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French Onion Soup
Hilarious adventures of a Scottish family discovering their French Dream. Follow their adventures as they find (and buy) a house, have a baby, meet new friends and of course, deal with the French
- GenresFrance
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
16 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 14, 2016
Enjoyed this story of a Scotsman and his family who decide to move to France. Tales of house-hunting, and then getting settled in a French town, interested me, as some day I might want to do that, too.
February 13, 2022
Great story.
Fun to read. Helpful if you plan to go to France. Hope there is a follow up as the house gets done.
Fun to read. Helpful if you plan to go to France. Hope there is a follow up as the house gets done.
September 15, 2025
Extremely Amusing and entertaining throughout
September 25, 2016
I've always thought of Scots as being honest, hard-working, and thrifty, all fine qualities. I also thought of them as being dour, dull, and humorless. If this author is characteristic, I was completely mistaken about the last part.
In the early 1990's Fleming left Scotland to settle in France with his small son Callum, his large dog Dee, and his very pregnant wife Moira. With friends in Nuits-Saint-George, they scoured the Burgundy region for a suitable house to buy.
What they settled on was a 16th century traditional fortified house (think very small castle) which had been enlarged and remodeled until it was a rabbit warren of mind-boggling proportions. Not really suitable, but fascinating and with great potential.
Of course the sale slammed them against the brick wall that is "les normes." That is to say, "how we do things here in France and, no, we DON'T care if it doesn't make sense to you." In spite of early misunderstandings, the author loves France and the French and even (mostly) the French way of doing things.
Firmly and happily settled in the tiny mountain village of P'tit Mounlin, he would prefer that the sewers didn't empty into the river and doesn't buy the argument that "it's good for the fish." He also doesn't think much of French electrical wiring, but neither do his neighbors. He does love the French language and claims to be proficient as a speaker because as a good Scot he lacks the nasal twang of the English. He also loves the excellent French roads, railways, health care system and of course food.
And he takes pride in the fact that his village isn't a haven for foreigners (there are only two and they can be avoided) but the home of families who have occupied the area for centuries. His neighbors still till the soil on their tiny plots like their ancestors did, but with modern equipment and an emphasis on "the business-like pursuit of agricultural subsidies."
This is the story of an intelligent man with a lively, curious mind and a great appreciation for life. It's supposed to be the first of a series. I'm ready for the next volume. I've read many books by ex-pats living in France, but this is the most educational and one of the most entertaining.
In the early 1990's Fleming left Scotland to settle in France with his small son Callum, his large dog Dee, and his very pregnant wife Moira. With friends in Nuits-Saint-George, they scoured the Burgundy region for a suitable house to buy.
What they settled on was a 16th century traditional fortified house (think very small castle) which had been enlarged and remodeled until it was a rabbit warren of mind-boggling proportions. Not really suitable, but fascinating and with great potential.
Of course the sale slammed them against the brick wall that is "les normes." That is to say, "how we do things here in France and, no, we DON'T care if it doesn't make sense to you." In spite of early misunderstandings, the author loves France and the French and even (mostly) the French way of doing things.
Firmly and happily settled in the tiny mountain village of P'tit Mounlin, he would prefer that the sewers didn't empty into the river and doesn't buy the argument that "it's good for the fish." He also doesn't think much of French electrical wiring, but neither do his neighbors. He does love the French language and claims to be proficient as a speaker because as a good Scot he lacks the nasal twang of the English. He also loves the excellent French roads, railways, health care system and of course food.
And he takes pride in the fact that his village isn't a haven for foreigners (there are only two and they can be avoided) but the home of families who have occupied the area for centuries. His neighbors still till the soil on their tiny plots like their ancestors did, but with modern equipment and an emphasis on "the business-like pursuit of agricultural subsidies."
This is the story of an intelligent man with a lively, curious mind and a great appreciation for life. It's supposed to be the first of a series. I'm ready for the next volume. I've read many books by ex-pats living in France, but this is the most educational and one of the most entertaining.
November 27, 2015
Well written
It was well written but I am sorry to say it was not a book I really enjoyed. It is totally the taste of the readers. It is a good book. I will not read more by this author. Please you may love. There is humour, and lots of little events that take place, but some area's were too wordy.
It was well written but I am sorry to say it was not a book I really enjoyed. It is totally the taste of the readers. It is a good book. I will not read more by this author. Please you may love. There is humour, and lots of little events that take place, but some area's were too wordy.
January 25, 2015
Witty description of a move to France and learning the intricacies of life there. I particularly liked some of the "helpful hints" like you can't buy anything after 2 p.m. and the shops are shut on Mondays. English ex-pats take note of the comments about learning the language.
March 19, 2015
Scottish couple move to France and purchase a home. Funny in parts, but being American, I did not understand a lot of the terms making it a very difficult read for me. The last two chapters, however, are hilarious.
June 17, 2016
Interesting in places. Hilarious in places. A lot of inputs about rural France, masonry, weather, customs etc. Holds interest in spurts. Anecdotes are mostly fun. The last one about losing the mother is simply superb!
August 22, 2016
Rod Fleming promises more! A sequel is coming!
Another insight into "a life in France" from a Scotsman's perspective this time! A delightful read!
Somewhat sarcastic but overall enjoyable.
Another insight into "a life in France" from a Scotsman's perspective this time! A delightful read!
Somewhat sarcastic but overall enjoyable.
February 19, 2015
Boring, boring, boring!! That's all I have to say!!
Want to read
February 25, 2016kindle 208 (travel)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews