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Book Summary and Reviews of Paris in Love by Eloisa James

Paris in Love by Eloisa James

Paris in Love

A Memoir

by Eloisa James

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  • Published:
  • Apr 2012, 272 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

In 2009, New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James took a leap that many people dream about: she sold her house, took a sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor, and moved her family to Paris. Paris in Love: A Memoir chronicles her joyful year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

With no classes to teach, no committee meetings to attend, no lawn to mow or cars to park, Eloisa revels in the ordinary pleasures of life - discovering corner museums that tourists overlook, chronicling Frenchwomen's sartorial triumphs, walking from one end of Paris to another. She copes with her Italian husband's notions of quality time; her two hilarious children, ages eleven and fifteen, as they navigate schools - not to mention puberty - in a foreign language; and her mother-in-law Marina's raised eyebrow in the kitchen (even as Marina overfeeds Milo, the family dog).

Paris in Love invites the reader into the life of a most enchanting family, framed by la ville de l'amour.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Starred Review. While the children struggled then triumphed in school and with new friends, the dog grew fatter, and Alessandro advised his French conversation partner in affairs of the heart, James discovered a 'materialist's playground' in Paris, finding just that precious objet or museum or nibble, and relaying in her sensible, reflective prose the lessons to take home and dream over." - Publishers Weekly

"Starred Review. Not just for Francophiles or even James's legion of fans, this delectable confection, which includes recipes, is more than a visit to a glorious city: it is also a tour of a family, a marriage, and a love that has no borders. Très magnifique!" - Library Journal

"What a beautiful and delightful tasting menu of a book: the kids, the plump little dog, the Italian husband. Reading this memoir was like wandering through a Parisian patisserie in a dream. I absolutely loved it." - Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

This information about Paris in Love was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Dolena W. (Garland, TX)

Do not eat while reading this book! You will choke!
Yes, you will choke with laughter. I have read lots of wonderful fiction by Eloisa James, but her skill at non-fiction is even better. This book is hilarious. It consists of snippets of events that occurred during a year in Paris. Reading each snippet is like repeatedly picking up small pieces of candy and every time you get something different but delicious. Deliciously funny in this case. I found myself laughing out loud at James's wit, at her ability to find and see the humor in the smallest of interactions with her family, especially her children, and with Paris itself. This is a book I will read and enjoy again, and it is a book I will give only to my best friends, those who value and thrive on laughter.

Irene B. (Denton, TX)

Paris in Love
I liked this book~a lot. The author transported me to Paris. I will never go there in person but reading this book almost made me smell the French food, yummy. She has a talent for description. The middle of the book got a little travelogish, no matter, I loved it all. Write about Montreal next.

Nancy C. (Newton, KS)

Paris In Love
A delightful memoir of a family's year in Paris written in the style of a blogger or essayist.. Seen through the eyes of a breast cancer survivor who moves with her husband and two children for a year-long sabbatical to Paris; it captivates the reader with every turn of the page. While cancer does not define the author, it sharpens her appreciation for life and the beautiful city of Paris.

Carolyn (Summerville, SC)

Loved "Paris in Love"!
I very much enjoyed this charming book! The author relates her observations and experiences over the course of the year her family moved to Paris. She writes so well, and her descriptions transported me to the City of Lights. Her 11-year-old daughter is a hoot, not an angel but lovable. This is obviously not a typical family, but I loved reading about them, and would like to know them. This should be a "must read" before a visit to Paris, or if you have ever been there or thought about going. There is a lot about food, both dining out and cooking, and many different museums are briefly described. The writer paints a lovely picture of a beautiful city and her enchanting family.

Linda K. (Belvidere, IL)

Paris in Love...or In Love with Paris?
Paris in Love, by Eloisa James, was such a delightful read. It is formatted with clips or thoughts the author had while spending a year in Paris with her family. Most of these clips were just everyday observations of things going on around her and her family, but each was absorbing, many were humorous. The idea of selling everything and packing up to move to another country for a specified amount of time, while knowing you have jobs to return to is very appealing and something everyone who has that opportunity should dive into in full cannonball style. What a joy!!

Elizabeth W. (Van Buren, AR)

Paris in Love
If one were to visit an old friend after returning from a trip, this is what the conversation would be...an afternoon of bits and pieces and all the best parts of an unforgettable trip to a fabulous place. Relax and enjoy the book with a glass of wine or a nice cup of tea.

...19 more reader reviews

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More Information

Mary Bly (aka Eloisa James) is currently a full professor and co-director of the creative writing program at Fordham. She is the the author of the novels Midnight Pleasures and Enchanting Pleasures. She and her family now live in New York City. Paris in Love is her first work of nonfiction. Visit her online at www.eloisajames.com.

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