first Wilco has no balls (yes), and now the French are full of shit (sometimes),

Well, uh...yeah!   But that's not exactly  the point of the post.  It's more reflective of the "emotional" responses of the 3 nations, which I think although it had to do with this book in particular, is not that far off the mark (in my perception).   Canadians are more reserved, and don't get all that plussed about new artists until they really hit their stride (the reason so many folks in search of big name recognition, leave Canada for the more fertile grounds of the Hew Hess Hay....), Americans are more excited about the new kid on the block, and will tend to spend more money that way (perhaps they are less discriminating, but certainly more generous, which can be both good and bad), and the French typically are more exaggerated in their responses to new art/literature (and they can be just as damning as lauding with praise, as in the case here).  Just my perception, t'is all.   I have found in my short sojourn, that when there is overwhelming praise of something, I usually detect an element of "fluff", so yeah, F.O.S. is probably too strong a term, but sorta....

Now, I am a big lover of France and things French (with the exception of Absinthe, which I detest)..but I won't get into that here.  But I do love Pierre Bensusan, and he is my favorite thing to emerge from the land of France aside from great Bordeaux wines.  

Gene