4 comments about Living Abroad in France (Living Abroad).

1. This is the first review I have ever posted on Amazon. This is a book published only last month (Oct. 2005). One of its most outstanding features for someone seriously considering relocation to La Belle France is what appears to be very recent and deailed information (in both Euros and dollars) calculated per square meter for the most part but it has tables for converting to feet) of what it takes to buy or rent in 5 different areas of France that are most popular with foreigners who have been coming to France to live in recent years in large numbers: Paris and its surroundings (Ile-de-France), Normandy and Brittany, Burgundy and the Rhone Valley, the Midi and Languedoc, and (last but not least) Provence and the Cote d'Azur. And he breaks down different towns and cities from the most high priced desirable areas to the least: e.g., in Bordeaux: "Away from the river and in less expensive neighborhoods, the price drops. You can find apartments for 800-1800 Euros ($1080-2430) per square meter. etc.)" This is really impressively detailed for all the areas he discusses and is highly useful information that might be hard to find anywhere else really. Of course, it will become outdated fast, but for latter 2005, this is great stuff to have.
   
   Link gives you some very sensible ideas for planning your fact finding trips, dealing with red tape in France (lots and lots) when you make your move, how to move with kids, pets, the kinds of insurance you need, job hunting, cost of living info, learning French, etc.--in short a very good summary of what it takes to move to this beautiful but ("complex--he didn't know about the riots of October and November 2005) from an American who has lived in the country for (I think) 13 years or so. Other books I have looked at of this kind seem to be written primarily for British expats and fairly youthful ones at that, not Americans, whereas as this one seems to be aimed at us Yanks as well (and the author is after all an American) and not just those who are sent by a corporation to work for a year or two. It's also good for somebody traveling to France and wanting some nice descriptive summaries of different regions of the country. The only thing lacking maybe is that it leaves out certain regions (perhaps for reasons of book size?) in the center of the country that might now be the best bargains. And while it does include a few thumbnail profiles of expats who have made the move, I would have welcomed a few more.
   
   Anyway, if this book is any indication, anyone considering retirement abroad (like me) would do well to invest in the Living Abroad series. I may buy the Italy volume next!



2. Why the need for a specialized title on France when so many general travel books exist for the country? Because it's quite a different matter living in France as opposed to visiting it: there are concerns ranging from legalities and visas, work, and housing to cultural insights necessary to live alongside the French. In Living Abroad In France, author Terry Link begins with the dream and offers a step-by-step progression to achieving its reality, with chapters surveying all aspects of living in France. From regional coverages and insights to financial concerns, nothing is omitted.



3. Book was as described in perfect condition - buy from this seller with confidence.



4. I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT THIS TO THE AMAZON.
   
   YOU USED TO SHIP OUT YOUR PRODUCTS IN A TIMELY MANNER, NOW, THERE IS A LONG DELAY TO GET ITEMS SHIPPED FROM YOUR COMPANY WHEN YOU OFFER FREE SHIPPING, IT USED TO NOT BE THAT WAY. SECONDLY, YOU SWITCHED YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TO INDIA AND WHEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH THEM THEY HAVE THE WORST ACCENTS SO ITS REALLY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND ANYTHING THAT THEY ARE SAYING. TO TOP IT OFF NOW I HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON ANYTHING I ORDER FROM AMAZON.
   
   SO ALL IN ALL, THE SERVICES WENT DOWN THE PRICE WENT UP. NOT A GOOD THING FOR AN ONLINE STORE. I USED TO BE A LOYAL CUSTOMER, I WILL BE LOOKING ELSEWERE TO PURCHASE MY THINGS FROM NOW ON!!
   
   GOOD LUCK AMAZON. YOU CONTINUE TO UNDERMIND YOURSELF, MOST POEPLE WILL LEAVE!

5 comments about One Thousand Buildings of Paris.

1. all 1,000? No way. Too big to have as a travel companion but so many memories that it should be owned by everyone who loves Paris.



2. 
   This book was given to me,along with the London's one.
   One does not need to be an archictect or a professionnal builder to appreciate this masterpiece.
   In the last 100 years, Paris has eluded any massive destruction and as such has kept its historic,poetic and romantic characters.
   The book is precised,well mapped,and the photos are top notched.
   It would not be easy to carry around while visiting Paris! however one can list ahead of time the buildings of interest.
   the book is photographed and written, by three Americans, which makes it even more interesting ,with their artistic objectivity and a view with a non parisian or gallic optic.
   well worth the investment,and a real treasure.



3. I love it!! It's very comprehensive and detailed, and the pages are big enough to accomodate all of the photographs and text. The quality of the book itself is also good.



