Sunday, June 29, 2014

Dreaming of France -- Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer


Please join this weekly meme. Grab a copy of the photo above and link back to An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.
Today for Dreaming of France, I wanted to give you my review of a new memoirs, Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer by Vicki Lesage.
I've become blog friends with Vicki, who is an American married to a Frenchman. But sometimes I become friends with an author, and I still don't enjoy their books. When that happens, I avoid saying anything. Joyfully, I can say that I truly adored Vicki's latest book.
I read her previous book, Confessions of A Paris Party Girl, and that was fun, but her second book is better. At least I related to it more. Her first book told the story of a party girl moving to France and ended with her marriage to a Frenchman. This book began with her pregnancy.
I love the insights into the different ways the French handle things, like finding an apartment and going to doctor visits, not to mention the difference between giving birth in the U.S. and in France.
By the time I announced the pregnancy to my boss, I had been employed at my French company about a year. I hadn't quite gotten used to the lax French working style and the fact that they only actually work about half the year, once you factor in national holidays, a minimum of five weeks' vacation, and coffee breaks.
So I was shocked to learn I would be getting sixteen weeks of maternity leave. what would I do with all the time? Sure, take care of my baby. But as someone who has worked every day of her life since age 14, the prospect of four months sans travail was hard to imagine. 
Getting the baby a passport, finding the baby a school, trying to re-establish her party life with her friends, I relished the journey with Vicki.
It was one of those books that I had a hard time putting down. Luckily, I had it on my Kindle, so I could pick it up anytime I had a few spare minutes and finished it in just a few days.
It's available for $4.99 on Kindle or $13.49 in paperback on Amazon. Here's the link: Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer. 
And, this topic is mildly related to Dreaming of France -- I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card on Tuesday to everyone who has liked my author page on Facebook since it hit 300. The odds are pretty good cause I'm only at 305 likes. So, if you're on Facebook, stop by my author page and click like. You may win an Amazon gift card and have the money to buy this book or one of my books on Kindle.
Also this month, jumping the gun by a day, it's time for Paris in July.
Head on over to the main website to play all month. I'll still be here dreaming of France every Monday throughout the year and in July too. 


12 comments:

Vicki Lesage said...

Thanks for reviewing my book, Paulita! So glad to hear you enjoyed it. I'm really happy to have had my babies in France but there were certainly many aspects that were different from the US. Good and bad, France always gives me tons of writing material!

Esme said...

Sounds like a fun book. I agree with the author there is so much to write about in France.

Leovi said...

Yes, it's a good book!

Sally Tharpe Rowles said...

I think raising children in France would be very different & I am sure this book would offer a lot of interesting insight.

Tamara said...

Hi Paulita, Lovely to have you join your weekly Dreaming of France with Paris in July. It's also great to hear your thoughts on Vicki's book. Let's hope we can grow the global Love for Paris & France together this July.

Louise said...

I'm glad you jumped the Paris in July gun too Paulita. The book sounds great too, I hope to check them out soon.

Jackie McGuinness said...

I'll add to my TBR list!

Sim Carter said...

My potty training days are long gone - thank god - although I remember my mother saying she changed my sister in the Louvre - that she changed her on top of a radiator?? Probably a misremembered family tale, lol.
I'm back to Sally Tharpe Rowles Hundred Foot Journey posts:)Thanks Sally!

Just Me said...

Downloading my copy. Really enjoyed her first book.

Adria said...

Great review! I enjoyed Vicki's first book so much... It was hilarious. I've been busy with writing but I'm trying to make time to read this book too.

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

Adding the French Canadian connxn on Canada Day! July 1st is our 147th b'day! and French being our 2nd official language we are well connected =)
My own city has a lovely French quarter complete with bistros and promenades, cathedral, and bibliotheque... a fav hangout!
I participated another year in the Paris in July and have signed up again for this one - merci!

Anonymous said...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as well as the previous by Vicki. I'm ashamed I have not taken time yet to review it!!

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