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A review by fiowoo
Flâneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice and London by Lauren Elkin
4.0
This was a slow start for me as I struggled to pass the Jean Rhys chapter - a commentary on the writings and life of an author I know little about (should I admit that?).
Beyond that, I loved it. Elkin’s histories of iconic female walkers are mixed in with her own erudite comments on everything from architecture to protests. It's a love letter to some of the world's greatest cities, to walking and to intelligent and independent women, and I'm so on board with all of that.
Most of all I enjoyed Elkin talking identity. The power of cities to leave their marks all over us. How people suit places and places suit people. What it means to her to have made a home away from home.
Some have said they thought the Japan chapter felt like a middle class white woman bemoaning a culture she doesn't understand, but I didn't get that at all. In fact I loved it. In this chapter Elkin’s as insightful about following as she in every other about being free.
This book inspired me to take to my own city solo, and I don't know what more I could ask for.
Beyond that, I loved it. Elkin’s histories of iconic female walkers are mixed in with her own erudite comments on everything from architecture to protests. It's a love letter to some of the world's greatest cities, to walking and to intelligent and independent women, and I'm so on board with all of that.
Most of all I enjoyed Elkin talking identity. The power of cities to leave their marks all over us. How people suit places and places suit people. What it means to her to have made a home away from home.
Some have said they thought the Japan chapter felt like a middle class white woman bemoaning a culture she doesn't understand, but I didn't get that at all. In fact I loved it. In this chapter Elkin’s as insightful about following as she in every other about being free.
This book inspired me to take to my own city solo, and I don't know what more I could ask for.