Give a choice, I would have started from book one of the series “A Year in the Merde” and work my way to “Dial M for Merde”. But you know how borrowing books from a library is like.
So I have read book four of the series, “Dial M for Merde” in October. Since I have got hold of book two and three, I figure that it is better to read “Merde Actually” before its sequel, “Merde Happens”.
Paul West, a British who has an ambition to open a tea house in Paris, still seems to have all the luck in his world to date beautiful girls, though does not seem to be lucky enough to date the one he loves. No doubt, the Merde series are targeted primarily for guys. Like the chick-lit for the ladies. I am unsure if girls would find Stephen Clarke’s books an offence to read. Buy hey, it is true. Most of the time, we guys are drugged by endless sexual fantasies. What makes the Merde series such a good read, I think, is that the main character Paul West while getting his fair share of steaming activities does at times say or do the ‘darndest’ thing that jeopardizes the ‘opportunity’. Just like … well, what real life is, really. Since I have read the fourth book before this one, I would say “Dial M for Merde”, from the story development point of view, is more entertaining, in a suspense and thrilling sort of way.
To be honest, I am a little bit confused by the story characters (because I am not reading the series in order). In “Merde Actually”, Paul West has spent a holiday living under Florence’s mother’s roof (due to an unfortunate road accident that renders them with no car). And then, living under her father’s roof. Thereafter, he focuses on setting up his restaurant in Paris and the two break up due to ‘long distance relationship’. Then comes Paul’s ex-girlfriend Alexa whom I suppose is Paul’s love of his life. Majority of the humor still revolves around the common misunderstanding between the French and the British – linguistically and culturally speaking. I can understand why the French loves Stephen Clarke’s book because it is not condescending to the French culture. In fact, the story becomes really funny when Paul – who is soaked in French culture for so long – returns to working in London.
The Merde series rank high as books to be read in a relaxing holiday, or on the plane.