Eight Months in Provence: A Junior Year Abroad 30 Years Late Paperback – July 5, 2016

I purchased this book last summer and just read it this past weekend. It's a short book and being a slow reader it took me the entire weekend to savor each page . A fun, thought-provoking, light summer read - with a deep, meaningful message.I highly recommend this book. The author is genuine in her writing and the telling of her adventure in France brought a smile to my face. I don't want to spoil the book with details so I'll just say...Read It!

This is the story of a woman who fell in love with the French language as a child and planned to spend a year abroad while in college but due to circumstances (I don't want to be too specific here and give away part of the story) wasn't able to go. Thirty years later she decides its always been her dream to live in France, so she goes. This is a novel plot, setting this book apart from so many adult-abroad stories where someone buys a vacation home or moves permanently. And it does take a lot of courage to just pick up and go to another country. Kids studying abroad have housing arranged, school during the day, and are among lots of others their own age.But I found this book less satisfying than I hoped (really a 3.5 star rating) for two reasons. First is the relative brevity of the book and many accounts in it. The book is written in a chronological order with mostly short chapters, some organized around months. January, 8 pages. February, 6 pages. Certainly there was more to be said? Among other pursuits the author has done freelance writing so she is very good at capturing a scene or an encounter. They really are a joy to read. But for example she'll bring up a trip with a friend and after a few pages when you're hooked on the story, they've found the right trains to that charming village, the account abruptly ends in a few more sentences.The 2nd reason I downgrade my rating a bit is the self-affirmation tone, especially present in the first part of the book. The end of each chapter almost felt like a written form of that Saturday Nite Live skit "I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!" I understand that the author had a strained relationship with her mother, and Lord knows it takes courage to go off alone to a small village in France. On the one hand it is her story and I'm sure this is the way she experienced it and its meaning. So for those looking for a book heavy in metaphor and meaning they can apply to their own life, for encouragement to make a change or take a chance, this may be a great read. But for those looking for a story without a generous serving of affirmation psychology they may find too much of the latter and not enough of the former.

This book offers a gentle reminder that you're never too aged to move in the directions of your dreams. And this memoir also reminds us: our dreams and our baggage (of the past) can be resolved in tandem. Too often, we are told that we must heal our wounds before embarking on an adventure. This and "you're too old" are lies we must ignore.

I finished this book in tears–tears of joy and tears of being so deeply touched by Diane’s example of living your dream. Whatever your dream is, Diane's story will awaken it.I too had a desire to do my junior year abroad in France that never played out and after this read, I am more inspired than ever, at 71, to make my dream become a reality. I felt as if I were right there with Diane decorating her apartment, sitting at the cafes, waiting to begin thinking in French, and struggling to explain visually what she needed without the correct French word.I loved the little bits of French woven into each chapter and the metaphor of "following the dots“ as a way to know what steps to take next in this adventure. The theme of “believe in yourself, croire en soi" was powerfully demonstrated by Diane herself. If you have a dream–and who doesn’t, don't miss this fabulous book. Linda Neeb, fellow Francophile

Having missed out on a junior year abroad, Diane instead goes to (mainly) Aix-en-Provence for 8 months at the age of fifty. She manages to find -- lucky woman! -- just the right apartment, and does what all tourists should do -- she walks. She talks too -- working very hard on her French language skills. Anyone who have tried will know French is very hard to master, indeed almost impossible, unless you live there for a long time! We learn about her life journey so far, which has not exactly been strewn with roses. The book is more an inward-looking journey, and not much happens during the eight months, unless one counts her pleasures -- the markets, the food, the visits from friends and family, and the friendliness of new French friends. Here and there she tends to concentrate a little too much on her own emotions, feelings and sadnesses. Yet I really enjoyed this book, and liked reading how she becomes a much stronger woman due to being all on her own, and also coming to terms with certain family problems, most notably her difficulties with her mother.Here and there are a few small mistakes, which could purely be typo's which were not corrected. A perfectly pleasant book for Francophiles.

About a two hour read. I will pass it on to my daughter, who did her junior year in Paris. I think that she will have empathy for the emotional and language journeys. I was looking for more about the life style of the French and Aix.

I am currently into the second day of reading this book and truly do not want it to end. The author’s courage to fulfill her lifetime dream is commendable and brave. And while she was able to overcome guilt leaving her sister with cancer in California I still liked her! Sometimes we allow our guilt to overtake our lives. It has made me seriously consider how I live out the rest of my life. Yes, it is possible to be a loving sister, daughter, mother and still take care of our own souls. is an excellent read.

Wow!! I lOVED THIS BOOK! My middle-age self always wanted to live in Paris in my 20’s, but like the author, didn’t get the chance. The book was very relatable. I loved that the writer got to live her dream, and learn so much about herself in the process, she realizes what we know as her readers that she is a brave and smart woman! Provence is my next vacation destination and reading all about this woman’s first-hand experience of visiting and living there was delightful, entertaining, and useful! BRAVO!!!

Agréable, mais ne nous apprend rien. Vin, fromage, pain, pain, fromage, vin...

Any author who can make me feel I am in France with them is perfect for me! Totally lost myself in the memories of past travels

Charming story. I would love to have such an experience.Easy to read, but I didn't want the story to end.

Wonderful!! I can't wait to travel.