A Perfect Circle

by Susie Kelly

Keen to discover some of France’s lesser-known attractions, the author and her husband embarked with their two dogs on a 10,000-kilometre journey around the country. The result is a cornucopia of sights, sensations, legends and history — a must for Francophiles.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

Audio CD

First published June 27, 2006

Reviews

[Delyse Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another wonderfully interesting book by Susie Kelly. This time she travels round the perimeter of France with her hubby and two boisterous dogs in a rather unreliable camper called Tinkerbelle. She gleans such interesting snippets from each place they visit en route and their adventures are never dull. What an amazing author and such a super read.

[Grace Tierney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun travelogue of a journey around France's outer circle in an old camper van, with two dogs by an English couple. Most fun when it covered areas I'd visited myself but certainly a solid effort. If you have dogs, you'll probably enjoy the dog stories throughout.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So pleased to have discovered this writer. Her style of writing is so engaging and her interpretations of history so eloquently described.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect circle referred to in the title is the edge of France. Englishwoman Susie Kelly and her husband Terry--along with their two very unpredictable dogs, Dobbie and Tally--decide to circumnavigate their new home country, soaking up its history and discovering its current foods, customs, people and villages. I've read a number of books about foreigners living in France so I expected the descriptions of charming cottages, pastoral beauty, vineyards, chateaux and seaside ramblings. Susie Kelly has a lovely sense of humor which crops up often and enlivens the journey. The most interesting parts for me were her descriptions of Normandy and other places in France where battles had been fought, ranging from medieval times to World War II. I had no idea that so many areas of France include military cemeteries. In particular, it was quite sobering to read about the D-Day attack when Allied forces died in such great numbers on French beaches and the remaining vestiges of these battles as seen through Susie's eyes.

[Marcelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The experiences with the dogs on the travels around France are a bit long winded in personal diary style. The added insight of places and history added some spice. The closer to the end the more it picked my interest.

[Ruth Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A sample of France - as Susie, hubby and two dogs drive around the border of France in a very old campervan.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"France, and how I ate my way round it" might have been a better title.The dogs should have been left at home, and I do wonder if they were brought along purely in an attempt to provide material, as poor old Terry only gets a mention when they've fallen out and they're sulking.

I'm a Francophile, so found some of the details interesting. However, if France isn't of interest to you before you start, this won't be the book to inspire an interest.

2.5 rounded up to 3.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and entertaining trip round France with snippets of local history thrown in for good measure.