Read Online A Paris All Your Own Bestselling Women Writers on the City of Light Eleanor Brown 9780399574474 Books
Download As PDF : A Paris All Your Own Bestselling Women Writers on the City of Light Eleanor Brown 9780399574474 Books
A collection of all-new Paris-themed essays written by some of the biggest names in women’s fiction, including Paula McLain, Therese Anne Fowler, Maggie Shipstead, and Lauren Willig—edited by Eleanor Brown, the New York Times bestselling author of The Weird Sisters and The Light of Paris.
“My time in Paris,” says New York Times–bestselling author Paula McLain (The Paris Wife), “was like no one else’s ever.” For each of the eighteen bestselling authors in this warm, inspiring, and charming collection of personal essays on the City of Light, nothing could be more true.
While all of the women writers featured here have written books connected to Paris, their personal stories of the city are wildly different. Meg Waite Clayton (The Race for Paris) and M. J. Rose (The Book of Lost Fragrances) share the romantic secrets that have made Paris the destination for lovers for hundreds of years. Susan Vreeland (The Girl in Hyacinth Blue) and J. Courtney Sullivan (The Engagements) peek behind the stereotype of snobbish Parisians to show us the genuine kindness of real people.
From book club favorites Paula McLain, Therese Anne Fowler (Z A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald), and anthology editor Eleanor Brown (The Light of Paris) to mystery writer Cara Black (Murder in the Marais), historical author Lauren Willig (The Secret History of the Pink Carnation), and memoirist Julie Powell (Julie and Julia), these Parisian memoirs range from laugh-out-loud funny to wistfully romantic to thoughtfully somber and reflective.
Perfect for armchair travelers and veterans of Parisian pilgrimages alike, readers will delight in these brand-new tales from their most beloved authors.
Read Online A Paris All Your Own Bestselling Women Writers on the City of Light Eleanor Brown 9780399574474 Books
"This book was everything I hoped it would be. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was edited and put together so well. Even the size, weight, and the tactile experience was lovely with this book. The memoirs, with each author contributing an experience of Paris, were also a pleasure. Each one was unique and this created a complete and complex whole, with a variety of tones and voices. The overriding theme was that Paris is a unique city, different than anywhere else, and each person has her own Paris."
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A Paris All Your Own Bestselling Women Writers on the City of Light Eleanor Brown 9780399574474 Books Reviews :
A Paris All Your Own Bestselling Women Writers on the City of Light Eleanor Brown 9780399574474 Books Reviews
- I must start this review by telling you that I travel a lot and Paris is absolutely my favorite city to visit. If I was a little younger and a lot braver, I would probably live there but I think its a little late in life for me to make such a change. I love reading books about Paris when I can't be there and this book didn't disappoint me - in fact, I loved it. I have read books by all 18 of the authors who contributed and since they all write different types of books, the essays all took different slants on their love or lack of love for Paris. As with any anthology, I loved some of the essays and wasn't too crazy about others. Whether you've visited Paris or want to visit or just enjoy reading about that beautiful city, this is a great book to read.
- I’ve only read two essays but I’m already fed up with this book. I will finish it and change my review if it gets better.
I bought this book because I wanted to see Paris through several different perspectives. The problem is that these ladies didn’t write about Paris. It was just the setting for them to write about their own experiences, which were completely unrelated to the city.
The first essay was pretty good. It talked about how she was in Paris during the Boston bombing (in her hometown). Again, it was mostly about her life and book deal, rather than the city itself, but it was interesting and short.
The second essay just completely turned me off. It’s by Michelle Gable. On the first page, she writes about how her mother wanted the whole family to go to Paris to celebrate Michelle’s book becoming a bestseller. That’s a great idea! On that same page, she writes that her husband didn’t want to go because he didn’t want to spoil the children or miss watching golf on TV. He then reluctantly agrees to go (only because his male friend told him to) and she says (several times in the essay), “he’s the best†or “he’s a good sport.†Um, no. He’s not. You married a passive aggressive man-child who doesn’t want to celebrate your accomplishments.
