Some people may be a bit put off by the short paragraphs in this book. Eloisa James collected all the Facebook postings she sent out to family and friends encompassing the year her family spent living in Paris. I enjoyed the little tidbits.
Yes, they sold their home in New Jersey, took sabbaticals from their teaching jobs (both Eloisa and her Italian husband, Alessandro, are professors), packed up their teen son Luca and 10 year old daughter Anna, and moved to Paris. Why? Because. A weary Eloisa had recovered from breast cancer, her mother had died, and she realized they were just existing in New Jersey, and not really living. Experiencing such life altering events in your life makes you look at things a bit different, and for Eloisa, it meant spreading her wings and exploring a new place.
I enjoyed this meander through Paris--all the seasons, the people, the smells, the bridges, the glorious feel of a city that's been around for centuries. And the food. It really does make you stop and think about how you treat food. Do you enjoy cooking? Do you take the time to pay attention to what you put in your mouth? Is eating just something to get through, so you can rush to the next item on your to-do list? Paris makes Eloisa stop and slow down, which is really what so many of us need to do. So we can't drop it all and live in Paris for a year. But, we can take time in our daily lives to slow down, enjoy our food, and enjoy making it for ourselves and our families.
Funny, tender, full of oops! mistakes and bad hair color, this memoir of a special year makes for a break from your usual ho-hum day. After reading this, I am reminded once again to try something new, don't be afraid to explore, and live life to the fullest every day.
Rating: 6/10. Easy read with plenty of places to mark on your map for your next visit to Paris.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book format.
OMG -I picked this up at the library & read it over spring break! I am completely wanting to go back to Paris now. I'm craving travel memoirs at the moment, so let me know if anything else pops up on your radar!
ReplyDeleteI liked how easy this was to read--little snippets of delight.
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