{"product_id":"ill-never-be-french-no-matter-what-i-do-living-in-a-small-village-in-brittany-9781416586951","title":"I'll Never Be French (No Matter What I Do): Living in a Small Village in Brittany","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn a story that stands above the throngs of travel memoirs, full of gorgeous descriptions of Brittany and at times hysterical encounters with the locals, Mark Greenside describes his initially reluctant travels in this \"heartwarming story\" (\u003ci\u003eSan Francisco Chronicle\u003c\/i\u003e) where he discovers a second life.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen Mark Greenside--a native New Yorker living in California, political lefty, writer, and lifelong skeptic--is dragged by his girlfriend to a tiny Celtic village in Brittany at the westernmost edge of France in Finistère, or what he describes as \"the end of the world,\" his life begins to change. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In a playful, headlong style, and with enormous affection for the Bretons, Greenside shares how he makes a life for himself in a country where he doesn't speak the language or understand the culture. He gradually places his trust in the villagers he encounters--neighbors, workers, acquaintances--and he's consistently won over and surprised as he manages to survive day-to-day trials. From opening a bank account and buying a house to removing a beehive from the chimney, he begins to learn the cultural ropes, live among his neighbors, and make new friends. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eUntil he came to this town, Greenside was lost, moving through life without a plan, already in his 40s with little money and no house. He lived as a skeptic who seldom trusts others and has an inclination to be alone. So when he settles into the rhythm of this new French culture--against the backdrop of Brittany's streets surrounded by gorgeous architecture and breathtaking landscapes--not only does he find a home and meaningful relationships in this French countryside, he finds himself. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003eI'll Never Be French (no matter what I do)\u003c\/i\u003e is both a new beginning and a homecoming for Greenside. It is a memoir about fitting in, not standing out; being part of something larger, not being separate from it; following, not leading. It explores the joys and adventures of living a double life. He has never regretted his journey and, as he advises to those searching for their next adventure, neither will you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMark Greenside holds B.S. and M.A. degrees from the University of Wisconsin. He has been a civil rights activist, Vietnam War protester, anti-draft counselor, Vista Volunteer, union leader, and college professor. His stories have appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe Sun\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Literary Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCimarron Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Nebraska Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBeloit Fiction Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe New Laurel Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCrosscurrents\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eFive Fingers Review\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Long Story\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as other journals and magazines, and he is the author of the short story collection, \u003ci\u003eI Saw a Man Hit His Wife\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as \u003ci\u003eThe Night at the End of the Tunnel Or Isaiah Can You See? \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003e(Not Quite) Mastering the Art of French Living\u003c\/i\u003e. He presently lives in Alameda, California, where he continues to teach and be politically active, and Brittany, France, where he still can't do anything without asking for help.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Atria Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51705346556178,"sku":"9781416586951","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_57f11ecd-1905-46c6-9b48-c5b27f1618ed.jpg?v=1762345946","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/ill-never-be-french-no-matter-what-i-do-living-in-a-small-village-in-brittany-9781416586951","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}