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ewilson2114's review against another edition
2.0
Spoiler
I suppose this wasn't as bad as a lot of the trite narratives of Americans living in Paris. This book had some genuinely funny moments, and arguably one moment of honest and novel insight, but fell short of actually providing any connection to what it's really like for an American to live in France. As most in this genre do, the book ends with him deciding he can't take France any more, and returning to the States where he gets a book deal for his troubles.I'd like to see more books from permanent or long-term French expats, but I accept that that's not what this was trying to be.
laila4343's review against another edition
4.0
Not as literary as *Paris to the Moon* but just as enjoyable. A lot of books about people moving to France sugar-coat everything and this one does not. Honest, funny, and bittersweet.
thrilled's review against another edition
1.0
baldwin inadvertantly diagnoses the problem with his own book:
"john le carre said the only way to write about a place was after visiting for a day, or after a long life once you'd moved there. but time between these two lengths didn't lend more certainty, just detail."
and that's exactly what this was, a play-by-play descriptathon with very little narrative or spark.
"john le carre said the only way to write about a place was after visiting for a day, or after a long life once you'd moved there. but time between these two lengths didn't lend more certainty, just detail."
and that's exactly what this was, a play-by-play descriptathon with very little narrative or spark.
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
Painfully funny travelogue about living in Paris that wrecked both my daydreams about visiting there and my fantasy that I would feel more at home in a European city. Rosecrans gets a job at a Paris advertising agency and he and his wife move to Paris. He has exaggerated his language skills, leading to some of the book's funniest scenes, where he thinks he follows a conversation in French but entirely misses it - at a party, he believes he hears a story about a grandmother buying cheese and throwing it out a window, but it turns out to be about a friend's mother breaking her leg. He tries to adjust to office culture, including learning the intricacies of the double-cheek-kiss greeting, which is appropriate in some situations but not others. He kisses: "Male clients, IT support workers, freelance temps. Any female who came within ten feet. They'd return my weird kisses reluctantly, or else back away and attempt to ignore the gaffe."
This book reminds me of David Sedaris.
This book reminds me of David Sedaris.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
Whenever in Pasadena, I always visit Vromans Bookstore and head straight to the travel section. Rosecrans Baldwin's Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down was a find on my recent visit. Last summer, I visited two towns in southern France, but I'm still dreaming of going to Paris! (hint, hint to my husband)
PLOT- In his memoir, Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down, Rosecrans Baldwin recounts his eighteen months living in Paris. Baldwin and his wife, Rachel, are in their late-twenties and they seize the opportunity to live in another country, when Rosecrans is offered an opportunity as a copywriter at a French advertising agency. Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down, tells the highs and lows of attempting to live in a different culture.
LIKE- Within the first two pages of the book, I was laughing so hard that I had to stop and read paragraphs aloud to my husband. It was too funny to keep to myself. Baldwin's witty style of writing and keen observations kept me turning the page. Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down, was so enjoyable, that I found myself eschewing household chores and homework, because I wanted to read "just one more chapter." Fun stuff.
I like how Baldwin's experience was a rollercoaster. His time in France is peppered with colorful characters, cultural missteps, and lots of red tape. I get the feeling that both Baldwin and his wife, have a genuine love for Paris and the community of friends that they have made, but that they also miss many things about America. This is honest to me. My husband is English and I'm sure that if I moved to Great Britain, I'd feel the same mix of emotions. How could you not?
The cultural differences create many of the comedic situations in Baldwin's memoir, but Baldwin and his wife, navigate most of these differences with a good attitude and a sense of adventure. Many of the most entertaining chapters involve Baldwin's coworkers at the advertising agency. He has a quirky bunch of coworkers and a less-than-stellar command of the French language, creating miscommunication, frustration, and laughs.
DISLIKE- Nothing to dislike.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down is highly entertaining and a fun ride. I enjoyed living vicariously through Baldwin's Paris adventure.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT- In his memoir, Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down, Rosecrans Baldwin recounts his eighteen months living in Paris. Baldwin and his wife, Rachel, are in their late-twenties and they seize the opportunity to live in another country, when Rosecrans is offered an opportunity as a copywriter at a French advertising agency. Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down, tells the highs and lows of attempting to live in a different culture.
LIKE- Within the first two pages of the book, I was laughing so hard that I had to stop and read paragraphs aloud to my husband. It was too funny to keep to myself. Baldwin's witty style of writing and keen observations kept me turning the page. Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down, was so enjoyable, that I found myself eschewing household chores and homework, because I wanted to read "just one more chapter." Fun stuff.
I like how Baldwin's experience was a rollercoaster. His time in France is peppered with colorful characters, cultural missteps, and lots of red tape. I get the feeling that both Baldwin and his wife, have a genuine love for Paris and the community of friends that they have made, but that they also miss many things about America. This is honest to me. My husband is English and I'm sure that if I moved to Great Britain, I'd feel the same mix of emotions. How could you not?
The cultural differences create many of the comedic situations in Baldwin's memoir, but Baldwin and his wife, navigate most of these differences with a good attitude and a sense of adventure. Many of the most entertaining chapters involve Baldwin's coworkers at the advertising agency. He has a quirky bunch of coworkers and a less-than-stellar command of the French language, creating miscommunication, frustration, and laughs.
DISLIKE- Nothing to dislike.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Paris, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down is highly entertaining and a fun ride. I enjoyed living vicariously through Baldwin's Paris adventure.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
rachelevolve's review against another edition
3.0
Boy, do I have a love/hate relationship with Paris.. I have to admit that if I had no interest in Paris at all, this book would've been incredibly boring to me. I think if you would've plugged in any other city other than Paris, this book would've never made it to the newsstands. The sheer fact that so many people from all over the world, but most especially from the United States, dream of someday moving to Paris is this books only appeal.
In an odd way, reading this novel makes me want to actually move to Paris, although my visit there last Oct/Nov was less than stellar.
In an odd way, reading this novel makes me want to actually move to Paris, although my visit there last Oct/Nov was less than stellar.
lmeanswell's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for an-American-in-Paris memoirs and I enjoyed this one! Hearing the ups and downs helps me not to quit my job and move there right now.
hannahbright's review against another edition
4.0
Nice little expat memoir, always a delight especially when it's set in Paris. Also enjoyed that it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, he brilliantly painted the specifically American challenges we face living abroad, be that lack of access to Whole Foods or constantly being put on the spot to answer for the actions of your country
melissakuzma's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to have to join a Paris memoir support group soon. I think this is my third one this year (with another at the top of the to-read pile!). This was different than most I read because it was written by a man and it was a different take on things, for sure. But it still made me want to be in Paris and do everything the French way (even when it's ridiculous). It also made me laugh out loud a bunch of times.