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Waking Up in Paris: Overcoming Darkness in the City of Light
Devastated by the unexpected end of her decades-long marriage, renowned spiritual teacher and intuitive guide Sonia Choquette undertook an equally unexpected move and relocated to Paris, the scene of many happy memories from her life as a student and young mother. Arriving in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, she found a Paris as traumatized by this unforeseen event as she had been by her divorce. Together, over the following years, she and the city she loves began a journey of healing that involved deep soul-searching and acceptance of a new, sometimes uncomfortable, reality. In this follow-up to Walking Home, Sonia shares her intimate thoughts and fears, as well as the unique challenges of setting up a new life in a foreign land. From moving into a freezing, malodorous apartment, to a more pleasant—yet haunted—flat across the Seine, to her current light-filled home, Sonia shares how these changes parallel her inner transformation. Along the way, Sonia regales readers with vivid stories of her unfortunate encounters with French hairdressers and beauticians, her adventures in French fashion, and her search for the perfect neighborhood café. Her companion throughout is the city of Paris—a character unto itself—which never ceases to fill her with wonder, surprise, and delight, and provides her with the spiritual strength to succeed in establishing her new life.
248 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2019
161 people are currently reading
1216 people want to read
About the author
Sonia Choquette
134 books480 followersGlobal author and speaker, Sonia Choquette is a highly regarded expert in the field of intuition. She is a world-renowned intuitive guide and spiritual teacher.
Author of 27 New York Times or International best sellers, her books have been published in 37 languages and 40 countries and have been read by over one million people.
Sonia’s work has been featured on Hay House radio, Oprah radio, Inc., ABC, FOX, Shape, Gaiam, and Wall Street Journal Live. Her teachings have attracted the love and admiration of social media followers across youtube, instagram, facebook and on her intuition-themed podcast "It's All Related", which she co-hosts with her daughters, Sonia & Sabrina Tully.
Sonia currently resides in France, and enjoys bringing all of her intuitive experience and human understanding to help her global audience reconnect with their Spirit, Guides, and inner vibes. Her mission is to help others feel whole by using all of their senses to create a life that is intuitively guided, empowered, authentic, and meaningful.
Author of 27 New York Times or International best sellers, her books have been published in 37 languages and 40 countries and have been read by over one million people.
Sonia’s work has been featured on Hay House radio, Oprah radio, Inc., ABC, FOX, Shape, Gaiam, and Wall Street Journal Live. Her teachings have attracted the love and admiration of social media followers across youtube, instagram, facebook and on her intuition-themed podcast "It's All Related", which she co-hosts with her daughters, Sonia & Sabrina Tully.
Sonia currently resides in France, and enjoys bringing all of her intuitive experience and human understanding to help her global audience reconnect with their Spirit, Guides, and inner vibes. Her mission is to help others feel whole by using all of their senses to create a life that is intuitively guided, empowered, authentic, and meaningful.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 23, 2018
This is at least the fifth book I've read about an American moving to France, and I enjoyed it more than the books written my mothers talking about how the French raise their kids, as well as the books by foodies. While Sonia Choquette does take one of her daughters with her to Europe, her daughter is an adult, not a child still in school. Moreover, while food comes up a lot in the memoir, it's not dwelled on, with included recipes; but more about those who work in or visit cafes, restaurants and food shops; and about the adventures the ladies have in those places. In addition, there is some talk about wine and other alcoholic beverages, but, once again, the drinking does not keep coming up over and over again, like it does in foodie books.
Basically, what you have with this memoir is the story of a middle-aged woman whose 30-year marriage has ended, and who wants a new way to live and a new way to view her life. Fortunately, Ms. Choquette does not come across as self-absorbed or self-pitying, so there's also no dwelling on what went wrong with her life. It does come up multiple times, but then attention is quickly turned to everyday life in Paris--apartments, shopping, eating out and in, haughty waiters, neighbors, celebrations, clothes, the seasons, terrorism, etc. Yes, there are terrorists attacks while the author is in France, but she describes how the French moved forward after those attacks with courage, and determination that their lives would not be controlled or changed by cowards.
