When your life in middle age seems to be going downhill, and your restless heart just won't be quiet, what do you do? You move to France, but before you leap read this intimate account of a New Zealand woman's efforts to survive and thrive while doing just that. It's a cautionary tale that tells it like it is; full of passion, powerlessness, perseverance and hope.
This personal journey includes a search for love and efforts to establish a new life while exploring one of the most beautiful and fascinating countries in the world. It examines French culture and difficulties faced by non-European Union immigrants. Follow Frances's journey along a life-changing path where the true destination is unknown.
This book contains numerous photographs. Photographs appearing in the paperback version are in black and white. Readers with Kindle devices capable of color will enjoy these in full color. A book for dreamers, travelers, romantics, immigrants, women, life-changers and other adventurers.
Paperback, 322 pages
Published
June 3rd 2014
by Createspace
Kristine's Thoughts:
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
This book didn't wow me as much as I thought it would. I was expecting an uplifting story of courage and satisfaction but instead I found it to be slow at times, depressing and quite negative. Considering France is the authors passion and true destiny, she paints a very dreary and negative picture of the people and place she loves.
Her descriptions of the places that she visits are quite beautiful but her experiences are anything but. Instead of inspiring people to follow their dreams I fear that this book will do quite the opposite with its long list of poor luck. I by no means want to minimise the authors experiences and struggles to fulfill her dream. If nothing else, the book does prove her strong determination and will to succeed. I guess I was just hoping for a little more happy or even some happy within the pages but I couldn't really find any.
About the Author
Frances Lawson is a direct descendent of the Libeau family, one of the original French families who left Rochefort , France in 1840 to found a colony in Akaroa, New Zealand. She remains passionate about her French origins and would like to become a French citizen.
A past contributor to New Zealand Geographic she is author of the popular blog To the Ends of the Earth. When she's not writing she's teaching English , taking photographs, gardening or adding to her bucket list.
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