- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press; FIRST EDITION edition (9 Oct 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593057228
- ISBN-13: 978-0593057223
- Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 13 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 211,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Talk To The Snail
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
From the bestselling author of A YEAR IN THE MERDE, the only book you'll need if you want to understand what the French really think, how to get on with them and, most importantly, how to get the best out of them.
Product Description
Have you ever walked into a half-empty restaurant in France, only to be told that it’s complet? Attempted to say “merci beaucoup” and accidentally complimented someone on their cute backside? Been taken to what you’ve been assured is the perfect house deep in the countryside, only to find there’s no electricity or running water?
If the answer to any of the above is ‘oui’, Talk to the Snail is the book for you.Find out how to get served in a restaurant; learn to be exquisitely polite – and brutally rude – at the same time; discover the language of love, sex and suppositories (not necessarily in that order). It’s all here in this funny, informative, seriously useful guide on how to get what you really want from the French.
With advice on essential phrases and bons mots to cover all eventualities, and illustrated with witty real-life anecdotes, Talk to the Snail is a book that no self-respecting Francophile – or Francophobe - can afford to be without.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've been in France since 1995, and have read almost every Anglophone book about the country. About 95% of them are full of clichés and not even funny. But Stephen's book is not only hilarious (I no longer care if Parisians stare at me when I'm laughing on the metro), it's also the most original critique I've read in a long time. I think it's also a fair book, because he makes as much fun of us English/Americans as he does the French. A great read!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've just finished reading this as well as A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi: The Ideal Guide to Sounding, Acting and Shrugging Like the French and The Secret Life of France. I would say these are all good books as they all amusing, insightful and thankfully free of dumbing down or stereotyping of the French. If you're trying to choose between them then here is a comparison:
1) A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi: The Ideal Guide to Sounding, Acting and Shrugging Like the French: Arch and hilarious overview that covers a wide variety of subjects. Covers a bit more ground than 'Talk to the snail' and with a bit more experience.
2) The Secret Life of France: This delves a lot deeper than the other two and is also hilarious in parts. Combines biography with revealing insights into the French character. The only book which also covers the serious / negative side of life in France - racial tension etc. Also good if you plan to educate your children in France as it has some information about the education system, how kids behave etc.
3) Talk to the Snail: Very funny book written by a younger author than the other two, slightly less incisive and definitely written from a male perspective - so not many insights on the dating game for women in here. Still great fun - probably the best book for you if you are a young single guy going to France. Subject matter quite similar to 'A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi' so maybe not worth buying both.
In a nutshell I would say buy either 'A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi' or 'Talk to the Snail' as these cover quite similar subject matter and 'tricks' for getting by in France. If you are looking for deeper insights, then also get 'The Secret Life of France'.
1) A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi: The Ideal Guide to Sounding, Acting and Shrugging Like the French: Arch and hilarious overview that covers a wide variety of subjects. Covers a bit more ground than 'Talk to the snail' and with a bit more experience.
2) The Secret Life of France: This delves a lot deeper than the other two and is also hilarious in parts. Combines biography with revealing insights into the French character. The only book which also covers the serious / negative side of life in France - racial tension etc. Also good if you plan to educate your children in France as it has some information about the education system, how kids behave etc.
3) Talk to the Snail: Very funny book written by a younger author than the other two, slightly less incisive and definitely written from a male perspective - so not many insights on the dating game for women in here. Still great fun - probably the best book for you if you are a young single guy going to France. Subject matter quite similar to 'A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi' so maybe not worth buying both.
In a nutshell I would say buy either 'A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi' or 'Talk to the Snail' as these cover quite similar subject matter and 'tricks' for getting by in France. If you are looking for deeper insights, then also get 'The Secret Life of France'.
37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Anyone familiar with A Year in the Merde or the author's follow-up book Merde Actually will have a rough idea of the style and content of Talk to The Snail. This time, rather than following the fortunes of Paul West, Stephen Clarke writes in his own name offering a wide range of advice on understanding the French.
Stephen Clarke takes the reader through eleven "commandments" such as Thou Shalt Not Work (the French addiction to the 4.5 day week and the public holiday) Thou Shalt Not be Served (why French waiters can be so difficult), and Thou Shalt be Ill (where Clarke writes about French hypochondria and gets in the inevitable references to suppositories). These commandments are all dealt with wittily of course, and anyone familiar with the country will recognise the traits and characteristice he describes.