4. Clearly a lot of exhausting work went into this book, but as in any catalog, the quality of the descriptions varies in quality and depth, and there are typos. The author mixes casual language with more formal reporting in a way that is sometimes stylistically jarring. I heard the author speak in Paris, and evidently it was not possible to obtain permission to photograph some buildings, so the collection while in some ways comprehensive doesn't contain all the author had wished or that the reader familiar with Paris might hope for. This isn't the author's fault, just some French craziness, but it is unfortunate. I keep the book in my apartment in Paris, and use it to familiarize myself with buildings I walk by regularly. As the Parisians say, walking in Paris is "very pleasant," and this book makes one a more informed walker. The description of the Hotel de Sully in the 4th is especially nice. Pair it with the catalog of the Atget exhibition for some interesting contrasts, both historic and photographic. Paris is a sublime feast, and this is a book for those who will take the time to taste it more fully. I don't believe any other book like this exists.



5. This is a huge book with hundreds of beautiful black and white pictures of Paris buildings. Photos are absolutely carrying out Paris soul and give you that special feeling of the city, that of art, history and grace. Turning the pages one by one, you just walk around this glorious city. I've been to Paris several times and I think this book is the second best thing after actually being there.

No comments about Time Out Shortlist Paris 2009 (Time Out Shortlist).

No comments about The Best Wine Bars & Shops of Paris: Fifty Charming and Notable Cavistes.

5 comments about Food Lover's Guide to Paris, 4th edition.

1. I brought this book to Paris along with 4 others, and although had high hopes, I found it frustrating. It didn't provide enough choice within a geographic area, and with respect to our one "big night" out, led us to a disastrous, expensive disappointment. Alcazar(p. 51) had miserable service (she had billed it "exquisite") and a meal that had to go back. We did much better following Rick Steves' recommendations, and our own noses. If it's the third or fourth book on your list for Paris, as it was for us, save your money and the aggravation of carting the hefty thing around. It's not worth it.



2. Ms Wells allows you to prepare for a gastronomic trip to Paris.
   Her essential information regarding types of eateries, locations, speciality foods, terminolgy and ofcourse understanding tipping is highly descriptive and beneficial.
   Choosing restaurants and food styles are of personal taste and may not reflect that of Ms Wells', but the guidelines established in this book provide many options. One can dine at a numerous amount of bistros listed in this guide and understand their specialities and price ranges effectively.

   As a person who has travelled to Paris, many restaurant guides are available and recommendations are abundant. I regret not having this book on my last two trips but will definitely visit some of the eateries listed in this book on my next trip.




3. I brought this book to Paris on a recent week-long trip, and had very mixed feelings about the reviews. About half of the recommended establishments were closed, moved, or under new names/management. If you use this book, calling ahead to verify that the restaurant exists is a must! The copyright date on this book is 1999, and many of the reviews must have been written or checked earlier than that. The reviews quote all prices in francs, which constantly reminds you of the age of the reviews, and the age of the quoted prices.
   
   Still, every one of the restaurants, bistros and cafes which Wells recommended, and still exist, were winners. Often times, the reviews suggest perhaps a too cozy relationship between reviewer and owner/chef, but I'm willing to overlook that somewhat, as that doesn't seem to spoil the quality of the recommendations. Despite what people may think, there are bad (well, not-so-good) restaurants in Paris, and price is not always proportional to quality. Having a guide like this one is key to painful trial-and-error experiences. I just long for an up-to-date edition!



4. Just came back from 8 days in Paris and I had studied and marked on a map Wells' recommended cafes, boulangeries, patisseries, fromageries and specialty food stores. Note that I wasn't so much interested in restaurants but I've NEVER known Patricia Wells to be wrong so I can't imagine her recomendations wouldn't be excellent. Although it would be great if her book were updated again since it hasn't been in 5 years I found most of the places still there and loaded with thoroughly delicious treats. Her website patriciawells.com has updates for restaurants for those interested. The French really do food right and the baguettes, cheese, wine and pastries were exquisite. Each place has certain items that are especially delightful. Gosselin really does have a superb baguette, Calixte has croissants and pain au chocolat that are really magnificent, Malineau has fruit tarts which are exquiisite, Martin has wonderful baguette sandwiches to take with you and munch on and Kayser has many wonderful delights. Go to Paris and you will come to know what Bon Appetit can really mean.



5. Yes, some of the restaurant reviews are out of date, but this is so much more than just a restaurant guide. It also gives details about markets, boulangeries, pattiseries and other treats and traiteurs. Gold dust.
   
