Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log by Karen A. Chase

Mary Karen A. Chase, Memoir, Travel

Title:  Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds)

Author:  Karen A. Chase

Genre:  Travel Memoir

Published:  October 2011

My take:  Karen A. Chase celebrated her 40th birthday by treating herself to a month in Paris. She immersed herself in all things French by living in a rented apartment, riding a bike or walking most of the time, shopping the markets, and enjoying the cafes. Well, really, much more than that!

Chase shares her experiences (mostly good) of living among Parisians. If you are looking for the courage to live in another country for an extended period look no further than Bonjour 40. Of course, her circumstances were perfect: a job that allowed her to take the time off; no childcare arrangements to make; and a partner who promised to meet her for the final week of her holiday. Even so, reading this short memoir made me feel it would be possible to do the same. Where there’s a will. . . right?

One more thing. I loved all the photos scattered throughout. They made me feel like I was looking through a travel scrapbook.

Source:  I bought it.

Disclosure Policy:  see sidebar

NOTE: This book is available as an eBook. I read it on a device using e-ink. A few weeks after I wrote this review I read Bonjour 40 again but this time on an iPad. The photos look clear and crisp – superior to the e-ink experience. That said, either version is recommended.

 

16 thoughts on “Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log by Karen A. Chase”

  6. Sounds intriguing. Paris is somewhere I always wanted to go. Interesting about the e-ink, that’s not something I would even have thought about. Thanks for your take on the book, Mary.

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  8. I will make sure to buy it so that I can read it on my Kindle or on my iPad! Sheree wrote an awesome review of this one a few weeks ago and now adding your review to this I must go buy it now! 😀

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  10. Hi, everyone. Merci Beaucoup to you for buying the book, and especially to Mary for such a lovely review! I’m so thrilled that other women are seeing the possibilities in making a trip like I did to Paris. I am by no means a wealthy woman, and I invested the money I would send to my IRA for the year on this trip instead. Yes, invested. I didn’t spend money lavishly, but my time was spent lavishly. If anyone has any questions about my trip, about how simply delightful I found Paris to be, or the book itself please fire away.

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      • Hi – Yes, we do have plans. Ted has a big birthday next year (those who saw his photo in the book know he’s older than I am). He’s turning–shhhh–60! He’s Italian, and so we are busy planning and saving for a trip next fall to Italy where we hope to travel a week or so on land plus a week to ten days by sailboat. While it definitely won’t be a sixty-day trip, I will be writing a Ciao 60 blog/book to carry on the adventure of Bonjour 40.

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