A light tale with a warm heart about a couple of octogenarians who decide to set off in a Renault to follow the course of the Tour de France - George and his neighbour Charles. Neither is as well as the other thinks, and both are keeping secrets from each other, all of which is revealed as the book's narrative unravels.
I've seen the book be compared to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window, but I didn't feel it had enough of the whimsy, wit and humour of those 2 tales. I'm not sure if it's down to translation issues but the prose was often a little clunky and lacking in style.
All that said, there is a good story at the heart of this book, albeit one that's not necessarily handled in the most elegant of ways. It's a pretty short read, so worth the investment of time.

I adored this book. There were two aspects to the story; one being the travels of the gents and information about the various places they visited and the other being a grandfather's relationship with his grand-daughter. Both aspects were equally endearing. A must-read!!!

A joy to read! This warmhearted tale made me laugh and cry. When 83 year old George and his neighbor Charles decide to follow the 3,500 km route of the Tour de France they were looking for adventure. In fact, they thought at their age it might be the last chance they had to take such a journey. They didn't know that the journey would literally change their lives and the lives of those around them.
Throughout the story we see George and Charles become more than just neighbors. Through modern technology they remain not just connected to family and friends but, were able to build relationships and deep bonds where none existed before. This book is a great read for all ages and it shows that even though we age we are never to old to be young at heart.

A truly lovely read that brings out the armchair traveler in us all. Wonderfully written and entirely charming.

Bittersweet yet enjoyable, this is a great little story. Leaving on a grand tour of Brittany to trace the route of the Tour de France bicycle race (in a car) is a journey made by George and neighbor Charles for many reasons. His touching exchanges with his granddaughter via text messages are poignant and pertinent in today's society of constant communication. Reminiscent of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, this is well worth reading and will touch you in many ways. Recommended reading.

4.5 Stars

George's Grand Tour really is a book of two parts, one that is funny, charming, heartwarming and uplifting, and then the rest that becomes more serious, and a a bittersweet. All of it combined makes for a charming story, that I really connected to.

I've read quite a few books this year, featuring main characters in their eighties, doing rather uncharacteristic things with various outcomes, and I have to say, I believe this is easily my favourite of them all. For most of it I was reading it with a smile on my face, and loved learning about various small villages in France.

George and his neighbour Charles, decide to do the Tour de France, not on bikes, but by car, while George's over protective daughter is on a trek in Peru for 2 months. They realise that with Francoise abroad, this would be their best ever opportunity to follow the 2008 tour route, and as such great Tour de France fanatics they have always wanted to do this.

One small fly in the ointment was when his seldom heard from grand daughter Adele, calls him, and when she discovers what the pair are up to she insists on a daily text message.

The scene where George and Charles are in a restaurant, and are being given lessons in text message language from the waiters is one of the highlights of the book for me, as is the subsequent text message exchanges with Adele over the next few weeks, as they form a connection to each other.

There is even a hint of romance in the early stages of the tour, as well as lots of sight seeing, taking lots of breaks in small villages, you get a real feel of Brittany, and its food.

As the story progresses you discover that both the men have secret ulterior motives for the trip, one of which could possibly be guessed and the other which really did catch me out, but both were admirable. And George and Charles slowly go from neighbours, who sometimes pass the time of day, to real friends.

I believe there is a message to be taken from this story, which is that old people are more capable than you give them credit for, can still learn new things and can be up for adventure too. And also not to neglect your grandparents, even if they do live a normally boring existence in a small village in France.

Although most of the book focuses on the road trip, we get occasional chapters set in France, and we see what is going on in Adele's life, and it made quite a good contrast in fortunes.

George's Grand Tour is an excellent story, that is told with a lot of affection for the characters, and I loved the writing of Caroline Vermalle. who I think really got into the mind set of George and Charles. Inspirational story that I loved reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallic Books for this review copy. This is my honest opinion.

Funny in places, poignant in others, George's Grand Tour was a very enjoyable read. Made me want to keep in closer contact with loved ones!

What a moving story, quite a gem.

I loved the way George embraced life once again through his travels, discovering technology and through his relationships with family, old and new friends.

All the loose ends to the relationships in George's life came together nicely. Sharing the road trip with Charles as well as the true importance of the trip bridged the gap from neighbors to friends. Technology as well as sharing his travel experiences with Adéle lovingly reunited granddaughter and grandfather from a very distance relationship. I also understood the bond George shared with Françoise and their delicate tether. Secondary character George was a delight to the story.

Despite the tenderness of the story much humor was scattered through the narrative. A few scenes will leave you belly laughing. I also enjoyed the travel portion, lovely to read of the stops, sights and local flavor as these two travel partners suffer woes and comforts a travel duo endures.

I loved the ending, bittersweet, poignant, brings the entire story together. Such a marvelous story from start to finish. George is memorable.

A wonderful story gently forcing you to reflect on the relationships you've ignored or easily dismissed from a myriad of poor excuses. Caroline Vermalle penned a touching and uplifting story you won't forget, very well done.

When George tells people he’s going to do the Tour de France, some are rather concerned. He is, after all, 83. However, George has a slightly less taxing plan in mind; he’s going to do the Tour by car, with a friend. Agreeing to check in with his granddaughter, Adele, by text along the route, he sets off across the country. In the end, the journey may prove as life-changing for Adele as it is for George, as she starts to really appreciate the man who, until now, has just been a name on her birthday cards.

A very enjoyable read, and one that may make you think about relationships you may have neglected. At first this is the story of George and Charles, two elderly French gentlemen who decide to drive the Tour de France route in a Renault Scenic, and yes they do this, but there is so much more to the well written novel. There are three relationships that are explored, the first between George and Charles, long standing neighbours who become true friends, that between George and his granddaughter Adele, and finally the one between George and his daughter. These relationships are explored in a gentle way, but over the book in great detail, and this is wonderful.
There is a travel element to the story, it does direct the narrative, but this is really the means to get the relationships developed and explored. The end of the book is sad (perhaps a tissue should be available), but it brings everything together.
The minor characters are well described, and the second George at the hospital is great.
I loved this well written book, and would recommend it to anyone who wants an uplifting tale, that is not covered in sugar.