2 comments about City Walks with Kids: Paris Adventures on Foot (City Walks With Kids).

1. It has great information! Fun to look for kids, very useful for adults, but remember it's not a book type material it's "cards" and I reframe that, because if you are subjected to custmons clereance in your country , you will have to pay "extras", because it's not considered a book.



2. I travelled to Paris for two months this last spring with my friend and her two girls 4yrs & 2 yrs old. These cards were Great, we would show the girls what the picture on the front was, discuss what was there. Then we would plot our metro travel or walk and take the card along. They were great and accurate.
   Of the 50 cards we covered 44 of the destinations... the sewers we didn't think would be of interest. The local people we met in the parks would suggest different things to do with the girls and there was always a card that covered that praticular suggestion.
   I would Highly recommend these for all ages....
   Leanne Edwards, B.C. Canada

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

1. This is a very easy & fun read. I love Paris and enjoyed experiencing it through an expatriate's eyes. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun and entertaining experience, especially if you have any interest in Paris or submersing yourself in a culture other than your own.
   Looking forward to book #2.



2. I loved this book. I lived in Paris for a year myself and found Bryce's account of French government, cultural mentality and "on verra" attitude to be very funny and true to life. Makes me miss Paris even more!



3. Absolutely loved this book! I was so sad when I came to the last page....as if I was leaving Paris and the good friends I made there. Corbett has a fantastic sense of humor and tremendous knack for storytelling. Can't wait for the sequel!



4. Found this coming back from Australia, had selected the films I planned to see on the flight and then read A Town Like Paris from cover to cover. Corbett's account of ex-pat life is hilarious, whether or not you know Paris (although anyone who has spent time there will love seeing their experiences so wittily described). Bring on the sequel!



5. I've read a couple of books of this ilk (foreigner drawn to Paris). Bryce Corbett's take is among the best. He doesn't take himself too seriously. He's a good observer - he knows both funny and absurd when he sees it. He inflects his tales with a generous humor that transcends borders. He's respectful of the French people and their culture, but also arches his eyebrow towards what he perceives as anachronisms like the 35-hour workweek and the government-subsidized work lunch. Plus, he pithily articulated what I've always wanted to see in print: The _real_ reason French Women Don't Get Fat. Hint: it has less to do with the specious 'three square meals a day' and 'good quality produce' theories promulgated by Mireille Guiliano, and more to do with nervous energy, 'a packet of Marlboro Lights and a couple of Xanax.' As for what's fueling that nervous energy, well, read the book!
   
   Also, take a look at Corbett's video posted on this Amazon page. It's a nice three-and-a-half minute summary of the book. It also captures the author's winning personality.

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.

No comments about The Rough Guide to Paris - 11th Edition.

1 comments about Remembrance of Things Paris: Sixty Years of Writing from Gourmet (Modern Library Food).

1. What a great opportunity to learn more about the Paris I love, and French food which I do not prepare at home. I wait for my trips. I am not intimidated with the snooty waiters, as I did my "homework." I'm prepared to ask questions about loaves and wine and anything else. The set-up of the chapters was easy reading, too. I trusted the writers. I discovered more secrets in Paris via their investigations and risky ventures. I didn't have to suffer the frustrations of getting lost on the metro nor the pains of tusseling with those Parisian cabbies. I especially enjoyed the trips to the new and modern Paris as described by Paul Goldberger. Do you want to loaf with a loaf, drink a bottle away from the bottlenecks? Read this book. Also, I will read other books in the Modern Library Food series based on my enjoyment of Ruth Reichl choices.

5 comments about Michelin the Green Guide Paris (Michelin Green Guides).

1. "Les Guides Mich" as the French refer to this series, is a series of tour books for different regions of France. Some are available only in French; the most popular are in English.
   A trip to Paris DEMANDS this guide -- far superior to Rick Steve's series.
   Walking tours, wonderful maps, and enough information for even the persons who have often visited Paris. I also suggest, for the photography, National Geographic's "PARIS"
   
   The Michelin RED guides are for lodging and restaurants, by the way.



