No comments about Blue Guide Paris, Eleventh Edition (Blue Guides).

4 comments about Americans in Paris: A Literary Anthology.

1. Compiled and edited by New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik, America In Paris: A Literary Anthology is a seminal celebration of statesmen, soldiers, student tourist, and sometimes even expatriates' experiences in the grand, romantic, and one-of-kind city of Paris. Excerpts from journals, letters, and stories spanning centuries from pre-colonial days down to the modern times offer a grand cohesive whole of Paris through American eyes, painting a captivating picture that shifts with subtle nuances and the march of years. An enchanting and highly articulate literary composite portrait, featuring writings from Benjamin Franklin, Abigail Adams, P. T. Barnum, William Faulkner, Jack Kerouac, and many more.



2. As I've noted at my literary weblog The Elegant Variation, where I've recommended this title, "Gopnik's at his best writing about Paris, and his opening essay and brief introductions set the stage perfectly for excerpts ranging from the letters of Ben Franklin and Abigail Adams to familiar passages from A Moveable Feast and The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas to James Baldwin and Langston Hughes offering African-American perspectives. Hart Crane's 22-word postcard is a highlight, as is A.J. Liebling's quote that "In France, accidents occur in the bedroom, not the kitchen." The Library of America project is one we laud, and we direct you to this fine volume, if only to recall a distant time when Le Monde could praise the "charm, his beautiful and great words" of an American president (Roosevelt). It's the next best thing to being there."



3. wonderful collection of witty sentimental essays on Paris. It was a welcome gift.
   
   Paul E.



4. Gopnik's literary anthology of Americans in Paris is a lovely volume, full of charm, wit, anecdote, and yes, melancholy for all those who have visited, or lived in, the City of Lights. Part of the Library of American, a continuing book trust fund dedicated to keeping American literature perpetually in print, (and in ultra high quality hardbound volumes), this entry is nothing short of a fabulous look into the many Americans who passed through the city at some point in their lives.
   
   "Americans in Paris" captivates anyone who has spent time in the city. Paris is remarkable in the emotion it evokes in people, and when we read the words both small and great of writers both small and great, we are drawn back in our own minds to the similar thoughts Paris evoked in us, but never took the time to record in print. Some of the writings in this book are funny, some intriguing, some explanatory - but we never miss out on the fact that Paris was the constant in all of them. We live vicariously through these writings, and yet, use them to relive our own experiences in the city. It truly is "the next best thing to being there." Read it for enjoyment, read it for introspection, and read it to look forward to your next trip to Paris.
   
   The book runs about 600 pages, and can be read in any order, by date, by person, or by topic. Entries are placed chronologically, starting with Benjamin Franklin and Abigail Adams in the late 18th century all the way to Vreeling and Tanning in the 20th century. Authors include Charles Lindbergh, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson, P. T. Barnum, Irwin Shaw, Henry James, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ernest Hemmingway, Art Buchwald, Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Baldwin, and a host of others too lengthy to list here.

5 comments about Rick Steves' Paris 2007 (Rick Steves).

1. Rick Steves is an expert on European travel.
   I am a great fan of his PBS show, "Rick Steves in...".
   His information is as complete as one might want; he covers the basics plus some: how to go, where to stay, dine, explore, etc.
   There is also the in-depth information on the people, the customs, the "inner side" of Paris that gives one more than
   the "typical touristy" perspective.
   His book is well organized and easy to read...I'm still reading it and enjoying my "chairside travel" in preparation for the real thing.



2. My husband and I used this book on our recent eight-day trip to Paris. It was a very helpful guidebook, giving several insights into how to get around Paris--such as where to buy the Museum Pass most efficiently, to navigating the Metro, to saving some money, etc. I found it very easy to use, with a good index that led us immediately to the information we needed. I would definitely recommend reading the book before you leave in order to maximize its information. We appreciated his starred ratings of sights big and small, which were helpful in planning our time. We didn't find his restaraunt and cafe suggestions too helpful, as "cheap" to him was "pricey" to us. Particularly of note were the tours of some of the major sights. We had our iPods with us, and we were able to download the audio versions of the written chapters as we toured the sights. At Versailles, we rented the audioguide, but in the end we found the Rick Steves tour (in the book and downloaded from his Web site), to be more interesting and informative than the palace's audioguide. I feel that we got a thorough and wonderful "tour" of Paris with this book--coupled with a good map of Paris, it's really all you need to enjoy your trip.



