Catherine Berry

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About Catherine Berry

One family, three children, five bags and the promise of adventure living in the French Alps.

It got to me. Living in France was supposed to have a beginning and an end. It nearly did have an end in a way that I could never have imagined, but now it can’t. I belong amidst the bewildering complexities and incongruences of French life, and wherever I am, for as long as I am, this will not change.

Nothing from my Australian upbringing pre-supposed this French fascination. My first steps in the language were coincidental, and it was probably luck that saw one of the young, groovy teachers allocated to my beginner’s French class at school.

I enjoyed writing, but was gently encouraged into maths and science subjects, where non-essential creative writing was relegated. Thereafter, I adopted an academic approach to getting through an undergraduate degree, teaching diplomas and a master’s degree in education. Despite these intervening diversions, my French obsession remained present and it was only natural that when my own children were old enough that we head to France.

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Weaving a French Life: An Australian story 12/12/2020

by Catherine Berry, Sophie Mikov

( 173 )

$5.99

'Weaving a French Life: An Australian story' is a sequel to Catherine’s memoir 'But you are in France, Madame.' Seven years have passed since Catherine returned to Australia with her family after their French adventure. Has she been able to close that emotional chapter or has turning the page led her straight back to France? Has Catherine’s affection for France grown or has her new beginning in Australia shaken her beliefs and allegiances—where does she belong? As Catherine grapples with questions and doubts about her future and struggles with self-confidence, she delves into the origins of her French connection and, in so doing, is reminded of where she has come from and who she is. 'Weaving a French Life' is not a template for French living. Rather, it demonstrates that a life adorned with French threads can be passionate and problematic, sensual and scarring, positive and perplexing … but at its heart, textured and colourful.

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But you are in France, Madame: One family, three children, five bags and the promise of adventure living in the French Alps 10/02/2016

by Catherine Berry

( 317 )

$6.99

At the collège for a parent-teacher interview, I met my daughter outside in the courtyard and she showed me up to her classroom. Her teacher was busy chatting, so we waited patiently in the corridor. When he did come out, he indicated that the meeting would take place downstairs and headed off with us in tow. Before sitting down, I introduced myself using my first name, and put out my hand to be shaken. He mumbled back his full name as he took my hand, although I suspect he would have been shocked if I had actually dared use it. By this stage, I had already understood that teachers did not expect to be questioned about their practices. Of course, I did—question him, that is; politely and almost deferentially. There was a slight pause, as he dipped his head to better digest what he had heard. Then, with the assurance of a perfect, unarguable answer, he replied, “But you are in France, Madame”. Some months before, my husband, three children and I had casually unzipped and discarded our comfortable Australian lifestyle and slipped on life in the country of haute couture. On arrival, there was no celebrity designer waiting for us, ready to pin and fit our new life to us; so we threw it on and wore it loosely, tightly, uncomfortably, any old how—until we learned for ourselves how to trim, hem and stitch à la française. This book is testament to the joyous, but not always easy, journey that we took along the way.

Our story ‘But you are in France, Madame’ was written from the heart. If you love France, reading about France, are curious about the lives of others or are planning your own trip to France, then this might just be the book for you.

June 2022 update: I have just released a third memoir: "With bare feet and sandy toes: Growing up in Australia in the 1960s & 70s." If you have found me because of our common love of France, I would love you to keep me company again despite heading in a different direction from my first two books.

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With bare feet and sandy toes: Growing up in Australia in the 1960s & 70s 28/06/2022

by Catherine Berry

( 4 )

$6.99

Does looking back help you move forward? Not always. But, like Catherine’s first two memoirs, writing With bare feet and sandy toes: Growing up in Australia in the 1960s & 70s came at the right time for her after a difficult period. Gusts of wind in the wild, sighs on the breeze, fluttering leaves, toes in the sand … it was a rejuvenating, soothing reconnection with her past. She found laughter and hope, felt the magic of innocent dreaming, and relived the frissons of first love. Perfect? No. But with their telling, even the tough memories re-wrote themselves as salient lessons, and illustrated that relationships—especially those between a parent and a child—are complicated, and that flaws and forgiveness go hand in hand.

Catherine’s story begins in the 1960s in Adelaide, Australia. Hers was a simple early life and whilst a caterpillar-to-butterfly transformation was not her lot, the socially awkward girl that was impressed upon her grew in self-belief and was gifted the desire to wander and experience the sparkling facets of people and places.

Other Formats:: Paperback

includes tax, if applicable

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

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