Sarah Turnbull (1)Reviews

Sarah Turnbull, Australian TV reporter, took a year off to explore Europe as a freelance journalist and experience various cultures. She started in Romania where she had an offer to work on a documentary film. While there she met a French lawyer, there on business. They hit it off and he invited her to Paris. After several phone conversations and her project finished she headed to Paris. She scheduled an Australian girlfriend, living in London to visit her in Paris after 5 days to give her and Frederic an out, should either need it. But Paris and Frederic pulled her in. The week stretched to 4 and then a decision was made.
Sarah went off to continue her travels through England, Greece, Istanbul and back to Romania, where some final editing on the film was done. But Frederic and Paris were pulling her and she decided that the relationship was worth making a move to Paris. So begins a journey to understand and adapt to French culture.
Sarah relates her gaffs, her insecurities and her efforts to fit in, sometimes over analyzing what her problems are. Frederic proves to be supportive and informative, but confused about some of the things that she perceives as problems. Although at times, I didn't understand her generalizations about the French culture, based on the instances she uses to explain them, I was able to understand her point. Gradually she learns to pick the things she needs to adjust to and not stress the rest. Frederic also makes changes to build on the relationship. Enjoyable read.

This explained so much of my experience in France. Just what I needed, just the right time! Now I will go and imagine that I'm a chair... :)

Edit: I just read what some other people thought of the book and I was surprised that so many people disliked it. I get if you don't like the writing style, but the other major criticism seemed to be that we don't see the love story between Sarah & Frédéric. I guess it was advertised that way. For me, it wasn't about their love story but the relationship between Sarah and France. And yes, I've had so many similar experiences! And I love the way, even though frustrating at times, she does adjust to France and makes it her home. Also, I felt that the whole living between two countries came across really well. And the way she's not French, but she's not really Australian anymore either.

Always hard when you develop a dislike for the author early into an autobiography. Probably not fair, but I won't be reading this again. It was only half way into the book that it developed any clear theme.½

Vary enjoyable autobiography of Sarah Turnbull who went to live in Paris with Parisian Frederick after a brief encounter, and the ongoing difficulties she (and he) encountered coming to grips with differences between Australian and French (Parisian) attitudes to life.½

I really enjoyed this -- it lived up to its description. The one episode I remember in particular was when she was heading out for a quick trip to the bakery to pick up a baguette wearing sweats, and her husband commented on it. When she told him it was just to run out to the bakery he said, "But it's not very nice for the baker." Cute story, but what an interesting perspective. We tend to think of looking nice as typically being an expression of vanity, but for Parisians it's in consideration for all the people who have to share a space with you. And when you think about how deflating it is, in a way, to be out amongst a bunch of people dressed like slobs (think Walmart), you wonder why more cultures don't take this attitude.

Loved it!

An Australian woman falls for a French man and moves to Paris to be with him. Her adventures in learning about and dealing with French Culture.

This is a lovely, very personal, easy read about Turnbull's trials and tribulations as an Australian immigrant to France. Western countries shares many similarities, but it's in the small things that sensibilities can clash: order of dinner courses, subtleties in manner, gender roles, civilities, taboos are just some of the things that can become an unpredictable source of conflict.
Chapter by chapter, Turnbull looks at the obstacles that she had to overcome, some of the ways in which she was able to adapt and others in which she decided "to clash", as the prerogative of being an outsider. All of her experiences ring very true and I've had similar observations and reactions, playing on my two nationalities or sometimes simply forgetting some of the intricacies of French living.
Although Australian, I think this book will resonate with Americans and Canadian alike, having similar roots.
I always enjoy seeing my other country through other eyes to get another reflection of how we are perceived.

This book was beautifully written- the reader dives with Sarah, swims laps in the lagoon, and
encounters Polynesians and ex-pats in this somewhat isolated world. Her efforts to become pregnant dominate as she and her husband try once again to conceive through IVF. This is both a memoir and a book about place. Tahiti changes Turnbull as she adjusts to the very different
lifestyle that she led in Paris. After reading Almost French and All Good Things I look forward
to reading more of Sarah's keen observations of place, animals and people.

Sarah Turnbull is such a great writer - its there in the way way she describes Tahiti, her relationship with her family, her observations about people and activities and environments. But for me, the sadness she experienced as she was trying to fall pregnant was pervasive and too too often this book read as a personal journal, not a memoir.

I really, really hope she's now working on some fabulous short non fiction pieces because her observations can be profound. Especially liked her observation (paraphrased) that whilst Australians are easy going, we're ferocious on petty rules and she described us as the Swiss of the South Pacific. This is the truth.

All Good Things: From Paris to Tahiti: Life and Longing by Sarah Turnbull is a book given me by the Early Reviewer program. I don't know why it took me so long to read it, but probably I can chalk it up to eye surgery and recovery. My reading was definitely on and off this year. Selling my house and moving back to my "manufactured home" might have been at fault also.

She wrote Almost French also which I did read and enjoyed. I think I'm a little put off by what might be termed "rich people writing memoirs as if they were literature"..... and in both this book and the earlier one I did find spots where I felt ennui of reading about her "hard life in Paris, and Tahiti".

But she does write well, and I was curious about her life (which I'd love to try to live), so I carried on; and then, she did a switcheroo on me and began to plumb the depths of a personal challenge. I do not want to spoil the book for someone who might like to read it, but I was converted. I began to like Sarah, and care about how her life was turning out. So, I think I'll give her four stars and suggest people who liked Eat, Drink, Pray* will like this book.

*what was the name of that book??? I obviously have remembered the wrong title.

