Newspaper Review by June Sawyer:
Savoir-Flair,
211 Tips for Enjoying France and the French

Ms. Sawyer's review:

Polly Platt is out to prove once and for all just how wonderful the French really are. A companion to Platt's best-selling French or Foe?, Savoir-Flair is about "being" in the French sense. It's also a how-to book of mastering the French sense of time. Since everything in France takes longer -- from making a phone call to making friends -- Platt advises that visitors learn to adapt to the Gallic rhythms.

"Knowing how and knowing where, about the things you might do in France and how to do them smoothly," she says. It's about the basics and about the unexpected. "France is a very old country," she offers, "always changing, yet, like a river, always recognizably the same. Knowing the rules is a basic part of feeling comfortable."

The French think differently, says Platt -- about everything. The book is full of tips on how to act well in France, and peppered with anecdotes, both good and bad, from travelers. Consider some of the tips:

"A shop not serving food doesn't have public toilettes," or, in a similar vein, "Shut the W.C. door (after using it) in a private house, if you want to be invited back." (Platt points out that leaving the bathroom door open is a cultural taboo, "like blowing your nose in a napkin.")

Women get their own specific tip: "On the Metro, keep your eyes on your book or expect a kiss."

In addition, Platt includes tips on dining out, on driving and on the French love affair with dogs. (France is one of the few countries in the world where furry creatures can sometimes get better service than their human masters.)

Is it worth all the hassle, all the effort of committing to memory the appropriate gestures and responses?

Absolutely, says Platt.


Back to Savoir Flair Reviews     To next review