Sonia Choquette is apparently a life counselor, in a combination Catholic-New Age vein, as well as an author and "spiritual" teacher. She mentioned various times in the story how her work involved having phone sessions with others, although she never specified what type of work she did on the phone. If you go to Ms. Choquette's website, you will see she offers guidance to those who want to change their lives, and "get into the flow of peaceful living". Apparently, she's not telling them to move to France, but that: "In our time spent together, I will reveal your soul plan, your soul’s purpose, your soul lessons, and obstacles. Then we look at where you are today, and how to best align with your plan, overcome your blocks, and get into the grace and flow of spirit immediately. The result is a quick solution and return to peace."
The problem with that promise, besides the fact her phone counseling costs $400 for 30 minutes, is there are no "quick solutions" to major life problems, no quick "return to peace". Her memoir clearly shows that. It took quite a bit of time in her new life in Paris to deal with her fears and feelings of being a divorced woman; to deal with living by herself for the first time in her life; to deal with playing the role of a guidance counselor to others for so many years. It took moving to a foreign land; moving to three different apartments; plus finally making a real effort to make new long-lasting friends, to make a whole new life for herself. Thus, why is she telling others she can provide them with a "quick solution" when she can do no such thing, and knows good and well they will have to change their own lives by changing their own lives? Furthermore, there is no way she would be able to "reveal" someone's "soul plan, soul’s purpose, soul lessons". We all have to figure that out for ourselves.
P.S. Telephone callers may want to note that the author was looking for an even nicer apartment at the end of the story.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine, and the hardback's dust cover is lovely.)
Basically, what you have with this memoir is the story of a middle-aged woman whose 30-year marriage has ended, and who wants a new way to live and a new way to view her life. Fortunately, Ms. Choquette does not come across as self-absorbed or self-pitying, so there's also no dwelling on what went wrong with her life. It does come up multiple times, but then attention is quickly turned to everyday life in Paris--apartments, shopping, eating out and in, haughty waiters, neighbors, celebrations, clothes, the seasons, terrorism, etc. Yes, there are terrorists attacks while the author is in France, but she describes how the French moved forward after those attacks with courage, and determination that their lives would not be controlled or changed by cowards.
Sonia Choquette is apparently a life counselor, in a combination Catholic-New Age vein, as well as an author and "spiritual" teacher. She mentioned various times in the story how her work involved having phone sessions with others, although she never specified what type of work she did on the phone. If you go to Ms. Choquette's website, you will see she offers guidance to those who want to change their lives, and "get into the flow of peaceful living". Apparently, she's not telling them to move to France, but that: "In our time spent together, I will reveal your soul plan, your soul’s purpose, your soul lessons, and obstacles. Then we look at where you are today, and how to best align with your plan, overcome your blocks, and get into the grace and flow of spirit immediately. The result is a quick solution and return to peace."
The problem with that promise, besides the fact her phone counseling costs $400 for 30 minutes, is there are no "quick solutions" to major life problems, no quick "return to peace". Her memoir clearly shows that. It took quite a bit of time in her new life in Paris to deal with her fears and feelings of being a divorced woman; to deal with living by herself for the first time in her life; to deal with playing the role of a guidance counselor to others for so many years. It took moving to a foreign land; moving to three different apartments; plus finally making a real effort to make new long-lasting friends, to make a whole new life for herself. Thus, why is she telling others she can provide them with a "quick solution" when she can do no such thing, and knows good and well they will have to change their own lives by changing their own lives? Furthermore, there is no way she would be able to "reveal" someone's "soul plan, soul’s purpose, soul lessons". We all have to figure that out for ourselves.
P.S. Telephone callers may want to note that the author was looking for an even nicer apartment at the end of the story.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine, and the hardback's dust cover is lovely.)
May 18, 2018
This is the second book by this author that was lent to me by a colleague who reads mostly her spiritual guidance books. Though I'm not interested in reading any of those, as one might expect, much of her belief system bleeds through the two books which I have read, but it isn't overwhelming or off-putting.
What I liked: I learned a lot about Paris. I fell in love with the details, the culture, the resilience of the people, the philosophy of Parisians, especially since this book took place during the Charlie Hebdo and subsequent Paris terrorist attacks. I found I related to Sonia's openness to living life with all of its challenges and choosing to be happy or gaining knowledge through the difficult times it inevitably brings. In other words, basic perspective flexibility.
