The House In France A Memoir (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
Considered abandoning this book about halfway through and am glad I didn't. For a good portion of its 300+ pages, I really disliked all the people in this memoir, including the author, Gully Wells. They all came off as brilliant but self-absorbed. No matter how many adjectives Wells used to try to infuse some charm into her family members, friends, and lovers, it didn't wash. They mostly seemed pretty awful. And the ones who weren't awful were kind of sad. But the last third of the book was actually quite lovely. Not surprisingly, this editor for Conde Nast Travel has a superb eye (and ear) for the telling detail in talking about the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Her prose has a distinctive voice and she's wry and witty. And any book that so lovingly details the glories of Provence is worth the time, in my view. First off, this isn't about fixing up a house in France which I admit was the reason I chose it. Second, it is very well written but intensely detailed, to me, to the point of frustration with some of the "characters" I didn't know who anyone was but I did enjoy learning about them. I did think the authors intense love for her extremely adulterous step father was odd, no matter how wonderful he may have been he was a dirty old man to the extreme. No thanks, deal breaker for me. I did finish the book though which is rare for me considering it was only a 3 star read in my opinion.
What do You think about The House In France A Memoir (2011)?
It tries to be all breezy, witty and smart but I was not amused. Gave up after the 1st disc.
—chris
Interesting famous family with lots of drama and the south of France...what could be better?!
—Qiu
BORING! Didn't quite finish it because I was so tired of reading it....
—winston13
