1 comments about In Old Paris: An Anthology of Source Descriptions, 1323-1790.

1. Has very good insights into the history of Paris shown through visitors' accounts. But I wish the excerpts (and the book) had been longer. I'm sure the visitors' accounts had much more to say about the social life of Paris in their times. I'm also sure that there are many more sources than just the ones in this small book. Small, but interesting.

No comments about Earning Money From Your French Home (Earning Money).

1 comments about Light of Paris, the.

1. Absolutely beautiful photographs that in many cases go beyond the endless cliches that this most wonderful city can't help but spawn. Using a spectacularly fine grained film, in a now eccentric denial of digital format, Berts has produced a magnificent portfolio on Paris. Reminds me of Brassai's celebrated night shots, only these were taken at dawn. Superb printing quality, and prefaced with a delightfully playful essay by Pierre Assouline. Top shelf publishing. An unmissable bargain at Amazon's price.

2 comments about Time Out Paris Eating & Drinking (Time Out Paris Eating and Drinking).

1. This is a great book for someone who is really looking to sample the restaurants of Paris. It is divided by types of cuisine, but also has a great section you can flip through to find a great place to go on a romantic date, or for the best live jazz, or even the best decor. The only things I'm not satisfied with are the maps, which are small and complicated, and the fact that most restaurants listed are on the pricier side. There is an entire "Budget" section, but that seems to be the only place where the reviwers sought out food that is affordable on an every-day basis. If you're spending a long time in Paris, this is a great buy. The maps won't be a drawback for you if you have another street map (don't try to rely on this one!), but then again, this is a restaurant guide, not a guidebook. There is an amazing array of restaurants, bistros, bars, and cafes reviewed in mouth-watering detail.



2. Rosa Jackson, the editor, writes a monthly restaurant column in Paris Notes. We have enjoyed her selections for years. Most restaurant guides contain only good recommendations - not that we always agree with them, and sometimes we are disappointed no matter how much the author raves about the restaurant. In this book, Rosa Jackson writes negative reviews about some of the restaurants - food, service etc.. I find that so refreshing and so helpful. All of her reviews, good or bad, are full of details, down to the decor of the restaurant. This book has many sections, haute cusine to budget, and numerous international restaurants, all in easy to find sections - not clumped together for you to figure out.It has sections for various areas of Paris (arrondissements) and an A-Z index also. No matter what area you are in, there are numerous listings. I just found out that the 2007, 8th edition, which is completely revised, is due out towards the end of 2006. I am hoping that it will be available before we leave in December. If you are going to Paris in 2007, wait and get the newest edition. Restaurants in large cities, tend to close, change owners or chefs, and can go from excellent to mediocre in a short period of time - or visa versa. Get it this book as far in advance of your trip as you can ....it contains A LOT of reviews, restaurants, bars, cafes, wine bars, tea room, shops and markets, etc..

5 comments about Chasing Matisse: A Year in France Living My Dream.

1. The author, a writer and artist, is fascinated by the work of Matisse. He and his wife, also a writer, sell their house, leave their desk jobs and go off to France to follow in the footsteps of Matisse. The author chronicles their travels to the places that inspired Matisse - Paris, Collioure in the Pyrenees, Corsica, Belle-Ile off the coast of Britany and the South of France.
   
   In these places the author learns not just to look but also to see. The facts of Matisse's life and his development as an artist are interwoven with the travel adventures of the author and his wife as they live their dream of starting over in a foreign country. A look into the soul of an artist and what we can learn from him if we seek to live the creative life, this book is vastly superior to the shallowness of "C'est La Vie" by Susie Gershman and her vacuous tale of leaving the US to live in Paris.
   
   The only thing missing from "Chasing Matisse" is a map so that the reader can see the locations of the various places that are visited. It's also helpful to have on hand a copy of "Henri Matisse: A Retrospective", Museum of Modern Art 1992, while you read so that you can see the paintings that the author mentions extensively in the book.



2. I'm an American living in France for over 5 years now and I am an amateur painter. And I really like Matisse. So I was really excited when I found this book. I really like the author's humor, he turns what could be boring descriptions of their trip into very funny tales. The book is a mix of a peek into their lives, their adventure in France, the characters they meet, and oh yes, Matisse. I learned a lot in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's sketches and his website.
   
   However, all that said, the book left me wanting more. I got the impression that at the end the author simply got tired of writing or ran out of material. For example, their summer in france only gets a few pages. What was the impact of his search for Matisse? How did it impact his art? Did he just stop chasing Matisse 3 months before he came home? I also would have liked to see more of his sketches as they really helped to imagine the places they went, the hotel rooms, etc.
   
   Overall it was a great book. If you are interested in France, Matisse, or painting, I highly recommend this book!



3. Here I am trapped in a dull grey/brown Northeast winter when I picked up this book and went on a great trip! As an artist I really loved Mr. Morgan's passion for Matisse, for art in general and I loved his sketches! As a traveler who never gets to travel enough I loved the journey he took me on through France. As a matter of fact I'm so inspired that I'm heading to France this June and I'm going to take another long look at Matisse! So if you love art...this is a terrific book, if you love travel...this is a terrific book. If you love both then you're a terrific person who will really enjoy this book!



