I could not make a list, in a reasonable space, of all the books and novels written about expatriate life. Even the list of books that refer to only one country in expatriate life -- say France -- would exceed a reasonable length.

However, when it comes to books that are both useful for the expatriate-to-be and entertaining, the list gets shorter - almost too short.

George East gives - and I suspect sometimes without trying - valuable pointers for those who plan to settle in  the (...) countryside to restore an old house and live off letting rooms to tourists in the future, and all the while poking fun at the hilarious idiosyncrasies of the French and those on their way to becoming French (if such is ever possible for English raised and bred).

George East claims that "expats" in Normandy are a uniquely individualistic gang, and I have to correct him by saying that, by the experience of having been a foreigner for the better part of my life in several countries, all expatriates who do not move for career's sake are quite unique. Else they would stay in Birmingham, Liverpool, Berlin, Paris, Vienna, or from wherever the need of change has washed them from, and just follow the herd.

One may get the impression reading East's latest book, French Cricket, (ISBN0-9523635-6-9, La Puce Publications) that both the local community and those wanting to integrate in it are all fit for a mental institution, and they would be probably right if the differences of culture of both groups would be seen isolated from their surroundings, history and needs. It may not be intentional but East somehow ignores that context completely. On the other side, if he would not ignore it, much of the entertainment value of the book would evaporate in thin air. I guess sometimes it is valuable to put entertainment before context . . . at least you get read.

All in all I would say that East's newest creation is well worth its price tag, not just for those who want no more than a hearty laugh, but also for those who plan to run off into the world and settle somewhere else.

A fair warning though, even if you decide that you could live with the adjustments of "expat" living and move abroad, should you surprise yourself after a year still saying "this is not like back home," you should go back to wherever you came from because you will never be able to make the change.

And if you are discouraged from moving to France by East's book and look for an alternate location, the situation will be similar, there is no normality in "expat" life except for a rapid succession of abnormalities. And George East is a master at documenting that.

Order your own copy of French cricket at a discount

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