Reviews - The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue Des Martyrs

91 reviews for:

The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue Des Martyrs

Elaine Sciolino

3.61 AVERAGE

velvetcelestial's review

4.0

adventurous lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Put on some Edith Piaf, pour yourself a glass of Cote de Rhone, and cozy up to the joie de vivre of this book. Elaine Sciolino, a true bon vivant, describes her life on the Rue des Martyrs in such a way that I want to pack my bags and move there, too. (Who am I kidding? The word Paris alone makes me want to pack my bags and move.) One aspect of that I really appreciate about this book is that Sciolino dispels the myth that Parisians are rude; they are some of the kindest people you will meet, but as she explains, there are rules for conduct to be followed. Elaine (I want to call her Elaine, she feels like a friend) diligently follows those rules and can sometimes come across as a bit boastful of the friendships she's made and how her neighbors on Des Martyrs have embraced her. To her credit, she works diligently to create those relationships, and this book is not only about life on her street, but a lesson in how to get along with people, even in intimidating circumstances. She is fearless in meeting people and wins them over with thoughtful gifts and questions, that none can resist her charm. She also describes her missteps lest we think that everything worked out perfectly for her.

Besides meeting her neighbors, we also meet Paris arrondissement culture and how they work to preserve the artisanal way of life, the depth of history in that amazing city, and the people who make up the city. It's a perfect book to read to escape daily life or to plan your own trip to the City of Light.

aristeegan's review against another edition

4.0

Vividly descriptive stories transport you to this little part of Paris. Mixing history with the current day cast of characters of Rue des Martyrs makes for a rich, fascinating and informative book.

plaidpladd's review

4.0

This book made me feel like I was on a Paris vacation, which was great. Very immersive sense of place, interesting historical facts, and easy to read. A little like an extended article you would read in a travel magazine, in a good way.

caroparr's review against another edition

3.0

This kind of memoir only works if you like the narrator, and I didn't really. As another reviewer noted, she's an extrovert (not that there's anything wrong with that!) and has a tendency to badger her neighbors until they do what she wants (attend a party, lead a tour, contact the Pope, etc.). I'm sure she's delightful in person, but it didn't come through here. On the other hand, Paris.