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#69865 - 01/19/07 02:49 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Member
Registered: 02/18/05
Posts: 311
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Hi pedmar, the editors are Graeme Chester, the seem to specialize on living-abroad books. By the way, I found this helpful review at Amazon.com: A little biased, but still very useful, 25 Jan 2005 Reviewer: Vanessa Vinos "Life Coach" (Seville, Spain) - See all my reviews This is quite a gem of a book and would be good for anybody interested in living in Spain to read this. However, 90% of the contributions come from people living on the Costa del Sol-the "carbuncle" of Spain, and is really not a totally true reflection of what this beautiful and diverse country/culture can offer.I would have given this book 5 stars if it contained more stories of expats living and working in cities (the real Spain), such as Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Seville etc. and not just stories from expats living along the coast. I have lived in Seville for 4 years and I can honestly say most of the negative experiences written about are totally alien to me i.e not being able to make Spanish friends. All my friends are Spanish and that is on top of me speaking still quite bad Spanish after 4 years! Nonetheless the stories in the book are really fascinating, and what it does illustrate are that there are 3 types of expats that come to Spain. The first type are those that are really looking to live and experience a new country and culture. These expats take the rough with the smooth and put down any negative experiences as just some of "life's lessons". The second category are the "beer-swigging, fish and chip brigade". You know the ones! They perhaps have only been to Spain on a two week holiday, to a place that resembles Blackpool in the sun, and then are totally shell-shocked when they experience their first drop of rain and consequently go running back home (because they didn't realised it actually rains in Spain!) And the third kind of expat are your "professional whingers". We've all met them, the ones who find 101 things to complain about when they go on a weeks holiday to a foreign country. They carry on as though they come from a totally efficient country, when usually this is far from the truth. I think when reading this book it is important to identify what kinds of expats contributed to this book, otherwise it could put you off coming to Spain for ever, and that would be a real pity. However,all the stories prove a couple of things that i) do your research first and don't just base you emigration on your 2 week holiday lying by the pool, ii) learn the language before you come, even if it is just the basics so you can at least show some courtesy to the natives in everyday communication and iii) make every effort to integrate with the natives, as oppossed to " sticking with your own". You will get so much more out of your experience, and like me, never want to return home. Overall, this is a good book, but be open-minded when reading it.
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#69868 - 02/15/07 05:51 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Full Member
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 203
Loc: st cyrus , scotland
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I've not read that book, but I highly recommend Tim Parafit's "a load of bull" its an excellent read that I couldnt put down A load of bull
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#69872 - 02/26/07 03:01 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Full Member
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 203
Loc: st cyrus , scotland
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Im glad you enjoyed it Pedmar I thoroughly enjoyed it myself . Its a well written book and hard to put down
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#69875 - 02/28/07 02:35 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Executive Member
Registered: 02/26/06
Posts: 1445
Loc: Morbihan, France
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i would think amazon US will have it as foreign books section. this is how i got in France with www.alapage.com . you can try Barnes & Noble too.
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#69876 - 02/28/07 07:20 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Member
Registered: 02/18/05
Posts: 311
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Puna, there's a few shipping from NJ & CA. A Load of Bull on Amazon.com
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#69878 - 03/26/07 01:03 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 7
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Hi there ... thanks for recommending my book, A LOAD OF BULL - and I'm glad you're enjoying it. There's a new (cheaper) paperback edition out on May 4th, which is already available for pre-order at the UK's amazon site. It should be on amazon.com soon, too ...
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#69879 - 03/26/07 03:16 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Member
Registered: 02/18/05
Posts: 311
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WOW!! When I saw the name of the poster I thought, isn't that the author of the book? Yes!!! how cool..the author himself!!! This is not a joke right??
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#69880 - 03/27/07 05:10 AM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 7
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No joke! Thanks yet again for recommending the book. I'm also finally getting a website together.
(MadridMan Note: Sorry! I've removed your website address and have sent a Private Message on the matter)
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#69881 - 03/27/07 06:16 AM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Executive Member
Registered: 06/06/00
Posts: 798
Loc: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, Eng...
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Hi Tim I pre-ordered my paperback a few weeks ago, and am really looking forward to getting it :hdspin: Good luck with the website - please will you let us know when it's up and running? Thanks. Jo
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#69882 - 03/27/07 08:13 AM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 7
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Thanks, Jo-Anne. I didn't realise the protocol here ... so I wasn't supposed to mention the website! I've been recommended to change the profile settings, instead. I hope you enjoy the book.
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#69885 - 03/27/07 02:38 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 7
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You are very kind - let's wait and see. Hey, I can also recommend many other good Spain-related books: have any of you read any of Jason Webster's books? "Duende", "Andalus" and "Guerra" ... they are all excellent ...
