Jamie Cat Callan

This book is terrible. Where was the editor? (There is one referred to in the acknowledgements ... Why?) There are so many infelicities of usage, mechanics, and punctuation in this book that it was sometimes cringe-inducing. And there are numerous awful turns of phrase, cloying expressions, clichés, and repetitive passages. But far worse than the style is the content: utterly vapid. The book is full of essentialist claims; the writer comes off as naïve and even silly at several points in show more the text. I can only hope that the trend of publishing books organized around gross cultural stereotypes soon passes. This book is a ghastly example of an ill-conceived fad. show less

There were some great gems and stories in this book, and a little whimsy too. The writing style was a little too 'stream of consciousness' for my liking but overall an enjoyable read.

There were some great gems and stories in this book, and a little whimsy too. The writing style was a little too 'stream of consciousness' for my liking but overall an enjoyable read.

Callan spent time in France interviewing and visiting French women in their milieu to try to crack the code to their famous French sensuality.

She presents a list of findings, each with its own chapter. From the mundane (always carry your handbag on your wrist) to the obvious (wear pretty underthings) to the very French (discover your perfume and wear a signature scent), it was all interesting.

Although it wasn’t a life-changer, I really enjoyed this little book which was a quick and easy show more read. 3½ stars show less