No comments about Panorama of Paris: Selections from Le Tableau De Paris.

4 comments about True Pleasures: A Memoir of Women in Paris.

1. I loved this book. It is part biography, part philosophy, part social analysis. I found insight and inspiration in every chapter, and historical figures about whom I knew little or nothing came vividly to life. Holdforth goes to Paris to shake up her system and determine a direction for her life, and by studying the lives of many famous Parisian women (born there or elsewhere), she does just that. If you love Paris, want to read about some fascinating women, or think there is more to womanhood than work, marriage or children, you'll enjoy this book a lot. (She also makes an excellent case for aging gracefully in Paris, and if I ever win the Lotto, that's exactly what I plan to do!)



2. This book was a disappointment. I bought it because I wanted to read about all the interesting women it claims to be about: Nancy Mitford, Ninon, many others. But it is not about them. It is about the author. Once in awhile she thinks about one of these women, and gives you her thoughts. But she doesn't tell you much about the women. You are left still wanting to know the lives and loves of the famous women of Paris. This book is for people who really want to know what the author thinks about Paris, but I don't know her and I'm not interested in what she thinks, nor when she feels tired, when she wants to lie down, what she eats, when she travels on the Metro, what she says to her friends. I wanted to read about what the charming and fascinating women of Paris said and thought.`



3. I have a feeling the author and I would get along just fine! I too enjoy researching a historic figure (Catherine de Medici, Josephine, and Camille Claudel have all been recent obsessions) and then walking in her footsteps in Paris. Not only did this book reconnect me with some of my favorite femmes but it introduced me to more fascinating women and their neighborhoods. That thrill of discovery - when you look up at a particular balcony or past a small park that you may have passed countless times before - and suddenly realize its significance to the woman who once lived there - this is what the author captures perfectly. A wonderful gift for your fellow Francophiles and strong women!



4. I read this book when I needed inspiration - and I found it here. Not only does the author provide insight into the lives of fabulous and famous women, she provides insight into her own life and how experiences in Paris influenced and shaped her. The book provides the perfect balance between historical facts, personal insight and the joys of life in Paris today. It also encourages you to read more books on each of these topics - ie. it starts a journey which goes way beyond this one book.

2 comments about Café Life Paris.

1. Expertly researched and co-authored by Christine and Dennis Graf, Cafe Life Paris: A Guidebook To The Cafes And Bars Of The City Of Light is an insightful and engaging survey of the many wonderful cafes and bars to be found in and around in the beautiful city of Paris. Superbly illustrated throughout, Cafe Life Paris showcases each unique and tasteful stop, offering readers a descriptive introduction to what these cafes and bars have to offer, including a variety of entertainments ranging from music, to philosophical discussions, to cabaret performances. There are cafes which draw students, others which are undiscovered treasures known only to the locals, some famed and a "must" on ever tourist itinerary, and more. Cafe Life Paris is very strongly recommended as compendium of beautiful, romantic, entertaining, and colorful cafes and bars which is perfect for planning any visit from a weekend excursion to a month long holiday in this Parisian "City of Lights".



2. A few years ago I read another book about Paris cafés and bistros in which the author claimed that after reading his book (and solely on that basis), you should be able to pick out a Paris café to make your own. I don't think he quite pulled off that feat, but I have adopted that idea as one handy standard by which to measure the three or four other books about Paris cafés I've read since then. Of all of them, "Café Life Paris" comes, by a good stretch, closest to making me feel ready to call dibs on one or two cafés I'm ready to settle into.
   
   Some of these Paris café/brasserie/bistro books focus on the distinctive food served in these establishments, while others are more interested in description through words or photography. "Café Life Paris" is of the second group, and Christine and Dennis Graf give us full and evocative depictions of several dozen cafés. They divide them into groups ("Great and glamorous places," "Neighborhood cafés," etc.) and explain not only the décor and type of people a given café serves, but also the general feel or élan of the café and the surrounding neighborhood. Given that each café is described in just a few paragraphs and maybe one or two photos by Juliana Spear, it's a remarkably concise and evocative job the three have done.
   
