Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds.) [Kindle Edition]

Karen A. Chase (Author)

Book Description

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There are a wealth of books that tell you where things are and what has happened in Paris, but precious few evoke the feeling of what it is like to be in the City of Light. Indeed, Karen A. Chase does manage to feather in plenty of details in her thorough wanderings of the city, but it is her personal experience that shines through. This book is an excellent choice for anyone who may always have wanted to visit Paris, but somehow has put it off or been a bit intimidated. Bonjour 40 takes you there in a friendly and meaningful way." - Janine Duchein Sprout, author, No Worries Paris: A Photographic Walking Guide.

"I love Paris. I love memoirs. I love to read. Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 Years. 40 Days. 40 Seconds.) by Karen A. Chase is the perfect combination of my three loves. This mid-life memoir about Karen's decision to spend her fortieth birthday in Paris is not only a delicious read, but it's full of stunning photographs of the city of lights... I was transported there again, sitting in the cafes, walking the cobblestone streets, taking in the sites."  - Lisa Steinke, Unabashedly Bookish: The BN Community Blog

Product Details

• File Size: 1632 KB
• Print Length: 125 pages
• Publisher: Karen A. Chase; 1 edition (October 9, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005U9BLGI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,856 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #18 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Travel > Europe > France
  • #37 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Travel > Essays & Travelogues
  • #46 in Books > Travel > Europe > France > General

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Candy for the Vicarious Traveller September 21, 2012

By Francine

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Karen Chase's "Bonjour 40" is candy for the vicarious traveller.The structure of forty entries over 40 days is perfect for her anecdotes and reflections on her visit to Paris as she turns 40.Her recollections give the reader a vivid impression of Paris and Chase is able to create the Parisian world for the reader.While the book was created from blog entries, I think that developing some of her experiences in more detail and expanding the information on the aspects of Parisian life that she mentions as new to her would have enhanced the work. This would give more balance to the content in my opinion.It is not my suggestion to turn the work into a guide book however. Chase's character is shown to be insightful and mature and this reader enjoyed her Parisian perspective.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Every Girl Should Turn 40 in Paris! May 29, 2012

By Cassie Piasecki

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was lucky enough to have spent my 40th birthday in Paris and as a Community Manager for a Paris vacation rental agency, I work with many women who do the same. It is one of the top 5 reasons someone travels to Paris. When I came across Karen's book, I was excited to hear what her trip was like. I DREAM of staying in Paris for more than 10 days at a time.
I read a lot of memoirs about living in Paris and so many of them turn depressing. That living in Paris is so hard (language barriers, not being accepted by the French, the weather, etc...). Karen's story never goes that route. Maybe she just wasn't there long enough. She wasn't actually living, working, trying to fit in...she was on an extended visit. She was celebrating, exploring and having fun!
Each day is a short paragraph or two and sometimes a photo (her photos are great!) which makes for the perfect read just before bed. I planned on reading just one day at a time to make the book last longer but I got too wrapped up and finished it in less than a week!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting format November 11, 2012

By Lovemykindle

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The author created an interesting format. Her book about her trip to Paris to celebrate her 40th birthday contains 40 vignettes each of which can be read in about 40 seconds. I know that other readers have rated this book very highly. I thought it was OK. I was a little surprised by all the mistakes in the French, many of which could have been easily corrected by just checking on the internet.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A love letter to Paris February 8, 2013

By J Carlberg

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The author spent a month in Paris-first alone, then with the man she loves. The book is a compilation of insightful, affectionate, short impressions. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting concept January 19, 2013

By JLB

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I liked the concept of this 'book'. However, I didn't find it to be particularly well written or fleshed out. I guess I should have been more aware that it was a travel log. I just wanted more from the author, some of the sections were really abrupt and left you rather wanting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Short, enjoyable December 29, 2012

By Horselady

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a very short book, as many others stated. I knew that when I purchased it on Kindle. I enjoyed the book, as a whole. I felt transported to Paris for a little while. There were sections titled "Reflections" that I think rather took away from the story as a whole.

Some really weird thing was the author kept talking about the pillow in the apt. she rented, and made rather weird, almost obscene references to it and even said the owner should throw it away after she was gone. Then after she came home, she talked about this pillow again. Very odd.

The end reflection where the author tries to sum up her trip and the effect it had on her rather fell flat. It was long, wordy, and she never really was able to articulate it anyway. I think she should have skipped that part and let the trip notes stand on their own.

But overall, I did enjoy it and will see if this author has written anything else. There were photos, but on my black and white Kindle, weren't that meaningful. I would not pay the price of $19.99 for the paperback. I got it for 99 cents on Kindle and that was a fair price for how short it was.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! November 4, 2012

By Gerry McMaster

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved the unusual style, almost like reading a blog, but it worked. It gave me a real understanding of what it might be like to actually live in Paris, a very good read!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and fun. October 28, 2012

By Jan Janzen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you enjoy reading blogs, you will like this book, because that's exactly what it is. Informative and entertaining, it gives you a lovely look at Parisian life.

More About the Author

Karen A. Chase is a writer, designer, photographer, and traveler. Bonjour 40 is her first book, and she is currently working on an historical novel about the Declaration of Independence. She is also a freelance writer of historical fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.

Born in Canada, Karen has lived in the United States since 1990. As a professional graphic designer and copywriter, she has owned her own branding and design studio since 2004. An offshoot of that studio, called 224Pages, specializes in design for authors and publishers. Karen and her partner, Ted, live in Virginia with their two cats, Linus and Olive.