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C'est La Folie
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Product Description
Book Description
The true story of an urban man's search for a deeper, richer, simpler life (not to mention a dishy copine) in the heart of rural France...
Product Description
One day in late summer, Michael Wright gave up his comfortable South London existence and, with only his long-suffering cat for company, set out to begin a new life. His destination was 'La Folie', a dilapidated 15th century farmhouse in need of love and renovation in the heart of rural France...
Inspired by the success of his column in the Daily Telegraph about La Folie, this book is his winningly honest account of his struggle to fulfil a childhood dream and become a Real Man - to make the journey from social townie to rugged, solitary paysan. And in chronicling his enthusiastic attempts at looking after livestock and coming to terms with the concept of living Abroad Alone, the author discovers what it takes to be a man at the beginning of the 21st century, especially if one is short sighted, flat footed and not very good at games.
Life-affirming, laugh out loud funny (and boasting more than its fair share of larger-than-life locals, bilingual chickens, diminutive but over-sexed sheep, invisible rodents, manly power tools with unpronounceable names, plus the occasional femmes fatale), this tale of a new-found life in France with a cat, a piano and an aeroplane, is both an elegy for a world that's fast disappearing as a hymn to the simple pleasures of being alive.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Being a great fan of Michael Wright's column in The Telegraph, I was expecting much of "C'est la folie". How completely undisappointed I was!
It probably won't appeal to the type of person who can cheerfully kill an ox with their bare hands, or happily strangle a chicken without a moment's thought, but animal lovers will relate to the author's gentleness and his love of animals, and share his pain at some of the inevitable small tragedies that he faces.
The wit with which this previously timid townie describes his intrepid battle build a life for himself, his cat and his aeroplane in rural France had me sobbing with laughter. He faces all the challenges hurled at him by man, woman and beast, from chasing a runaway cockerel over hill and dale dressed in wellies and pyjamas with no elastic, to breaking up a cat-fight between two hair-pulling harridans in the local supermarket. He throws himself unhesitatingly into local sports, regardless of whether of not he knows anything about them, and occasionally takes to the skies in his vintage aircraft.
If you have a soul, a love of animals, your fellow human beings, and rural France, and appreciate deliciously lyrical writing and subtle humour, you will simply love this book, and you will be praying that the author will find the soulmate he seeks to share his highs and heartaches.
It probably won't appeal to the type of person who can cheerfully kill an ox with their bare hands, or happily strangle a chicken without a moment's thought, but animal lovers will relate to the author's gentleness and his love of animals, and share his pain at some of the inevitable small tragedies that he faces.
The wit with which this previously timid townie describes his intrepid battle build a life for himself, his cat and his aeroplane in rural France had me sobbing with laughter. He faces all the challenges hurled at him by man, woman and beast, from chasing a runaway cockerel over hill and dale dressed in wellies and pyjamas with no elastic, to breaking up a cat-fight between two hair-pulling harridans in the local supermarket. He throws himself unhesitatingly into local sports, regardless of whether of not he knows anything about them, and occasionally takes to the skies in his vintage aircraft.
If you have a soul, a love of animals, your fellow human beings, and rural France, and appreciate deliciously lyrical writing and subtle humour, you will simply love this book, and you will be praying that the author will find the soulmate he seeks to share his highs and heartaches.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am not sure if the stars are supposed to reflect literary excellence or how much the individual reviewer enjoyed the book. For me, the five stars represent how much I enjoyed reading it and how much I annoyed my husband by laughing out loud and reading out extracts to him.
I have never read any of Micheal Wright's columns or even heard of him. I chose this book over other summer reads because I lived in France as a child, live in Portugal now and was interested on someone else's take on living abroad. I also wanted something topical but light to read whilst on holiday in France last week (in a tent, in the rain).
I recognise that I am a prime candidate for the author's target audience and can see it might not appeal to those wanting more substance from their reads. It is witty, light, occasionally cheesey and occasionally thought provoking. This book ticked all the boxes of my expectations and was spot on in its characterisations and experiences in integrating with the locals in a foreign country.
In addition, anyone who is thinking of moving their own life closer to nature, in the UK or elsewhere, might benefit from Wright's emotional experiences of keeping livestock. Next time I feed my dinner scraps to our neighbour's chickens, I shall be looking at them in a whole new light (the chickens, not the neighbours). I am now thinking twice about whether I am ready to have chickens of my own!
I too miss my piano.
