French nationality

I recently went to the Prefecture to receive my French nationality.  This exactly one year after I handed in my application file, and just in time for me to vote in the coming elections.  I had made the decision to apply for French nationality for two reasons.  Firstly after 11 years in France I am more interested in what the French government does, and want to have my say in that.  The second reason was to have a French ID card which will make life easier, since they stopped giving British nationals a 'carte de sejour'.
The first step was to bring together the necessary documents.  Then I had to take an appointment at the Prefecture to present my application.  I was given a short interview to test my French skills, before being told it would take the Minister of the Interior one year to decide.  Strangely I was never asked the question I expected about my motivations for applying for French nationality.  I should reassure my readers that I still have my British nationality, I am able to keep this.
As predicted by the lady at the Prefecture, it took the Minister a year to decide, and a few weeks ago I received a letter inviting me to a ceremony to collect my declaration of nationality.  So, on the day I smartened up and even put on a tie.  A group of about 60 people had gathered in front of the doors of the imposing Prefecture building.  At 2:15pm precisely, a small door opened in the huge wooden gates.  We were shown into the palatial interior of the Prefecture, with its chandeliers and two huge, garish vases.  After checking our identities, we were led into another room, and sat in rows infront of a video screen.   As we waited we eyed up our fellow nationality applicants.  An older gentleman next to me spied my provocitive Union Jack pin badge, and asked whether I was able to keep my British nationality.  I confirmed that this was the case for European nationals.  He then told me that his Chinese wife was not able to keep hers.  I looked at the young women at least thirty years his junior, and wondered how they had met.  He then asked me if I knew any cheap deals to London, as his wife was keen to go on a shopping trip.  As I looked around the room I spotted a number of older men with young ladies sitting next to them.  Finally after 45 minutes of nervous shifting, murmered conversations, and impatient children, the Prefect arrived in his military style, but rather shaby looking uniform.
He informed us we would watch a video, followed by a short talk by him.  Then we would be called up one by one to collect our declaration of nationality, before being invited to have a drink together.  The video lasted 5 minutes or so and dewlt on the long proud heritage of France, the revolution and the principles of the Republic.  The Prefect then underligned these principles of 'Liberty', 'Equality' and 'Fraternity'.  He also stressed the separation of state and religion, and the respect for others.  Finally we were called up to receive a file containing our declaration of nationality as well as other official documents.  In a neighbouring room we were served champagne or soft drinks and that was that.
I must admit to experiencing something of a climax.  I expected to hear the stirring tones of, and sing along to, the Marseillaise.  Instead our folders contained a paper with the words of the national anthem, and another with the Declaration of the rights of man.   We didn't even have to swear to be faithful citizens.  Maybe I'm being too nationalistic but I felt that it was a sign of our times that the obtaining of a nationality has become a simple bureaucratic process without significance for those who apply.

La folie the sequel

So here the sequel to La Folie.  And frankly it's a disappointment.  A navel gazing, philosophical ramble about the meaning of his life and his search for a soul mate.  One has the feeling that after the success of the first book he felt or was pushed to give us more.  It's easy reading if you've got nothing better to do.