Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl

Ah yes, another book on how to completely rejuvinate your inner, better, more stylish, thinner, attractive self-- in French (ooh la la)! Well... not quite. The premise of this book is not how to reinvent yourself, but how to discover yourself. The means to self-discovery the author expresses are through 1) quality, not quantity, 2) authenticity 3) self-esteem 4) appreciation of history. These main themes are delivered through charming vignettes of French life, be it their cinema, literature, famous women, or famous cuisine. Each chapter discusses the various (and applicable) ways French women maintain their head, their hearts, their bodies, their kitchens and their relationships. Though Ollivier (rightfully) concedes the diversity of mannerisms, shapes and sizes of French women, she asserts that a few elements of French women are the same. Namely, French women tend not to have drastic makeovers, but are deeply rooted in their sense of self, culture, and intuition. Many French women have pride in their history, family, and guard their words carefully. They don't form bonds with others with such rapidity as Americans. They cook with little regard to fat content, but great regard to quality and freshness of ingredients. They shop for quality, durability, and longevity vs the price or spur-of-the-moment. Does Ollivier stereotype? Yes and no. She hedges her words carefully enough that no one could say she dichotomizes the groups too starkly, but perhaps more importantly, she does state the benefits of American perspectives and French perspectives. Being someone who is assertive and confident in her identity, I wouldn't have read this book except for the extra credit it provided in my college French course. Ironically, I wouldn't offer this book to anyone who ISN'T confident in who they are. For those who do have a strong sense of self, this book explains that such confidence is not arrogant or snobbery: it is French and it is fabulous. Finally, there's a woman's self-help book providing guidance for those who need no help or guidance at all.

What is it? Surprisingly profound for a fashion manual. Lightweight for a philosophical treatise. Debra Ollivier takes us by the hand and leads us along a delightful path of discovery of daily life in the venerable French culture. Her intimate knowledge of the French as a wife, mother and long-term resident there, yet from an American perspective, takes us to places no French person could ever see. Implied in her book is the notion that the French girl's tradition-starved American cousine could benefit from lessons on slowing down and getting to know and love herself a little better.From her unique perspective, straddled between two cultures, she offers us a feasible model for a pleasant way of life that has stood the test of time. Could it be that less is really more, and that we can make do with not so much in a sensuous, rich, beautiful way rather than only through Spartan suffering? We may wonder what happened to the flip side of the coin (racism a la Le Penn for example?), but can't help but enjoy her astute observations and entertaining style and don't mind having our thoughts provoked, even if it is just a little bit.I for one am glad tht she so eloquently documented her unique experience and quite enjoyed the book once I forgave it for not meeting any expectations of what I thought it should have been.

This is the first book I have read cover to cover in ages! Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. It is brimming with insights on French culture and offers advice on how to incorporate some French etiquette/style into your own life. For example, while most American women will form some sort of bond within a few minutes of meeting each other on a park bench (which usually leads to confiding intimate details of your life to a person you met a half hour ago), French women are much more guarded about what they say, when they say it, and who they even speak with. In other words, think before you speak. Don't divulge your life story within a few hours or even days of meeting someone new. Keep quiet and you will also keep an air of mystery to you.I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the way French women handle themselves and their daily lives. A side note: Ever wonder how French can take those extra long lunches you always hear about? The book mentions that a 35 hour workweek is the law in France. Also, French citizens receive at least 4 weeks of PAID vacation per year! Mandatory! Oh, the luxeries!

I picked up this book by chance and couldn't put it down...it's a delight to read! Sure, it plays into stereotypes but there is always some truth to stereotypes, non? I also don't think the author intended for this to be a serious lesson in revamping your American self. Instead, I think she wanted to provide casual insight into what American women can take away from their French counterparts. Dieting, mass consumption - these are very American concepts. The reason the French don't have the problems with body image that we do is because they're much more about appreciating who they are and enjoying things without swinging to extremes on the pendulum. While we deprive ourselves of butter and desserts - yet still have the highest rates of obesity - the French indulge in rich, delicious foods but they do so in moderation. Americans who subscribe to this feast or famine, all or nothing mentality need to take a page out of the French book on moderation. The moderate tendencies of the French can also apply to clothing. In America, there is a tendancy to buy as much as we can at the blowout sale. Ollivier decribes how the French woman builds her wardrobe slowly and carefully with select items that flatter her. She only pulls out her wallet when she sees something she really wants and can afford that will also enhance her wardrobe - in the longterm. Not a bad lesson for those of us with credit card debt and a closet full of mediocre clothing that either doesn't flatter us or is yesterday's trend bought in large quantity at the chain store's last big sale. The book also covers relationships, friendships, entertaining, work, and the home. While you might not be inclined to do everything that a French woman might do, you may find some gems that work for you. Since reading the book, I know I think twice now when I feel this urge to rush through my meal to get onto the next task. I also spend a little more time enjoying my coffee and reading and a little less time worrying about time and schedules. Overall, Entre Nous is entertaining, lighthearted advice for any American woman who is looking to enjoy more with less. Yes, "the joie de vivre" is something that we all deserve to have a little more of, French or not.

This book is charming and smart and though-provoking. It didn't play into the stereotypes of French women, rather it pulled back the diaphanous curtain that has long obscured real and valuable insights about them. I'm no Francophile--I'm as American as they come. But this book made me think about lots of little corners of my life in a different light. Do I need all this stuff? Is this stuff the truest expression of who I am? Does this stuff make my life better or does it just get in the way of my real life experience? I loved the author's observations about the real qualities that distinguish the French girl: Not her stylish clothes but her self-containment and sensuality and discretion. Not her mysterious allure but her deeply ingrained sense of time and quality and authenticity. And I loved the wonderful snips of stories about the author's French girlfriends and the very human ways they express these qualities. This book isn't self help, it's self exploration of a uniquely pleasurable kind.