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Lessons From Madame Chic: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Review

past times Laura Scanlon

Not long ago, on a whim, I read Lessons From Madame Chic, past times Jennifer L. Scott. On the surface, it's a fluffy chick-lit, self-help form of thing. It was literary oculus candy that caught my oculus when I saw it on the library shelf. The writer describes lessons she learned piece living every bit an telephone substitution pupil inwards Paris, inwards the household of an aristocratic, middle-aged, French lady, whom she dubs "Madame Chic."

As I read the majority I realized that its themes--the hallmarks of French chic every bit the writer describes them--are many of the things I guide maintain been striving for lately (and I suspect I'm non lone inwards my striving):

• Creating a classic, stylish, minimalist wardrobe;

• Eating delicious foods inwards an utterly satisfying withal temperate way;

• Enjoying beautiful things piece rejecting materialism;

• Maintaining a beautiful, clutter-free home;

 And virtually of all:

• Creating a routine to one's life—or fifty-fifty only a rhythm--and enjoying the peace that comes with it.

As the woman rear of immature children, virtually days I experience that I battle entropy with every breath.

Simplicity? Elegance? Peace? Order? Oui, s'il vous plait! I’ll select only about of what Madame Chic over at that topographic point has.

....

As I mean value over this purported "French" means of life as well as the attraction I experience to it, I wonder: does this acquit with the Christian life? Or is it all hedonism--the "museum life," every bit Jennifer Fulwiler describes it?

On the i hand, at that topographic point is virtue, to hold upwards sure, to realize that i isn't inwards command of one's life, to guide maintain the chaos as well as clutter as well as know that i has to allow become as well as allow God as well as what guide maintain you. At the same time, I’m quite positive that simplicity, order, as well as temperance are beneficial to a virtuous life. And sure God's command to produce amount the public as well as subdue it includes bringing gild to one's ain niggling corner of the earth?

....

Certainly, non every "lesson" from Madame Chic is profound. And no i shout for in this majority is actually new. It is but i inwards a long business of books riding the recent moving ridge of Francophilia alongside American readers (though it is my favorite of those that I guide maintain read). Nevertheless, it's remarkable to read i fluffy niggling majority as well as respect that it describes so much worth striving for. And the whole shout for of the majority is that these objects of my striving are obtainable.

I am encouraged.

Laura is a Catholic Christian, a mother, a part-time lawyer, as well as a recovering overthinker. She writes monthly hither at on books as well as culture, as well as blogs regularly at This Felicitous Life. 

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