Book review of C'est La Folie by Michael Wright

C'est La Folie is the first book in the French adventures of Michael Wright who wanted to escape from the comforts of his life in London and move to France ‘to be brave and become a hero’. The book is an easy and engaging read as he takes us with him on the house hunting, preparations and the all-important settling in stages of his new life in France.

I think he was actually braver than he thought. As well as throwing himself into a move abroad alone (except for his cat), he is also a pilot (very brave) and flies an old Luscombe plane which he wanted to bring to France too. This led him into integrating in his new community in rather a different way to most of us expats as he had to find his way to being accepted with the club at the local light aircraft hanger. As a man of music rather than religion he also found himself volunteering to play the organ at the local church despite not being ‘one of them’. But topping the bravery list had to be inviting his French friends over to sample his best bachelor English cuisine. Chapeau Michael, you certainly provided lots of entertainment for the reader.

Getting to grips with the dirt of rural living was important to him too and he makes a great friend of a local farmer who is always on hand to help out a city man gone rural. He also writes with great affection for his new companions to his French life, his flock of miniature black sheep and his chickens. He is however missing one major thing in his life, his significant other, his soul mate, someone to share his wonderful view over the Limousin countryside. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read his next instalment Je t'aime à la Folie.

Both of his books are available from Amazon in paperback or ebook format.