Rating:  Summary: An enjoyable, entertaining romp! Review: A book like this doesn't ask to be taken TOO seriously, so I didn't -- and I truly enjoyed it. The author is obviously interested in the "mythology" of the French -- as well as their passion for beauty, art, good food, and the pleasures of living well.There are some interesing bits of history laced throughout the text, including stories of infamous femme fatales, which made it fun to read. (I am not sure how well-researched these were, or where they came from, as there is little documentation here.)The way I read it, the book is more or less a long, entertaining essay on the allure of French women -- not an historic treatise and certainly not an insult to American women. The author herself is clearly writing as an American, with American perspective. With so few books available on this topic, I found this one a pleasant diversion.
Rating:  Summary: An enjoyable, entertaining romp! Review: A book like this doesn't ask to be taken TOO seriously, so I didn't -- and I truly enjoyed it. The author is obviously interested in the "mythology" of the French -- as well as their passion for beauty, art, good food, and the pleasures of living well. There are some interesing bits of history laced throughout the text, including stories of infamous femme fatales, which made it fun to read. (I am not sure how well-researched these were, or where they came from, as there is little documentation here.)The way I read it, the book is more or less a long, entertaining essay on the allure of French women -- not an historic treatise and certainly not an insult to American women. The author herself is clearly writing as an American, with American perspective. With so few books available on this topic, I found this one a pleasant diversion.
Rating:  Summary: An enjoyable, entertaining romp! Review: As a Paris traveler I was able to watch the average Parisian women & I was impressed with their confidence and the way they handled their men. We can learn lessons from them. When I found this book after not buying it in France I was elated and pleased with the fast shipping & emails. Thanks a million!
Rating:  Summary: Exciting French Women Review: As a Paris traveler I was able to watch the average Parisian women & I was impressed with their confidence and the way they handled their men. We can learn lessons from them. When I found this book after not buying it in France I was elated and pleased with the fast shipping & emails. Thanks a million!
Rating:  Summary: Another wonderful find Review: Being a ravenous reader with an all-consuming hunger for books, I was attracted to this title reading the brief descriptions and reviews. ...... A trip to my local super-bookstore convinced me "Fatale: How French Women Do It" was worth every cent of the $$$$$ cover price. Edith Kuntz revals French Woman, historical and modern without being textbook dry or raunchy. Reading about Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of Henri II summoned up fond memories of a long ago visit to the castle she shared with the monarch. Besides being mind candy, the layout and graphics provide a feast for the eyes. The cover features a rounded, glorious fenale who brings to mind the young Cecile in the film "Valmont". Inside paintings, sketches and photographs along with quotes draw the eye away from the main text without being annoying. Read once for the main text and then savor again for the sides.
Rating:  Summary: Another wonderful find Review: Being a ravenous reader with an all-consuming hunger for books, I was attracted to this title reading the brief descriptions and reviews. ...... A trip to my local super-bookstore convinced me "Fatale: How French Women Do It" was worth every cent of the $$$$$ cover price. Edith Kuntz revals French Woman, historical and modern without being textbook dry or raunchy. Reading about Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of Henri II summoned up fond memories of a long ago visit to the castle she shared with the monarch. Besides being mind candy, the layout and graphics provide a feast for the eyes. The cover features a rounded, glorious fenale who brings to mind the young Cecile in the film "Valmont". Inside paintings, sketches and photographs along with quotes draw the eye away from the main text without being annoying. Read once for the main text and then savor again for the sides.
Rating:  Summary: Fascinating French Review: Fantastic book on the elusive french female-you need only travel to France & especially Paris and witness the love everywhere-fondess in the eyes of their men.
Rating:  Summary: For amateurs only Review: Having traveled, studied, worked, and dated in France over the last 15 years, I have become fascinated by the sometimes vast cultural differences that separate American and French women, which was why I was so excited to read "Fatale.." However, this book falls far short of its goal to explain the mystique of the french woman. Disappointinly, this book is clearly written from an outsider's point of view...as if the research were done by surfing the internet for other francophile sites and visiting the card catalog of the local library. It is a view of the French female psyche that is 3 times removed from reality, and is merely a perpetuation of every stereotype ever put forth about their allure, without the sociological explanation and background that would actually make this a worthwhile read. There is very little new or groundbreaking in this book; much better are Polly Platt's "French or Foe," or even the now famous "Le Divorce" by Diane Johnson. And if you purchased this book to bring a little of the french "mystique" into your life, you would be much better buying a copy of Cosmopolitan and a round trip ticket to Paris.
Rating:  Summary: Repetitive and disjointed Review: Not as good as "Entre Nous" - less fun and more acedemic. But even then it is not a well written essay. The few good salient points are repeated too often, and with not much creativity or development.
Rating:  Summary: Repetitive and disjointed Review: Not as good as "Entre Nous" - less fun and more acedemic. But even then it is not a well written essay. The few good salient points are repeated too often, and with not much creativity or development.
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