I remember doing a search quite a while back for French Life (or something similiar) and found this book right before it's release. I immediately put it on my Wish List and kind of forgot about it.

A few months later, I found it again (going through my list) and decided I didn't want to spend $35 for this book so after much waiting it became available thru inter-library loan.

Let me tell you that I am so glad I was able to get it this way rather than pay for this overly-plush, terribly written book. Such a letdown..boring writing with heady photographs.
You will not learn anything new about the French in this book. It's the same thing: French style, food, politeness, slow pace, etc. And I got really sick of the author's constant referrals to her olive farm.

Best book on French style: Veronique Vienne's French Style: How to Think, Shop & Dress Like a Frenchwoman...magnificient OOP book but absolutely worth the inflated price.
Best book on French cuisine and life: Robert Arbor's Joie de Vivre.

Don't waste your time with this one. You'll just be paying for padded fluff.

I remember doing a search quite a while back for French Life (or something similiar) and found this book right before it's release. I immediately put it on my Wish List and kind of forgot about it.

A few months later, I found it again (going through my list) and decided I didn't want to spend $35 for this book so after much waiting it became available thru inter-library loan.

Let me tell you that I am so glad I was able to get it this way rather than pay for this overly-plush, terribly written book. Such a letdown..boring writing with heady photographs.
You will not learn anything new about the French in this book. It's the same thing: French style, food, politeness, slow pace, etc. And I got really sick of the author's constant referrals to her olive farm.

Best book on French style: Veronique Vienne's French Style: How to Dress Like a Frenchwoman...magnificient OOP book but absolutely worth the inflated price.
Best book on French cuisine and life: Robert Arbor's Joie de Vivre.

Don't waste your time with this one. You'll just be paying for padded fluff.

I remember doing a search quite a while back for French Life (or something similiar) and found this book right before it's release. I immediately put it on my Wish List and kind of forgot about it.

A few months later, I found it again (going through my list) and decided I didn't want to spend $35 for this book so after much waiting it became available thru inter-library loan.

Let me tell you that I am so glad I was able to get it this way rather than pay for this overly-plush, terribly written book. Such a letdown..boring writing with heady photographs.
You will not learn anything new about the French in this book. It's the same thing: French style, food, politeness, slow pace, etc. And I got really sick of the author's constant referrals to her olive farm.

Best book on French style: Veronique Vienne's French Style: How to Dress Like a Frenchwoman...magnificient OOP book but absolutely worth the inflated price.
Best book on French cuisine and life: Robert Arbor's Joie de Vivre.

Don't waste your time with this one. You'll just be paying for padded fluff.

I have never read anything so utterly pretentious -- how wonderful that Ms Archer found this paradise and, at untold cost, restored it brick by brick, stone by stone, using the best local craftspeople,artisans, antiquarians and the like (and who all, along the way, became her new best friends)-- and telling us in the most mundane style how lucky she is to be able to sit and watch the olives grow while also tripping off to Paris or London (her now home).

Her ultimate coup, it seems, and which Ms. Archer proudly tells us she has received, was recognition,by the French Security person at the airport,of her HERMES BERKIN handbag. He informed her that she had bought the most perfect item in the whole world, made with utmost craftsmanship at Hermes-- and she has the privilege of owning it! MON DIEU!!!

Luckily, I got this book from my local library and thus have not added a centime to her rather full coffers. SAVE YOUR MONEY! BETTER TO DONATE IT TO A WORTHY CAUSE!!!!

This book is just devine. It will inspire you to take risks, uproot your life and follow your dreams. Vicki and her husband David fell in love with a farmhouse in Provence while holidaying, and have lovingly restored the house and surrounding acreage. The house is truly beautiful and I now have Provence on my list of places I must visit soon. What is interesting is how she made this her new life, learnt a new language, gives us her viewpoint of the French and way of life. What living in France is like to someone who is not French but has chosen it as their new home.
Vicki also covers Paris - I am thankfully going there next year!
The photography, thanks to Carla Coulson is spectacular,and this is a beautiful book.
Vicki also shares a list of shops in Paris and in Saint-Remy-de-Provence she recommends, plus movies, books and music that have have inspired her love of all things French.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us Vicki.

I've always had a fascination with anything french! Oh I loved this book so much and intend to read it again and again! BEAUTIFULLY DONE! BEAUTIFUL WRITING...I hung on every beautiful word!....Photography couldn't have been more spectacular! I feel closer to France now more than ever!

