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French Like Moi: A Midwesterner in Paris

Available at Amazon or your local bookseller.

Audio Sample: “City of Lightbulbs”

When Scott Carpenter moves from Minnesota to Paris, little does he suspect the dramas that will unfold: scheming neighbors, police denunciations, surly demonstrators, cooking disasters, medical mishaps—not to mention all those lectures about cheese! Nothing in the City of Light can be taken for granted, where even trips to the grocery store lead to adventure.

In the company of a cast of recurring characters, he leads us through the labyrinth of the Parisian everyday, one hilarious faux pas after another. Through it all, Carpenter, winner of a Mark Twain House Royal Nonesuch Prize for humor, keeps his eye on the central mystery of what makes the French French (and Midwesterners Midwestern).

Published by Travelers’ Tales.

Praise for French Like Moi

Midwest Indie Bookstore Bestseller!

“Many entertaining anecdotes and worthy observations about French and American culture…Carpenter’s droll take keeps the reader chuckling.” ―Minneapolis StarTribune

“Thanks to Scott Carpenter’s funny new book…we can experience day-to-day life in a condo that is not in the fancy part of the city. Grab a drink, head to a cool place and meet a delightful cast of Parisians.”—Twin Cities Pioneer Press

“A delightful read…filled with levity and grace. A winning and witty collection offering humor and insight into the French way of life.” —Kirkus Reviews

“French Like Moi tours the everyday Paris that’s found away from the Eiffel Tower’s tourism. With an entertaining guide at the helm, bon mots and corny puns find a home alongside solid timing, curious anecdotes, and self-aware mocking. This quirky travel memoir uncovers lesser-known facets with verve.” Foreword Reviews, Editor’s Pick.

“In this funny memoir…Carpenter has a knack for turning potential catastrophes into comedy. Readers will find plenty to appreciate in his sharp take on expat life.” —Publishers Weekly

“Hilarious… In this literary tango between Paris and the Midwest, Carpenter captures the ironies, oddities, and attractions of the French capital in a way few writers have achieved—which is saying a lot, considering how many have tried their hand at conjuring the City of Light… French Like Moi is a delightful romp through French life and Midwestern sensibilities, all combined in one compelling story.” —Midwest Book Review

“Carpenter shares hilarious faux pas and cultural differences, reading with a deadpan, self-deprecating, understated tone. An affectionate, insider’s look at French culture.” ―Booklist, Audiobook

Five star review “[A] a hilarious look at…figuring out life.” —Readers’ Favorite

“Scott Carpenter’s tales of life in the French capital will make you laugh, marvel, and daydream about amping up the adventure in your own life. Merci Monsieur Carpenter!” —Lorna Landvik, author of Chronicles of a Radical Hag.

“Loaded with lacerating wit and trenchant but tender observations, Scott Carpenter’s French Like Moi is also a true original: a serious memoir that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is this humility that gives Carpenter’s book its undeniable strength—that, and his vivid, often hilarious storytelling.”—Marcia DeSanctis, author of 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go

“I laughed until my sides hurt at Carpenter’s lighthearted and self-deprecating take on living in l’Hexagone.” —Kimberley Lovato, author of Walnut Wine & Truffle Groves.

“French Like Moi is not only full of spot-on cultural observations and the laugh-out-loud-yet-self-deprecating humor Minnesotans do so well, it’s also beautifully written with a timeless literary flair.” —Heather Stimmler-Hall, author of Naughty Paris.

“Deeply French but also deeply Midwestern—and thus rather perfect.” —Alethea Black, author of I Knew You’d Be Lovely

“The most delightful and delicious form of escapism—smart, kind, funny and (best of all!) French. Perfect for Francophiles and dreamers alike.”   —K. S. R. Burns, author of The Paris Effect and Paris Ever After

French Like Moi
Scott Dominic Carpenter
Travelers’ Tales
www.travelerstales.com/french-like-moi
9781609521837, $16.99, Paperback
9781609521851, $29.95, Hardcover
9781609521844, $16.99, eBook

Author Events

French Like Moi came out in July of 2020, so public events are slowing down at this point. If you’d like to arrange for an event (including Zoom visits to book clubs), click here.


The next book, a novel called One Mississippi, does not yet have a release date. But when it comes out, you can be sure there will be boatload of events!

Curious to learn about the kinds of events I have done in the past? The public ones are listed here. But you can also reach out for private events (members-only groups, book clubs, etc.)

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