Joie de Vivre: Secrets of Wining, Dining, and Romancing Like the French
Praise forJoie de Vivre“Rochefort, an American married to a Frenchman and living in the country for four decades, is a foreign observer of what it means to be French and, with wit and insight, offers advice on loving life the way her adopted country does…. Rochefort makes it hard to argue with a philosophy that advocates slowing your pace, being fully engaged by what’s in front of you and incorporating four-course meals into your week.” –Publishers Weekly“Francophiles will love this book… Rochefort follows in the steps of Pamela Druckerman’sBringing Up Bebeand Mireille Guilano’sFrench Women Don’t Get Fat.” –Library Journal“Once again, Harriet Welty Rochefort perfectly deconstructs the mind and spirit of the French.Joie de Vivrepicks up where Welty Rochefort's classicFrench Toastleaves off, exploring the French in all their alluring and baffling ways. Welty Rochefort's inimitable brand of humor and insight plus decades of expatriate living make her a consummate observer of the French. Culling from all walks of life and dipping into history,Joie de Vivreis a sheer pleasure, sure to become a must-read in the canon of books about the French.” –Debra Ollivier, national bestselling author ofWhat French Women Know  "With humor and authority, Harriet Welty Rochefort provides the keys to understanding the French, while unlocking the secrets to 'the good life.’" -- Eleanor Beardsley, France correspondent for National Public Radio “Wit, wry humor, and some deliciously withering words of wisdom make Harriet Welty Rochefort’s latest book a must for anyone hoping to understand French expressions of joie.”—David Downie, author ofParis,Paris: Journey into the City of Light.“A great adventure ofjoie de vivreto read without moderation…” --André Cointreau, President of Le Cordon Bleu International"Revelatory, rich in stories, Harriet Welty Rochefort’s insider take on the French is a compellingly entertaining read." –G. Y. Dryansky, author ofCoquilles, Calva, and Crème“Many writers have come to France and tried to write about its people and customs, with varied results. But very few "get" the French as well as Harriet Welty Rochefort. That's in part because she had the good sense to marry a Frenchman who is himself an astute observer of his own culture. But it's also due to Harriet's own unmatched powers of observation, openness to the subtleties of another society, and great skill at conveying to readers what she has found--as she demonstrates once again in the perceptive, lively and entertaining Joie de Vivre.” –Michael Balter, Contributing Correspondent forScience, food and travel writer, and adjunct professor of journalism at New York University"This is more than another guide to France or an essay on some of its peculiarities. It's a very humorous, well-written, yet respectful cultural analysis of those aspects of French life too often hidden to the casual visitor, but necessary to know if one wants to experience the "joy for life" that defines that nation and its fascinating citizens."  --Ronald C. Rosbottom, Professor of French and European Studies, Amherst College Praise forFrench Toast:"A classic!" —Diane Johnson, author ofLe Divorce"A gem of a book . . . A perennial must-read manifesto for travelers and expats alike."—Debra Ollivier, author ofEntre Nous“Wise and devastatingly funny.” —The Los Angeles Times