Opened it, loved all the photos, read most of it right away. It is an engaging book with real flavor. The author gives an account of raising a family in France, it's romance and the draw of this beautiful country. This will be a book I linger through again.

This book is so inspiring, I sighned up to travel to Provence in June! Amazing layout and great read, we are left appreciating the French way of life and most of all it's people.
Congratulations to Vicki on a work well done.

Bought this on an impulse. So glad I did. The photographs are excellent. It has a most unusual cover as well. A very pretty hardback coffee table book. If you enjoy reading about all things French, you will enjoy this book.

This book is delightful. I am thoroughly enjoying it and would recommend it to anyone who has or will spend time in France, particularly in Paris.

This book is delightful. I am thoroughly enjoying it and would recommend it to anyone who has or will spend time in France, particularly in Paris.

This book was a fabulous book to read, totally different to the usual run of the mill 'living in France' type book on the market. I gave a 5 star rating because to entertain me, an avid non fiction reader for over half a century, is very difficult. Yet this book did entertain me, and delighted me, and made me want it to never end. Congratulations Vicki Archer, your artistic gift for writing, for making the reader feel they are living there with you took my breath away. When is your next book due out?

This book took me on a journey to France. It is beautifully illustrated with colorful photographs that capture Parisian life.
The author is an Aussie that moves to France and discovers its wonder. Many different facets of French life are covered, the countryside, food and champagne, art and the well known French eye for fashion.
An added treat is the author's French inspirations which include he favorite books, films, music etc. And her French address book, a great resource for the traveler in France.

Interesting book packed with gorgeous photos about French life. The photography is what stands out in this book thanks to the very talented photographer Carla Coulson. My favorite photo is the Christmas decorations at the Place Vendome. The pictures are so large and bold that you almost feel that you can step inside them and immerse yourself. The cover is different as it is actually padded and the pages throughout have beautiful design work. Highly recommended to any Francophile!

I just returned from two weeks in Paris. As I was dreamily describing my adventure, someone asked, "Have you read My French Life?" I thought, just another book about I bought a house in France (or Italy) and this is how I dealt with the locals fixing it up, but this book is different. First of all it is so tastefully decorated, from its padded cover to its lovely photographs. In other words, so artistically French! I found myself reading it quickly when I opened it, and then I thought, slow down and savor this like an afternoon in a cafe. I buy a lot of books, read them and then pass them on, but this one I will keep to dip into over and over when I need a boost of French art, civility, and culture.

This book touches the fantasy of every Francophile of moving to the south of France (or Paris) and living in a style seen only in film or lifestyle magazines. In this case, the Australian author, with husband and children, found a 400-year old farm in Provence and improved it to its current gorgeous state. The real star of the production, however, is the photographer who has put together the most appealing views of countryside, city scenes, food, life in Paris (see cover photo) seen outside a gallery.

The book is broken down into sections: finding and falling in love with the old olive farm, the beautiful countryside and garden, preparing for a wedding, visiting a friend in Paris, going to a bullfight in the southwest of France, etc. The text is chatty and certainly "right on" from the experiences of this Francophile. You can savor this for the tales of food alone, or visits with French craftsmen, or the insights into French life so beautifully documented by the photographs. A nice padded cover adds to the perfect gift package.

The photos are absolutely gorgeous - no question! Due to it's size and the beautiful photographs, it would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Unfortunately, as for the text, it is shockingly bad. It is disjointed, uninteresting, and the writing style reminds me of the overly flowery writing of a high school student who gets extra credit for every "unique" adjective they use.

It's a rather expensive book, so if you are purchasing it solely for the photos, by all means, it is recommended. If, however, you were hoping to be inspired to visit France, gain some insight into the country or way of life, or just be entertained.... then please save your money.

I bought this book for my sister-in-law as a gift as she is madly in love with France, and Paris in particular - travels there twice a year. When the book arrived, I sat down to have a closer loo, and fell in love myself... ordered another just for me.

Superb book, really transports you to France. Couldn't put it down. Beautifully written, fantastic photographs, a wonderful story. A beautiful gift to give or receive.

My French Life is one of those book gems....good looking not only on the coffee table but also a book capable of providing a wealth of easily read information on just what the good life in France can be like. In fact my partner has one copy and we also have another copy that we have placed in our Le Petit Hotel here in New Zealand for guests to enjoy. We are a long way from France but having a book like My French Life simply enables francofiles and others who value the best of French life, to dream of that far away land with its distinctive and quite different culture. Recommended reading.