5 comments about Into a Paris Quartier.

1. Like Jan Morris' "A Writer's House in Wales" which is part of the same National Geographic Directions travel series, this is a quick-reading, relaxed, and very personal look at a part of the world with special significance to the writer. And personal this is -- Diane Johnson practically gives the reader directions to her own front door. I hope this hasn't created any security problems for her.
   
   Johnson walks her reader through a history of her neighborhood, St.-Germain, Paris' sixth arrondissement, and its mix of history, literary associations, and notable architecture. It's all interesting enough, but I felt somewhat disconnected from it all, and am not convinced I came away from the book with a really good sense of what the neighborhood is all about today -- as opposed to in D'Artagnan's day, which she spends almost as much time discussing.
   
   Maybe the problem is that this view is *so* personal, we have to care about or be interested in the author to really get the most out of seeing her home and her neighborhood through her own eyes. Because I've never read any of Diane Johnson's novels or other books -- and in fact had never heard of her before I picked up this title -- I didn't really have much invested in her as a guide. After finishing the book, I still don't.
   
   I have a number of books about various Parisian neighborhoods stacked up in my to-read pile, and I will be interested to see how this one ends up comparing to others in the genre. On its own merits, though, it is a fast and ultimately lightweight read: a nice breeze through the town, but not, perhaps, a tour I'd immediately recommend to other reader-visitors.



2. Nice book. The writing isn't very clever, nor humorous. Pretty straight forward. However, if one knows the 6th as I do, I found the book very informative and I felt like I learned a lot about this wonderful arrondisement! If you don't know the 6th district, I'd pass on reading the book. If you do, I think it's a must read.



3. This book is absolutely marvelous! Especially for those who travel to Paris and like to stay in the St. Germain des Pres district, as I do. Ms. Johnson gives many informative bits of info on this area in Paris. It's an absolute delight to read!



4. I read the reviews of this book after reading the book. I read the book while planning for and staying in an apartment in the St. Germain des Pres neighborhood. I have read Ms. Johnson's fictional series as well. Like those books, I found this to be a pleasant conversational recounting of her relationship with her neighborhood.
   
   What I have enjoyed about Ms. Johnson's albeit modest fictional works is her feel for the shared spaces of the American living in Paris, as an ex-patriot or accidental player in the space, with the French and with Parisian life. They seem to be stories of what happens the space of the intersection and the effect on both the American players and the French. I found the same quality in this book.
   
   Into a Paris Quartier isn't a guidebook or a profound memoir. It's a conversational piece written in the greatest part from the subjective point of view of the author's influences and experience. Take it for that, and I think it meets expectations. Ask for something more or different and you probably really want to read a different book.



5. I wish I had read these reviews before purchasing this book (these reviews do not appear for the paperback version). I was so disappointed by this book. The storyline is disjointed and the writing style (those long, rambling sentences) is downright annoying. I liked the photo on page 74 and not much else. I wanted to sell my copy of this book, but used paperback copies are going for 49 cents. I guess that tells you something.

5 comments about France: The Beautiful Cookbook.

1. This is easily the greatest French cookbook I've ever seen and one of the best cookbooks overall. I've been to France many times and the same food is in this cookbook as is in France. The recipes are easy to understand, the food is great, and the photographs just make you more and more hungry. I am a 16 year old boy who has a hard time cooking and filling myself, but this cookbook remedies both of these problems. The meals are simple, yet elegant, not to mention delicious, filling, and scrumptious. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking and would like cooking to become a passion.



2. This book is really packed and pretty. The pictures are great, but I think it could have included more desserts.



3. I got this book on a closeout at my local bookstore, and at that low price the book is wonderful. I'd be a little less thrilled if I paid full-price... but only a little.
   
   I would guess that most "...The Beautiful" books are probably purchased for their coffee table appeal. This is a large format book (12"x18"), with stunning photos of different areas of France and of the food (there's generally one picture of the finished dish for every two recipes). If you want a book to inspire you to travel to France or to go out to eat at a French restaurant, or if you are searching for an impressive and pretty gift, this is a no-brainer. It's gorgeous.
   
