of her relationship with Pete? They clearly have tender moments and she adores him, but are her feelings as deeply reciprocated? He can be quite irascible at times and she spends quite some time patching and pacifying – the intensity of their mission of cycling around France for sure has an impact on the relationship, yet some of the cracks feel like an insurmountable emotional mountain to climb….
The cover is worth a mention only in that I don’t feel it really does justice to the content. It is done, I think, in bright pastels, and is therefore eye catching, yet the central figures are a bit patchy. But the sense of speed and romance is certainly present.
This review originally appeared on the TripFiction blog http://www.tripfiction.com/bicycle-tr...
She sets off with boyfriend Pete in the late Summer of 2000, a time before the public demise of Lance Armstrong, and they start their tour in Paris; from there the route will encompass Alsace, Burgundy, Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon and the South West Basque area. Their remit is to enjoy the countryside and take in the sights, whilst savouring the food and discovering a wealth of beautiful accommodation (no, not jealous at all). Interwoven into the itinerary are some of the stages of the Tour De France, which is a terrific challenge for Pete, who is a cycliste extraordinaire, determined, resilient and focussed. Maribeth does on occasion seem to struggle to keep up with his devotion to his sport.
Travelogue set in FRANCE (“through pain comes transformation”)
Travelogue set in FRANCE (“through pain comes transformation”)There is cycling jargon aplenty but not enough for ennui. The peloton (essentially group riding) has its purpose, drafting is avoided; the riders will often need to replenish around 8-9000 calories per day (they even were spotted having a glass of wine of an evening!); and having read this memoir, I will watch the event with greater interest as she explains some of the intricacies with aplomb. Imagine, for example as Pete climbs the Ventoux, a mountain in Provence where the Mistral wind can howl mercilessly – the Tour de France riders whizz up it like it is a Sunday stroll. Imagine getting lost as night falls as she tries to get back from Nuits-St-Georges to Beaune, the tension and anxiety are palpable (remember, Sat Navs weren’t ubiquitous when she was writing this memoir). Or erring onto the highway with lorries thundering past…
Enjoy the foodie moments, ginger honey ice cream, a Blanquette de Limoux, Collioure being the ‘only place’ to eat anchovies and Agen the place for the top plums (prunes); experience through her eyes the maïs festival in Laàs and stay with her in the company of Georges and Marc at the Domaine de Clavié..
She interweaves French into the text and gently enables understanding, which makes it feel more of an altogether French experience. She is an American writer and therefore the text is American – and as ever UK English and American English can be poles apart, the rift widening every year I think. Amusingly, “You’ve bonked” has a very different meaning in UK English than it clearly does in American!
Oh, and what becomes of her relationship with Pete? They clearly have tender moments and she adores him, but are her feelings as deeply reciprocated? He can be quite irascible at times and she spends quite some time patching and pacifying – the intensity of their mission of cycling around France for sure has an impact on the relationship, yet some of the cracks feel like an insurmountable emotional mountain to climb….
The cover is worth a mention only in that I don’t feel it really does justice to the content. It is done, I think, in bright pastels, and is therefore eye catching, yet the central figures are a bit patchy. But the sense of speed and romance is certainly present.
This review originally appeared on the TripFiction blog http://www.tripfiction.com/bicycle-tr...
July 21, 2024
I had a bike as a kid and I've been to France a few times, but I know virtually nothing about either on a professional level. No matter! Knowledge of these topics is not required to fully enjoy Maribeth's unique story and travel guide. With clear and skillful writing, she takes the reader on a detailed journey, but this is far more than a "here's where I went" diary. Maribeth cleverly threads her personal story into the trip as she makes her way through a loving but somewhat stormy relationship with a rather mismatched companion. Together they share an adventurous spirit (and a great sex life!) but not much else--and soon the hills and valleys of the French topography become a striking metaphor for their disparity. The relationship is as frustrating to read about as I imagine it was to live, but that tension also elevated the stakes and kept me turning the pages. I was with the author right through to the end, and I felt like I also grew through her experience. A bunch of cyclists zoomed by me the other day when I was walking the dog and I had an entirely new appreciation for them!
January 26, 2022
Cycling trip around France
Set in France this is a lovely, well-written account, truthful, witty, fun and easy to read. From the beginning, I was enthralled and pulled into Pete and Maribeth's story. I was drawn into this enchanting journey through France.
Having previously been married to a French man and living in Paris for a number of years, Maribeth was fluent in the language and ways of life, this obviously helped them on their journey. Moving to the US her love affair with cycling was born, through this, she met Peter, an enthusiastic cyclist. This trip is the first time they will have spent weeks on end together, will their relationship hold out? Her descriptions of their time at the Tour de France had me feeling I was there caught up in all the razzamatazz and excitement.
Thank you, Maribeth.
Set in France this is a lovely, well-written account, truthful, witty, fun and easy to read. From the beginning, I was enthralled and pulled into Pete and Maribeth's story. I was drawn into this enchanting journey through France.
Having previously been married to a French man and living in Paris for a number of years, Maribeth was fluent in the language and ways of life, this obviously helped them on their journey. Moving to the US her love affair with cycling was born, through this, she met Peter, an enthusiastic cyclist. This trip is the first time they will have spent weeks on end together, will their relationship hold out? Her descriptions of their time at the Tour de France had me feeling I was there caught up in all the razzamatazz and excitement.
Thank you, Maribeth.
June 20, 2021
Like so many, I've missed travel...and I've missed France. I read "A Tour of the Heart" a few years back and this summer, I decided to pull this off the shelf and be transported to regions of the country that I haven't yet been. Clemente, and her "copain" and riding partner Pete, pedal their way through Alsace to Burgundy, Provence to Languedoc-Roussillon, down to the Southwest, and back up to Paris and Versailles. She eloquently describes the sights, sounds and tastes of each area, while they navigate their environment and their relationship. This book is a fun, frolic of France...and worth the read! (I chuckled that her ex-husband's name is Stéphane, which is also my husband's name who is a French citizen).
