Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.
Showing posts with label Karen Chase. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Karen Chase. Show all posts

Monday, December 5, 2011

An Excerpt - On Speaking French by Karen A. Chase

AN EXCERPT – ON SPEAKING FRENCH

By Karen A. Chase
Author of Bonjour 40: A travel log
(40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds)


So I worked with a tutor one-on-one, went to a few French-speaking Meetup groups, watched foreign films, studied DVDs and podcasts, and more. As I mentioned on my first day in Paris, I quickly discovered my French sucked. Really though, it didn’t suck so much as I was just afraid to use it. I was afraid I would say things incorrectly, and instead of asking to buy a hat, chapeau, I’d ask to buy a horse, cheval. My biggest hurdle upon arrival was I simply wasn’t brave enough to try it. I was afraid they would know I was a foreigner, roll their eyes, and say, “Merde, another American comes to Paris.”

I would slowly grope around for words, or quietly whisper, or give up entirely and just simply point and grunt at things. Finally it occurred to me. You don’t know these people. Dive in! If you screw it up, you’ll learn. Maybe they’ll help out and correct you, or you’ll end up with a nice horse. Just start with Bonjour, Madame or Monsieur, and get going. I’m now convinced that speaking a new language is 25 percent knowledge, 50 percent experience, and 25 percent having the balls to open your mouth and speak it.



Bonjour 40 by Karen Chase (Book Review)

Title: Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds)
Author: Karen Chase
Publisher: Karen A. Chase - Kindle edition

About the book: If Karen A. Chase absolutely had to turn forty, she decided she could do it gracefully in Paris… for nearly forty days. What began as a blog to communicate with friends and family, became a travel journal filled with over a months’ worth of humorous and insightful glimpses into her Paris adventures, each of which could be read in about forty seconds. Journal entries are interspersed with Chase's own inspiring photography. Additional, longer stories richly fill in details allowing readers to reflect upon her experiences with food, travel, photography, Parisians, writing, and love in the City of Lights. Through her Parisian- and self-exploration, comes a book that brings to life the richness of Paris as seen through the eyes of a romantic travel junkie. Chase shows readers the joys of turning 40, and with her magical view of Paris, they'll be ready to board a plane before they've turned the last page.


My thoughts:  This was a nice quick read for me at 134 pages.  Karen decides to visit Paris for 40 days to celebrate her 40th birthday.  When all of her friends tell her they want updates, a blog is born where she can keep her friends and family updated without spending a lot of time on the computer every day (when she could be out exploring Paris!)  That blog, along with some reflections that she wrote upon returning home, became this book.  She has also added some absolutely beautiful photographs that she took upon exploring the city. 

I guess you could call this book a journal of her travels, but it is written with an artistic flair. There are many lovely descriptions of the architecture and art, as well as the people and the countryside.  I had never thought much about ever visiting Paris, as it seemed pretty unrealistic for me, but after hearing her describe it, it actually has me considering it someday - maybe for one of my "landmark" birthdays!

~I received a complimentary e-book of Bonjour 40 from Book Sparks in exchange for my unbiased review.~


Publisher/Publication Date: Karen A. Chase, Oct 9, 2011
ASIN: B005U9BLGI
1635 KB



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