Edie accepts the job at the bakery with very little information (to the point that she ends up at the wrong shop at first). Why do you suppose she didn’t do more research before heading off to France? What do you think you would have done in her situation?
Edie is young and impulsive. I think the fact that she didn’t do much research fits with her overall character. At that age, I might have done the same thing.
Edie takes a job pretty much sight unseen and details unknown. After caring for her mother throughout most of her '20’s, Edie lacked the confidence that she strike out on her own and do anything well. She was surprised to get the job given her limited work experience and French language skills.
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I think Edie did this because she was in a crisis. I remember at 29 feeling like I was getting old, haha. And, she’d spent so much time as a caregiver. I get why she just jumped at the chance for a big change.
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She was grabbing at life–she hadn’t had much of one up til then. And Paris–come on, who wouldn’t head out to Paris? Heck, I would have done the same thing—who knows, maybe I still will at almost 83–I want to go back again, after all–but not to work–lol
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I agree that Edie was young and feeling impulsive due to her circumstances. She had wanted to spend time with her mother but now that her mother died, she knows this is her chance to do something exciting. She saw the job ad that hit the mark, interviewed and was hired! She was picturing the heart of Paris and did not really have more questions - just wanted to give Paris a try! While Paris is in a different country for her, from Dublin, somehow it does not seem as taking as big a chance as suddenly moving from the United States, where I am. I feel it would not have been as hard for her to return home if she wanted. I’d like to think I would have done the same!
After the death of her mother Edie just wanted to get as far away as possible because of her grief. As a young person what could be more adventurous that moving to Paris where no one knows you.
Shirl- I agree with you. Edie needed to find a life of her own in a new place. Paris was a place she wanted to relocate, she got close.
She thought she had planned. But in reality it was a spur of the moment leap into the unknown. Fortunately for Edie, it turned out to be just what she needed.
I am a planner, married to a planner. I would have read about the city and the restaurants and the parks and the…etc. etc, etc. If I discovered that I had made such a glaring mistake, I very likely would have found a hotel and researched the place where I ended up. And then I would have blamed my husband who would have cheerfully taken the blame and then we would have enjoyed ourselves anyway.
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Edie was looking for an adventure. Too much research in advance can impact your experience when you embark on something new.
Becky, I laughed out loud when I read your response as it sounds exactly like something I would do. I, too, am a planner, and would have done so much more research on where I was going - and probably would have blamed the mistake on my husband as well. Who fortunately takes it all in stride and makes sure we have a good time wherever we are.
Edie is very young and inexperienced which probably affected her decision to just go to the bakery with little information. We also learn later that she was recovering from trauma which affects your decision making and she was looking to run away from her issues, which you don’t plan for when your in survival mode.
She was young and getting away from her previous life. She was also grieving her mother’s death. She needed a fresh start.