4. This is a book I'm sure I'll reread many times. The author combines humor with depth, and the sense of adventure is inspiring. Right now I'm smiling, just remembering how pleasurable it was to read this book. author (unrelated to me) really did his research, too; I'm now thinking about Arnheim and Elins with renewed interest -- and I'll pursue some of the other books about Matisse as well.



5. Chasing Matisse: A Year in France Living My Dream
   
   What a load of pretentious nonsense! The author combines samples of his own work (which are child-like), a poor travelogue of France and a brief, dry biography of a great painter (with few original insights) in an offering that had me bored from page one. He asks for sympathy for his financially 'risk-taking' venture whilst telling us of his efforts to sell his house (at $79,000 under value) and fly his children over to France to celebrate Christmas whilst regailing us with descriptions of the expensive meals and swish hotels he stays in. We don't need the constant admiring prose for Henri's work - it speaks for itself.

No comments about Michelin Brittany, France (Michelin Maps).

2 comments about Village France (AA Guides).

1. Fall in love with the most enthralling, comforting atmosphere which France has to offer: life in the smallest villages. Detailed history, so much to appreciate. All 19 Regions of the country unfold in mesmerizing, richly colored pictorials. These villages are the unsung heros of the pride of France. Excellent!



2. So why did I give it five stars? Well, I hate this book because it makes me regret that I had to move back to the States. I used to live on the French border, in Germany, and had the opportunity to visit a number of the villages listed in this guide. I can say from first-hand knowledge, that this book has excellent advice on places to see in France, places that are not the usual tourist highlights.

   If you want to see France outside of Paris or typical resorts in the ­Côte d'Azur, you can't go wrong with this book. There are good-sized photos of each village, walking maps and historical and cultural sightseeing recommendations. One particular town of interest to fans of "Chocolat" is Flavigny--which was the town where "Chocolat" was filmed. Each region of France is covered, from Normandy and Brittany in the North and West, to Provence and the Savoy in the South and East. France is a country the size of Texas, approximately, but each region is like a country unto itself--completely different. Some of the regions even had their own language--for example Languedoc (literally, the Language of "Oc" or Yes, instead of "oui") and Brittany, which shares a language of Celtic origins, like Gaelic, Welsh and the extinct language Cornish.

   If you have a chance to vacation in France, this is a worthy guidebook for sights you might otherwise miss.

No comments about Michelin France Departementale Et Administrative (Michelin National Maps S.).

5 comments about Urban Crayon Paris: The City Guide for Parents with Children.

1. 
   This book does not have the details necessary to make an enjoyable trip with your kids to Paris, there are others which look better for planning this adventure. Having visited Paris with our two daughters, we did not find this guide very helpful. The organization of where you select destinations for girls (divas) and boys (dudes)is trying to be cute and nothing more. We had a wonderful time with our daughters, but being spontaneous and talking with others was the key, not this book as a reference guide. I suspect this book is trying to be part of a series, and if it is, I suggest they do a better job with the text and get better pictures for the next city. A total dud, despite the bright cover which I cannot recommend.



2. Bright Pink cover, but not very helpful. I have one young daughter and we just got back from Paris where I did not find this book very useful for the week we were there. Dudes and Divas, give me a break more like someone's fantasy and not well organized at that, but it only cost $10. But as the end all for visiting in Paris with children, I think readers would not find this book particularly helpful. Keep looking and doing your own research would be the best way to go. Paris was great otherwise.



3. I found this guide to be useful on my recent trip to Paris with my daughter. I especially loved the sections that highlighted the kid-friendly restaurants and attractions. The information was very detailed and very easy to follow. My daughter and I really had an enjoyable trip. Upon my return, I purchased several guides and gave them to co-workers. I would definitely recommend this guide to families who are planning to travel to Paris in the near future.



4. We recently took our two kids (a 1 yr old boy and 2.5 year old daughter) to Paris with us for a family vacation and this guide proved to be brilliant! I carried it with us everywhere and never once found myself at a loss for what to do with the children. It's super easy and readable and the listings (such as child-friendly restaurants and museums) made choosing venues and planning our days simple and anxiety-free. I was much less-stressed knowing ahead of time that wherever I was going was going to be appropriate for two noisy, energetic children. I highly recommend it!



5. We knew Paris, I mean the Paris for grown ups, the nice cafes, the smoky bars, the cinemas, all those things you do when you are a couple. This summer however, we needed a different plan. Thanks to this great guide, we discovered along with our 18 month-old son another wonderful side of Paris; marionettes, playgrounds, boat and train rides all perfect for a toddler and his parents, plus it is great to know in advance which restaurants have changing tables and high chairs.

1 comments about Books, Baguettes and Bedbugs: the Left Bank World of Shakespeare and Co..

1. If your interested in Paris, whether or not you've traveled there and visited Shakespeare & Co., you will learn a lot about literary Paris and enjoy reading this book. If you have been to Paris, visited the bookshop, and have met George Whitman you'll love this book. And if you have stumbled a bit in your life and are broke, you absolutely must read this book to know that life can be great while living without much money, and be encouraged for a better tomorrow. I want to read a lot more of the writings of Jeremy Mercer!
   
   Ross Lee Pipes