What I disliked: For a spiritualist, Sonia complains on almost every page of the book. I could almost envision her stomping her feet as each new situation was encountered. As readers, we are voyeurs into her mental process of eventually getting to acceptance, which she does, but it came across (to me) as whining an awful lot. I much prefer her earlier book, Walking Home: A Pilgrimage from Humbled to Healed, which I found quite encouraging and inspiring. Both books I've read are good books to gain valuable information about locations (Camino de Santiago & Paris) and to receive encouragement in our shared human experiences.
What I liked: I learned a lot about Paris. I fell in love with the details, the culture, the resilience of the people, the philosophy of Parisians, especially since this book took place during the Charlie Hebdo and subsequent Paris terrorist attacks. I found I related to Sonia's openness to living life with all of its challenges and choosing to be happy or gaining knowledge through the difficult times it inevitably brings. In other words, basic perspective flexibility.
What I disliked: For a spiritualist, Sonia complains on almost every page of the book. I could almost envision her stomping her feet as each new situation was encountered. As readers, we are voyeurs into her mental process of eventually getting to acceptance, which she does, but it came across (to me) as whining an awful lot. I much prefer her earlier book, Walking Home: A Pilgrimage from Humbled to Healed, which I found quite encouraging and inspiring. Both books I've read are good books to gain valuable information about locations (Camino de Santiago & Paris) and to receive encouragement in our shared human experiences.
May 27, 2018
OMG, another insufferable woman whining her way through life. Sonia Choquette is an intuitive spiritual counselor?! You could have fooled me. She goes and has her hair chopped off - she didn't intuit that the coiffeur was bonkers? And then ends up with her eyebrows tattooed or dyed like Groucho Marx. She didn't feel the needles? And at one point she says her finances were precarious but she and her daughter ate breakfast out nearly every morning, treated themselves to dinner, go on vacations to Malta and Florence renting airbnbs while paying rent in Paris and renting Paris apartments they can't afford. I gave it two stars just for the descriptions of Paris and some cafés and restaurants I might try next trip.
June 17, 2018
Being a huge Sonia Choquette fan, I really enjoyed this book. The book gives the reader a first hand look at life in Paris. I wonder if I am the only one who thinks this book could be made into a wonderful movie!
August 9, 2018
Highly disappointing. I lost a ton of respect for the author herself. She is an overpriced intuitive that has no concept of the real world. And this is comming from a professional in the same line of work. So this is my professional opinion of her after reading this book that Hayhouse completely misrepresented as a book that helps you to overcome the pressures of being a spiritual councillor. This was nothing but a whiney, biography about an overprivlidged divorce that moves to Paris to heal herself.... If only we all had the resources to do that when our lives fall apart... Waaaa!!!! Her diamond shoes were too tight and can you believe there is poverty in Paris? You would never see two immigrants fight in the street in America!!! OMG! And it's so common there that nobody even pays attention. And they actually make you leave your backpacks in the front of the store in these terrible neighborhoods in Paris... Only in Paris though.... It clearly doesn't happen in the bad neighborhoods in the US.... But it's so exciting I think I will go back to the US and sell my 3 story Victorian House and move to Paris permantly.... Yes, great idea.... But I simply must move to a more posh part of Paris... But it's got to be affordable.... This is my impression of the author.... Completely clueless! I would never pay her 400$ an HR fee for a reading.... She has no concept on balance (the dark aspects of life are just as important as the light) she is certainly not as qualified as she thinks/has been lead to believe she is.... This is probably why I never meshed well with any of her decks. Any way, unless you are interested in learning about Paris don't waste your time or your money.
December 30, 2021
I found Waking Up In Paris by Sonia Choquette to be an enjoyable read. Her descriptions of the Parisian culture and every day life were so clear and cleverly written that I found myself feeling both frustrated (cafe owners, shop owners and customer service attitudes) as well as sympathizing with Sonia as she weathered her own emotional growth as she struggled to find her new "normal" as a single woman. Her walks through Paris as she and her daughter discovered each of the Paris arrondissements amenities (shops and cafes) as well as the people who lived there brought Paris to life.
January 12, 2022
I picked up Waking Up in Paris by Sonia Choquette because of the wonderful subtitle:
Overcoming Darkness in the City of Light. I generally don’t read much self help these days but I believe Choquette is an intuitive and a very well known one at that.