I have never read any of Micheal Wright's columns or even heard of him. I chose this book over other summer reads because I lived in France as a child, live in Portugal now and was interested on someone else's take on living abroad. I also wanted something topical but light to read whilst on holiday in France last week (in a tent, in the rain).
I recognise that I am a prime candidate for the author's target audience and can see it might not appeal to those wanting more substance from their reads. It is witty, light, occasionally cheesey and occasionally thought provoking. This book ticked all the boxes of my expectations and was spot on in its characterisations and experiences in integrating with the locals in a foreign country.
In addition, anyone who is thinking of moving their own life closer to nature, in the UK or elsewhere, might benefit from Wright's emotional experiences of keeping livestock. Next time I feed my dinner scraps to our neighbour's chickens, I shall be looking at them in a whole new light (the chickens, not the neighbours). I am now thinking twice about whether I am ready to have chickens of my own!
I too miss my piano.
40 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is such a life-enhancing book; written with honesty,style and self-deprecatory humour.
One man's journey into wisdom.Beginning a new life on an isolated French hillside,renovating not only an ancient farmhouse but his very soul.
He writes engagingly of his immersion into French country life and the gradual acceptance of 'l'anglais' by his neighbours.
The trials and triumphs of animal husbandry are related with humour and warmth when Titus,the aptly named
cockerel, arrives to join his harem of hens,'the girls'.
Before long ,Gaston, the charismatic ram and his entourage of wild Ouessant sheep join the homestead bringing new life and heart-ache in equal measure.
I loved the book for its honesty and Michael Wright's rare gift in expressing his own humanity with truth,sensitivity and witty self-deprecation.He left me reassured that our own personal quest to understand and accept our mortality yet live with hope and joie de vivre is shared.
Vive La Folie !
One man's journey into wisdom.Beginning a new life on an isolated French hillside,renovating not only an ancient farmhouse but his very soul.
He writes engagingly of his immersion into French country life and the gradual acceptance of 'l'anglais' by his neighbours.
The trials and triumphs of animal husbandry are related with humour and warmth when Titus,the aptly named
cockerel, arrives to join his harem of hens,'the girls'.
Before long ,Gaston, the charismatic ram and his entourage of wild Ouessant sheep join the homestead bringing new life and heart-ache in equal measure.
I loved the book for its honesty and Michael Wright's rare gift in expressing his own humanity with truth,sensitivity and witty self-deprecation.He left me reassured that our own personal quest to understand and accept our mortality yet live with hope and joie de vivre is shared.
Vive La Folie !
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Smile on my face
An excellent read,you wanted so much for Michael to succeed in life, love and trying to be "French". Thoroughly enjoyed his adventures and exploits which made me laugh out loud.
Published 21 days ago by Mrs. C. Cartwright
Light and entertaining.
I liked this book. I'm not going to write a gushing review telling everyone about how he's captured France or the experience. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. B. S. Powell
A very comfortable book
A gentle tale of life in rural France. Wright grows on you as you get into the book.
It is difficult to enjoy such a delightful life without coming over as pleased with... Read more
It is difficult to enjoy such a delightful life without coming over as pleased with... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. R. Stewart
Found it difficult to relate to
This was chosen by our book group and, I have to say, I was not impressed. For one thing, I don't like non-fiction and for another, I thought I would find it very difficult to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by C. Rucroft
A travel experience
This book made me homesick for France, even though I've never lived there. We have travelled extensively and have actually been fortunate enough to live in Belgium, Germany and... Read more
Published 9 months ago by WEEK END CHEF
A heart warming and very entertaining story
This is an extremely well written book that brings the author's situation to life incredibly well, it certainly made me feel like I had been to La Folie and was right there... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Shades
The joy of reading a funny, well written book, don't miss it.
As I have stated in my review of the sequel to this book I found it immensely enjoyable. At times I laughed out loud and really enjoyed such good writing and wit. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Valerie Boothman
Ciest La Folie
I loved this book and will definately buy the next one and the next one.Its very true to life in rural France. I know because I live here. Its funny but sometimes a little sad. Read more
Published 13 months ago by trevoux
Comme Ci Comme Ca
It's strange to get to the end of a book and remember very little of what happened throughout but then very little does happen throughout this book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. Malone
Great book!
I chose this book for our book club. Everybody loved it (which is unusual) and the books were quickly passed on to friends and family. Read more
Published 16 months ago by S. Denton
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