2. Michelin the Green Guide Paris (Michelin Green Guides)
   The main issue is the way the guide is constructed: neighborhoods by alphabetical order... I was walking from one area to another and had to try to find out which page to go. each area has a good detailed map but the maps are not linked and when moving one won't know where the map continues.
   Also, there are very few hotels/restaurants listed and minor attractions, like small museums, are hardly reported.
   I would not buy again



3. A splendid pocket book to take with you as you walk or ride through Paris, notes on most buildings, good restaurants and handy cafes to stop by as you travel and a thorough historic background to this lovely City.



4. I have used the Michelin green guides for years and am now in the travel business, specifically doing business in France. I find this current edition a bit lacking, though it is generally a good guide. Unfortunately, there seems to be a "dumbing-down" of the guides in English (are we Americans not sophisticated travelers?); the same guide written is French is much more complete and detailed; I would opt for it if you read French...if not, for a more detailed cultural guide try Blue Guide Paris



5. Recommended by my French professor, I leaned heavily upon the expertise of the Michelin Green Guide during my first trip to Paris. The guide proved its worth over and over again. Despite the abundance of tourist guides for Europe and the vast expanse known as the Internet, this particular guide deserves a special place in your travel bag because:
   
   It is thorough. Every detail you wanted to know - and some you could not imagine - can be found in this Guide. Architecture? History? The nearest bus stop? It's all there. Unlike most tourist books, the Green Guide covers ALL OF PARIS. You will find every big and little neighborhood arranged in alphabetical order.
   
   It provides decent walking tours, and not just for touristy neighborhoods, either. These are essential for the renegade explorer who craves something other than a cookie-cutter experience abroad.
   
   Maps maps maps! Maps of the gardens of Versailles, map of the Métro, maps of the cemeteries... The floor plans of museums (Le Grand Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, etc.) help as well.
   
   One of my favorite parts of the book is the front flap. It contains a list of unusual métro stations - a list that becomes enormously valuable when the weather doesn't allow traditional sight-seeing. If for no other reason, choose this guide for the flap: it starts out strong, and only illuminates your mind from there.

5 comments about The Impressionists' Paris: Walking Tours of the Artists' Studios, Homes, and the Sites They Painted.

1. I think my students will love traveling in the footsteps of the impressionists. Seeing what the artists saw is worth a 1000 words in explaining they why of the subject painted.



2. If you love Paris and the Impressionists' work this is a must have. Taking the walking tours was the highlight of my last trip to the city of lights. Williams helps you see through 100 years of change into a different Paris.



3. There are many books about Paris, many about the Impressionists, and several about Paris and the Impressionists. If you're obsessed with Paris and Impressionism, buy them all. However, if you're not willing to build a new wing for your library, or simply want a book you can actually take with you and use while you're in Paris, this is the one. It's a true gem.



4. This and a Metro map will take care of me for a week. A little about Paris, a little about the period, a little about the artists... "The Impressionists' Paris" is a learning experience, even for a student of impressionist art, and even if you're not planning a trip to Paris soon.

   All but one of these 3 walks are on the right bank, which is otherwise somewhat impressionist-deprived since the good paintings moved from l'Orangerie to Musee d'Orsay. Combine Walk 1 with a visit to Orsay one day, then combine Walk 2 with an excursion to Giverny on another day.

   Work the cafes into the rest of your visit to Paris. If you're into art and food, this book is a great companion to "The Historic Restaurants of Paris" by the same author.

   Don't expect to find all of the locations intact, and there's the ever-present reality of construction and scaffolding. I hardly recognized the Pont de l'Europe from Caillebotte's painting, and Cafe de la Paix is closed for renovation (9/2002).

   I'd love to meet this author sometime. She did this book like I would have (if I knew nearly as much as she). Each tour has a good map, and about 14-18 pages (each) of descriptions and pictures. Walking directions are in bold.

   The book has nice color plates of selected paintings, matched loosely with period photos of Paris taken from old postcards, some with their 'timbres' quaintly intact. Lengthy captions add colorful trivia. She even finishes off the book with a tastefully written list of Paris cemeteries where the impressionists are buried.

   Bon Voyage!




5. This is exactly the book I was looking for and wasn't sure existed. Even if I don't get back to Paris for years, I can still feel a little closer to its streets because of this guide. This little book can not serve as a introduction to Impressionist art, but to those who already love Impressionism, this is a delightful addition to that appeciation.

