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| Spotted in France: A Dog's Life...On the Road | 
 enlarge | Author: Gregory Edmont
Publisher: The Lyons Press
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $0.01
You Save: $19.94 (100%)
New (23) Used (33) Collectible (3) from $0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 934686
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.6 x 1
ISBN: 1592281478
Dewey Decimal Number: 914.40484
EAN: 9781592281473
ASIN: 1592281478
Publication Date: September 1, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New!! 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 14 | | NEXT » |
 A dog lovers must read July 27, 2007
This is a funny and warm hearted book that you'll never want to end. It's for anyone who loves animals or just needs a fun vacation.
Great Book! A must read for anyone who loves french food, dogs and travel. July 13, 2007
I really loved this book. I even sent a copy to my 65 year old father and he loved it as well.
Dogs and France -- what a wonderful combination! January 9, 2007
I LOVED this book. Charming, sweet but not sticky -- delightful. I fell in love with the people and the animals -- and Edmont's descriptions of France were perfect. All I wanted to do was call Air France and book a ticket. Fortunately, I am going back in August, so -- guess I can wait -- but this is a lovely book. Enjoy!
 There is no need to change these spots October 12, 2006
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (9/06)
Gregory Edmont's "Spotted in France" is an utterly charming and heartwarming story of an American living a very average life in Paris, until he gets a dog. Then his life changes in a number of ways and the author discovers that most French are not snotty - the way he used to think of them - but rather shy. And owning a dog (or is it sharing his life with a dog?) shows him an utterly different picture of the French people.
All of a sudden Gregory and his charming Dalmatian, JP, belong. They are insiders and not visitors. People are friendlier, everybody smiles and Gregory's life seems to be magically transformed. Then adventure beckons - JP is needed in Provence by his old breeder, Madame Clix. A young Dalmatian lady, Flirt, needs a "husband" and JP is chosen to sire her next litter. So Gregory and JP embark on a truly fantastic journey across France all the way JP's birthplace. And what a journey this turns out to be! To start, they are going to do it on a Vespa - the cute Italian scooter. This immediately creates problems with the police - are Dalmatians allowed to ride on a scooter? The journey is exhilarating and often quite funny. Gregory decided to combine frugal sleeping quarters and lavish restaurants on the way to Madame Clix's domain. They meet all kinds of interesting people, including a very hospitable farmer's family, a coven of modern day witches (which conveniently includes a scooter mechanic), a rather unconventional Catholic priest and more.
Once safe with Madame Clix another adventure begins. JP has never "courted" before. How will he perform? Does he need help? A visit to a rather peculiar veterinary clinic in nearby Marseille turns out very strangely. The first encounter with Flirt is disappointing. Will love happen at all?
I do not want to spoil your fun with this uplifting story, so you'll have to read it yourself to find the answer to this particular question. Suffice to say that things are never quite as simple as they seem and there is always a bit of surprise and suspense to keep the story flowing.
Gregory Edmont spins a good tale. His writing is straightforward and honest. His comments on France and French are refreshing and candid. He is very observant and his characters well drawn. One truly longs to find out more about so many of them. I'd love to see a sequel - or two - to this book. The accompanying drawings by Mark Reyes are very much in tune with the story and they complement it in the best possible way.
This is a book that should appeal to most anybody. If you are an animal lover, JP should become one of your favorite characters ever. If you are a travel buff, you'll find this a well written travel tale. A foodie will enjoy the descriptions of multi-course meals at Michelin starred restaurants. A nature lover should be enchanted by the descriptions of the areas Gregory and JP drove through - and even more so of the special cabbage patch. A romantic will find this to be an enchanting love story. And anybody else will find plenty of things to learn from this story. As for me, "Spotted in France" made me look forward to my next trip to France even more.
Great summer read for dog lovers April 25, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I picked this book up at a reading the author gave at a nearby Vespa dealer. It was the perfect format for the book -- JP (the dog) and his progeny were there to mug for fans, while gleeming Vespas, an engaging author, and tasty French appetizers set the mood.
Once I got out of that showcase and actually sat down to read the book, I was thoroughly impressed. It's a quick, light read -- a great summer book if you're looking for something to take on vacation. All of the essential elements of a good travel story --a narrator you care about, a dog you can't help but admire, beautiful landscapes to make you wish for your own French vacation, and an endless parade of characters to keep you chuckling along. If you've read the current bestseller Marlee & Me, and are looking for something in the same vein, then Congrats! You just found it with Spotted in France.
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