We drive into Boston every Saturday and spend three hours at the French Cultural Center in the Back Bay, Sandra taking an intermediate level French class and Harvey sitting through French for Idiots, despite his total fluency in Boulangerese. The rest of the week is spent in English, however, except for time watching the French cable channel we pay ten dollars a month to Verizon to see. It is a disappointment, though. Too many game shows and not enough French cartoons.
While Sandra reads guidebooks about Alsace and Lorraine, next summer’s cruising grounds, Harvey is contemplating a winter writing project. We’d like your help deciding whether this blog could be the groundwork for a book about our travels in France.
We’d love to get some feedback from those of you who have been reading our blog postings. What are your thoughts on what you’d be interested in reading in a book based on these postings? Tell us what you’ve enjoyed reading about. And what parts you’ve skipped over, or worse. Would you like to read more about barge life, or France in general? Would a book that expands beyond the specifics of barging into more general thoughts on retirement be more interesting? Would you like to know more about the technicalities of finding a barge, maintaining it, learning how to operate it. Or is that part of the story too narrow to entertain you? Would you like to read about how we made the decision to get into this life style, and what steps were taken to make it a reality?
Feel free to post your ideas on the blog itself. Or email Harvey directly through the links on the pages.
We can’t wait to hear from you. Thanks.
Doing the write thing
22 Tuesday Oct 2013
Posted in books about France, france
On a barge in France 
I see you as the next Bill Bryson…but better!
I’ve really enjoyed reading the blog. I enjoy the tone as well. It often gives me a chuckle while other times being very descriptive about thing I know nothing about. There were some posts where I could truly visualize your experience with being a foreigner and adapting to a new culture. I’ve enjoyed reading about the barging, which is a whole separate subject in itself. I am curious how you’ve come to the idea of barging and why France? I would be interested in a compilation of all the subjects you’ve listed. That’s my two cents.
Hi Harvey & Sandra: I think there is a book in there. The two structures that come to mind are the ‘chronicling your adventure’ sort or the ‘Learning the essence of French…the culture, not the language’ or something like that. I think the first method is a little old and tired so maybe the second (or another I have thought of yet). You could have the 10 or whatever number of observations about France and/or the contrast between French & American culture and then tell them in the context of your own experience. The beauty of that approach might be that you already have much of it written. the challenge might be do you have enough written…
I’ll keep thinking on it…which means we need to grab dinner again soon.
Ed
I’ve been following your blog and absolutely LOVE it. There definitely is a book in your adventures!!
For what it’s worth, it would be interesting if you touched on how the lifestyle choice came about, broad anecdotes about buying the barge and then just stories about your every day experiences and observations, they way you have been blogging about them.
Maybe there is more than one book? A traveller’s tales book about your experiences as well as a book on the technicalities of buying and maintaining and living on a barge?
I’d buy both!!
Best of luck!!
Yes, go for it. You have such a talent for writing and we also have thoroughly enjoyed your blogs. I suppose you are aware that loads of people have written about about owning a home in France and several have written about living on a barge. We intended to do the same when we bought Yavanna in 2005 but have only ended up with wonderful diaries to read in the nursing home one day:) I think most people these days understand the character of the French people so I wouldn’t put too much into that part of it. Maybe you could write about the other barge and boat owners you meet along the way only don’t give correct names. One NZ author has done that and offended many people who have bought his book and found themselves negatively mentioned in it. I am a sucker for all these type of books and buy them all. The worst was Narrow dog to Carcassonne. It was about a UK couple that took their greyhounds to the Midi Canal. Great title but too much doggy talk for most people.
I think a lot of people like to buy these types of books because they dream of doing it themselves and if they can’t then they can enjoy it through someone else’s experience.
Max and I cruised the Doubs – Alsace area this summer and loved it. The highlight being taking a Pilot on board for 2 days to do the Rhine River from Strasbourg to Koblenze and then the 2 weeks on the Mosel River in Germany which was stunning. We have left Yavanna in Toul for winter which is very convenient. If you want any ideas Sandra then please email us.
Hello Harvey & Sandra,
As fellow American Dutch barge owners (our paths crossed briefly last fall in Saint-Jean-de-Losne), we have a strong affinity for your blog. It certainly expresses (often quite eloquently) the joys and woes of canal cruising in France. On numerous occasions we have forwarded one of your blogs to friends back home to give them the flavor of our French adventures.
Some posts Nancy and I particularly remember: 1) your rainy spring on the Canal du Centre. (We were just a few kilometers north of you on the Canal de Bourgogne at the time, fortunately without closures, but the same 20 days of continuous rain!)
2) “Springing into Summer” with your description of the French desire to subdue nature (with all the correct accoutrements) and the baguette boxes!
3) Your description of the catapult & trebuchet re-enactment activities.
4) Re-discovering the USA, your list of things to remember when returning to the US.
Obviously, you’d need more than just people like us to sell a bunch of books, but there are plenty of vicarious travelers who would, no doubt, enjoy your little vignettes of life aboard a barge in France. We certainly have received positive feedback from the people to whom we sent your blog.
Looking forward to your next post,
Henry & Nancy
PS: Our 55-ft barge AMAROK is now in Auxerre for the winter. We too, are thinking of heading for Alsace-Lorraine next summer. Perhaps we’ll meet up!
I think you are very gifted with writing stories. I mostly enjoyed reading about the various provinces–their similarities and differences A map showing your travels as you stop throughout the country would be nice 🙂 And, yes, an introduction about how you both came to your decision to do what you did would also be interesting. Barge commentary is great but, personally, too much of the technical stuff can go over one’s head (mine) 😀 Less political jabs might make it more neutral reading, too 😀
Hope you’re enjoying being back home for a while… Love to you both 🙂
I most enjoy the cultural, aesthetic, political, and lifestyle information. I also enjoy learning about life on the barge–not so much about its upkeep, but I have friends into boating who like to hear about upkeep.
You will probably receive responses as diverse as your following!
Sent from my iPhone
Hello there! Yes, make it a book! I have enjoyed reading your blog, and following your adventures. My favorite parts include details about everyday life, meals, customs, the health care system, the beautiful countryside, the people, holidays…. also have enjoyed the more technical parts about maintaining and sailing the barge! A true old-style adventure! My least favorite part has been political commentary, for what it’s worth. Thank you and keep on barging! Alison
Bonjour!
My husband and I have been enjoying your posts immensely and we are planning to hop aboard a barge in a few years when the kids are in college.
We are of two minds as regards a book. We would love and would purchase a ‘How to’ type book — how to find a buy a barge, licensing, the french paperwork for visas, money internet, etc…. ‘Barging in France for dummies’ type book. We also enjoy all the adventure stories, cultural color and information on healthcare and of course FOOD. Perhaps a ‘How to Book’ with some of the color commentary as inserted material to break up the drier bureaucratic stuff.
I could also see 2 separate books….. just keep writing!!
I have enjoyed your blog .. and could see a book emerging from your ‘excellent séjour à l’étranger’ ..in fact I vote for sending you back! 🙂 .. maybe this could even become a kickstarter project??? Donc, vas-y!