After her marriage breaks down soon after two deaths in the family, Choquette decides to make a new life for herself and her daughter in Paris.
Her timing isn’t great. They arrive not long after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack. And several other terrifying terrorist attacks occur during the two years covered by this book.
Choquette is underterred. This is her home now. I really enjoyed her honesty. Intuitive she might be, but she has a lot of trouble with apartments and French hospitality staff, to name a few things. She gradually works through lots of different problems that manifest themselves in very telling ways. For instance at a time when she felt she was locked out of Paris (unable to penetrate the brusque, unfriendly veneer of life in Paris generally) she was literally locked out of the apartment she was living in.
“Going to sleep that night, I reflected on how this experience mirrored the fear I had been carrying about being trapped here, simultaneously locked into my lease and emotionally locked out by Parisians. But then I realised that now, thanks to my own determination (and Patty’s fabulous help) the door to Paris was freely opened to me. I could come and go as I pleased and no-one and not one thing, could stop me now, both where I lived and in life in general, Hallelujah!”
An enjoyable read which is both a guide to living in Paris and to overcoming emotional hurdles and adjustments to a new life.
Overcoming Darkness in the City of Light. I generally don’t read much self help these days but I believe Choquette is an intuitive and a very well known one at that.
After her marriage breaks down soon after two deaths in the family, Choquette decides to make a new life for herself and her daughter in Paris.
Her timing isn’t great. They arrive not long after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack. And several other terrifying terrorist attacks occur during the two years covered by this book.
Choquette is underterred. This is her home now. I really enjoyed her honesty. Intuitive she might be, but she has a lot of trouble with apartments and French hospitality staff, to name a few things. She gradually works through lots of different problems that manifest themselves in very telling ways. For instance at a time when she felt she was locked out of Paris (unable to penetrate the brusque, unfriendly veneer of life in Paris generally) she was literally locked out of the apartment she was living in.
“Going to sleep that night, I reflected on how this experience mirrored the fear I had been carrying about being trapped here, simultaneously locked into my lease and emotionally locked out by Parisians. But then I realised that now, thanks to my own determination (and Patty’s fabulous help) the door to Paris was freely opened to me. I could come and go as I pleased and no-one and not one thing, could stop me now, both where I lived and in life in general, Hallelujah!”
An enjoyable read which is both a guide to living in Paris and to overcoming emotional hurdles and adjustments to a new life.
October 3, 2021
This was a fast, enjoyable read. I felt I was there in Paris with the author. I wonder what happened with the ghost? I would have liked a wrap up. Did he ever come back? Was he there all the time?
Overall, I’m sorry the story had to end.
Overall, I’m sorry the story had to end.
October 10, 2018
I bought this book because I love reading about people's experiences in Paris, and also because I enjoyed one of the author's previous books, Walking Home, about her journey on the Camino de Santiago. While I did enjoy Waking Up in Paris, I did find myself rolling my eyes a lot as I read it, and becoming a bit impatient with the author.
What I liked: Choquette is certainly an engaging author, and she presents many interesting (and honest) depictions of her life in Paris, both the good and the bad. It's not my favorite book on the topic (my favorites: Almost French by Sarah Turnbull for contemporary memoir, or A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway for historical), but it's entertaining.
What I struggled with: Choquette has a very fluffy bunny New Age point of view, which I can respect as her spiritual perspective, but she presents it in such a simplistic way that I couldn't help rolling my eyes at times. Whenever things go her way, she's high-fiving her daughter as she thanks her angels for helping out, and whenever something "bad" happens (such as a disastrous hair cut), she's pondering the lessons the universe intends from this experience. Meanwhile, the more serious issues at stake (whether terrorist attacks or her own heartbreak from her divorce) tend to be glossed over fairly quickly. If you don't share the author's point of view on spiritual matters, it's a bit hard to take, at times.
Nevertheless, this is a fun book about a stranger trying to live in Paris, one of my favorite themes, and I don't regret reading it.
What I liked: Choquette is certainly an engaging author, and she presents many interesting (and honest) depictions of her life in Paris, both the good and the bad. It's not my favorite book on the topic (my favorites: Almost French by Sarah Turnbull for contemporary memoir, or A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway for historical), but it's entertaining.