ETA: ha ha ha The book is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I read this book while visiting my (Australian) cousin Ana, who lived in Paris with her French husband. I myself was on exchange at the time and this book was perfect reading at the time, when we were relating and comparing our experiences with France.

I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for a review. This book is a combination of travelogue, memoire, and history. If you like travelogues, you will like this book. The author describes Tahiti in very vivid and beautiful language, immersing the reader in the feeling and beauty of the islands. Swimming in the balmy lagoon and drift diving are described in rich and vibrant scenes. The author relates some of Tahiti’s history and, of more interest, stories of some of the famous painters who visited: Matisse and Gauguin. One learns of the warmth of the Tahitian people and a little of their customs, picking vanilla, family meals, and of the tensions in Tahiti between the traditional ways and modern ways introduced by the French. The saddest parts of the book were the descriptions of the author’s attempts at conceiving a child through IVF. “The mysterious science of creating new life,” as she described it, was filled with a roller coaster of more despair than hope, of dread and pain and clinical procedures. I kept looking for mention of the love between husband and wife, both emotional and physical, from which a child should be born, but such portrayals were sadly missing. Though there is no question that the child is loved, there is no love in the procedures that generated him. I do recommend this book, but travelogues are not at the top of my favorites list and it’s not one I couldn’t put down.

une bouffé de nostalgie!

This was a good expat story - but not quite up to Almost French, Turnbull's earlier book. This dragged a little at times, and her struggles with infertility read a little too personal at times as well.
A good choice for anyone considering an expat lifestyle.

I received this book through the early reviewers group however received it late do to my travels. I enjoyed it thoroughly! in fact upon completion I immediately downloaded her previous book. My husband is also European, and I spend a fair amount of time in his country with all of his friends without a sufficient command of the language, so maybe I related to this story a little bit more then I might have otherwise. Having been to Tahiti and several of the islands that she mentions I enjoyed imagining myself there and picturing some of her experiences. I found her style engaging and her little vignettes enjoyable. I will certainly seek out her next book.

This book chronicles the author's move from Paris to French Polynesia When her husband is transferred to Tahiti, the couple moved to the island of Mo'orea, a real-world tropical paradise. Much of the culture shock that Turnbull experiences is the sort that one might expect: life is more colorful, time is looser. Turnbull's descriptions are vivid, and I learned a great deal about French Polynesia. Many islands comprise the country, and Turnbull travels quite a bit, exploring the various island groups. I found myself looking at maps and researching the places she visited on the internet, to see photos of the places she described. Some of the Polynesian islands are exceedingly remote- essentially skinny coral rings surrounding large lagoons. The geography is fascinating, and throughout the book I thought quite a bit about what it must be like to live on a small island, out in the middle of the ocean, so far away from large land masses.

Turnbull's time in Polynesia is heavily shaped by her desire to have children and her difficulties conceiving. Even before her move the author had been undergoing fertility treatments. Living on a island blooming with life and color and approaching her fortieth birthday, the desire to conceive looms large.

Location is everything in this book. While it covers three different places (Paris, Polynesia, and Australia), the most interesting parts were most definitely those on the islands. By the time the family had moved to Australia, I found myself getting somewhat bored. The descriptions of Tahiti and the surrounding islands are delightful. That's the reason to read this book.

She is a very good writer, with many wonderful descriptions in the story. But i found myself wanting more dialogue to carry the plot along. I loved her vivid descriptions that made you feel like you were really there. Now I want to read the book that came before this about Paris!

This is a poignant biographical tale of Sarah, as she and her husband are relocated from France to the Polynesian islands. Turnbull is able to vividly recount details of the islands and provide historical accounts of artists and writers who traveled there. It is also a story of longing, mourning, tribulation, and joy. At times the island descriptives are a bit prolonged.

Turnbull's writing is exceptionally vivid and this account of her time spent in Tahiti is no exception. It was engrossing and provided a glimpse into island life, politics, and friendships. Really lovely - a terrific travel writer.

**recieved as an early reviewer**

I really enjoyed this book. It is wonderfully written, including vivid scenes of intersting travels as well as thoughtful insights regarding the author's personal experiences. I read as though I was listening to a friend. The book includes interesting antedates about the culture, history and politics of Tahiti. I can't wait to read what's next!

Having read Almost Paris, I knew that I was in for an entertaining adventure. This is a story about Turnbull and her husband moving to Tahiti. What could be better?

I really enjoyed "All Good Things," a memoir of the author's time in Tahiti with her husband. It was interesting to read about life on an island and I'm always intrigued by stories that take place in areas I have never visited. Part travelogue, part memoir, this book was a delightful read.

I haven't read Almost French, so I didn't know what to expect of All Good Things or of Sarah Turnbull. I found that I was drawn into her story easily- that even though I haven't lived in Tahiti or France or struggled with infertility- I was able to connect with her story on a personal level. I enjoy her writing style because it is sincere. Her word choices are lovely and her descriptions poignant. My favorite quote from the narrative is her description just before heading to Sydney for IVF because it resonates with hope and renewal, "From the beach I watched little whitecaps scutter to shore. The air on my face was fresh. Fingers crossed, it was a lucky wind blowing from the south." A great read.

I had read Sarah Turnbull's previous book, Almost French, and greatly enjoyed it so I was looking forward to her latest about moving from Paris to Tahiti. Tahiti does hold a tropical utopian thrall upon most of the world and Trunbull's description of both the spectacular and the not so spectacular was a fascinating read. The author's honesty about trying to live a life cut off from most of the world, struggling to overcome her writers block and overcoming her fertility issues made this an almost voyeuristic read. At times, I was almost uncomfortable reading about her struggles with infertility but her honest made me realize that the stigma surrounding it is very much alive and well, making her story that much more important. I look forward to reading what she publishes next.