Scan barcode
emmedash's review against another edition
1.0
A repetitive, shallow, rudderless little text composed of equal parts namechecking and complaint. Picture me bemused by the author's failure to convey any real enthusiasm for his subject; also, side-eyeing his favourite adjective, "man-eating", deployed on multiple occasions when he was skating lightly and incorrectly over the lives of famous past Parisiennes.
niniane's review against another edition
5.0
Interesting descriptions of different aspects of Paris, combining history and the modern situation.
I learned that Paris is actually very cold in the winter which is why they get happy when spring comes. But spring in Paris seems like a marketing trick, because people from warmer places like Italy are somehow eager to go to Paris in April, which is colder.
He talked about his own experience living near the Place de Vosges and how it got cobbled streets and then gentrified. The original stores got turned into designer clothing boutiques.
He likes the two islands, and walking around them at night.
He feels like the money spent keeping the old-fashioned lampposts adds ambiance. Also there are so many cafes.
It seems like people are drawn to the history. In 1900, Paris was at its peak. The empire was large. But women couldn't vote, and there was garbage everywhere. 1500 people got run over by horses every day. But somehow this combination attracted lots of intellectuals and artists.
I like how he connected physical location, history, and ambiance.
I learned that Paris is actually very cold in the winter which is why they get happy when spring comes. But spring in Paris seems like a marketing trick, because people from warmer places like Italy are somehow eager to go to Paris in April, which is colder.
He talked about his own experience living near the Place de Vosges and how it got cobbled streets and then gentrified. The original stores got turned into designer clothing boutiques.
He likes the two islands, and walking around them at night.
He feels like the money spent keeping the old-fashioned lampposts adds ambiance. Also there are so many cafes.
It seems like people are drawn to the history. In 1900, Paris was at its peak. The empire was large. But women couldn't vote, and there was garbage everywhere. 1500 people got run over by horses every day. But somehow this combination attracted lots of intellectuals and artists.
I like how he connected physical location, history, and ambiance.
sawyerbell's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. It was okay but I got tired of the author's negativity.
lifebetweenwords's review against another edition
3.0
Gol-LY it took me long enough to read this. Because every chapter is an essay of its own, there were some I loved, some that were ok, and some that didn't capture me at all. I will say that having never been to Paris, or even France, some of what Downie talks about were hard to follow. One might appreciate this book even more if they were more familiar with the city. But I do hope to go someday, and I will definitely revisit this book when that day comes. It'll come. It has to come.
gguerra8225's review against another edition
5.0
Prepped me to fall hard for Paris. Wonderful off-the-beaten path wanderings, beautifully-described discoveries in an already well-chronicled city. His chapters illuminate fascinating overlooked details of history, personality and architecture.
middleditch's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe a 4 1/2. You see Paris from an insider, one who was not born in France but has lived there for the past 20 some odd years. History lessons from a charming teacher. Learned lots about the City of Light. Really enjoyable.
nicop's review against another edition
4.0
A nice accompaniment when traveling to Paris. I read the first section of the book before the trip, and skimmed around the rest while we were there. Part history, part cultural interpretation, part guidebook, part ambiance-setter.
priyastoric's review against another edition
3.0
Nicely written, sometimes repetitive but gave me some great idea of places to walk and see.
mechatronvanessa's review against another edition
5.0
This may be my favourite book on Paris.
It teleports the reader to the cobblestones and the Jardin du Luxembourg.
The descriptions are immersive, poetic and spot on.
This is a great read to escape to Paris whenever you feel like it.
It teleports the reader to the cobblestones and the Jardin du Luxembourg.
The descriptions are immersive, poetic and spot on.
This is a great read to escape to Paris whenever you feel like it.