   One of the best ways to eat in Paris is to buy a baguette de tradition and a fresh piece of really STINKY and TOTALLY unpasteurised fromage and eat it in a jardin or parc. (I reccomend the rue Cler for this you can get your fromage from Christine and your pain from Poujairan and your patisserie from Lenotre - all spellings approximate!- and eat them around the Invalides).
   
   This book tells you how to do all that, and how to find precious treats like Berthillon ice cream and Christian Constant chocolates and Le Stubli's cakes.... I could go on but it's making me too hungry.
   
   But a new edition is certainly sorely needed. For example, Andre Lerch is retired, and has been replaced in rue Cardinal Lemoine by a store selling Tour D'Argent memorabilia. Conversely, the book omits the magnificent Pierre Herme (probably the best and most astonishingly innovative patissier in Paris, and it's in rue Bonaparte - just spot the queue). In the meantime, boulangerie fans could acquire the Guide des Boulangeres (which is regularly updated with a pamphlet supplement) or the Michelin single-city food guides; both can be got from the fabulous cookbook store in the Rue Dante, which has very helpful English-speaking staff. And for restaurants nothing beats Gault-Millau (provided your French is good - it's idiomatic).
   
   But Wells is still worth having, especially for non-French speakers. She points in most of the right directions. You CAN update her book a bit by visiting her website.
   
   And her devotion to Paris and Parisian food makes you want to sing aloud. It was this book that helped me become a raving Paris foodie, and I'm still very grateful.

2 comments about Antique and Flea Markets of London and Paris.

1. Antique and Flea Markets of London and Paris is a book serious shoppers will love. While spending several summer months in London, I have visited a number of the markets described. The authors are right on target, and the photos are enjoyable. I learned about many features I've missed, and read about several new places to try on the next trip. The book realizes that shoppers are people, not machines, and tells a little about the market's surrounding area, especially places to stop for a snack and a rest.

   I'm not as familiar with Paris, but if the Paris section is even close to being as accurate and useful as the London section, it will save shopping time and hassle across the channel, as it will in London.

   This is not "the" book for your trip if you need a complete guide book. If you like antiques and markets, however, you will love this book.




2. This book met a lot of my expectations by being very portable, very well-illustrated, and full of good descriptions of the merchandise one is likely to find in London and Paris flea markets. "Antiquing" is a very visual experience for me, and having plenty of photographs to whet my appetite for the various shops was a real plus. The book was useful too in helping me plot which days to attend which markets. Even if the merchandise changes and vendors sometimes move, there is enough general information that stays constant for this to be a useful guide for several years. The two-for-one format--London and Paris in one book--is also fun. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the maps could have been better. Otherwise, a great resource!

5 comments about Above Paris.

1. This is a stellar exploration of Paris and its environs via aerial photographs. Armed with a map and this book, you can take a wonderful tour of Paris from a bird's-eye perspective, becoming familiar with the layout of the city, the location of the most famous spots in relation to other structures, and a feel for how the city is built around the various physical landmarks, including hills and the waterways. There is also a wealth of photographs from the surrounding areas of Paris.

   The photographs are of the greatest imaginable clarity, with a wealth of detail in every picture. Although it is possible to flip through the book, the best approach is to take it and carefully study each picture, teasing out all the details that each one can reveal. I will confess that I have never been to Paris, but thanks to studying this as well as other books enabling one to study the layout of the city, I honestly believe that I could negotiate between the landmarks if I were suddenly plopped down in the center of the city.

   I have only two complaints with the book. First, the first section of the book features both historical and modern views of the same areas. I would have liked to see a lot more of that. For me, these were by far the most interesting photos in the book, and I wouldn't have minded if this constituted the bulk of the book. Second, while the pictures are of the highest imaginable quality, most were taken from approximately the same elevation. If one compares the photographs here to those in Jan Morris's OVER EUROPE, you will find in the latter a much greater variation in elevation. In the Morris book, they were able to many instances to use a remote control balloon with a camera to get much, much lower than Cameron was in this volume. Pierre Salinger's intro details some of the difficulties they had in getting permission for low-level photographs. Minor quibbles, but I do believe that more variety in the book would have increased its attractiveness and value.




2. All I can say is Wow, Mr. Cameron is such a talent, people just have no idea the skill it takes to get photographs of this quality, much less hanging out of a helicopter. I love Paris and this book lets you see the hidden gardens and the wonderful lay out of this singular city. Paris has NEVER looked so good, and eventhough this book was first published in the late 80's the photographs still capture the present city, after all Paris, thank heaven, does not change that much, that is a big part of her charm. Though she ages she never really shows her age, she is truly eternal. I highly recommend this book, it is just quite frankly unparalleled.