   The recipes are very good, too, but I'm tempted to say that they're almost beside the point. There are 240 recipes, divided in menu-like sections (first courses, fish and shellfish, poultry and game, etc.) rather than regionaly. Each recipe is marked with the region it comes from, so you know that the mussels in cream is from Normandy and the veal rolls (paupiettes) are from Provence. There's also a couple of pages, with photos, describing each region. Nicely done.
   
   I'm not knowledgeable enough about French cooking to speak to the authenticity of the recipes, but none of them were jarring. Most of the dishes are kept on the simple side (I get the feeling that the "real" version might require a few more hours in the kitchen), and they do have interesting, if short, introductions. The intro for cassoulet, for instance, gives a little history of this well-known dish, and mentions regional variations ("Toulouse adds Toulouse sausage, leg of lamb and confit"). You'll find the usual suspects of French cuisine; 240 dishes is a bunch, but far from exhaustive.
   
   Most of the recipes are, as I said, very good. Their recipe for sole meuniere matches the one I use, and I have my eye on their recipe for beef braised with Calvados.
   
   However, the book does show that it was written in 1989, when it was difficult to find some "exotic" ingredients. The recipe for chaoucroute (saurkraut with pork and sausage) calls for, among other things, a smoked kielbasa, and 6 Strasbourg sausages or frankfurters. David Rosengarten's _Taste_ has a whole chapter devoted to charcoute (which led me to spend my sole evening in Paris at a restaurant for which it's the specialty -- maybe I'll send him the bill), and it's obvious that these are gringo subsitutions. Kielbasa, maybe; frankfurters, no way. (Oddly, though, they don't shy away from dishes made with venison or rabbit, which I find much harder to find.)
   
   As someone else mentioned, the desserts chapter feels short; there's about 20 recipes here, and I think most of us would assume that the French pastry section would be far larger.
   
   Overall, this is a fine book -- particularly for inspiration purposes. If you can get it at a good price, grab it.



4. I love this book! Great recipes and information about the country. Glossary is extremely useful.



5. Instead of purchasing this book here, I recommend looking for it in stores like Waldenbooks or Barnes and Noble in their section of books on sale. These stores always have a section of huge books that have been marked down to very reasonable prices.
   
   This book isn't particularly huge, but it is legitimate in its recipes. I have tried several recipes from this book and they've all come out wonderful and comparable to the "real deals" that I've tasted over in France myself. There was no need to alter any of the ingredients or amounts, as so far I've had no failures/disasters in cooking from this book. It is divided up into sections (poultry, fish, desserts, etc.) and each section opens first to an introduction to a region of France with a little bit of background. The book provides pictures for almost every recipe they list, which I know can be helpful to some readers/cooks to know what it is they're cooking.
   
   I would say, though, that some of the recipes might require you to be a little adventurous, as of course these authentic recipes require foods that Americans do not normally eat very often (like lamb and rabbit, for example). But I've found that other than that, the ingredients were not so exotic that I couldn't find them in the store and was forced to make adjustments.

No comments about Karen Brown's France Hotels, 2009: Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries (Karen Brown's France Hotels).

5 comments about Exploring the Flea Markets of France: A Companion Guide for Visitors and Collectors.

1. I roadtested this book on a recent trip to Provence and it was just what I needed. Not only did it tell me about the markets and their wares, but it also directed me to the best meal of my trip. The other big plus was useful French phrases for transactions with vendors who had little English.



2. Thank you, Sandy, for this great book! Just returned from Paris where 3 other antique dealers and I visited all the markets listed for Paris that were available in November. The information was accurate and honest and the directions very complete. This is a great time saver for serious shoppers like we are and enabled us to maximize our limited time in Paris. We plan to use the other sections of the book on a future trip (soon we hope!) and recommend it to others we discover that are planning a shopping trip in France. Well worth the modest price!



3. Would never sell this book! Would never loan this book! But you can come to my house and look at it. Every bit of information (and there is a lot) is absolutely accurate!
   My friend Joann and I had planned two weeks in Paris, just for Flea Markets, when my "brilliant" friend Annie in California sent me this book. I can't image my "hunt" without it. It made preparing for the trip a blast and the actual running around a breeze. Thank you Sandy. I would buy anything that you wrote. To the rest of you: Don't even think about it. Just buy the book and hop on a plane. Take along Sandy's advice and extra suitcases!