   I've no idea when I'll get back to Paris, though I'm vaguely confident I will someday. When I do, I think I'll want to check out Café de Flore, Le Sélect, or Le Rouquet. Based on what I've read here, I think I'll feel pretty comfortable there.

2 comments about Paris: City of Light and Fascination.

1. A Francophile's delight, this book takes the reader on a journey through time to showcase this intensely romantic and vibrant City. A bit more focus on architecture and less on the Parisian people than I personally would like to see, but still a lushly presented view of Paris.



2. Six and a half pounds of Paris! This is mainly a book of photographs of Paris. Yes there is some text sprinkled throughout the pages, but I did not even bother with that. :) It contains mostly color photographs. Many are simply beautiful. They span many decades of the history of Paris from the origins of the city to the present day.
   
   It is a great book to gaze at and daydream. :)

2 comments about Pauline Frommer's Paris (Pauline Frommer Guides).

1. I can highly recommend this book for all visitors to Paris. I travel frequently and recently went to Paris with a friend who has never been to France before. We both found the book to be very useful and full of helpful hints. I especially appreciate the way the restaurant section is organized and I also enjoyed the author's personal opinions about her favorite (and/or least favorite) places and activities.



2. I was lucky enough to go to Paris three times, each time carrying Pauline Frommer's Paris book with me everywhere. Twice I went for less than two days and the third time for five days. The layout of the book is great. She has it broken down by the arrondissements (or districts). In each arrondissement there are recommended places to stay and eat. She is not shy about her recommendations and you get the feeling she actually knows the owners and employees at each establishment. Paris is a huge city and with this book I felt that I had some little connections to the people when I went to the recommended establishments. I went on two of the walks recommended in the walkabout section and each walk I stopped at the recommended cafes and they were wonderfully Parisian, not cafes catering to American tourists but thankfully still spoke English. There is a chapter on Paris' 10 iconic sites but also easy itineraries for one, two, three or 4 + days in Paris, which was very helpful to me since my time was limited. The best recommendation for me was to stop by Quai St.Bernard on a summer evening to watch people dance along the Seine doing the tango, something I would have walked right past if it was not for the book. All of the advice given was worth the $16.99, I have some wonderful memories of Paris and can't wait to go back. I would highly recommend purchasing this book if you are going to Paris. I felt I was given advice from a friend to all of the great spots to see while visiting her city.

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.

No comments about Michelin Ile-de-France: Paris & Surrounding Areas (Michelin Maps).

No comments about Paris InsideOut (Insideout City Guide: Paris).

5 comments about An Hour from Paris.

1. I buy way too many travel books and I am quite often disappointed. This book far exceeded my expectations. I have not yet used it "on the ground", but plan to on my next visit to Paris. The destination descriptions are clear and interesting, the walking/training directions are simple and clear. And the author gives just enough suggestions for cafes/restaurants to make it interesting. If you've only got 5-7 days in Paris, don't leave Paris! If you've got more time than that, buy this book and plan a day trip so you can say you visited not only Paris, but France as well.



2. By Bill Marsano. Is it possible to be tired of Paris? Bored with it? Amazingly, it is, and at such times one may long for a brief escape, a short trip into the countryside. To the rescue comes Annabel, a Briton long resident in Paris who has obviously felt the same uneasy stirrings, because she has compiled a very attractive assortment of little breakaways, none of which takes more than an hour to reach, and deftly compressed them into her small but very useful pocket-sized book.
   
   She's assembled--and thoroughly researched twenty daytrips, and most of them are bound to surprise even veteran Paris habitues. There's a thrice-moated town to the east, a cathedral in an ex-chocolate factory, canalside walks, and an huddle of peaceful islands at the end of a Metro lines. (And at the end she also throws in Versailles, Giverny and the like, just for lagniappe.)
   
   Simms knows the territory very well; she writes briskly and supplies history, background and local lore as well as specifics on finding the tourist offices, restaurants and museums at each stop. There are good photos and maps, too. Being British, she also includes numerous walking tours, and being a walker myself, I liked that best of all.
   
   All of these destinations are accessible by public transport, for which Simms gives excellent details. (All too often, a concierge or tourist office in Paris will reflexively urge you to rent a car.)
   