Many people found the fictional Paul West so credible that they believed he really was a latter day Bryson, a real person writing about his real life, but in this volume, Stephen Clarke confirms that the earlier two books were novels rather than biography. However, the "voice" is the same, as is the enjoyment of the writing.
My only quibble is that I wonder if some of the French behaviours are Parisian rather than applying generally to the whole nation? I know from personal experience that the people of many areas of rural France are often polite, neighbourly and eager to help. However, let's not spoil a good diatribe with un-necessary altruism. The book is good natured throughout and I doubt the most patriotic French person would find much to complain about. This is another very humorous book from Clarke it is good to see the author step from behind the curtain of "Paul West". It will draw the reader from page to page as a light, refreshing read, a nicely presented harback book which would make an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys visiting France.
Stephen Clarke takes the reader through eleven "commandments" such as Thou Shalt Not Work (the French addiction to the 4.5 day week and the public holiday) Thou Shalt Not be Served (why French waiters can be so difficult), and Thou Shalt be Ill (where Clarke writes about French hypochondria and gets in the inevitable references to suppositories). These commandments are all dealt with wittily of course, and anyone familiar with the country will recognise the traits and characteristice he describes.
Many people found the fictional Paul West so credible that they believed he really was a latter day Bryson, a real person writing about his real life, but in this volume, Stephen Clarke confirms that the earlier two books were novels rather than biography. However, the "voice" is the same, as is the enjoyment of the writing.
My only quibble is that I wonder if some of the French behaviours are Parisian rather than applying generally to the whole nation? I know from personal experience that the people of many areas of rural France are often polite, neighbourly and eager to help. However, let's not spoil a good diatribe with un-necessary altruism. The book is good natured throughout and I doubt the most patriotic French person would find much to complain about. This is another very humorous book from Clarke it is good to see the author step from behind the curtain of "Paul West". It will draw the reader from page to page as a light, refreshing read, a nicely presented harback book which would make an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys visiting France.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Book spoiled by Kindle download
This would have been a good read had not the character recognition software not let it down woefully
for example Cafe au lait is "Cafe au kit"
Rightness becomes... Read more
for example Cafe au lait is "Cafe au kit"
Rightness becomes... Read more
Published 21 days ago by MoJo24
Understanding the French
I got this book after reading '1000 years of annoying the french' by the same author and wanted to have another good laugh. Read more
Published 25 days ago by D. C. Greenacre
abeautiful sideways snipe
Mr Clarke is such a funny writer. after consuming his ribbon of history bin "1000 years of annoying the French", i sought out more by Clarke. I am so glad I did. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Blues Man
Encore!
Another Stephen Clarke classic. I take the comments by other readers that perhaps the majority of readers are a particular type of male and this isn't really a book written for a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by BeeKeeper
my wife thinks its funny
Ordered for my wife( is it ok to say 'wife' these days) who enjoyed it. not my sort of book
Published 12 months ago by S. W. Mellor
Mainly easy cliches and clearly a misunderstanding of the French and...
Sadly this book is full of cliches and in many ways the author demonstrates a poor understanding of the French culture or may be did he chose to focus on the cliches to try making... Read more
Published 14 months ago by François-Marie Arouet
Why we spent so many years at war with them
If one is an anglophobe and have a few doubts about our very close neighbours over the Channel, this is a must read. I have learnt a lot of French they didn't teach me at school.
Published 15 months ago by shachrric
10/10
Sincere apologies for the US mailing system. You have been most apt despite circumstances, I would definatly do business with yourselves again if the opportunity presented... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Ms. Sairah Q. Yassir
hillarious
although i was expecting novel (i didn't read what the book was about before purchase. I like stephen Clarke, and just trust the author! Read more
Published 16 months ago by Nelly
let down by typos
Did the other reviewers get a different download?
Mine was full of typos, especially in the pronunciation guide, very confusing if someone doesn't speak french! Read more
Mine was full of typos, especially in the pronunciation guide, very confusing if someone doesn't speak french! Read more
Published 16 months ago by R. Fletton
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