3. Every time i open this book, it draws me in. The clarity of the photos is amazing! The superb images are shot from the perfect height so that they provide a panoramic view, while still allowing you to glimpse tiny architectural details like balconies and awnings. This beautiful, unique book is the perfect preparation for a trip to Paris, as it will help you create a mental map of the city - but it's a wonderful post-trip souvenir, too. If you have even a passing interest in Paris, this book is a must-buy!



4. As you would expect from the "Above Blank" city series, this is an updated version of "Above Paris". It is slightly larger in format than the previous version, and includes the Pyramid entrance to the Louve, and all the new sites like La Bastille opera house. If you have ever been to Paris, this is a MUST. If you are thinking of going, you will buy it when you return!



5. Since I am a lover of Paris this book really reminds me of when I was there and how I can't wait to get back. The pictures are wonderful and I'm glad I purchased it.

1 comments about Made In France: A Shopper's Guide to France's Best Artisanal Traditions from Limoges Porcelain to Perfume, Pottery, Textiles and More.

1. My sister and I recently traveled to France and purchased this book. It was great to use and gave us some wonderful ideas on what to see, where to shop and where to find the true artisanal items for each region we visited. We will keep it for future trips to new areas. We recommend it.

2 comments about Living and Working in France, Ninth Edition: A Survival Handbook (Living and Working in France).

1. Great introduction to lots of different aspect of the life in France. The only downside of covering so many different subjects is that it doesn't go into too much details. It is still a condensed version of the minimum you need to know before you leave the airplane.



2. This book gives us a good insight into living in France. Although we have often worked in France, we thought it might be interesting to have a fresh insight to living there. This helped us very much but we are still undecided at the moment and it really depends on the currency exchange i.e. Dollar versus Euro rate.

5 comments about Culture Shock! France.

1. Of all the culture guides to France this is my favorite. Taylor has done a great job of characterizing French culture at all levels. Her style is clear and succinct and she offers a lot of examples throughout the book regarding etiquette and proper French behavior. There is tons of practical information (with a title so named) and an interesting chapter on culture shock for Americans moving to France. There are better guides, I think, to business life in France, or certainly for visiting or touring, but for a general introduction to why the French act like the French this one's the best.



2. While I enjoy Taylor's writing style and personal flair, there are lots of errors in this book. There are things that will get you hurt (like the section that vastly overstates the safety of bicycling here) or get you into social trouble (like the section that states most French people don't know much about wine and they don't have to because it's "quality controlled" -- please never EVER say that to a French person! It's not true! This is their culture and they are all extremely proud of their wine knowledge because the wine reflects the character of each region).
   
   I'm not French, but my boyfriend is French (Parisian, actually) and we've been living here in the South of France for three months. It was a new book that arrived in his office, so he gave it to me to read, hoping it would help my transition here. Unfortunately, I kept finding things that just didn't line up at all with what I'd experienced or didn't ring true for some reason. I'd relate one thing after another to him of what I was reading and he'd have to correct it. I then thought to look for the author's qualifications to write the book and wasn't convinced they were really there.
   
   Anyway, there are definitely some things that are correct, especially where Taylor states that one should use their French, even if their grammar and vocabulary isn't perfect. And I could appreciate the part where she talks about moderating one's voice in public. (It's a pretty common foible for Americans to raise their voices.) I give her three stars for the general information that's right and a well-organized, well-written book. But I would not recommend this for someone who knows nothing about French culture. In fact, if someone knows a really good book on French culture shock, please tell me. We would love to know!



3. while this book does have a lot of information, i'm not sure how much of it is true. i'm concerned with the errors that i found throughout, particularly the "useful words and phrases" that closes the book. for the record, the french "comment" is mostly used as "what" and not "how," "qui" certainly does not mean "why" but "who," and "pourquoi" is not "who" but "why." as a book written (i assume) for people without a lot of prior knowledge about france and/or the french language, these are huge errors that call into question the validity and accuracy of the rest of the book. i found that too often the author focuses on paris, which misleadingly implies that the entire country is like the major city. i was also not impressed with the general tone of the book, which was condescending and full of typical french stereotypes.



4. I found this book fascinating and very practical. The suggestion for us Americans to not ask "what do you do?" and to not expect everyone to agree with us all the time is excellent and important. Also, the suggestion for Americans to not give the insincere smile and compliment which have become "de rigueur" in the United States is accurate. The book has a single error in the glossary: the translations for qui and pourquoi are transposed -- big deal. Fun to read, easy to understand, and funny. Read this book if you're going to France.



5. Can somebody help me out here? I'm trying to understand why this paperback is priced at $75.00 on this site yet my copy was published in 2005 and priced at $14.75. Now I see used ones for normal prices. It's a small guide-type book. Interesting, but I don't understand the high price. ??