{"product_id":"9781250051851","title":"The Bonjour Effect : The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eThe Bonjour Effect\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Julie Barlow, Jean-Benoit Nadeau\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow spent a decade traveling back and forth to Paris as well as living there. Yet one important lesson never seemed to sink in: how to communicate comfortably with the French, even when you speak their language. In \u003ci\u003eThe Bonjour Effect\u003c\/i\u003e Jean-Benoît and Julie chronicle the lessons they learned after they returned to France to live, for a year, with their twin daughters. They offer up all the lessons they learned and explain, in a book as fizzy as a bottle of the finest French champagne, the most important aspect of all: the French don't communicate, they \u003ci\u003econverse\u003c\/i\u003e. To understand and speak French well, one must understand that French conversation runs on a set of rules that go to the heart of French culture. Why do the French like talking about \"the decline of France\"? Why does broaching a subject like money end all discussion? Why do the French become so aroused debating the merits and qualities of their own language? Through encounters with school principals, city hall civil servants, gas company employees, old friends and business acquaintances, Julie and Jean-Benoît explain \u003ci\u003ewhy\u003c\/i\u003e, culturally and historically, conversation with the French is not about communicating or being nice. It's about being \u003ci\u003einteresting\u003c\/i\u003e. After reading \u003ci\u003eThe Bonjour Effect\u003c\/i\u003e, even readers with a modicum of French language ability will be able to hold their own the next time they step into a bistro on the Left Bank.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Bonjour Effect\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The authors clearly had a ball researching the book, and their glee is infectious. The writing is as light as it is substantive, and if that sounds like a contradiction, I would refer you to a soufflé\"\u003cb\u003e– \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Whether you're an expat in France, or simply dream of living there one  day, \u003ci\u003eThe Bonjour Effect \u003c\/i\u003eis a helpful resource to cracking the arcane  cultural code. Engaging and often funny, filled with examples drawn from  the authors' experiences, this is a guide to the most essential of  French arts: conversation.\" – \u003ci\u003eAnn Mah, author of Mastering the Art of French Eating\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Whether “bonjour” is the beginning or the end of your French vocabulary, you’ll find something fascinating, surprising, or just plain \u003ci\u003efou\u003c\/i\u003e on nearly every page. Before reading this invaluable codebook to French language and culture, I feared that I’d somehow insulted every French waiter, shopkeeper, and clerk between Paris and Nice. Now I know I did, but at least I know why!”\u003cb\u003e— \u003c\/b\u003eWilliam Alexander, author of \u003ci\u003eFlirting with French\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I love this book!” — Michael Patrick Shiels, \u003ci\u003eMichigan’s Big Show\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Very funny.” — \u003ci\u003eRudy Maxa’s World with the Careys\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“There’s a lot more than irregular verbs in conversing with the French.” — Sonali Karnick, \u003ci\u003eAll In a Weekend, CBC Montreal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Packed with fascinating insights.” — \u003ci\u003e49th Shelf\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A lively and informative description of the country’s cultural habits and social codes. First-time travellers to France will find useful tips, and for most North Americans this is a good introduction to the long history and complex culture of the country.” \u003ci\u003e— Lysiane Gagnon, The Globe and Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Story of French:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A well-told, highly accessible history of the French language that leads to a spirited discussion of the prospects for French in an increasingly English-dominated world.” —\u003ci\u003eWilliam Grimes, The New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Exceptionally told, a celebration of the lasting influence of la langue francaise.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Excellent...An engaging and well-conceived book. Highly recommended.” —\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Francophiles will be well-served by the care and detail with which the authors handle their subject, while English speakers will find an illuminating portrait of Gallic sensibility.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Learning to love the French as they are.” — \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“…finally there is a book which explains in non-romantic, lucid terms,  better than anything else I have read, why the French are as they  are…\u003ci\u003eSixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong\u003c\/i\u003e should be handed out at  Calais and Charles de Gaulle airport to anyone hoping to get a grip on  France and make a holiday or life work here.” —\u003ci\u003e The Daily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “\u003ci\u003eSixty Million Frenchmen\u003c\/i\u003e does its job marvelously well. After reading  it, you may still think the French are arrogant, aloof and high-handed,  but you will know why.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “…simply marvellous. \u003ci\u003eSixty Million Frenchmen\u003c\/i\u003e will interest those readers  who want to understand what makes the French mind go tickety-tock. And  it will definitely help smooth anyone’s introduction to this puzzling  and beautiful country.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Globe and Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “… a hard-eyed and mostly affectionate survey of what makes French  society tick and why outsiders, and particularly North Americans, so  often misread it.” — \u003ci\u003eThe Toronto Star\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “…a must read for Francophiles and surprise hit of the year…\u003ci\u003eSixty  Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong\u003c\/i\u003e [is a ] penetrating and witty enquiry  by two Canadian journalists into the unique essence of being French.”  —\u003ci\u003eCritic’s Choice, The Daily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “A surprising book written with a touch of humour, that combs through all the ticks and obsessions of the French.” — \u003ci\u003eLe Monde.fr\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “It’s the story of two Canadians, who, coming out of nowhere, help us see ourselves in a different light.” —\u003ci\u003eLe Figaro\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e “An invigorating read” — \u003ci\u003eBernard Pivot\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250051851\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40596502413518,"sku":"9781250051851","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_70aebc24-f9b3-4e9a-8703-da9204e8928f.jpg?v=1637860153","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250051851","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}