5 comments about The Authentic Bistros of Paris.

1. This book does not go beyond a superficial description of the interiors of the bistros. The writers completely ignore the food and there is not one description of a dish one may expect at any of these establishments.
   
   It is of no value to anyone requiring guidance to select an authentic Parisian bistro.



2. On my way to Paris.... can't wait to visit these Bistros.
   Great descriptions. Good photos.
   More later.



3. If you're Paris-bound and looking for an easy pocket tote to take along - and have heard about the famous bistros of Paris - don't miss Authentic Bistros of Paris: there may be one on every block but this book separates wheat from chafe. It first appeared in France and now is accessible to U.S. audiences, selecting over fifty bistros which stand apart due to regional foods, wines, and atmospheres. Sure, you can visit French bistros without it - but why spend your trip on less than the best? AUTHENTIC BISTROS helps you define and find them.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. This is a GREAT book for the money. Lots of full color pictures so you really get a feel for each place, organized by arrondissement so you can find a bistro no matter what neighborhood you happen to be in, good write-ups, and small enough to take in your purse. And apart from the prices, the information about the places will probably be pretty timeless.



5. Another book about Paris bistros and cafés I read a few years ago claimed that you should be able to choose a café to make your own (and don't we all want to feel at home in a Paris café?) solely on the basis of what he had written in those pages. He didn't quite pull it off, I thought. I'd be a lot more comfortable settling into an "authentic bistro" in the City of Lights based on this book by Thomazeau and Ageorges. Their photos and descriptions of four-dozen or so bistros are wonderfully evocative.
   
   Which isn't to say they're perfect, however, as other reviewers here have attested. For one thing, the descriptions, tempting as they are, are still pretty superficial and the photos, while gorgeous, never show the bistros at the French equivalent of rush hour. While the copy does mention the nearest Metro station, there are no maps to place them in a larger context for readers not already familiar with Paris' arrondissements.
   
   All of which reminds us this is a book originally written in French, for the French. It's a great thing it was translated into English and I'm sure will make an American's trip to Paris even brighter and more memorable. For those of us stuck at home, its teasing overview leaves us wanting more (more descriptions, more recipes, more photos, more maps...) -- for which we'll need to turn to some other book.

5 comments about C'est La Vie: An American Woman Begins a New Life in Paris and--Voila!--Becomes Almost French.

1. As a twenty-something, this book was a little 'old' for me. It is essentially the story of a 50-something widow who escapes her sorrows and old life in the US to start again in the city she loves - Paris. I did enjoy her descriptions of the city and it's people, but after a while, all the name-dropping and elitist activities she claims to have done gets to you ("coffee at the Ritz with Les Girls", etc). She comes across as a snob (even as she tries to say that about others around her) and experiences Paris as a cashed up socialite, even claimed through out the book about how much on a budget she is (then writes about spending thousands of dollars on flea market furniture, food, limosines, fancy restaurants, flights back and forth between the US, etc and how she isn't on the 'Forbes500 list of Richest Women' anymore?!?)
   
   She also repeats herself a few times (i.e. name someone with an small description, then does it all over again a few chapters later) which breaks up the smooth flow of the book and in my mind I could only think "bad editing". A small gripe, but still one worthy of mention.
   
   All in all, it is a story about a woman coming to terms with the death of her husband and finding a new life for herself in Paris. The description on the back cover of the book understates her husbands death as she does spend a lot of time talking about her late husband (almost every chapter right until the end) and her obsession to establish herself in French society. Don't get me wrong - This is an entertaining book for over 40's, who have a similar lifestyle (i.e. money and social standing), otherwise to everyone else, it comes across as a tad boastful and shallow by the end. I'm sure she is a lovely lady (and you do tend to sympathise during her 'dark' moments, but by the end you become a bit resentful towards her constant talk of money).
   
   As for the 'recipe tips to the perfect clafoutis' - she spends more time Americanising her food and baking from instant mixes than actually baking...and she doesn't exactly write about the perfect baking tips - it's more like how she went wrong with a packet mix and how it luckily turned out fine at the end.
   
   For people who want a more realistic (in the sense of someone living in Paris without a wad of cash funded by her husband's life insurance money) narrative about Paris life, I would probably recommend 'Almost French' by Sarah Turnbull or even 'La Vie Parisienne' by Janelle McCulloch.