4. This book gives prices in FF (French Francs). France changed from Francs to Euros in 2000. Does that give you a hint of how out-dated this book is? Granted, a lot of the information will still be valid, but much will not; needs another edition with a serious update. Also, could use lots of photos or drawings to illustrate the points she's making (for examples, Price discusses various types of French pottery; it would be nice to see what she's talking about)
   This is probably a better book for armchair travel than for actually guiding you through French flea markets. Good luck!



5. Every time we go to France, I pull out this book and read about the flea markets in the area or city we will be visiting. It has been a kick to visit flea markets here and there in our travels in France. Albeit it's quite dated now, but I still found it amazingly accurate on a trip to Brittany in June 2007. I knew what days to look for markets in what towns. I'd love to see another addition and like the idea of photos or drawings in the first section of the book where she writes about the kinds of items to look for.

4 comments about London Sketchbook: A City Observed.

1. This is a beautiful work of art for anyone who loves to look outside the well known sites of London, although that is there as well. I thorougly enjoy picking it up and having a read about the various sections and looking at the illustrations that will remind you of your time there or desire to go. The layout and illustrations brings to mind what a Grand Tour participant would have created upon visiting a new city.

   Wonderful, just wonderful.




2. We love London, and this sketchbook reminds us of our past trips. The text by Marcus Binney also supports the sketches. Although they are only considered sketches, I love the artwork. I am now getting other sketchbooks by Graham Byfield, and by the publisher, St. Martins Press.



3. the quality of the book is one of the best features to me. It is a very heavy paper stock and really helps carry the sketchbook feel, along with the little hand written notes on the sides. overall a great book for anyone who loves london.



4. Graham Byfield's watercolor impressions of the city of London beautifully captures the spirit of the city, be it Central London, the East End, West London, North London, or South of the River. The watercolors are sumptuous to look at [the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, St James' Palace, Berkeley Square] - each is a work of beauty and paints a vivid picture in one's mind. The notes accompanying the watercolors provide us with more information on the buildings and make for interesting reading. All in all, a wonderful collection of watercolors about London, and a must-have for collectors.

5 comments about Michelin Red Guide 2007 France: Hotels & Restaurants (Michelin Red Guides).

1. Over the years the Michelin Red Guide to France has been the most reliable guide to restaurants and dining we have ever found.



2. This guide was our bible for our 2 1/2 week driving tour of France. We used it to find hotels and restaurants and were never disappointed.



3. The attempt to go to English lacks a little - like getting an Englsih version of a French menu. Something feels missing. I have always been annoyed at the lack of a Paris map to which references could be made, but hey. We should know this already, right?



4. Having lived in Belgium, Switzerland and France, we have, through the years, bought the Michelin Red Guide -- and always in French. Through you, the one we just purchased is in (mostly) English. My wife's French is excellent, mine not so good. Therefore, we are very pleased to have the latest version -- and in English. We have already used it a few times -- and made reservations in the Perigord for an upcoming visit. It is well laid out, reliable and easy to use. Five stars.



5. We always use this guide when traveling through smaller towns in France where other guides do not provide much help. We usually agree with its ratings. I tend to use the Internet for towns in which we know we want to reserve ahead, but when just wandering around, this guide is great!

5 comments about Living, Studying, and Working in France: Everything You Need To Know To Fulfill Your Dreams of Living Abroad.

1. In preparation for a three-year tour in Paris with my wife and children, I purchased this book and five (!) others on the subject of living in France from Amazon.com. While all have their merits, none have adequate coverage of the French legal system and how to work with the police. It shouldn't have surprised me that, in a country whose history contains episodes such as the Reign of Terror after the French Revolution and collaboration with the Nazis during WWII, there is an official process, called "main courant" in which citizens can "denounce," or file official complaints, against their neighbors for things such as having a baby that cries. Suffice it to say, this process, apparently embedded in the culture for centuries, can result in tremendous prolonged misery and stress, even for a Francophile like me, with many, many wonderful French friends. It might have been easier to deal with summons to the police station, investigations by the mayor's office, visits from social workers - all in less than three months of living here - with some advance prep. Thank goodness I work for a supportive company. Be forewarned!