3. I really have to compliment Rick Steves for making a tour guide book fun and informative at the same time. There were moments when I was reading a description of something and started laughing out loud from humorous description he would give. Besides being fun, there is plenty of information in here...I would recommend trying to get the 2008 version after 10/07 because the Euro has jumped up in value (or did the dollar drop?) and some prices went up also. But I would certainly recommend this book to friends and family because you will be enthused to get informed.



4. The maps and insider tips are Great. I will take a current copy every time I go to Paris.



5. Rick Steves' Paris had great information and wonderful tips. It was very helpful to have organized vacation plans, but also had enough ideas and favorite destinations that it allowed us to pick and choose which would work with our schedules. I especially liked the walking tour guide. It made getting from place to place fun, informative, and a good use of time.

No comments about Frommer's 24 Great Walks in Paris (Great Walks).

No comments about The Brasseries of Paris.

5 comments about The Paris Mapguide, Third Edition.

1. tOGETHER WITH ITS COMPANION LONDON MAPGUIDE, AN EXTREMELY CONVENIENT, COMPLETE AND USEABLE MAP OF THE CITIES. POCKET SIZE AND VERY HELPFUL-HAVEN'T FOUND BETTER.



2. We went all over Paris using this mapguide. It was the best map for a large city that I ever used. It was our first ime to Paris and I was very comfortable getting around. I would highly recommend the Paris mapguide. We also used the London mapguide also and were just as pleased.



3. What can I say that everyone hasn't already said. I am so happy that I purchased this map. I have 3 other maps of Paris, but none are as good as this one. I really like the way it is laid out. This would be the map that I would recommend to my friends.



4. My family and I just came back from a week in Paris and wouldn't you know that we were there during the transportation strike and WALKED everywhere that we went. You can imagine my glee that I had this nifty little street map guide book to lead the way for us. We never got lost once with it and it is small and compact and fit into my pocketbook quite nicely. The streets and landmarks were clearly marked and easy to read. Also, at the beginning of the book, gives a list of the different sites, addresses and opening/closing times. We never could have done what we did if it wasn't for this little gem. Whenever we travel to another city again, the first thing that I will do is buy another for the city that I am going to.



5. Having travelled some what, I feel qualified to fairly assess 'The Paris Mapguide'. There are many guides of Paris on store bookshelves far more illistrated and far more detailed but they do not address the basic needs of a traveller standing on a Paris street. This publication meets all requirements, it is the right size,street maps and the 'Metro'are percise and very easy to read and the supporting information, be it city history,districts,places of interest etc, are all there.
   'The Paris Mapguide' will facilitate an enjoyable visit to this beautiful city.

No comments about On Paris (On).

2 comments about A Town Like Paris: Falling in Love in the City of Light.

1. In some respects this book could be the boy's own companion to Sarah Turnball's "Almost French": young expat Australian sets out to find life and love in Paris and share the ups and downs of adapting to a new culture, new language, new friends. But that's where the similarities end.
   
   Corbett's book is a cringe-making, crass - and brash - account of the Ugly Australian abroad: all booze, bars, buddies and babes (preferably French). There is no attempt to present any insights into the cultural life of that most complex and civilised city. The chapters are brief and disconnected and read as a collection of punchy Sunday tabloid columns recording Corbett's laddish, self-absorbed and tasteless adventures.
   If you want an excellent alternative give Corbett the flick and read Adam Gopnik's "Paris to the Moon".



2. I bought this with a great anticipation of reading another book centered around one of my favourite cities in the world. Instead I ended up reading about this guy's rather boring and repetative time in Paris: wake up with hangover, got to job and pretend to work, go out and get drunk in evening (with a sideline of 'try to get Parisian showgirl interested in me'). If Mr Corbett didn't come across as so self-centred and at times, just plain stupid then this might have been a (slightly) better book. A few attempts at humour mostly come across as being insulting to anyone with average intelligence. For a superior read try John Baxter's "Sex and Love in the City of Light" which is genuinely humourous and actually contains references to a life in the city of Paris!

3 comments about Brassai, Paris (Taschen 25th Anniversary Special Editins).

1. i was really happy with this book. there is some great text which accompanies the images that i had not read before. overall, i totally recommend! i love brassai and i have only seen a couple of his books that are better.



2. Brassaï is one of those indispensable artists, which rarely come along every 50 years or so. Photographer, writer, painter, film maker, he recorded for us what must have been the most fruitful era for art, in the most fruitful place for art: Paris. He knew everyone from the dadaists to the surrealists and the cubists. He formed an uneasy friendship with Picasso, which resulted on his book My Conversations With Picasso, a first hand account of the comings and goings in the artist's life and studio, that I highly recommend. But it is as a photographer that he excels, providing for us unforgettable images of the city that he loved. Paris by Night, one of his colections of photos, gives us the wanderings about, of an artist and his camera at a time at which the city is at it's most beautiful, without any other equipment than a tripod to hold his camera steady. This book also includes The Secret Paris and a wonderful section of artis's portraits: Dalí, Picasso, Matisse and many others.



