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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
As a travel book, this succeeded in that it really made me want to go to there.
On a personal/stylistic level, Sciolino does seem like she is probably A Lot, and parts of the book where she hangs with Arianna Huffington, writes a letter to the Pope, and tries to figure out what the heck drag is about, uh, show her age and are a bit cringe. But: her journalistic willingness to talk to everyone is also the thing that teases out some of the great stories from the people of the Rue des Martyrs. So: fair trade.
And I will be going.
On a personal/stylistic level, Sciolino does seem like she is probably A Lot, and parts of the book where she hangs with Arianna Huffington, writes a letter to the Pope, and tries to figure out what the heck drag is about, uh, show her age and are a bit cringe. But: her journalistic willingness to talk to everyone is also the thing that teases out some of the great stories from the people of the Rue des Martyrs. So: fair trade.
And I will be going.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
"You can give the French no higher compliment than to call them intellectuals. I once went to a cocktail party and asked a French woman her profession. 'Intellectual,' she replied. She was serious."
slow-paced
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Makes you want to go to Paris and visit the rue des martyrs, which I in fact did! It was great walking down this street and recognizing lots of small shops. I ate lunch with a friend talked to one of the merchants about the book, and took a picture with the book in front of a road sign with the street's name on it. What a wonderful day.
As for the book, it is pretty much the perfect mix of anecdotes and background info, told in palatable chapter length.
The only thing I was missing was a glossary of the shops and where in the book they were mentioned, so one could easier find/remember them.
As for the book, it is pretty much the perfect mix of anecdotes and background info, told in palatable chapter length.
The only thing I was missing was a glossary of the shops and where in the book they were mentioned, so one could easier find/remember them.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
A mixed review. I loved so much of this — the history of the street, the many colorful personalities of its shopkeepers and denizens. Fun and fascinating. I’m not so sure about the author — who certainly did butt her nose into everyone’s business. One of those Americans, I fear. At times, she does acknowledge that she's viewed askance as a “foreigner,” but at others, she brags about her privilege, class, and connections. Really, how many of us can claim to have a “least favorite Hermès scarf.” And how about going slumming in second-stores with Arianna Huffington? Hmmmm.... ?
In sum, I think a lot of people will find this pretentious — and at times, it certainly is — but there’s much to enjoy and it makes me long to return to Paris. The audio is very good (though it might irritate you if you really don’t like the author).
In sum, I think a lot of people will find this pretentious — and at times, it certainly is — but there’s much to enjoy and it makes me long to return to Paris. The audio is very good (though it might irritate you if you really don’t like the author).
“I can never be sad on the rue des Martyrs,” Sciolino says. It was hard to be sad reading her book about this single glorious street in Paris as well. This is a joyous little book that made me desperately want to visit the street on Paris, which I suspect was very much Sciolino's aim.
I admit I'm a sucker for travel books, but what made this so enjoyable was the sense of neighborliness and communal joy that pervaded both the book and the actual rue des Martyrs. The book is made up of short chapters, all tangentially related to each other, all telling different stories of the myriad personalities found along the street. Reading the book is very much like walking down the actual rue des Martyrs, popping in to each shop along the way and conversing with the shop owners and maybe buying some cheese or some vegetables to bring home to cook and then share with your neighbors.
This book, in a way, reaffirmed my belief in humanity's capacity for good - it cumulates, essentially, in a celebration of the diversity of the street and the human experience, letting me imagine for a moment that the whole world can be like the rue des Martyrs, where everyone knows everyone else and is part of one big family.
I admit I'm a sucker for travel books, but what made this so enjoyable was the sense of neighborliness and communal joy that pervaded both the book and the actual rue des Martyrs. The book is made up of short chapters, all tangentially related to each other, all telling different stories of the myriad personalities found along the street. Reading the book is very much like walking down the actual rue des Martyrs, popping in to each shop along the way and conversing with the shop owners and maybe buying some cheese or some vegetables to bring home to cook and then share with your neighbors.
This book, in a way, reaffirmed my belief in humanity's capacity for good - it cumulates, essentially, in a celebration of the diversity of the street and the human experience, letting me imagine for a moment that the whole world can be like the rue des Martyrs, where everyone knows everyone else and is part of one big family.
“Some people look at the rue des Martyrs and see a street. I see stories.” p. 1
All that was needed for this wonderful book to catch my attention was the first sentence. I have been visiting Paris through books off and on for more than a year, but even more importantly, Sciolino was promising me stories. My hopes for this book rose accordingly. After finishing her book, I feel that Sciolino more than met her promise.
When I meet people, whether in books or in real life, I want to know their stories. I want to know what makes a person tick, what her life is like and what his background is. Sciolino does a great job of telling what the rue des Martyrs is like now and how it got that way. Along with the history of the street, she introduces her readers to the people who live and work there now. I feel like they are all people I would like to meet in person.
John Baxter, whose stories of Paris I have also been reading, introduced me to literary Paris. Famous people are part of what Baxter talks about in his city of lights. Sciolino has narrowed her focus to one street. Famous people are part of her book; however, she includes more of the residents of the street. These are average Parisians. I enjoyed meeting them and learning a bit about normal life in Paris.
If you have been to Paris, or are just an armchair traveler, I think you would enjoy meeting the author and her neighbors. Sciolino’s style is light and breezy and her tale whisks you away to an interesting place. Her story is worth reading.
Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and Edelweiss for allowing me to read this book before publication.
All that was needed for this wonderful book to catch my attention was the first sentence. I have been visiting Paris through books off and on for more than a year, but even more importantly, Sciolino was promising me stories. My hopes for this book rose accordingly. After finishing her book, I feel that Sciolino more than met her promise.
When I meet people, whether in books or in real life, I want to know their stories. I want to know what makes a person tick, what her life is like and what his background is. Sciolino does a great job of telling what the rue des Martyrs is like now and how it got that way. Along with the history of the street, she introduces her readers to the people who live and work there now. I feel like they are all people I would like to meet in person.
John Baxter, whose stories of Paris I have also been reading, introduced me to literary Paris. Famous people are part of what Baxter talks about in his city of lights. Sciolino has narrowed her focus to one street. Famous people are part of her book; however, she includes more of the residents of the street. These are average Parisians. I enjoyed meeting them and learning a bit about normal life in Paris.
If you have been to Paris, or are just an armchair traveler, I think you would enjoy meeting the author and her neighbors. Sciolino’s style is light and breezy and her tale whisks you away to an interesting place. Her story is worth reading.
Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and Edelweiss for allowing me to read this book before publication.