In the front of this book, it clearly states, "A Year in the Merde is an almost-true account of things that may or may not have happened to him [Stephen] in the ten years he has lived in France, depending on who is asking the question." This indicates that it's not truly nonfiction and is thus classified as fiction. Stephen has penned a few books about the main character, Paul West, and his 'almost-true' adventures.

However, I was far from impressed. I find myself tending to concur with the comments of other reviewers.

Anna wrote that it didn't surprise her when she read that Clarke had self-published the book, given that some of the sentences are painfully unedited and juvenile. She further accused Clarke of having the mind of a twelve-year-old homophobe/misogynist, with half of the book dedicated to "oogling boobies" and making "shit" jokes. One of his sentences (on page 64) when describing a string of prostitutes is "if I hadn't been so terrified of AIDS I could have let myself be swept into a tide of sex."

Sue wrote that this was embarrassingly bad, as well as being xenophobic and sexist.

Alienor expressed that there's only so much misogynist crap she can take, and if she reads another sentence implying that French women are sluts (and teases, she almost forgot) and/or a description of cleavage, she's going to lose it.

Terri wrote that he was just a snarky, I'm-better-than-you type Brit. He didn't bother to truly learn the language before he went or understand their culture. Instead, he preferred to make fun of it rather than understand it. Oh, and as much as he makes fun of everything French, he certainly doesn't mind ogling or trying to bed the French women.

And so forth, and so on.

1 Star = Yuck. I truly wish I hadn't wasted my time reading it.

A YEAR IN THE MERDE offers an almost-true portrayal of the author's escapades as an expatriate in Paris. Loosely based on his own experiences, with names altered to "avoid embarrassment, potential legal action, and to prevent the author's legs from being broken by someone in a Yves Saint Laurent suit (or perhaps, a Christian Dior skirt)," this is the tale of Paul West. A 27-year-old Brit, he is brought to Paris by a French company to establish a chain of British "tea rooms." Soon, he finds himself deeply immersed in the contradictions of French culture. The French may not all be cheese-eating surrender monkeys, but they确实 consume a great deal of pungent cheese. They remain in a state of shock for being foolish enough to sell Louisiana, thereby forfeiting the opportunity to make French the global language. Meanwhile, going on strike is the second most popular national participation sport after pétanque. He also reveals how to extract the best service from the grouchiest Parisian waiter, how to endure a French business meeting, and how not to purchase a house in the French countryside.

It is truly HILARIOUS!!!

This book is truly one of the best friends I have encountered recently. It belongs to that category of friends whom you absolutely need, for they alone truly understand you.

It is incredibly funny and presents an extremely accurate portrayal of French goofiness. I'm not certain how hilarious it would be to the majority of people, but as an expatriate residing in Paris, it is so funny that it can bring tears to your eyes. Just when you believe you are all alone, adrift in the French sea, something like this comes along and makes you realize that you are not by yourself.

I am eagerly anticipating reading his other books. I'm sure they will also offer the same level of entertainment and understanding. I can't wait to explore more of his works and see what other humorous and relatable stories he has to share.

This book has truly become a source of joy and comfort for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in French culture or simply enjoys a good laugh.

The author spends his first 50 pages in Paris stepping in dog poop, looking at women's cleavage, and not speaking French. That he can do without me.

He seems to be more interested in these rather unseemly and unproductive activities than in truly experiencing the beauty and culture of the city. It's as if he is deliberately choosing to ignore the wonderful aspects that Paris has to offer and instead focus on the more mundane and perhaps even inappropriate things. One wonders what his purpose is in writing about these experiences. Is it to shock the reader? Or is he simply trying to be different and stand out from the crowd? Whatever the reason, it doesn't make for a very engaging or interesting read. I would much rather read about his adventures in exploring the art galleries, sampling the delicious cuisine, or interacting with the friendly locals. Those are the kinds of experiences that would truly capture the essence of Paris and make for a more enjoyable and fulfilling story.

I picked this up in the train station at Charles de Gaulle airport a few minutes before my flight was cancelled and I was forced to spend another day in Paris, almost a year ago. Tough life, right? It was a rather unexpected turn of events that led me to have this item in my possession.

I never read it, though. For some reason, it just sat there, gathering dust on my shelf. But last week, out of the blue, I felt an urge to pick it up. And once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I read it in about 26 hours straight, completely engrossed in its pages.

If you have no knowledge of the French, France, or French, it might not be terribly interesting. However, if you've spent a significant portion of your life dealing with, studying, or learning them respectively, you might be as entertained by it as I was. The details and the insights it provided into the French culture and way of life were truly fascinating.

Within 2 hours of finishing it, I'd purchased the sequel. I was so eager to continue the story and explore more of the world that the author had created. It was a great find, and I'm glad that I finally decided to give it a chance.

I simply couldn't contain myself; this book truly had me in stitches.

Perhaps it was because the author's vivid descriptions of numerous strikes by trash collectors, public transportation workers, police officers, and journalists evoked such wonderful memories of my own time in France. During my stay there, I too had my fair share of stepping in "merde."

The audiobook was especially excellent, with the dramatist's brilliant illustrations of the countless misunderstandings between francophones and anglophones.

The story follows Paul West, an Englishman who goes to work in France for a year to assist in building English tea rooms named "My Tea is Rich." Apparently, this is a uproariously funny phrase for francophones.

