Uncorked: My year in Provence studying Pétanque, discovering Chagall, drinking Pastis, and mangling French

Uncorked: My year in Provence studying Pétanque, discovering Chagall, drinking Pastis, and mangling French

<b>Did you ever struggle to fit in with the cool kids in school? Or with the aloof locals while you were travelling abroad?</b><br /><br />Paul Shore's evocative story telling, wry wit, and big heart will inspire and entertain you, as his persistence earns him acceptance inside a charming French village!<br /><br />Shore humorously uses the mysterious game of Pétanque as a unique point of entry to explore areas of personal alienation faced as a newcomer in an adopted land full of heavily fortified culture.<br /><br />This quirky story is not about wine, rather the "uncorking" of many of France's most cherished traditions and Shore's personal awakenings about the value of slowing down to smell-the-roses.<br /><br /><b>LAUGH WHILE BEING TOUCHED as you fondly reminisce about personal adventures!</b><div><div><br /><b></b><div><br /><div><br /><b>WINNER of the WHISTLER INDEPENDENT BOOK AWARDS for Non-Fiction in 2017.</b> This adds to the acclaim received from the NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS, by being named a FINALIST in their travel category for 2017.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Praise for Uncorked:<br /><br />WINNER of the 2017 Whistler Independent Book Award for Non-Fiction, and a 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist.<br /><br />"Cross-cultural endeavors never go out of style. Shore will make readers smile and reminisce over their own youthful sojourns in faraway lands. Uncorked is a well written and diverting book that many readers will treasure."<br />--- Judge's Commentary, 25th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards<br /><br />"Shore's use of the game of Pétanque as a point of entry to address areas of personal alienation is a great literary and narrative choice.  This memoir made me laugh; especially Paul's foil Hubert, who is a star. And its funny and illuminating stories contain a soul that is touching too!"<br />--- J.J. Lee, CBC radio host, author, and Governor General's Literary Award finalist<br /><br />"Exactly the type of book I crave...only better! Shore's writing immediately feels like you're on a tour with a friend who tells it like it is. His self-deprecating humor and humility make it no wonder that he found a way to ingratiate himself into a tight-knit community in the south of France and enjoy life as a local."<br />--- "Sandy Abrams, entrepreneur, author of Your Idea, Inc, and Huffington Post blogger<br /><br />"Like a wry cross between Bill Bryson and Dave Bidini, Paul Shore's funny, self-deprecating and wholesome recounting of a year spent in Provence is one part travelogue, one part self-help guide, and one part memoir. Uncorked is just like a good French wine: light, delicious, and full of flavour."<br />--- Grant Lawrence, CBC broadcaster and author of Adventures in Solitude<br /><br />"A computer geek in the South of France? What could go wrong? With remarkable storytelling skill, Shore brings to life a time and place where community, simplicity and a slower pace were revered -- a younger generation's A Year in Provence."<br />--- Sarah Bancroft, writer of the blog A Year in Paris<br /><br />"Shore's light-hearted story takes you to a place where the simple joys in life are what matters. During my Man in Motion World Tour 30 years ago, I wish I could have slowed down as Paul did."<br />--- Rick Hansen, founder and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation<br /><br />"Many dream of relocating to France at some time in their lives. Like Peter Mayle (A Year in Provence) before him, Paul Shore made the leap and found a cornucopia of delights in his new home."<br />--- Stephen Hui, hiking writer and former Georgia Straight editor</div></div></div></div>