2. I bought this book for my college-age daughter who was spending a semester studying in France. It was her first solo trip and her first time living solo in Europe. She found the book extremely helpful in learning about the culture and bureaucracy of France. There's lots of information on visas, transportation, money, documents, traveling in France and around Europe, and studying abroad. There's also a good chapter on the people of France that helped her understand attitudes and behavior.

   It gives very basic information and should be used as a supplemental guide to other books about living abroad.




3. This book won't tell you everything (that'd take the fun out of it) but it will tell you lots of little things that really add up. This is one of the books I bought before I moved to France and it definitely helped. There's lots of little details that will make your move and your life in France go smoother. What I liked about it was it covered a wide range of topics, including social differences, taxes, transportation, appartments, etc.



4. I purchased a number of worthwhile books to help prepare to move a small Yuppie household across The Pond. In terms of practical matters, Living, Studying and Working (etc.) is clearly the best of all the titles I read. Other books placed so much emphasis on cultural expectations that they completely glossed over the hundreds of complications involved in such a complex transaction. It is this book that convinced my girlfriend (who is French, by the way, and learned quite a bit from this book) and I to postpone our target move date due to the difficulty of securing a work permit/residency, getting a bank account, etc. But it is also this book that shifted my attitude from "what am I getting myself into" to "ok, given preparation, this will work".



5. It is a great book!
   Easy to understand and they give you pratical advice.
   Thank you to the authors!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about Adventure Guide to Provence & the Cote D'azur (Adventure Guides Series).

1. There are alot of tour books for this region, but this new one is really fun. There is lots of information on "out of the way" places and interesting festivals, all sorts of things which you wont find anywhere else. I love Provence, and this book will definately come with me the next time I go.
   The information is presented clearly and is well written, so it's easy to use. Lots of nice pictures, too. I like this guide alot, and I hope to see more French guides from this writer.



2. What a great hands-on book.This is best guide to Provence and the Riviera I've come across. Her section on St. remy and Eygalieres is perfect. "Le Petit Bru" may have been the best meal I had...and a good value. This is the one to get before you leave.



3. Not being the type to jump off bridges or hang glide over the treetops, I was a little worried about "Adventure Guide" in the book title, but it turns out that this guidebook features just the kind of soft adventures I enjoy: hiking, touring and poking into the interesting recesses of a country, followed by an evening of good food and wine. The author's biography says she's been visiting Provence for 20 years and it shows in her writing, which includes all the little insider tips that you'd expect from someone with her experience. With the practical information I've found in the "Adventure" guide to Provence, it may take me the next 20 years to enjoy everything this book brings to light.



4. I've just returned from a trip to Antibes and Nice and I used this book as my guide. The recommendations were spot on; really terrific. This is a rare thing, a guide book that inspires and tempts you without making your head spin. All the detail you need is there but this book is so much more!



5. Adventure Guide to Provence & the Cote D'azur (Adventure Guides Series)
   The Adventure Guide to Provence and the Cote d'Azur offers plenty of practical information for the visitor who wants to explore the region. It includes info on places to stay and eat, but that isn't its strongest point.
   
   Its best features are the adventure tips it provides for each area (boating, biking, walking, kayaking, windsurfing, you name it!) and the pertinent background information that adds depth to a visit: for example, a note about French author Antoine de St Exupéry when covering Agay, a word on Winter on the Mont Ventoux. These fall outside of the classic insights on these locations.
   
   On the negative, the 6x9 book weights quite a bit with its 450 pages. Difficult to bring it along while sightseeing. Also, it's short on photos, showing only a few insert color photos.
   
   It would be great to have two lighter volumes: one on Provence and one on the French Riviera.
   
   As a frequent and long-time visitor to the region, I find the information in the guide right on the mark and recommend it highly.

1 comments about Insight Guide Paris (Insight Guides Paris).

1. Told me what I needed to know for being in Paris for only 2 days.

No comments about Michelin the Green Guide Brittany (Michelin Green Guides).