Wicked French

I hope everyone realizes that this book is not actually meant to be used in France. I mean, there may be a rare occasion or two where you might actually be able to put it into practice, but for the most part I wouldn't recommend it. Some of the phrases are extremely insulting or are exaggerated for comic effect. What I mean is that French people don't really go around saying that the wine they're drinking has "wrinkled buttocks." The entire series of "Wicked" books is, in my opinion, one big tongue-in-cheek kind of joke. They work best for people who have been to these countries and/or have familiarity with some of the customs and thus can appreciate the humor. They're tiny, fun, and cheap; I've had mine for years and I still thumb through them from time to time for a quick laugh. Howard Tomb and the illustrator, Jared Lee, have more than a touch of comic genius.

The best thing about this small but very potent book is flexibility. Not only does it allow a tourist a limited linguistic advantage but it also provides valuable insight as a cultural tool. While this book may help explain why the French think of Jerry Lewis as a comic genius, it doesn't excuse it.

Basically, it has all the French you need to know to survive and have fun in France. Every traveler and hitchhiker should have one of these.

This book is hysterical and, while memorizing and using certain phrases could lead to various detainments, the book gives you the flavour of what to expect! It's also a good read if no one you know speaks French and you have things you would like to say but not have interpreted...

Well, I don't think I will be using many of the phrases in this book unless I truly want to offend someone. Still, it was fun to read and is useful for gaining a better feel for the more ... ah, ... "colloquial" applications of the language. I bought my copy about 5 years ago in San Francisco and I found myself chuckling and laughing in the bookstore. I wish the author would expand it beyond its 64 pages.