The Bonjour Effect: The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed by Julie Barlow, Jean-Benoit Nadeau

The Bonjour Effect: The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed by Julie Barlow, Jean-Benoit Nadeau

'The writing is as light as it is substantive, and if that sounds like a contradiction, I would refer you to a soufflé' The New York Times

'Fascinating and insightful' TLS

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? Julie Barlow and Jean- Benoît Nadeau spent a decade travelling to and living in Paris. Yet one important lesson never seemed to sink in: how to converse comfortably with the French, even when you speak their language.

Through encounters with school principals, city-hall civil servants, old friends and business acquaintances during their time living in France with their twin daughters, Julie and Jean-Benoît explain why, culturally and historically, talking to the French is not about communicating or being nice. It's about being interesting.

After reading The Bonjour Effect, even readers with only a smattering of French will be able to hold their own the next time they are in a bistro on the Left Bank, on a wine tour in Bourdeaux or on a beach on the Côte d'Azur.

The Bonjour Effect: The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed - About the Author

Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoit Nadeau are the award winner authors of The Story of French, The Story of Spanish, and the bestselling Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong (Richard and Judy book club pick). They currently work as journalists based in Canada.