An enjoyable memoir about an American family who lived in France in the 1950s. Pam’s father worked for an airline, in the age when air travel was glamorous and exciting. The book briefly describes their time living in Egypt, before launching into their French years. Pam spent most of her childhood there and it was generally a happy one. She was somewhat of a tomboy, joining in with her brothers’ adventures and having what sounds like an idyllic time playing outdoors. It wasn’t all fun, as there are some grim episodes described, such as visits to a sadistic dentist, a variety of injuries (the children seemed to break bones quite often) and the time when little Pam got lost on the coast. One of the interesting things about this memoir is the author’s impressions of post-war France, which still bore the evidence of the war and was poised between traditional and modern ways of life.
I liked the writing style, which was friendly and nostalgic. I would have preferred fewer references to what life is like today compared to then, both generally and relating to the author, as I felt that this to-and-fro-ing interrupted the flow. The book has obviously been crafted with care, as there are many letters and snaps from the family archive which complement the text. It was extraordinary how much detail there was in the author’s loving portraits of her family’s personalities. The reader feels that they know the people and places described. As for the unusual title of the book, it refers to her mother using a worn-out designer fashion piece to wipe the floor. I’m not sure how accurately this sums up the book’s content, but certainly it’s a title to grab your attention. In summary, I recommend this book to fans of gentle memoirs and to anyone interested in 1950s France.
Independently published in 2024. Reviewed for Reedsy Discovery.