Memoir · 2020 · Travelers' Tales / Solas House
French Like Moi
A Midwesterner in Paris
Next Generation Indie Book Prize
Paris-American Library Award — HM
Midwest Bookstore Bestseller
IPPY Award — Bronze
Forward Indies Finalist
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.
In French Like Moi, Carpenter guides us through the merry labyrinth of the everyday, one hilarious faux pas after another, keeping his eye on the central mystery of what makes the French French — and Midwesterners Midwestern.
Praise & Reviews
“Many entertaining anecdotes and worthy observations about French and American culture...Carpenter's droll take keeps the reader chuckling.” — Minneapolis StarTribune
“Thanks to Scott Carpenter’s funny new book...we can experience day-to-day life in a condo that is not in the fancy part of the city. Grab a drink, head to a cool place and meet a delightful cast of Parisians.” — Twin Cities Pioneer Press
"A delightful read...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 the Eiffel Tower’s 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.
“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
"Hilarious... 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... French Like Moi is a delightful romp through French life and Midwestern sensibilities, all combined in one compelling story." — Midwest Book Review
“Carpenter shares hilarious faux pas and cultural differences, reading with a deadpan, self-deprecating, understated tone. An affectionate, insider’s look at French culture.” — Booklist, Audiobook
"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
"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."— Travelers' Tales
"Through it all, he keeps his eye on the central mystery of what makes the French French and Midwesterners Midwestern — and finds no satisfying answer, which is somehow entirely satisfying."— Midwest Booksellers Association