Eat, Walk, Write: An American Senior's Year of Adventure in Paris and Tuscany

by Boyd Lemon

At the age of 70 the author retired and set out to fulfill a life long dream of living in another country. He planned to live in the world's most beautiful city, Paris, for two years, but returned home to California after a year in Paris and Tuscany. He takes you on his journey, experiencing the joys and challenges of living in those two storied parts of the world.

Genres: Nonfiction

190 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2011

About the author

Quote From Author Boyd Lemon:

I lived most of my life in Southern California. I am a retired lawyer who reinvented himself as an author. I moved to Boston in March 2007, where I stayed until spring of 2010. I loved it -- great city. From Boston, at the age of 69, I moved to Paris for a year. I now live in St. Marys, Georgia.
I have written five books: "Retirement: A Memoir and Guide; "Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages," a memoir about my journey to understand my role in the destruction of my three marriages; "Unexpected Love and Other Stories," a collection of short stories about life, love and human frailties and strengths; "Eat, Walk, Write: An American Senior's Year of Adventure in Paris and Tuscany;" and a law book. I have also written and published two short books, "Games," five of my short stories; and "Diverity: A Road Trip Across the U.S.A.".

I'm learning to draw. I love good food and wine, listening to good music and walking on the beach, in beautiful cities like Paris and Boston and on mountain trails.

I love that so many of my life dreams have come true: Lived in a home with a stunning 180 degree view of the California coast, Traveled to Africa, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, France, Ireland, Costa Rica....

I Am a working artist!

Here is what someone else wrote about me.

“Life Begins at 70……

After a stellar 40-year career as a top and nationally recognized attorney in his field (Time Magazine called him first after Martha Stewart's conviction of insider trading), Boyd Lemon followed a deep calling, and began the life of an artist as he neared retirement age. Following his heart led him to face a painful past, and re-invent himself as artist and writer. The journey as artist began in the idyllic coastal town of Ventura, California, then on to the venerable literary, music and art scenes of Boston, and finally to living the dream life of many an artist, a Bohemian year on the Left Bank in Paris, with a final few months in the hills of Tuscany before returning to California. Once Lemon started writing, his passion, combined with years of discipline as a professional, gained the notice of world-renowned writer and teacher, Natalie Goldberg, who invited Lemon to her prestigious year-long workshop for writers in Taos. His book, Digging Deep, is a memoir about Boyd Lemon's role in the destruction of his three marriages. This is a journey to understand one man's role in marriages that ended in divorce, confusion, bitterness and blame. The Pearl has been the journey of the writing, for the writer himself, and the peace that writing has brought him. Lemon lived on the cusp of the moralistic generation that grew up in the 1940s and 50s and the next generation that embraced sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, as well as equality and independence for women. The transition rocked all pretenses of his working class upbringing. The writer's hope is that revealing the path of his own struggle to clarity and peace leads others to their own awakening, as so many modern couples and individuals deal with understanding and defining the new order in relationships, as well as facing their own past.

Reviews

[Vic Heaney]

I clearly (if you have read my own book "Vic's Big Walk") do all three of the above - eating, walking, writing.

Also, I am what Americans politely call a senior. In fact I am a few months older than Boyd Lemon.

Although I have lived in France for many years I have never been to Paris, but my wife and I have a visit there scheduled for July.

And because one of my daughters lives in Italy, I am familiar with Tuscany.

So It seemed this book was tailor-made for me.

It is an excellent read. It give much information about Paris - about what to see, what to do as a visitor. It also, because Boyd went with the intention of staying for one or two years warns of many of the hurdles to jump or perhaps fall at if you are there as a resident rather than a visitor - most of these caused by French bureaucracy or the Gallic mindset.

Boyd paints a warts and all picture of real life in Paris. In addition he reveals much of himself, of his inadequacy with the French language, of his loneliness in a sea of foreigners, and glimpses of his life, complete with successes and failures, back home in the USA.

There are side trips to other places in France, to England, Spain and Portugal, and a confrontation with street crime.

There are other parallels between Boyd's life and my own so I shall be reading his other books. I highly recommend this one to anyone thinking of spending time in Paris, especially if they intend to be more than a casual visitor.

[Becky]

I expected to enjoy this book and I did enjoy reading about the author's adventures and challenges living abroad. The editing problems lowered my enthusiasm, however. I read the Kindle version and hope these (and other mistakes) were not in the paperback: Carry Grant (instead of Cary), church alter (should be altar), ocean peaking out between trees (should be peeking unless he means they're really tall?), potato leak soup (should be leek), plack (should be plaque), white table clothes (should be cloths), crepes spelled correctly except once as crespes, one it's that should be its, and nick knacks should be knick knacks. There were more, but these are some examples of what drove me crazy as I read. I did enjoy Mr. Boyd telling how some French words are pronounced. I would expect more precision in writing from a former lawyer and writer. This would have been five stars instead of four from me if not for the editing. I'm picky, I know.

[Marilyn Maya]

I read "Eat Walk,Write" in a hurry which was a mistake. This book has become one to savor. It has much to offer on many levels. I like that in a book. It is not only a book about walking food and writing. It is a book about a man who is searching for a new life. I like that in a man. I tend to like books where the author's voice tells me that I would like the person behind the books. I tend not to like books that are self indulgent, mean or "holier than thou" I like the quiet moments of this book, the mistakes that were made and admitted to in his adventure. I am looking forward to his next book. I will read it slower.

[~reader~]

I have always wanted to travel to Paris (and hopefully will one day). This is a great story of a man who goes to Paris later in his life and struggles to learn the language and fit in. You can practically live vicariously through his stories. Great read.

[Priscilla]

This book is in desperate need of a good editor. It is an example of the pitfalls of self-publishing. I didn't make it to Tuscany with him (in the book, figuratively speaking) because reading through Paris was challenging enough. It set my teeth on edge frequently.

[Cathie]

A rather tedious blow by blow description of a retired Americans walks and meals in Paris, and other areas visited during a 1 year stay there.

[Beth]

Interesting

Loved reading about the trials and tribulations of an American living in Europe, not knowing the language. Fascinating and amusing.

[Marice Hill]

The tile of this book pretty much sums it up. Mr Lemon takes us through his time in Paris highlighting his favourite meals, the many restaurants, cafes and bars and the journey's he takes to discover them. He explores the neighbourhoods on foot, visits many museums and then shares his findings with us. I couldn't help but think that the walking had to be a good thing considering the amount of amazing sounding food he seemed to be eating. He also gives us a personal look into trying to get by in a country were you don't speak the language. His frustrations at the lack of helpfulness has you feeling frustrated with him. Thank goodness for the rare but wonderfully helpful people that keep him from throwing in the towel early on. As someone who has been bitten by the travel bug but doesn't have the resources to satisfy the itch, this book gives you a little taste of what it would be like to live in Paris and spend your time exploring. The only real negative was that as someone who doesn't speak French either, it was hard to read all the French words knowing that I was pronouncing 90% or more of them wrong in my head. Just when you think you can't read about another walk, food description or museum visit he stops and changes tack for a bit to keep you going.

[Alison]

kindle - 191 pgs. travel stories