2. I found this book very difficult to read. It was poorly written and very disjointed. I felt that the author would introduce topics and then never come back to the topics, ie fax machine, finances, awful relationship with her concierge. The book never flowed properly, not a great travel book or memoir.



3. 
   I bought this book, I am ashamed to say. I am also reluctant to review it as I do not really want my name associated with it. However, just to keep someone else from the painful experience of reading the book, I will write a few words.
   
   I will never be dining with Suzy Gershman, shopping with her, or visiting her in Paris. We would not run in the same social circles. Both of us are (or would be) glad that our paths will never cross. No matter where we each live, we would never understand each other, nor would we share any common interests.
   
   This is the most shallow and self-satisfied non-fiction (?) book I have ever read.
   
   Save yourself the cost of even a used copy of this book. Instead, get a few copies of "People." then imagine spending the rest of your life hanging out in stores and buying things you hope to use to impress your "friends." You will not need to read the book.
   
   The relationships with people and things described in this book make shallow seem deep. I have not read anything like this before. I kept wishing that I could hit the author in the head and I am NOT a violent person. I plan to avoid anything that is even remotely similar to this book in the future and carefully shunning all the recommendations Amazon has for books I would theoretically like if I would have liked it.
   
   "Almost French," ha! This book should be titled "Almost Human." I only wish that Amazon would allow me to give it a NEGATIVE star rating.



4. I bought this book with the anticipation that it would be a woman's personal and emotional journey in the city I have always adored. Instead, the author has a rather cold demeanor throughout and this book reads far more like a how-to for moving to Paris than an actual experience. This is not SO bad, but collective shopping trips and apartment hunting antecedotes do NOT a memoir make!
   
   I also found the author's reflection on her loss to be very callous and detached. I understand that everyone copes in their own way but the book was described in a very different light than it actually read. Definitely not worth buying or reading unless you want to move to Paris and need a game plan. More like Travel, not Travel Writing.
   
   If you want a really fun and witty memoir about Paris pick up Sarah Turnbull's "Almost French."



5. I love reading books about Paris, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, so Suzy Gershman's book caught my eye. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations. Suzy really just does not come across as likeable. First of all, she seems quite self-centered. Her husband dies and just after, she picks up her life and basically moves to Paris (she claims that it was only for a year, even though she knows it's not even before she leaves the States). She seems to ignore the fact that her son may need her. Yes, she lost her husband but he also just lost his father and maybe he needs the comfort. There's a rant of pages 210 and 211 about it. "I felt guilty but also hurt...I was the one who had inherited the life insurance,the house and the problems that went with a falling market and the failure of my husband's business. I was the one who chose to put aside a hunk of money to pay for the rest of my son's education...I didn't know what the right thing to do or whose feelings I needed to cater to-his or mine". Well, obviously she chose hers because she made the move to France.
   
   There's really nothing in the book that shows the charm about living in Paris and day to day living in Paris. It's all about buying stuff in France. Suzy is the author of Born to Shop books and apparently she felt that endless writing about what sheets to buy for a French bed was interesting to readers who thought this book was a memoir about living in Paris. Also, there are countless plugs in the book for various things. She mentions drinking Coca-Cola a lot and I couldn't figure out why it was important for me to know. That is unless, she wants some free Coke for plugging their brand so much.
   Also it's obvious that Ms. Gershman is rich because she has a tailor in Hong Kong, jets back and forth to the US a number of times, goes to London just to get her hair done, buys designer clothes from Armani, and thinks nothing of buying expensive items for her apartment that she doesn't even need. Therefore, her "tips" for living in Paris are kind of useless to the average American.
   
   Ms. Gershman shows a disdain for America, even though she will forever be American and never will be completely French. All thoughout the book, she makes comparisons that living in the US is like living in a slum compared to Paris. Now, I don't doubt Paris is very sophiscated and lovely to live in, the US isn't that terrible to live in either. However, Suzy doesn't really make the effort to learn more French-other than watching French television and she still clings to her American food. How does one become "Almost French" like that?
   
