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Donna W. (Wauwatosa, WI)
Paris in Love
I really liked this book. For the most part it is written with short entries much like a diary. Eloisa James has a charming and witty style, and the book is put together in such a way that it gives a delightful look at not only Paris, but also the author's family. It is spot on funny in many places, and tenderly touching in others. It makes me want to go to Paris, and sit down in a cafe to soak up the atmosphere! If you like memoirs, you will love this book!
Marion W. (Issaquah, WA)
Paris, je t'aime!
Imagine that you are visiting an old friend, who's spending a year in Paris with her husband and two kids. She's a professor of English on sabbatical, and also an author of (among other books) Regency romance novels. You accompany her as she walks around: visiting small museums, shopping for groceries and trying new recipes, and noticing the Parisiennes' flair and attention to detail. Her joie de vivre, enhanced by her having survived breast cancer, is contagious. But she's also down-to-earth and wryly funny as she copes with her kids' struggles at school; diets by getting her husband to eat half her restaurant
…more meals (my technique too!); and struggles with her "appalling French." This book is partially a collection of vignettes, just what you would cherish after chatting with a warm and astute friend. It's guaranteed to delight, and to set you dreaming about going to Paris. Five stars! (less)I love Paris in Love. It is so beautifully written. The technique of using vignettes gathered from facebook and Twitter works brilliantly. I thought I'd have to read it again just to glean names of museums, bistros, and shopping experiences, but surprise! They are listed in the back of the book with locations and websites. I'll read it again anyway because it is so delightful.
Margaret B. (pompano beach, florida)
Paris in Love
When the author took her family to live in Paris for two years, she was going to see Paris. The descriptions of museums, stores and food are incredible. The events of each day sound so exciting that one wants to get on the next plane to Paris. She tries so many foods, searches the markets, gives lectures and still take time to love her family.
Rita K. (Bannockburn, IL)
Paris in love once again
When I requested First Impressions to review this book, I didn't know what to expect. I've been to Paris several times and thought it would be fun to see how Eloisa James and her family see the famous city. Her descriptions of the the food that was served in the out of the way restaurants almost made you taste it. Her children's school experiences were what you could image how they must feel. I would highly recommend this book.
Ellen N. (Camano Island, WA)
Falling in love with Paris in Love
I began my advance copy of Paris in Love with great anticipation—looking forward to the author’s discovery of my own favorite Parisian bookstores and literary haunts, expecting a slightly more feminine version of Adam Gopnik’s charming Paris to the Moon. But my high hopes foundered when confronted with Eloisa James’ off-putting and fragmented blog-like format, and I put the book away.
Several weeks later with jaw-clenched determination, I began again only to learn that persistence does have its rewards. As I grew comfortable with the James’ posts, the once fragmented pieces began to take shape in the context of
…more the whole, like photographs that tell a complete story when seen in an album, and I began falling in love with Paris in Love.
This is the strength of Paris in Love: the portraits that emerge from its pages. The homeless man who lives with his dog at the Metro stop; the love-sick Frenchman learning the art of courtship from James’ Italian-American husband; the author’s children, indomitable and dramatic Anna and the latent scholar, Luca, who must find their way in an unwelcoming new school; the Italian mother-in-law who dotes on her obese Chihuahua; and best of all the cancer-surviving, romance-writing author who delights in French food and cooking, is wise in her parenting, and rediscovers how to love herself from a Parisian fondness for frilly lingerie.
While I do not share Eloisa James’ interest in haut couture and would have preferred she spent more time in bookstores and less in fashion houses, Paris in Love has found a permanent home in my bookcase next to Gopnik’s more erudite memoir. (less)Paris in Love by Eloisa James is a memoir of sorts but not written in typical memoir fashion.
After her mother’s death and her own diagnosis of cancer, the author, now a cancer survivor, decides it’s time for a sabbatical so she, her Italian husband and two kids, pull up temporary stakes and head for Paris, France.
This is a light, easy read that made me want to find a nice meadow with a bubbling brook nearby, throw down a blanket and read the day away. Paris in Love isn’t so much a story, as it is a compilation of short introductory paragraphs and collections of short facebook entries and tweets by chapters.
Ms.
…more James doesn’t shy away from talking about the dark side of living in Paris but her joie de vivre over the simple pleasures overshadows the negatives. She also doesn’t strive to make her family life the picture of perfection. In the small snippets of daily living, we are privy to the ups and downs of day to day family life with husbands, kids, in-laws, and visiting family and friends.
We learn that Paris is not without its faults. There is bad weather. There are homeless people living on the streets. Some Parisians look down their noses at Americans. Not every French restaurant serves perfect French cuisine (gasp!).
Although these little snippets may seem disjointed at times, Ms. James’ little Parisian vignettes relayed warmth and painted some wonderful pictures in my head that kept me reading. (less)For those who love all things Parisien(ne), Paris in Love will delight. Eloisa James aka Mary Bly has crafted a charming tale of romantic observations and vicarious adventures. Its form is lovely, too. Just dip in anywhere for a brief moment of pleasure.
