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Interesting read
I would say 80% accuracy, however to be taken with a grain of salt (age of their friends, neighborhood they are living in, big city life). It's always difficult for me to read books about French culture, as I always notice generalizations, or inaccuracies, or sometimes wrong interpretations.
Fun fact: yes, if you ask me, a French person, "how are you doing?", I'll answer the question honestly. (Can't get used to the American way).

What The Bonjour Effect details is not how to speak French, but the conversation and language conventions used by the French. It‘s more of a social history, with a large dose of language and linguistics thrown in. It‘s approachable, funny, and a great balance between history and personal stories from the authors. Definitely recommend if you‘re planning a trip to France anytime.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2019

I read some of this before we left, and am still reading it here. The first chapter is a must, since it discusses the everpresence of “bonjour.” The best greeting I‘ve had since arriving was the 3-4 year old girl who greeted me as she was running down the stairs to the ladies‘ loo with her mom. The French train them young, and everyone greets you, as you greet them back. It‘s more genuine and yet somehow not more over-friendly than in the U.S.🇫🇷

Bonjour, new books! I‘m so happy you‘re here with me. Doesn‘t everyone greet their Book Outlet Boxing Day Book order like this? Or maybe I‘m the only one! #bookhaul #bookoutlet #bonjournewbooks

#SeptemberDanes #BonjourMadame
@Cinfhen @Kalalalatja

At the end of the war, after France was liberated from the Germans, the French threw the nationalist baby out with the bathwater and, until the terrorist attacks of 2015, most French intuitively equated displays of nationalism with fascism.

I learned a lot more than I expected in this entertaining resource written by a Québécois couple. If you don't have time for the whole book, skip to the epilogue, which offers 12 Guiding Principles of French Conversation. My favourite: "The French say no even when they mean yes."

Officials are forbidden from asking questions about race and religion, so it's impossible for anyone to factually assess any situation related to race and religion in any objective manner. More important, it's impossible to disprove the inflammatory rhetoric of the National Front Party with numbers. There are none.

When we arrived in France, we tried to open a bank account, but since we came from abroad and were self-employed, 3 banking institutions told us they "could not" open an account for us. Their claim was not only false. It was also illegal. The Bank of France had intervened 51,000 times in 2013 to force French banks to follow the law.

Prior to the French Revolution, the French were taxed on apparent wealth, not real wealth. Tax collectors literally looked at people's homes and drew up the bill.

It wasn't until the 1990s that the French began to wake up to the fact that there are considerably more French speakers outside France than inside. The numbers today are significant: 275 million people speak French in the world, in 4 dozen countries. France accounts for only 1/4 of the total, but has never considered the French-speaking world as a potential source of strength.

The French are voracious consumers of bandes dessinées, and comics, usually referred to by the acronym BD (bay-day), are considered an art form of their own. France is the world's third market for comics after Japan and the US, but it represents a staggering 12% of the publishing business, compared to 8% in the US.

Linguistic nitpicking is a pretty popular pastime in France. It's not the exclusive domain of France's elite or literary circles. French people from all backgrounds talk about semantic nuances. It's one of the most startling peculiarities of French culture.

My mother's first language was French and I attended a French language school, but I had no idea that the dictation exercises we did (from Grade 2-12) are a unique ritual of French education. It makes sense, however, because as the authors point out: "French grammar is often inaudible." Anyone else remember dictées?

In today's French, 'copain' implies a love relation. Strangely, the French have no direct translation of 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend.' Quebeckers do. They call a girlfriend 'une blonde' and a boyfriend, 'un chum.'

Though it translates as "good day," bonjour has several meanings, none of which have anything to do with the day. The most primary function of bonjour is to announce, "I am here." In France, you don't really exist until you say so. I greet therefore I am.

Highly interesting, especially for those who are familiar with Quebec French and want to know what France French culture is like. The chapters on language appealed to me most. The chapter on school and "culture générale" made me want to read more non-fiction with a vengeance! It is fun to know stuff.

I must admit I'd probably avoid using tax shelters for that reason as well (although in my case it would be the Canada Revenue Agency, not les Finances publiques).

The Délégation générale à la langue française et aux langues de France monitors various fields, reports back on English or other foreign words creeping into French vocabulary, and then "comes up with equivalents for these words, or finds already existing French ones, which they often get from Quebec."

So this is the OQLF's cousin! (Office québécoise de la langue française) ?

Why yes I am sitting on the couch saying "pipole" to myself for no apparent reason. ?

Bwaaaaahaha at the Quebec premier's name's etymology! 😆