This book was almost entirely racist and the worst thing I ever read. ( )

Read this thinking it would be a light, no brainer holiday read, and was pleasantly surprised. I found the layout of the book with it short chapters on individual events made for an easy read but the subjects covered were very varied and interesting. Not having done French history (I don't suppose many brits do) I found some of the topics covered fascinating and it was good to have the background to some of the events explained. The smaller 'epilogue' type pieces at the end of the chapters were very good as well. ( )

Being of French origins, I imagined I would laugh throughout this book. Not so, I found it boring and annoying. I didn't finish this book. ( )

I received a copy of this book via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program in exchange for a review. I have not been able to finish the book, getting half way through and giving it a final rest. I am likely will not pick it up again...Although it might hold entertainment value for European readers, this is not the type of book that I would gravitate towards. I was hoping that it might contain some funny parts to which I could relate, but alas, most of the "well-researched" information was of no particular interest to me. It could benefit any reader who wishes to learn more about the French culture and it's history. ( )

It has taken me quite a long time to read enough of this book (which I received via Early Reviewers) to comment on it, and even now I have not read all of it, as it is very much a book to read in bits rather than straight through.

The good things are that there is quite a bit of information in the 50 ‘articles’ on different aspects of French life, and as someone who now lives in France I both learnt new things and was able to shake my head in agreement with some of the things described. However, I did not find it anywhere near as humorous as I hoped or expected from descriptions of the book and without sufficient humour it came over rather as another negative look at the French (who, like the rest of us, do have their faults but also good points too!).

So, overall, an interesting book, but, I am afraid, not one I can recommend highly. ( )