At times, the story could have benefited from a bit more elaboration, and it did suffer from an overabundance of sarcasm. However, all things considered, it was a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

I really need to start being more discerning when it comes to what I read. I randomly picked up this book from a free little library in my neighborhood. It caught my eye because I have a great love for France and the idea of moving there seemed fascinating enough. It appeared to be an older version of "Emily in Paris" but from a man's point of view. I thought to myself, how bad could it be?

However, I have never disliked an author's writing style as much as I did while reading this book. There were numerous instances where he wrote in such a vulgar manner that it not only failed to advance the story but also made me hope that I would never encounter him in real life.

The only reason I continued reading this book was because it was free and I was fine with leaving it anywhere once I was done with it. In my opinion, it was a perfect traveling book. I'm glad to have finished this book and I'm writing this review solely to prevent my friends from wasting their time reading it.

Somehow relived most of my first year as a foreigner in France with this witty book!

It was truly a remarkable experience to go through those memories again. The author's vivid descriptions and humorous anecdotes brought back all the emotions and challenges I faced during that time.

I could clearly recall the initial excitement of arriving in a new country, the confusion of trying to understand the language and culture, and the countless awkward moments that ensued.

But this book also showed me the beauty and charm of France that I had come to love. It made me realize how much I had grown and learned during that year.

Reading it was like taking a trip down memory lane, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to relive those precious moments.

Overall, this witty book is a must-read for anyone who has ever lived or traveled abroad. It will make you laugh, cry, and most importantly, appreciate the unique experiences that come with being a foreigner in a new land.

I feel that awarding this book two stars would be a disservice to its entertaining value. However, giving it three stars is also irksome because it simply wasn't that outstanding.

This book won't astonish you as a reader. Its literary worth is nonexistent (a fact that Clarke, to his credit, admits in the epigraph, yet still manages to oversell the book somehow). At times, you get the impression that this was a Jonathan Tropper-like attempt to pen a novel that, in reality, should have been a screenplay.

The book chronicles the story of Paul West, who has journeyed to France to establish a chain of tea restaurants/cafes. But due to the war and a small scandal involving his boss, West finds himself unemployed and left to explore the unique and charmingly pseudo-hedonistic city of Paris (I say this with affection, of course, as there's a special place in my heart for the city).

West seems to become less likable with each page turn. A bit too obviously designed to be the stereotypical "everyman's man," West comes across as one-dimensional and hopelessly misogynistic. The somewhat cliched paradox of a man fixated on women while simultaneously failing to understand them at all loses its comedic allure due to painful repetition and the beating of a long-dead horse.

Even more exasperating were Clarke's cringe-worthy stereotypical musings on the city of Paris, from the mistresses to the rudeness to the probably overemphasized hedonism of the Parisian people. As a side note, I've discovered that my experience with the city was vastly different from the one depicted in the book.

I realize that at this point, I might be being a touch too harsh on the book. It is a quick, light read that I was able to complete in approximately a week. It was undoubtedly hilarious in some places, and Clarke's roman-a-clef charms throughout, even if it lacks ambition. An easily forgettable book that is enjoyable nonetheless.

I really liked the parts where the article took jabs at the French bureaucracy. It was quite entertaining in that regard. However, that was pretty much the only redeeming quality for me. I don't even know how I managed to make it to the end.

There seems to be sex involved around every corner, and having lived in France for two years now, I can say that there is so much more interesting stuff to write about. All the sexism and misogyny that was present in the article really didn't help its cause. It made the reading experience rather unpleasant at times.

I'm just relieved that it's over now. I was hoping for a more engaging and thought-provoking piece, but unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver on that front. Maybe there are other aspects of French life that could have been explored in a more positive and interesting way.

A Whimsical Tale of a Brit in Paris

A rather whimsical book tells the story of a Brit who has made Paris his home. There are three distinct themes that run through this narrative. Firstly, there is the satire of an Englishman trying to adapt to Parisian life, with the added element of a country house. This aspect works quite well and manages to keep the reader engaged. There are equally amusing observations about both French and British life.

The second theme involves the protagonist's amorous adventures with libidinous young women. However, this area is less successful and seems more like a mere decoration to the Parisian observations, with soft-core flirtations that don't add much depth. Similarly, the third theme, which is an intrigue of sordid business and political deals, also falls flat and doesn't make much sense to the reader.

As someone who loves Paris and France, the travelogue aspect of the book does work to some extent. But it must be emphasized that this book is essentially a travel brochure with a bit of titillation and intrigue thrown in, but unfortunately, these elements do not enhance the overall taste of the story.

I read this book at the airport on my way home from France. As soon as I started reading, I was completely hooked. I simply couldn't stop laughing. The humor in this book is extremely clever. It's not just the typical jokes that you hear everywhere. Instead, it's filled with witty remarks, hilarious situations, and unexpected twists that will make you laugh out loud.

Every page is a new source of entertainment. The author has a unique way of telling stories that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Whether you're a fan of comedies or just looking for a good laugh, this book is definitely worth reading. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to brighten up their day and have a great time.

So, if you're ever at the airport and in need of a good book to pass the time, be sure to pick up this one. You won't be disappointed. I guarantee that it will have you laughing all the way home.