   Overall, I was really disappointed with this book. The writing was not the best. It never flowed evenly like a book should. There was nothing about Paris that I was expecting to be there. Nothing about the hidden charms of Paris. Just some desperate American wannabe talking about buying sheets and furniture. I'm just glad that I bought it at a bargain price and didn't have to waste much money on it.

5 comments about The Flaneur: A Stroll Through the Paradoxes of Paris.

1. Edmund White gives a very different "travel book" in FLANEUR: A STROLL THROUGH THE PARADOXES OF PARIS. If you don't delight in books that compare prices of hotels and restaurants or books in which the author traces the difficulty of restoring and furbishing a fabulous villa all while beguiling and amusing the locals then White's book will offer you a refreshing alternative.

   Sixteen-year resident, White, offers a view of Paris that is at once personal and historical. It is more accurately described as a memoir of Paris rather than a standard travel book. One feels as though a friend is offering a leisurely tour of the city showing you his favorite places and telling stories offering insight and historical tidbits not dragging you through a checklist as an impersonal tourist. The changes in neighborhoods and the histories he describes particularly those of expatriate Americans in Paris are all insightful. White's tone is erudite and conversational without being tedious or condescending. The term flaneur is key in the title. The pace of the book is strolling but always interesting. It seems to have no direction but the end result is both illuminating and satisfying. Most remarkably it offers an enjoyable read whether one is immediately traveling to Paris or armchair traveling or whether one is living in a villa in Europe or a small apartment in the States.




2. Of course this isn't really about cruising. If it were it would be awfully boring, and this book is anything but boring. Even so, there is nothing quite so pleasurable as a stroll down almost any street in the French capital. Edmund white, who lived there for a long time, offers a distillation of his experience in this delightful little book. Reading it is almost as good as being there. Second best. Whie writes elegantly and intelligently. The part I most enjoyed, and from which I learned most, is about the Camondo Museum and the tragedy of the family that built and owned it. After reading this book I went to visit it and it turned out to be all White says it is. Delightful. But the book contains other wonderful descriptions of people and places as well. Highly recommended.



3. I bought this book while holidaying in the Marais in the summer of 2005. I read it on my return to Sydney as a means of returning to the backstreets of Paris as I also remember it.
   
   If you've been to Paris much of this book will seem familiar. If you haven't, It's the closest you'll come to enjoying the pleasures of this most magnificent city.
   
   Much like Paris itself, this book is brilliant.



4. White, Edmund. "The Flaneur: A Stroll through the Paradoxes of Paris", Bloomsbury, 2007.
   
   A Different Look of Paris
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   Edmund White is a wonderful writer as he has proven many times and he gives us a great travel book in "The Flaneur". White gives us a look at Paris that is both personal and historical and is really more of a memoir than anything else. I felt as if White was my friend and taking me on a stroll around the city and showing me his favorite places and telling me stories of his own life there. He is erudite and conversational and never did I feel I was being given a tour of Paris. The fact that the book meanders without any direction is a plus as this makes it comfortable.
   The book is only 211 pages long and there is a great deal of information in it. White writes of the avant garde of the Left Bank which is just a fading memory and what a pity! White concentrates on the minorities of the city--the Arabs, the Jews, and the Blacks. It is an insider's guide and we learn of the idiosyncrasies, the flavor, the history and the charm of the City of Light. A flaneur is a rambler who wanders aimlessly through the back ways of the city just to observe and reflect and this is what we do with White. A flaneur comments on all that he sees and hears and knows about the areas of Paris that he chooses to comment on. White lived in Paris for 16 years so there is no doubt that he knows the city. White's distillation of his own years In Paris is what makes this book so interesting and fun.



5. Before leaving home one should read "Paris, The Biography of a City" by Colin Jones and when the trip is over, digest your visit with "Paris" by Julian Green.
   
   "The Flaneur," however, is the best of the three and the one you will want with you as you wander the streets. At first blush the book appears to be intellectual flaneurie, but in fact the sections are broken down into fairly regimented units. They are roughly: Americans in Paris, the African American expereince, Jewish Paris, Gay Paris, Royalist Paris, all seen through a historical lens with lots of breezy, anecdotal filler. Plenty of history to round out the edges too. Ironically, it will leave readers a full agenda of places to visit as opposed to just "aimlessly wandering" which the actual flaneurs are want to do. Worth if for the descriptions of the less popular museums alone.