French Like Moi

“I laughed until my sides hurt at Carpenter’s lighthearted and self-deprecating take on living in l’Hexagone.” —Kimberley Lovato, author of Walnut Wine & Truffle Groves

When Scott Carpenter moves from Minnesota to Paris, little does he suspect the dramas that await: scheming neighbors, police denunciations, surly demonstrators, cooking disasters, medical mishaps—not to mention all those lectures about cheese! It turns out that nothing in the City of Light can be taken for granted, where even trips to the grocery store lead to adventure.

Everything is grist for Carpenter’s mill. In eighteen tales, he lifts the curtain on what passes for normal in Europe’s most glorious capital: neighbors who plot to murder one another, hiccups in transportation, bizarre store exchange policies, operatic dramas in the condo association, healthcare à la française, underground labyrinths, and even terrorism. In the company of a cast of recurring characters, he leads us through the merry labyrinth of the everyday, one hilarious faux pas after another. Through it all, Carpenter, winner of Mark Twain House Royal Nonesuch Prize for humor, keeps his eye on the central mystery of what makes the French French (and Midwesterners Midwestern).

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Listen to a sample from the audiobook: “City of Light Bulbs” read by the author.

Read the Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Foreword Reviews
Midwest Book Review

Praise for French Like Moi

“In this funny memoir, Carpenter has a knack for turning potential catastrophes into comedy. Readers will find plenty to appreciate in his sharp take on expat life.” —Publishers Weekly

“A delightful read…essays filled with levity and grace. A winning and witty collection offering humor and insight into the French way of life.” —Kirkus Reviews

“French Like Moi tours the everyday Paris that’s found away from Eiffel Tower tourism. With an entertaining guide at the helm, bon mots and corny puns find a home alongside solid timing, curious anecdotes, and self-aware mocking. This quirky travel memoir uncovers lesser-known facets with verve.” —Foreword Reviews, Editor’s Pick, five-star review

“Carpenter captures the ironies, oddities, and attractions of the French capital in a way few writers have achieved—which is saying a lot, considering how many have tried their hand at conjuring the City of Light…. French Like Moi is a delightful romp through French life and Midwestern sensibilities, all combined in one compelling story.” —Midwest Book Review

“Loaded with lacerating wit and trenchant but tender observations, Scott Carpenter’s French Like Moi is also a true original: a serious memoir that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is this humility that gives Carpenter’s book its undeniable strength—that, and his vivid, often hilarious storytelling.” —Marcia DeSanctis, New York Times bestselling author of 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go

“The most delightful and delicious form of escapism—smart, kind, funny and (best of all!) French. Perfect for Francophiles and dreamers alike.” —K. S. R. Burns, author of The Paris Effect and Paris Ever After

“I’ve read dozens of personal Paris memoirs over the past two decades living in France, so I know how rare it is for books in this genre to achieve the trifecta of being well-written, humorous, and original in their musings. Scott Dominic Carpenter’s French Like Moi is not only full of spot-on cultural observations and the laugh-out-loud-yet-self-deprecating humor Minnesotans do so well, it’s also beautifully written with a timeless literary flair sorely missing in these days of the Paris-blog-to-book factory.” —Heather Stimmler-Hall, author of Naughty Paris, and editor of the Secrets of Paris website.

“Sit back with a croissant and an espresso—or better yet, du vin et du fromage—and treat yourself to the delights and dilemmas of being a Midwesterner in Paris. Reading Scott Carpenter’s tales of life in the French capital will make you laugh, marvel, and daydream about amping up the adventure in your own life. Merci Monsieur Carpenter!” —Lorna Landvik, author of Chronicles of a Radical Hag

“In this literary tango between Paris and the Midwest, Carpenter captures the ironies, oddities, and attractions of the French capital in a way few writers have achieved—which is saying a lot, considering how many have tried their hand at conjuring the City of Light…. A delightful romp.” —D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review

“Hilarious! Five Stars.” —Readers’ Favorite

“Deeply French but also deeply Midwestern—and thus rather perfect.” —Alethea Black, author of I Knew You’d Be Lovely

“As a perpetual student of French, homeowner in France, and eternally bewildered at the nuanced and deep cultural differences between our two countries, I laughed until my sides hurt at Carpenter’s lighthearted and self-deprecating take on living in l’Hexagone. Of course Paris is a main character in his tale and the place where, in his words, ‘it all goes down.’ Ultimately, however, the city is the object of his heart-stopping, unwavering love. For loyal lovers of Paris and France, and anyone who’s moved abroad or is thinking about it, French Like Moi is a jovial reminder to pack your patience and your dictionary, and gobble up every single, butter-soaked morsel of the journey.” —Kimberley Lovato, author of Walnut Wine & Truffle Groves: Culinary Adventures in the Dordogne