What I struggled with: Choquette has a very fluffy bunny New Age point of view, which I can respect as her spiritual perspective, but she presents it in such a simplistic way that I couldn't help rolling my eyes at times. Whenever things go her way, she's high-fiving her daughter as she thanks her angels for helping out, and whenever something "bad" happens (such as a disastrous hair cut), she's pondering the lessons the universe intends from this experience. Meanwhile, the more serious issues at stake (whether terrorist attacks or her own heartbreak from her divorce) tend to be glossed over fairly quickly. If you don't share the author's point of view on spiritual matters, it's a bit hard to take, at times.
Nevertheless, this is a fun book about a stranger trying to live in Paris, one of my favorite themes, and I don't regret reading it.
November 17, 2018
After living in Paris for two years, the author proclaims that Paris was the "tough love" she needed to get back on her feet after a tough divorce. Paris is NOT an easy place to live, full stop! I think this is a great book and can appeal to many audiences: to lovers of the City of Lights and people starting over for whatever reason, both young and old.
Sonia's honesty about her ups and downs are very real. This book doesn't end with all her issues tied up in a neat little bow like so many memoirs do. Fascinating discussions about the difference between Americans and the French are not just interesting page fillers but about what is good (or bad) about both cultures and why THEY want to come here and WE want to go there.
Having moved to Paris a week after Charlie Hebdo, and then the Bataclan terrorism, followed by the South of France holiday tragedy is an interesting back drop to a story of a woman wanting to leave the negativity behind, only to find a city torn to shreds emotionally. She also addresses the refugee situation due to the war in Syria from a very personal perspective; while we in the US mourn this situation from afar, Parisians witnessed it personally on every street.
These things make Sonia understand that her problems are small in comparison. But then again, not in a way that dismisses personal pain and confusion or in a whoo-hoo "just believe and it will be good" kind of way.
I highly recommend this book. It's a very gentle read, yet powerful in how it leaves you thinking about addressing conflict in our lives.
Sonia's honesty about her ups and downs are very real. This book doesn't end with all her issues tied up in a neat little bow like so many memoirs do. Fascinating discussions about the difference between Americans and the French are not just interesting page fillers but about what is good (or bad) about both cultures and why THEY want to come here and WE want to go there.
Having moved to Paris a week after Charlie Hebdo, and then the Bataclan terrorism, followed by the South of France holiday tragedy is an interesting back drop to a story of a woman wanting to leave the negativity behind, only to find a city torn to shreds emotionally. She also addresses the refugee situation due to the war in Syria from a very personal perspective; while we in the US mourn this situation from afar, Parisians witnessed it personally on every street.
These things make Sonia understand that her problems are small in comparison. But then again, not in a way that dismisses personal pain and confusion or in a whoo-hoo "just believe and it will be good" kind of way.
I highly recommend this book. It's a very gentle read, yet powerful in how it leaves you thinking about addressing conflict in our lives.
June 19, 2018
Sonia Choquette, well-known spiritual leader, was desperate. After reconciling with her estranged husband, he decided to divorce her after all. A 32-year marriage was over. Sonia was so distraught; her daughter gave her a choice: either go to a hospital or move to France. Sonia had always loved Paris, so she and her daughter, Sabrina, moved to Paris. This book is Sonia’s account of their difficulties, hardships, and disappointments, as well as her joys and triumphs, as they tried to make Paris their home. She also shares with her reader the way she handled the difficulties of moving to another country.
This is a realistic and enjoyable introduction to France, its people and its culture. It describes the beauty of Paris and its people, as well as their quirks and their differences from Americans. This is a candid and truthful account. Sonia tells us everything about her experiences. It is about her love story with Paris, however, she does not fail to see it in a very realistic light.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a realistic and enjoyable introduction to France, its people and its culture. It describes the beauty of Paris and its people, as well as their quirks and their differences from Americans. This is a candid and truthful account. Sonia tells us everything about her experiences. It is about her love story with Paris, however, she does not fail to see it in a very realistic light.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 27, 2018
This is a fabulous book, but it is not like Sonia's other books. This is a personal, vulnerable account of how she found herself in a city that drove her nuts! Everything about this book is enjoyable. From the temper tantrums to the second-guessing to the moments of grace and awakening. If you have ever been through a life change so big it made you question everything about who you are, this book is for you. If you are thinking about making a change that would rock the foundation of your current daily life, this is the book for you. Oh and don't forget your white Parisian button down shirt :)
September 12, 2018
An absolutely beautiful journey! Warm, funny, and heartfelt, you feel like you're right there with her, celebrating her accomplishments, or traversing the dark path of heart break. This one will leave you feeling inspired to go out there in the real world, take some risk, and see what life hands you! Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!