Thanks so much, pedmar. I never got the message from my publisher but I had seen your note on the message board and wanted to join in. I once visited Versailles on a school trip (years ago) and loved it. It is a beautiful place. Keep smiling!
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#69886 - 03/27/07 03:56 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Full Member
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 203
Loc: st cyrus , scotland
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Hi Tim , I bought your book with the intention of reading offshore on the oil rig where I work , but I enjoyed it so much I read it in 3 days . Im moving to Madrid next tuesday and I hope I dont have as much problems with flatulence as you did
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#69887 - 03/27/07 06:07 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 7
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You never know. Either way, you'll have fun in Madrid! Thanks again.
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#69889 - 04/13/07 06:54 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Executive Member
Registered: 10/16/06
Posts: 342
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I am going to have to pick up that book by Tim Parfitt soon as everyone seems to love it. In meantime, I am reading " Travels With My Donkey " by Tim Moore. I am really enjoying it as he has some great descriptions of the landscape and the life of a peregrino, and some of his anecdotes are really funny. I always tell myself that one of these days I'll walk the Camino (or at least part of it...) but until then I'm happy to read entertaining travelogues such as this one. See this thread for another recommendation of this book by Booklady.
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#69891 - 04/19/07 06:20 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Executive Member
Registered: 10/16/06
Posts: 342
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The last few times I was in Borders Books I did look for it, but it wasn't in the store or even available to order through them, at least according to the in-store computer. I am just going to have to order it through Amazon, and once I read it I will be sure to let you know how much I like it!
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#69893 - 05/24/07 08:25 AM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Full Member
Registered: 08/06/05
Posts: 67
Loc: Basel, Switzerland
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Hi! Does anyone know where in Madrid I could find this book (in English)? I've already tried Fnac and La Casa del Libro.... Thanks in advance!!!
_________________________
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#69894 - 05/24/07 01:12 PM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 7
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It should be at some of the VIPs stores but you can definitely get it at Hartley’s Good Bookshop in the Calle Padilla, 74 (corner of Alcántara), 28006 Madrid. Tel: 91 401 9077. It's a great little shop, run by a guy called Hartley Moorhouse. Please send him by best wishes if you call in. He should have some signed copies left ...
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#69895 - 05/30/07 08:12 AM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Full Member
Registered: 08/06/05
Posts: 67
Loc: Basel, Switzerland
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Thanks so much! I already have a signed copy, it's going to be my souvenir-gift for my guiri-hubby after spending a whole month in Madrid.... I read somewhere (on Amazon, I think) that the author had a pad on calle Lope de Vega at the time he wrote the book, or something like that, which is fun for us, since we still own an attic in that same street . I must say that I also find quite fantastic that Mr. Parfitt himself participates in this forum, it's so cool! Looking forward to reading the book very soon....
_________________________
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#69896 - 05/30/07 10:03 AM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Executive Member
Registered: 05/06/00
Posts: 9080
Loc: Madrid, Spain (was Columbus, O...
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It IS great that Mr. Parfitt himself participates in this forum but, Mr. Parfitt, please be careful not to conduct promotions or advertisements of your website, products, or services as this practice is prohibited here on our forum. You may, however, include a short description along with your URL in the signature file of your "my profile" and that way as you participate in non-promotional postings people can see and then choose to click the link in your signature file. Thanks for understanding. Saludos, MadridMan
_________________________
Visit BarcelonaMan.com for Barcelona information, Transportation, Lodging, & much MUCH more! Curious about what could POSSIBLY be inside the brain of MadridMan? Visit MadridMan's Madrid Blog
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#69897 - 07/29/07 11:51 AM
Re: Book: Foreigners in Spain Triumphs & Disasters
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Executive Member
Registered: 10/04/04
Posts: 657
Loc: New York City
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Well I finished Tim Parfitt’s book, A Load of Bull. I had to wait six weeks for it to be delivered. But I first I have to thank everyone who posted information about the book, because I doubt I would have never discovered this gem of book on my own. It is good have a MadridMan website in ones life. The book is funny, very funny. I found myself laughing as I was reading each chapter. I had to watch myself a few times as I was reading it because I was going home on the New York City subway and did not anyone think I was enjoying the subway ride. From reading about the author’s troubles trying to fit in with the Madrilenos, their eating habits and his hilarious insights of the Spanish culture, Madrid will never look the same way again. I have to add, I really enjoyed how the book ended. Instead of Tom Parfitt lives happy ever after, which he does, the author has a surprising and funny ending. I going to read Load of Bull again! Also I think I anytime I see a goat, I will think about a church, a flying goat and I have to laugh. Thanks all for sharing! Bill
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