Interesting insight
A book that delves into the life of a woman (susie kelly) who sees herself travelling to france after her family's business in the UK going bankrupt. It explores the difficulties living in a foriegn country including the language, people and culture. Fascinating book worth a read especially if you are considering moving abroad
This Is Well Worth The Money
As someone who one day hopes to settle in France I have read several books of this genre over the past few years. I must admit that Susie's neighbours began to annoy me but I think she dealt with them very well. Lets not forget that she was a newcomer to a French hamlet and in those sorts of situations it is best to remain on speaking terms with everyone!
Susie's writing style is soft and gentle, her descriptions are good and like a previous reviewer, when I came to the end I felt as though I was saying goodbye to a dear friend. Overall it made my regular commute to London a lot more enjoyable.
Two Steps Backwards
I loved this book, and felt i'd lost a friend when i finished it.....I am something of an addict of the travel lit genre, and I honestly would put this up there with the best....warm and funny, yet believable and unforced. If you have a fondness for people , animals , and a gentle humour,you'll enjoy this.
Two Steps Backward - Loved this book - Un-put-downable!
I adored this book. As a Francophile and animal lover of indeterminate age, I found much to identify with in this witty and compulsive account of the adventures of Susie after her move to France. My husband and I have often dreamed of moving the the French countryside and "downshifting" out lives in the same way as Susie and Terry - I cant say that Susies book encouraged me further - there were certainly pitfalls I hadnt even imagined - but it made absolutely fascinating reading nonetheless!
I am very surprised by the review which calls it depressing - I found myself captivated by Susies humour, and snorting in a most unbecoming manner on the 8.15 into London every morning.
Please, please buy this book! The price of books nowadays hardly make it a gamble, and I truly believe you, like me, will find one of those precious authors who leave you obsessively searching the internet for more books, and fretting until they produce another one!
Liked the first one better
I loved the author's first book and really looked forward to the second but unfortunately was terribly disappointed. She seemed like such a victim in this book, allowing all the neighbors to enroach on her personal territory but complaining about it to us, the readers, and not taking care of it directly. It really got on my nerves every time another person used her phone, her yard, etc. I didn't get the feeling that she felt any sort of affinity for the place she and her husband chose to live in. It is heartening to read her daughter's review and to see that they have fixed the place up so that it is now a comfortable and beautiful place. But I hope that in book three, the heavy almost depressed narrative is gone....
