A deceptively funny memoir about the most fraught topics: integration, learning, language, and identity in France. The narrator's hilarious adventures take us deep into hitherto unexplored territory. A gem. ( )

A tragicomedy about an Anglophone's gut-wrenching adventure through competitive examination (l'agrégation) preps at the Sorbonne. Successfully passing the exam is a prerequisite for teaching (English in this case) in the French educational system. As an American-born, twenty year French citizen, the author finds herself (as do her non-native French peers) challenged by a system bent on preserving a very French status quo; a status quo that is demonstrably ineffective at turning out capable English speakers, relative to other European nations. An interesting perspective on cross cultural friction and the spectrum of tolerance versus accommodation versus true integration in a multi ethnic society. ( )

Horribly funny and true. ( )

Enjoyable in a appalling sort of way -- a fairly good satire of an antiquated educational system (hopefully at least somewhat exaggerated -- if not, I really fear for the French). As another reviewer mentioned, there was no bio included with the Early Reviewer copy, and I would've loved to know more about the author and how much she did manage to find out about the system. I'd also like to try the original in French someday. ( )

There were moments when this book made me laugh out loud, and then moments when I found the narrator unsympathetic and a bit of a whinger (!) This was a shame as the basic premise was excellent and to have kept a consistent light touch would have made the comments that were being made about the French education system much more telling. ( )