Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Storyline - American woman is caught in France during international electronics/grid attack. I would have enjoyed the book if it weren't for the relentless America bashing. The main character (and the first ex-pat American she meets) immediately assume the attack on the U.S. and Europe is America's fault. We must have done something bad to bring it on. This is repeated periodically for emphasis. The French feel the same, leading her to berate herself for not pretending to be Canadian. She sees America as a land of violent "loners, cowboys, rebels" and "vigilantes" who believe in "getting and keeping what's ours" and stealing what isn't. Hence the crisis results in an America depicted as looting and shooting, where the police have all seemingly gone AWOL. France, on the other hand, is depicted as calm and peaceful with everyone happily working together like the crisis barely exists. The bakeries don't even miss a day of putting out all their fanciest pastries (prepared without electric ovens, refrigeration, electric mixers or other appliances. Mmm Hmm. Must be magic.). I don't doubt the French can weather a crisis as well as the next country. But I have to laugh nevertheless when I think of someone I knew who lived in France for several years. His French buddy was horrified when he mentioned having loaned his lawnmower to a neighbor back in the U.S. The Frenchman told him that would NEVER happen in France. We don't loan such things to our neighbors! That's crazy! You Americans are ridiculously generous and naive! This 'mainstream media' type of self-loathing American is getting really old. Perhaps those who live in the coastal fringes and urban city centers fit the entitled mold who disparage policing, are used to high crime, expect someone to provide them with all their wants and needs and wreak havoc whenever they feel they aren't getting their fair share of attention, validation and free stuff. But the vast majority of Americans live in 'fly-over' country where we by and large obey the law, go about our business and get along with our neighbors. We also take care of our own in our communities in good times and bad. No big deal. No drama. Individualists? Yes. Violent loner/ rebel/ looters who can't face a crisis without descending into total chaos? Uh. No. That would only be in the drama queen bubble areas where people not only think that they represent America, but also hate that they are American - being perpetually afflicted with the old 'grass is always greener somewhere else' syndrome. The author could have given us a slice of charming French life without the continual America bashing. But like comedians who spew insults because they aren't capable of being funny she chose to take the low road. Stereotypical, untrue, caricature of America for the sake of . . . (drama?). Cheap. Easy. And anything but "cozy".