3. Everyone in the know knows that Taschen is a top-of-the-line publisher of Art and Photography books so naturally this one is beautifully done. However, even Taschen can make blunders. The flaps of the cover on this book are a dark shade of lipstick red with small black lettering. Ironically the blurb on these flaps describes Bendikt Taschen's twenty-fifth anniversary as an art book publisher. Because of the tiny black type on the dark red background it is virtually impossible to read about how great Taschen books are. Fortunately, this is the only flaw I found in this excellent book, it's just amusing that the mistake involves the text it does. At least the reader can read the testimonial on the back cover's flap because it is in larger black type and simply proclaims "The most exquisite books on the planet."
   Brassai didn't take his first pictures until 1929. In 1932 a journalist friend told Brassai he knew of a publisher who wanted to publish a book of photographs of Paris at night but had been unable to find a photographer who could handle the task. Brassai had already been exhaustively exploring exactly that subject with his camera. Later that same year in December 1932 Brassai's first book PARIS DE NUIT was published. Almost a dozen more books followed during his long life and career. It wasn't until 1976 that the more erotic pictures of Paris nightlife were published in Brassai's LE PARIS SECRET DES ANNEES 30, which is one of this reviewer's favorites. Those pictures that were also taken in the 1930's were too hot for a publisher to risk bankruptcy and or jail by publishing before 1976 when the obscenity laws were relaxed somewhat.
   This volume contains some pictures from all or at least most of Brassai's books including LES SCULPTURES DE PICASSO, GRAFFITI, PICASSO & CO., HENRY MILLER: GRANDEUR NATURE and THE ARTISTS OF MY LIFE. Brassai, who was also an accomplished artist in several mediums, was a member of the Bohemian Montparnasse or what I call the "Camelot of Art." He was friends with most of the artists and writers of the period. Much of his early photography was to document them and their work for publication. He was their contemporary and while his non-photography work is also masterful, it was photography that was to make him famous. Throughout his life he kept switching back and forth working in various art mediums. He loved the variety and couldn't, wouldn't really specialize in any one facet of art. He liked his freedom too much to only practice one of his passions. He was a master craftsman of several including writing. He often wrote articles to pay his bills especially after he first arrived from his native Transylvania where he was born in 1899. I apologize in advance but when I learned that Brassai was from Transylvania I could not keep myself from wondering about his fascination with photographing Paris after dark. He loved those pitch-black forays and at one time was familiar with the most unsavory and criminal characters populating the sleazy nighttime world of Paris. This was dangerous information to know because the local gangsters would rub out any stool pigeons they even thought might be spying for the police. Just maybe the man from Transylvania simply was not frightened of these mere mortals? Nobody else had previously done it and most photographers weren't up to the job or were too scared to attempt taking midnight pictures of gargoyles on the top of Norte Dame by the light of a full moon, street harlots and their pimps, muggers, murders and thieves, homosexual clubs and brothels of all sorts, heroin dens and any other unsavory activity including perverts trysting clandestinely in various infamous Paris Loos. That may have been where Brassai picked up his fascination with graffiti? He eventually turned that graffiti into a book, which must be something akin to turning a lemon into lemonade. This is the best Brassai book to own if you are only going to have one of his published photographic collections. Taschen really does do a remarkably good job of publishing art books and hopefully they will stay out of the red and in the black. Sorry about that folks, I couldn't resist. Have fun discovering the world of a remarkable photographer from what is now Hungry. (I'm resisting another bad pun.) This really is a very, very good, terrific collection of historically significant photographs.

2 comments about Paris: Wish You Were Here.

1. Great book!
   Fascinating stories as well as interesting facts.
   Bought one for me and one as a gift and it was warmly received.



2. This is an adorable little book; not your typical travel book. There are facts and places to see, lists of museums, etc., but there is more: a list of Americans who lived in Paris, charming illustrations, song lyrics about Paris, Quotes, history, a detailed description of each Arrondissement, where to shop and eat.....selections from David Sedaris, Julia Child, Jack Kerouac, Langston Hughes, Mark Twain, Ludwig Bemelmans, and more...it would be a great send-off for anyone going to Paris for the first time, or going for the fifth time.....every time I flip through it, I see something I hadn't before. Perfect size (not huge), so you could even pack it to take along on your trip. Recommended.