   I stumbled upon this book while in Paris last month, and the daytrip I took was a hghlight of my visit. If you're planning to visit Paris, get this book before you go--you'll want to build at least one of Simms's recommendations into your itinerary.--Bill Marsano is an award-winning American travel writer.



3. I've now tried 6 out of the 20 recommended destinations in this book, and while the author has selected some beautiful and interesting places that I'd never have found on my own, and there's a nice historical background on each place, an annoying defect keeps appearing and ruining my day trips: her directions for walks are terrible. Reality just doesn't match up to what's in the book, so for example you might find yourself looking at a map that shows a straight path from A to B, and you'll be reading the accompanying text that says to just go left at the stream, but you won't find any stream and you won't find any straight paths. Not, that is, until you've gone way too far, you retrace your steps and then realize the author neglected to mention that there are two parallel paths within 10 yards of each other and it does matter which one you're on. (That particular scenario happens at Champs-sur-Marne. Creteil is surprisingly tough to follow, too.) Still a good book to have just for ideas on where to go, but be sure to bring a GPS system or a local with you if you want to find anything.



4. Coming from a Frenchman who has lived in the Paris area for twenty-five years this may seem incredible, but An Hour from Paris has proved extremely useful and informative, it has helped me to discover places I didn't even suspect. Typical is the trip from Herblay to Conflans-Ste-Honorine : neither place is particularly outstanding but the riverside walk was truly a revelation, each step offering views like Impressionist paintings. Without the guide I would have never discovered this, and I have tried several other suggested trips with equal success. A far cry from the Michelin guide, especially the recent dumbed-down editions. Warmly recommended.



5. I was very happy to find this book and enjoyed reading it. The author's personalization of the text makes it a pleasure to read. I'm looking forward to trying some of her suggestions soon.

5 comments about We'll Always Have Paris: Sex and Love in the City of Light.

1. The author can't decide whether he wants to write an erotic history or the tale of his own romance. Doing both doesn't work in this book, which has no frame of reference or even a reliable sequence of events.
   
   The other major flaw of the book is ots reliance on the sex lives of the Surrealists- as if Parisian sexual histroy is limited to these odd ducks.
   
   Not particularly inspiring or evocative.



2. John Baxter, an Aussie ex-pat whose tale of moving to Paris and conceiving a child with his French girlfriend is the backdrop for a foray into the attitudes toward sex in Paris, featuring sexual attitudes and locales of the 1920-40's to present. I learned that Georges Simenon, author of the famed Inspector Maigret novels, routinely interviewed his house staff for sexual partners and had an affair with Josephine Baker, the acclaimed black songstress appearing on stage nightly in only a skirt of phallic-symbol bananas. There are mentions of many literary figures and their viewpoints on sex, including Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and more. Not the typical Paris guidebook, but will lead you to places not found in Frommer's.



3. This was a fun read. There are parts that were a bit dry and boring but overall I enjoyed it. I thought it was really interesting how the author weaved in historical events with his actual experiences in the City of Lights.



4. The chapters on sex are much more interesting than the chapters on love. Even so, Baxtrer only traipses into the history of sex by dint of a buddy who keeps the topic alive between them. It's kind of a glancing blow off the topic. The only sex discussed are the eddies related to, and trailing off of specific conversations.
   
   I don't understand why every guy who writes, who has working sex organs, and knocks someone up in Paris, writes about the event as if it were an event I need to know about. I really don't need to know where his daughter was conceived; and functioning sex organs are not as exceptional as they seem to the owner. Look around.
   
   This is, apparently, another hazard of living in France; writing about your succesful reproduction as it it were of interest to others. He might have saved said daughter the humiliation of the event's inscription.
   
   See also Adam Gopnik "Paris to the Moon" which is overall a more successful book.



5. When it comes to the subject of Paris there are some travel writers (myself included) who play in the shallow end while a talented, rare few take us into better depth. Baxter is one of those rare few. This isn't a travel book as much as it is a wonderful, highly enjoyable book that offers some sound and sense to a city that tugs at our imaginations. After reading it I added it to my reference bookshelf...okay, okay...maybe to steal some of his style too.
   Buy the book and buy one for anyone you know who's going to Paris.