November 19, 2022
This memoir by metaphysical teacher Sonia Choquette was neither great nor horrible. Her experience of rebuilding her life post-divorce after being guided to move from her big home and full life in
Chicago to Paris, seemed like an interesting premise. Being a psychic like myself, I was looking forward to how she navigated both her inner landscape and its connection to life in Paris. I have never been to that intriguing city, so her insights and vignettes were often interesting and a bit charming, along with her reports of navigating the traumas of moving there during a time of expected terrorist attacks. However the writing was not great; it had no "affect" so to speak, not much if any emotional tone and nothing deep, compelling, memorable, insightful, instructive. Her focus is very much on food, alcohol, friends, fashion, and rather shallow experiences which possibly could have been made less shallow if she were able to address her inner life with more than a surface level sentence here and there. I don't regret this quick read, but I can't recommend the book--I have some friends who only read memoirs, and sadly I feel like I can't pass it on to any of them as the writing is just so very meh.
Chicago to Paris, seemed like an interesting premise. Being a psychic like myself, I was looking forward to how she navigated both her inner landscape and its connection to life in Paris. I have never been to that intriguing city, so her insights and vignettes were often interesting and a bit charming, along with her reports of navigating the traumas of moving there during a time of expected terrorist attacks. However the writing was not great; it had no "affect" so to speak, not much if any emotional tone and nothing deep, compelling, memorable, insightful, instructive. Her focus is very much on food, alcohol, friends, fashion, and rather shallow experiences which possibly could have been made less shallow if she were able to address her inner life with more than a surface level sentence here and there. I don't regret this quick read, but I can't recommend the book--I have some friends who only read memoirs, and sadly I feel like I can't pass it on to any of them as the writing is just so very meh.
June 4, 2018
I got this book from Goodreads #giveaway, and I guess I didn't read the entire description well enough. At it's core, it is about a woman who moves to Paris with her adult daughter so they can both get over failed relationships. That's fine, but the part I originally missed was that the author is a spiritual and "intuition" guide (I'm not sure how you teach intuition, but it must pay pretty well), which amounts to attributing everything good that happens to angels, or Jesus, or spirits, or saints, or the universe (she's very diverse in her beliefs). Anything that seems to be a struggle is her soul pulling her in another direction. The hall lights not working properly in her recently renovated apartment could only be the spirit of her dead father (grandfather? not sure) saying hello and "playing", not faulty wiring. I know everyone has different beliefs and ways of dealing with things, but I had a hard time relating to her. I spent most of the book alternating between wishing she had thought to go to a therapist, and wondering how you get into making enough money to live in Paris by selling this spiritual/intuition crap to people over the phone.
June 18, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very natural and sweet and as i had it on the audible app it felt as though she was a friend telling me all about her adventures. There wasn't any lightning strikes moments within the story but i liked that. It felt natural and loved the girly mistakes with slightly mad hairdresser giving a horror cut and the awful brows which let's face it ladies, we can all relate to that and for all the people saying that if she was in touch with her guides they would have steered her clear of the mistakes it was by having the mistakes she was able to learn and progress with her self worth. This book for me was like a lovely boat trip (on the Seine) and it was worth every moment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2018
This book fell into my hands thanks to a Goodreads giveaway. I'm so grateful for having had a chance to glimpse into the author's life as she decides to start from zero and move to Paris after the dissolution of her marriage. I appreciated her honesty in describing her emotional state of mind while she was trying to overcome the heartbreak. It was thoroughly enjoyable to learn how she had to tackle all the challenges associated with this move. Not only did I learn about life in Paris, but I also got a few good tips on how to approach the "dark times" which one might encounter.
August 28, 2018
I've enjoyed reading this book and got to know France a bit more. While the city is magical and sensual, its service management isn't very efficient. Sonia charts her new life in this romantic city and shares her frustrations about finding an apartment to rent and dealing with service. She also writes about her concerns about fitting in with the French culture. She gradually gets a grip on her new life with faith and hope and conquers the fear of the unknown with a positive mindset.
