Fat Women Don't Get French

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Donna read this French Women Don't Get Fat book and told me she really enjoyed it.

But I have to admit that I'm skeptical.  It's not that I don't trust Donna's opinion, or that I have something against the Frenchies.  It's just that it seems like an advice book, and I don't like taking advice.  From anyone. 

But I was curious about what the general population had to say about the book, especially given our current Freedom Fries political climate.  And what better place to find out what the people think than the Amazon.com user reviews:

From someone who lives in France..., February 8, 2005

Reviewer:

S. Lisa (France) - See all my reviews

Ironically, this book is not published in France (at least not yet), now I wonder why ? Talk about cliché, it sounds like this woman left France in the 1950's and never came back since. I can guarantee you that no more women in this country spend week ends eating leek soup than anywhere else in the world and there is plenty of fast food being consumed here. Though there are perhaps a few less overweight people here than in some other countries, there are still plenty of them and the number is steadily growing. And I certainly wouldn't describe french diet as an ideal to aim at.
One thing that IS UNMISTAKABLY french is the author's ARROGANCE about the superiority of everything french.

Dear S.Lisa,

1.  Obviously, French people don't need lessons on how to be French; so why would the book be published in France?

2..  If French people suck so much, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN FRANCE?

a tasty treat for the mind, January 25, 2005

Reviewer:

Friendly Neighbor "Darryl" (Atlanta, GA)  - See all my reviews

There are indeed many things to be said vis a vis this book, which may indeed be effective at connoting the human condition. However, I must deduct one star for the offensive subtext, for such material is of, in fact, a prurient nature.

Dear Friendly Neighbor "Darryl",

Could you speak American?  And lay off the thesaurus, buddy.

Based on a misconception, January 21, 2005

Reviewer:

Cladinoro (The Eastern States)  - See all my reviews

I'm one of the many people who has wholeheatedly embraced the fashion for Frenchness. Any link to France, however indirect or vague, will always get me in. I love it when people use French words in conversation, or insist upon the inherent superiority of French cuisine. I'm fascinated by people's accounts of their travels in France and Paris (which, despite the ignorance of some, is actually IN France), and really appreciate the fact that people tend to like to recount them at great length. I treat books like "Almost French" almost as my guide to life, having burnt out on Tuscany a while ago, along with everyone else (that's in Italy). My wholehearted embrace of the idea of "France" as a fashion accessory serves me well in the social circles with which I'm acquainted (originally a French word).
This book does a good job of catering to my superficial fascination for all things "a la Francoise", but suffers from one fatal defect. Although I have never been to France or met any French people, I have seen plenty of photos, and from these it can easily be ascertained that, contrary to this book's most prominent claim, there are, in fact, quite a significant number of fat French women. Of course, "fat" itself is not such a vulgar concept in France, where, according to my Francophilic acquaintances, folk prefer to refer to the overweight as "fillesse des osseau grande". It has so much more style in French...
In summary, I give this book a gallic deux stelle.

Cladinoro mon coqueluche,

Doug doesn't think you're for real.  But I know c'est vrai.  Paris is DEFINITELY in France.

We've been had., February  6, 2005

Reviewer:

Evelyn Uyemura "explorer" (Torrance, CA USA)  - See all my reviews

Why is it that here in the USA, we call food that no Frenchwoman would eat "French" fries and "French" toast? I'm guessing they don't eat "French" onion soup with an inch of rubbery cheese either. And they probably don't eat green bean casserole with "French" fried onion ring thingies in and on it as a holiday treat.

Actually I haven't read this book, but I do notice that most people in most countries, except maybe Samoa, are in better shape than most of us. Perhaps we ought to finally figure out why.

Dear Evelyn "explorer",

First of all, frites, pain perdu, onion soup with gruyere -- hate to tell you, but plenty of French women eat those things. 

Secondly, I'd lay off the Samoans if I were you, girl.  You got a death wish or something?

Yet Another Failure for the Behemoth, February 10, 2005

Reviewer:

Hoppy Doppelrocket (Atlanta, GA)  - See all my reviews

I spent quite a bit of time with some elegant (albeit hairy and smelly) French ladies during my floating phase back in the glorious '70s. The gals were slim and were rather fond of eating for pleasure. A steady diet of Young Hops kept those darling putains Scarlett O'hara thin. There is no mention of the Hopperoo diet in this book.

There is a lot of advice on enjoying what you eat (here! here!) and repetetive pourparlers about how the clever and capon Frenchies avoid obesity. I suspect some of this is all the running away that they do, but this is also neglected in Guiliano's otherwise wonderful book.

Nevertheless, I purchased this philisophical/diet book for my baboonish bride Bessie in a desperate attempt to help her lose some of her excess tonnage or at the very least, enjoy the eating while she's not losing it. Well, you guessed it: Failure number 371. She's bigger than ever and has stopped shaving her armpits. Another losing effort for your truly. But some pleasant memories of my French fugue. A worthy attempt, but unable to do the impossible.

Dear Hoppy,

Have you met our Friendly Neighbor "Darryl"?  I think you'd really get along.

Nothing New Here-but don't shot the messenger, February  9, 2005

Reviewer:

Karen A. Lake (Coldwater, MI United States)  - See all my reviews

There is nothing new in this book-the author cites the usual use of fruits, vegetables, taking your time eating, drinking water and exercising as ways that the French stay slim. She also annoying names all the exotic types of fruits and vegetables (including 4-5 types of plums) available fresh to her at the Paris outdoor market. Just try finding some of those things at your local supermarket! If I was the CEO of a champagne firm and lived in NYC and Paris, I could do my shopping at some of those markets, too. I did find her voice and accent very pleasant to listen to, but that was about it.

Dear Karen,

Um, I think that the CEO of Veuve Clicquot probably is as busy as you are, unless a CEO's job description has changed since last time I checked.  And actually, I did a little research and there are plenty of fruit orchards in Southwestern Michigan, near your little town of Coldwater.  I'll bet there are at least two or three different kinds of plums available during the height of the season.  So why don't you get off your fat ass and stop complaining?

So, having read those reviews, will I be reading the book?  Yes.  If Donna sends me her copy, I will read it.  Et pour quoi non?    It's much easier to talk schmack from the pedestal of experience.