September 1, 2022
A Tour of the Heart by Maribeth Clemente:
Turns out I picked up this book at just the right time for me. After a minor surgery I was lamenting having to postpone travel and wondering if my cycling days were behind me, but A Tour of the Heart opened up a frolicking fun vicarious trip! As the title suggests, this is a tour of the heart — just light enough with a romantic arc to keep me turning the pages. Maribeth and Pete have a lot to work out as the chapters unfold! The author is an accomplished travel writer who has lived in and loves France. And it is her vivid descriptions of her journey, the places they visit, and the culinary delights that will leave you wanting more! (I received a free copy of this book from a contest.)
Turns out I picked up this book at just the right time for me. After a minor surgery I was lamenting having to postpone travel and wondering if my cycling days were behind me, but A Tour of the Heart opened up a frolicking fun vicarious trip! As the title suggests, this is a tour of the heart — just light enough with a romantic arc to keep me turning the pages. Maribeth and Pete have a lot to work out as the chapters unfold! The author is an accomplished travel writer who has lived in and loves France. And it is her vivid descriptions of her journey, the places they visit, and the culinary delights that will leave you wanting more! (I received a free copy of this book from a contest.)
March 2, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely book. I am not a cyclist by any means and empathise with the author as she tries to keep up with her cyclist boyfriend on a journey through Southern France. Written in two parts, the first covers her relationship with her keen cyclist boyfriend, the second with her return to France to witness the Tour de France for herself. Brilliantly written, I was enthralled by descriptions of places and people she meets along the way, and desperate to discover whether the 'will they won't they' relationship would last the journey. Highly recommended!
June 29, 2022
For whatever the reason, this book just didn't grab me or keep my attention. I got about 2 hours into it and gave up. The story line, biking through France with boyfriend. Sometimes I felt like the boyfriend didn't respect that Maribeth didn't have the strength, stamina or speed as him. Maybe this one would be more interesting for someone who wishes to bike through France and is looking for tips on where to visit.
July 29, 2017
Disappointing
So much was missing from this book. All through the book, Maribeth talks about all the beautiful sights and pictures she took. But, not one photo is in the book. I even went to her website that was supposed to be dedicated to this book, but no, I only saw her blogging about her new life. Then, to add to that, I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and say, "what the help do you see in this jerk?" The book makes her boyfriend look like he is just using her and her connections to get to ride bike through France. While she did everything to see that he had a good experience, he did nothing but gripe and complain. I would be thrilled at this opportunity, but not Pete, who never once attempted to meet her romantic visions by even saying so much as a thank you. It killed me to read this book. I love France and all the beauty, history, and chateaux. My favorite parts where when she biked alone and visited chateaux. Marybeth, smart, beautiful, successful, but hopeless when picking a boyfriend. I hope her new boyfriend appreciates her and showers her with the old fashioned wooing and romancing she deserves. For Pete, relationships work both ways. You should find out what makes your lady happy and not focus so much on yourself. Now, I am only going by this book, so I could be wrong. But, I don't think so.
So much was missing from this book. All through the book, Maribeth talks about all the beautiful sights and pictures she took. But, not one photo is in the book. I even went to her website that was supposed to be dedicated to this book, but no, I only saw her blogging about her new life. Then, to add to that, I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and say, "what the help do you see in this jerk?" The book makes her boyfriend look like he is just using her and her connections to get to ride bike through France. While she did everything to see that he had a good experience, he did nothing but gripe and complain. I would be thrilled at this opportunity, but not Pete, who never once attempted to meet her romantic visions by even saying so much as a thank you. It killed me to read this book. I love France and all the beauty, history, and chateaux. My favorite parts where when she biked alone and visited chateaux. Marybeth, smart, beautiful, successful, but hopeless when picking a boyfriend. I hope her new boyfriend appreciates her and showers her with the old fashioned wooing and romancing she deserves. For Pete, relationships work both ways. You should find out what makes your lady happy and not focus so much on yourself. Now, I am only going by this book, so I could be wrong. But, I don't think so.
October 22, 2017
I read this book and left a review on Amazon but forgot Goodreads—silly of me since I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author was married to a Frenchman for a number of years and lived in Paris so her French language skills were excellent. After taking up biking in NY she fell for Pete who was pretty serious about biking, Maribeth was a travel writer so when she had a chance to go to France she convinced Pete to come also. The story shows the strain on a relationship that constant togetherness can have but aside from that I found the book to be a wealth of knowledge for a road trip I want to take in France. I plan to read the book again and take notes on the places I want to avoid and the ones I definitely want to visit. Writing about her time at the Tour de France made me feel as if I was right there enjoying it also!! I can ride a bike on level ground but certainly couldn’t go up and down those hills. Thanks Maribeth Clement for showing me the France I want to visit (but not on a bike—hahaha).
January 11, 2015
To be honest I wasn't very gripped with this book. A Tour of the Heart was interesting in regard to areas of France. I did however find her use of French words irritating at time as they were not always necessary and I felt patronising. It was clear to me that Pete was not going to last forever and I'm amazed that the author didn't dump him in the first couple of weeks, I wanted to shake her. That said, it you are interested in cycling, Tour de France and France and can put up with 'Pete' then go for it.
May 25, 2015
2 1/2 stars. I did enjoy the descriptions of the areas in France, the food and the Tour de France. But, some of the personal relationship details were tiresome. Overall, just okay.
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February 25, 2016kindle (memoir)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews