After reading Rubin’s The Happiness Project recommended by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz, the next logical step was to read a book she read toward her own Happiness Project, Bonjour, Happiness. This book promises “secrets to finding your joie de vivre.” Influenced by her French grandmother, this is not the first time Callan has studied Frenchwomen for their secrets; she has also written about how Frenchwomen dress, eat, and love.

After making a study-work trip to France, the author learned to take joy from “simple, everyday pleasures,” establishing her own joie de vivre, or “being alive in each delicious moment.” She fascinated this senior citizen with how Frenchwomen handle aging,” celebrating their bodies,” and balancing their lives, as femmes d’un certain age, who were elegant and confident at 70 plus. At the end of each chapter, there is a nifty summary titled “French Lessons,” a very helpful, reinforcing time to think and rethink what has been covered in each chapter. Callan often quotes Frenchwomen she interviewed or conversed with, as in this definition of what joy de vivre actually is:

“Joie de vivre is about loving life, loving people, loving to be alive. It is about smiling, being in your heart, and being grateful for all the beautiful things in your life: being in good health, being able to hear, to see, to walk, being grateful for all the loving people…for the nature surrounding us and all it gives to us.” If a woman is grateful for all these things, isn’t it a given that happiness and joy will follow?

This book made me happy and joyful. I am very glad I read it.