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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
It was a nice read, even if I spaced out in some parts—an enjoyable, thoughtful journey through a few cities (but mostly Paris) and some of their prominent literature figures.
I've considered myself a flâneuse since I first heard the term in my Writing London class in 2015. I also consider myself a writer and have strong connections to Bloomsbury in London and Brooklyn in New York City. And I had a magical 24 hours in Paris. So this is obviously my kind of book.
This reminded me a bit of Olivia Laing's THE LONELY CITY: ADVENTURES IN THE ART OF BEING ALONE in that I thought it would be a lot more memoir than it ended up being, but it was much less bothersome to me in this case because the focus was on women writers in the city rather than male artists.
I took a lot of notes, but I'm not sure whether they translate well to a review because I basically wrote down quotes and phrases to which I related. So I will just say that I really appreciated the principles upon which this book was based: space is a feminist issue, belonging and being are not necessarily the same things – in terms of travel being acceptable and immigration being abhorrent for whatever reason – and that cities can be ideas as much as places.
I'll definitely be thinking about this for a while, but I'm not quite sure I can articulate its precise impact on me.
Also, I would like to mention that certain turns of phrase in this book made me swoon. Future self: see notes in your Remembrall for examples. Okay, that's it.
This reminded me a bit of Olivia Laing's THE LONELY CITY: ADVENTURES IN THE ART OF BEING ALONE in that I thought it would be a lot more memoir than it ended up being, but it was much less bothersome to me in this case because the focus was on women writers in the city rather than male artists.
I took a lot of notes, but I'm not sure whether they translate well to a review because I basically wrote down quotes and phrases to which I related. So I will just say that I really appreciated the principles upon which this book was based: space is a feminist issue, belonging and being are not necessarily the same things – in terms of travel being acceptable and immigration being abhorrent for whatever reason – and that cities can be ideas as much as places.
I'll definitely be thinking about this for a while, but I'm not quite sure I can articulate its precise impact on me.
Also, I would like to mention that certain turns of phrase in this book made me swoon. Future self: see notes in your Remembrall for examples. Okay, that's it.
I was ecstatic during this book's first chapter. Planning! Pedestrianism! Urban life! Feminism! Oh mama!
And then as I read on, I felt bogged down by the examinations of mostly-unknown (and I get that that's partly the point) literary women, and I had a hard time seeing how this all fit together. It seemed like two slightly related articles jammed together to make one book. I wish it could have a do-over.
And then as I read on, I felt bogged down by the examinations of mostly-unknown (and I get that that's partly the point) literary women, and I had a hard time seeing how this all fit together. It seemed like two slightly related articles jammed together to make one book. I wish it could have a do-over.
Absolutely loved the use of different cities as the setting for the author's experiences and how she related the literature, films and art of other female writers who had experienced the same places at different points in history.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Un ensayo para leer con tranquilidad, con la misma tranquilidad con la que pasea una flâneuse. El capítulo de Londres y Bloomsbury es mi preferido, seguido por el de Tokio.
Tiene muchas referencias interesantes, que de momento he filtrado un poco para no desesperarme con la interminable Pila (o Kaos Lector).
He ido creando una playlist como música de fondo mientras leía: https://open.spotify.com/user/missplaced/playlist/0GqAuSpLfvhwUx1Qwzd2kb?si=WktJqbZdQHql7ExkiT2MFg
Tiene muchas referencias interesantes, que de momento he filtrado un poco para no desesperarme con la interminable Pila (o Kaos Lector).
He ido creando una playlist como música de fondo mientras leía: https://open.spotify.com/user/missplaced/playlist/0GqAuSpLfvhwUx1Qwzd2kb?si=WktJqbZdQHql7ExkiT2MFg
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
I love this book. It is such a unique mix of travel, sociology, anthropology and feminism with a sprinkle of self-reflection. I felt like I was best friends with the author, listening to her talk about her favorite subject ever. It satisfied my travel cravings and piqued my wanderlust anew. It's utterly fantastic.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Very fascinating read about women, walking, art, and carrying a sense of self between the various borders of the external and internal globe. Lots of looks into the world of writers/artists, as well as memoir-esque musings on the author’s life as a flaneuse. A friend of mine said we are each born with a little flaneuse in us, and I agree. Happy to have had this look into the topic.
The premise of this book sounded so interesting. I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. It seemed like a bunch of loosely related university research papers thrown together. It wasn’t cohesive and a big part of the book was not about walking in the city, which was what I was expecting. There were passages in the book that I loved, though. I was prepared to give this book 1 star when I finished it, but I went back and re-read the parts that I had highlighted and I loved those parts so much, so I don't regret reading this, but it's not something that I would be quick to recommend.
Parts of this I loved, parts of this I wasn't crazy about. When Elkin writes about cities and traveling within them I felt engaged, loved her descriptions, could place myself there. However, I found the book to be just as much about writing and female writers, as it was about walking in cities. This might work for some people, but wasn't why I'd been keen to read it. I enjoyed Elkin's personal reflections, as I'm a sucker for memoir, and she is undoubtedly a wonderful writer. In the end, this book didn't deliver what I hoped it would for me, but I'm pleased I read it.