July 2, 2018
I enjoy books about Paris and so I was drawn to the title. The main focus of this book though was the author's practical personal journey toward rediscovering herself, and building her new world in a new country. It didn't really delve into the essence of Paris I was hoping to read about. I still enjoyed it though, and I liked the short easy chapters format.
May 7, 2020
Absolutely spoke to me on every level and I will read this book again and again!
April 6, 2024
A quirky, uplifting, imperfect, yet inspirational story just like Paris itself. Sonia has experienced the deaths of two family members and her husband of 32 years leaving her all within six months. She walks the Camino de Santiago and finds spiritual solace. Upon returning, her husband wants to get back together so she invites him to walk the Camino with her so they can find that solace together. A few weeks prior to the trip, Sonia receives an email from her attorney that her estranged husband is backing out and wants the divorce again. Shattered, she walks the Camino alone again for the second time only to return to find her house filled with sewage from a backed-up pipe and everything she owns stinking and rotting. Close to a nervous breakdown, her daughter says check yourself into a hospital or move to Paris and start over. Hmm, tough choice. Sonia's daughter moves to Paris with her as she has also broken up with a long-term relationship. They rent a long-term rental sight unseen and you know what happens next: it's not as portrayed online. It is quite comical and charming. You can feel Sonia's frustration yet optimism. If you like Paris, you will like this book which is both a travelogue of several of its neighborhoods as well as insightful on some of its history and culture and why the Parisians are the way they are.
May 4, 2018
An honest memoir of one woman’s transformation from broken to filling the cracks with gold in the alluring city of (self) love- Paris💗
March 24, 2024
Such a joyful read!!!
March 4, 2019
This book is about new beginnings. It’s written by an American author, recently divorced, who moves to Paris with one of her adult daughters, who has recently experienced a break-up too. What I like about this book is how the author focuses on the everyday little things - drinking coffee at a cafe, standing in line, getting the laundry done, buying beauty products at a French pharmacy, and what it was about these seemingly simple tasks that leads her to the bigger steps of change in her life: how chatting with store owners leads her to learning French etiquette or how buying beauty products leads her to an awareness and focus on her inner self-care.
The chapters were short and easy to digest and I enjoyed the storytelling. I didn’t feel there was a destination to which the story was headed in the end. Like a Parisian might, I simply enjoyed going along for the ride. It was comforting not to have a huge external transformation revealed at the end of the novel. In real life, there isn’t aways a external defining moment that marks true, authentic inner change. So by writing or reading about these inner moments, we can remember they are there, in our own lives, and we then can begin to cherish and honor these as the monumental moments that define us. This is our heroine’s journey: a quiet, contemplative revelation:
“Since moving here (to Paris) I have spoken with hundreds and hundreds of other women- clients and friends- who, having learned of my move to Paris, have shared how much they, too, wish they could leave their old lives behind and begin anew as well. And I understand why. It sounds like such a dream. But I also know that as compelling as Paris itself is, their real yearning, and what I really care seeking when I moved here, is for a life that is rich, beautiful, soul satisfying, uplifting, and authentic instead of one that beats them down. That is what we all want in the end. I found my spiritual home in Paris; someone else might find it in Buenos Aires, Rome, Montreal, or Taos. Or maybe you’re living there right now but just haven’t opened your eyes to it’s inner beauty.
The endless challenge no matter where any of us lives is to choose what we take from all that our surroundings have to offer and out it together in a way that creates our own happiness. I am so glad I was willing to take that on. But we do each have to let go of what isn’t working for us; face our deepest fears; ask for help; and be messy, vulnerable, and willing to give up being in control...I am still learning all of this and more, but thankfully, now life’s lessons aren’t painful. They are exciting” (p.223).