Gable has two daughters. One was blasé about the whole thing, but the other immediately created a list of places she wanted to go. Spoiler, they didn’t go to any of them. It was more important to the writer to visit the places she wanted to go instead of doing even one thing for anyone else. You could argue that it’s okay because, again, the trip was for her. What made it disgusting was the fact that she kept creating false hope by saying, “We’ll try to go some other time this week,†knowing they wouldn’t, and actually bribing her daughters to get them to do what she wanted. With all the stories from that essay of the kids’ (and adults’) public behavior, I fully understand why Parisians hate Americans.
That essay is 23 pages long and I didn’t learn much about the city. At least no more than I could learn on TripAdvisor. She talks about visiting the “best restaurant in Paris,†but she doesn’t even mention what they ate or why it’s the “best.â€
Once she gets back home, she talks about how great she feels for overcoming a bad travel experience. You’re the one who made it bad, girl. Plenty of people go to Paris and love it. Writers are supposed to be more self aware and observant of people’s behaviors, but she is completely oblivious.
It seems like the writers mistakenly believe that we bought the book for them. I guess I can’t speak for everyone else, but I didn’t. I don’t care about the writers and their lives. I would absolutely love a remake of this book with essays by travel bloggers about why they love the city.
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Update
I've finished the book and maintain my one-star rating. There are a couple of good essays, but most of them are useless. I found myself excited when the book was over, unfortunately.
Most of the writers either talk about their failed marriages (as someone else mentioned) or how they went looking for the 1920s version of Paris. I lost count of how many people said they wanted "a moveable feast." I get it. You've all read Hemingway. Good for you.
I also got tired of the way several of the women talked down about the Parisians. Yes, Parisians can be rude, like the citizens of pretty much any big city. They don't have the time or energy to decipher your poor French pronunciation or walk you around the city trying to find that tourist attraction you just have to see. I'm so tired of Americans expecting people in every other country to bend over backwards for them. They're not over there just waiting for us to visit them. They're doing perfectly fine without us. Either acclimate yourself to their customs or don't complain when you're treated like the nuisance you are. (We're over here talking about building a wall to keep outsiders out of America, but god forbid anyone expect you to learn a little French when you go to Paris!)
One writer went on a tangent for at least a couple of pages on Zelda Fitzgerald's life. I don't care. If I want to know about her, I'll read a book about her. Seriously, how hard is it to write a few pages of content about one of the most popular cities in the world without getting sidetracked? - Paris inspires the imagination. This collection of essays were written by women who have lived there, Their experiences were varied pleasant, memorable, unhappy, lonely, inspirational and funny. High marks good given for candid and honest insights.
Very interesting points of view - This book was everything I hoped it would be. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was edited and put together so well. Even the size, weight, and the tactile experience was lovely with this book. The memoirs, with each author contributing an experience of Paris, were also a pleasure. Each one was unique and this created a complete and complex whole, with a variety of tones and voices. The overriding theme was that Paris is a unique city, different than anywhere else, and each person has her own Paris.
- Even though I expected to enjoy this book, it surpassed my expectations. It's a delightful reminder that travel is a highly personal experience, even if we are visiting a place that tourists swarm to see. The variety of experiences and adventures had me longing to pay a return visit. Don't be surprised if you find yourself ready to pack your bags and discover your own Paris.
- Like Parisian sunflower seeds... you just want to keep munching on these. I'm a frequent traveler to Paris and so many of these essays resonated with me. Michelle Gable made me laugh, others made me sigh, some made me a little sad. But this was a great anthology of the varied effects the City of Light has on us at different times in our lives.
"Joy is happiness with no strings attached". That is my Paris. - I loved this book of essays by writers who share their personal Parisian escapades off the beaten paths where tourists seldom go. I just finished it and returned to the beginning to start it over again.
- Great collection of stories. Makes me want to book a trip to Paris right now!
