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alicebme's review against another edition
4.0
Read on airplane. Love Lucy so much! Foooood and friends and family.
brendalovesbooks's review
3.0
French Milk is about a 23 year old woman who travels with her mother to live in Paris for a month or so. It's a memoir, told through drawings (graphic novel type) and photographs of their time there. I really expected to like this book a lot more than I did, because I love Paris so much.
I thought the format for this book was excellent. Written in normal memoir style, I don't think it would have held my attention at all. The drawings were fun. I just didn't feel much joy coming from the author. There seemed to be a lot of complaining and depression. I understand that the author was just portraying how she felt at the time, but it just wasn't what I was expecting.
Off book topic aside: One particular part of the book where she and her mom were in a laundromat reminded me of when Troy and I were in Paris. We went to a laundromat, because we only packed enough clothes for about a week (and we were in Europe for two). We couldn't figure out how to work the machines, or what we were doing, but luckily there was a nice French couple there who spoke English and helped us. People say that Europeans are so rude to Americans, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. I'm sure there are rude ones, but there are rude people everywhere.
But back to the book; it was a quick read and was interesting enough, but I definitely didn't love it. I would probably rate it a 3/5 and I'm not sure that it would be one I would recommend.
I thought the format for this book was excellent. Written in normal memoir style, I don't think it would have held my attention at all. The drawings were fun. I just didn't feel much joy coming from the author. There seemed to be a lot of complaining and depression. I understand that the author was just portraying how she felt at the time, but it just wasn't what I was expecting.
Off book topic aside: One particular part of the book where she and her mom were in a laundromat reminded me of when Troy and I were in Paris. We went to a laundromat, because we only packed enough clothes for about a week (and we were in Europe for two). We couldn't figure out how to work the machines, or what we were doing, but luckily there was a nice French couple there who spoke English and helped us. People say that Europeans are so rude to Americans, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. I'm sure there are rude ones, but there are rude people everywhere.
But back to the book; it was a quick read and was interesting enough, but I definitely didn't love it. I would probably rate it a 3/5 and I'm not sure that it would be one I would recommend.
rainbowbookworm's review
5.0
I just love Knisley's travelogues. This one illustrates a trip to Paris she took with her mother in 2006.
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
2.0
Although the artwork was lovely (if muddly) I just couldn't identify at all with the narrator. She came over as young, spoilt and trying to hide it by putting on an air of highbrow intellegensia. Six weeks in Paris are occupied mainly by art gallerys, eating and A LOT of shopping, and this is somehow meant to equate to a treatise on the authors changing relationship with her mother? (who is treated as a minor character. The 'changing relationship' seems to consist of 2 or 3 small spats). And seriously, who takes up smoking just to 'fit in in smokey Paris'?
vegprincess's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this graphic memoir and feel like it would be a good "starter book" for people just getting into graphic novels/memoirs. The inclusion of actual black and white photographs was interesting, and to me at least, original. I read Lucy Knisley's "Relish" and realize I like her art style.
The book chronicles a six week trip to Paris, which she took with her mother. There's something in here for everyone to enjoy, as there's talk about museums and art, cafes and food (and drink), various kinds of markets and boutiques (clothes and bags!) and bookstores and books.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who's interested in Paris (and food and drinks and clothes and books). One of my favorite and most relatable passages occurred when they visited Versailles and took an audio tour of the King's and Queen's apartments and realized how little privacy there was in those apartments : "If I were to give a tour of such places, I would include info on the affairs, on what they wore, on the food and the party scandals, and where/how fucked, shat, and picked their noses." I laughed when I read this because I'd be wondering the exact same things. I'll happily read anything Lucy Knisley writes.
The book chronicles a six week trip to Paris, which she took with her mother. There's something in here for everyone to enjoy, as there's talk about museums and art, cafes and food (and drink), various kinds of markets and boutiques (clothes and bags!) and bookstores and books.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who's interested in Paris (and food and drinks and clothes and books). One of my favorite and most relatable passages occurred when they visited Versailles and took an audio tour of the King's and Queen's apartments and realized how little privacy there was in those apartments : "If I were to give a tour of such places, I would include info on the affairs, on what they wore, on the food and the party scandals, and where/how fucked, shat, and picked their noses." I laughed when I read this because I'd be wondering the exact same things. I'll happily read anything Lucy Knisley writes.
rollforlibrarian's review
2.0
I wanted to enjoy this - I've also read Relish which I thought was fantastic - but despite some interesting bits and pieces this never really grabbed me. Two stars because while I was a little disappointed I didn't actively dislike it.
machadamia's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.0
It was an overall, rather enjoyable book to read. I felt like I was sort of living through her eyes, going through Paris with her mum and dad and friends. The illustrations were cute and the journal aspect made me feel rather involved. I thought if how Paris could be like in 2007 and wondered how I’ll feel on a trip like that.
laila4343's review
3.0
Enjoyable graphic novel memoir about a month-long trip to Paris with her mother. If I'd spent a month in a foreign country with my mother at the age of 22 - well, actually, at any age - I would think it was worthy of writing a book about too. This was nice, not a life-changing read. If you are an armchair traveler or Francophile you might pick this one up.