The chapters were short and easy to digest and I enjoyed the storytelling. I didn’t feel there was a destination to which the story was headed in the end. Like a Parisian might, I simply enjoyed going along for the ride. It was comforting not to have a huge external transformation revealed at the end of the novel. In real life, there isn’t aways a external defining moment that marks true, authentic inner change. So by writing or reading about these inner moments, we can remember they are there, in our own lives, and we then can begin to cherish and honor these as the monumental moments that define us. This is our heroine’s journey: a quiet, contemplative revelation:
“Since moving here (to Paris) I have spoken with hundreds and hundreds of other women- clients and friends- who, having learned of my move to Paris, have shared how much they, too, wish they could leave their old lives behind and begin anew as well. And I understand why. It sounds like such a dream. But I also know that as compelling as Paris itself is, their real yearning, and what I really care seeking when I moved here, is for a life that is rich, beautiful, soul satisfying, uplifting, and authentic instead of one that beats them down. That is what we all want in the end. I found my spiritual home in Paris; someone else might find it in Buenos Aires, Rome, Montreal, or Taos. Or maybe you’re living there right now but just haven’t opened your eyes to it’s inner beauty.
The endless challenge no matter where any of us lives is to choose what we take from all that our surroundings have to offer and out it together in a way that creates our own happiness. I am so glad I was willing to take that on. But we do each have to let go of what isn’t working for us; face our deepest fears; ask for help; and be messy, vulnerable, and willing to give up being in control...I am still learning all of this and more, but thankfully, now life’s lessons aren’t painful. They are exciting” (p.223).
September 3, 2018
Sometimes books show up in your life at exactly the right moment. The parallel between author Sonia Choquette as she deals with the break up of her marriage by moving to Paris was a soothing remedy to the challenges I am facing in life, and brought laughter in this time of personal adversity. I was able to lose myself, and my problems, in the clear imagery of the author describing the etiquette, challenges, and food of Paris.
This passage was particularly helpful:
...we set about creating an altar in the apartment, an absolute must in our home...statues of the Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Saint Theresa we had collected over the years, as they were the providers of famine strength and nurturing comfort to whom we prayed for emotional healing. On our altar were also images of our favourite feminine Hindu deities, picked up on our many trips to India, which we also brought along with us. These included Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance (I needed all the help from her I could get); Durga, the goddess who alleviates suffering (she worked alongside Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Saint Theresa); and Kali, the goddess of death and destruction and the one who liberates you and brings you freedom once you face your fears.
This passage was particularly helpful:
...we set about creating an altar in the apartment, an absolute must in our home...statues of the Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Saint Theresa we had collected over the years, as they were the providers of famine strength and nurturing comfort to whom we prayed for emotional healing. On our altar were also images of our favourite feminine Hindu deities, picked up on our many trips to India, which we also brought along with us. These included Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance (I needed all the help from her I could get); Durga, the goddess who alleviates suffering (she worked alongside Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Saint Theresa); and Kali, the goddess of death and destruction and the one who liberates you and brings you freedom once you face your fears.
December 28, 2019
I enjoyed the descriptions of adjusting to life in Paris. I didn’t find Sonia whiny. She was struggling and she was honest about the difficulty she was having. I sense there was a lot more going on, and she didn’t really deeply dive into that, which is a shame because it might have made this a more compelling read.
March 23, 2024
“There just comes a time when you decide to be happy and that is all.”
A psychic gets divorced and moves to Paris. Is there a book that could speak to me more right now? Lol. I think not. I loved listening to Sonia’s story. While different than my own I found comfort in her words and hope in her healing. Maybe one day I’ll be able to fulfill my dream to move to Paris, too.
A psychic gets divorced and moves to Paris. Is there a book that could speak to me more right now? Lol. I think not. I loved listening to Sonia’s story. While different than my own I found comfort in her words and hope in her healing. Maybe one day I’ll be able to fulfill my dream to move to Paris, too.
September 27, 2018
With an up-coming first trip to Paris, Sonia's new life in Paris gave me great ideas on what to expect as well as places to go. I enjoyed getting to know more about Sonia and her daughter on a more personal basis.
October 18, 2018
Page turner
Enjoyed every adventure and obstacle Sonia faced the lesson I got out of this book is prayer life is important. And enjoying life and your surroundings with friends is a blessing. Be authentic.
Enjoyed every adventure and obstacle Sonia faced the lesson I got out of this book is prayer life is important. And enjoying life and your surroundings with friends is a blessing. Be authentic.
May 9, 2018
Just what I needed to read at this time. I am grateful for her honesty in describing her difficult transformation from an old comfortable life into a completely new and strange one.
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