Paris in Love: A Memoir

I loved this book!! I am a fan of Ms James' historical romances but I have to say this is my favorite book of hers. Following a diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent treatments, she packs up her family for a year of living in Paris, France.

There is humor in her writing as she has us follow along on the escapades of her precocious ten year old daughter and her fourteen year old son. They alternately love and hate their year in Paris. Eloisa spends time sampling many restaurants, cooking and is a died-in-the-wool people watcher, especially of those Parisian women who dress so exquisitely. Her Italian born husband, Allesandro, is on a mission to master the French language and has a conversation companion, Florent, who wants to speak Italian. Together they help each other to master the languages and we learn of Florent's unrequited love life.

The year is told through essays interspersed among journal-type entry paragraphs. The whole works very well. I felt like I was walking down the streets of Paris right along with her.

"Paris in Love: A Memoir" is a collection of essays from famed romance author, Eloisa James, during her one year sabbatical with her family in Paris. As Ms. James explains, her mother had just died of cancer and she had just battled cancer herself, when she and her husband, both professors, decide to take a sabbatical in Paris. As the days go on in Paris, Ms. James chronicles everything from Milo, the indefinitely obese chihuahua, to her daughter's nemesis, Domitilla, to the exquisite Parisian cuisine, save risotto, which is best made by a knowing Italian chef. Her insights are real, funny, fascinating, and give the reader a sense of being a fly on the wall in the city of lights. "Paris in Love" reminds us that nothing ever worth having is easily had. As her family struggles with language barriers, fashion infractions, and the occasional mini-drama, they learn to rely on, communicate with, and commune with each other, bringing them closer together by the end of their stay.

I had the pleasure of listening to this book on audiobook. Ms. James reads the book herself, which added energy and authenticity to the reading. I highly recommend this book!

I am a Francophile and usually love anything written about Paris, but this book was just one random comment after another with nothing to tie it together. The book never progressed--my Kindle told me I was 22% through when I finally gave up to read a new and interesting book. I have never read anything else by this author and possibly she is a very good writer, but you would never know it by this book. Living in Paris for a year with your children could be an extremely interesting read, but this is not it. I don't even write reviews normally, but had to write one for this book as I was very disappointed.

I am fascinated by people who are lucky enough to go abroad for a length of time. I wish I had done so when I had the time in college or the time AND money a few years ago.

I have to admit, I have not read any of Ms. James' other books, but having heard that they're about the Regency period, I may pick one or two up.

The style of this book is just short observations about life in Paris. Ms. James, her husband and their two children packed up and moved to Paris for a year. The children are 11 and 15, so they were enrolled in school there. As Ms. James' husband is Italian, they enrolled the children in an Italian school in France. Imagine THAT type of immersion!

I really enjoyed the book. It was an easy read, as there wasn't a plot line to follow - it was easy to pick up where you had left off.
There are a lot of recommendations in the back of places to visit.

I think it's great that they were able to provide such an amazing experience for their children and themselves.

Recommend.

Eloise James' newest book, "Paris in Love: A Memoir" pulls the reader along on a ride with her encounters in the city of love..Paris. A cross between " Eat Pray Love" and "Paris to the Moon" Eloisa James is living a life filled with adventure one can only dream of.

Ms James, a professor at Fordham University, is on sabbatical for one year, when she discovers her passion to live another life...in Paris. Her husband, who is also a professor, is persuaded by Eloise to sell their suburban New Jersey home, their car and possessions to settle for a year into a quaint Parisian apartment.

She enrolls her two children, 11-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son in an Italian school in Paris. While her children are in school, she takes advantage of her time wandering through the streets of Paris, embracing her surroundings, exploring the streets, visiting museums, shopping as the French do and attempts to bring out her inner French chef with her cooking. Her daily adventures are brought forth with her amusing vignettes throughout the book. These paragraph long writings are amusing and endearing. Her daughter's escapades at school are quite funny as are the stories of her Italian mother-in-law and her over sized dog. She had me laughing as I read each and every story. I must say I was quite jealous and wish I could jump in the pages to join her. Her short entries, recalling the "drama" of the day were delectable and I savored each and everyone of them as I would a warm chocolate croissant. I could easily read this book on the beach or on a cold winter's day wrapped up in a flannel blanket, it warmed my heart. Eloisa James' writing is exceptional and quite amusing. Thank you Eloise for bringing us on your adventure !

This book is quite interesting in the way it is laid out. It isn't your typical book, but rather more of social media posts put into a book in chronological order. At first, I found it to be a bit odd, but it didn't take long for me to really like it and realize I could easily read another book at the same time (I'm a one book at at time reader for the most part). I'm planning a trip to London and Paris, so reading this was extra-fun and I took notes throughout of places I want to visit. At times, I did find the book to feel a bit too long and drawn out, but overall it was a fun, informative read that gave a fabulous view from someone living in Paris.

I usually love memoirs, although some aren't as good as others. And I like this writer. But I really didn't think I'd like a memoir written in pieces the way this one was, it's really a kind of journal. However, I got used to it. I got used to it quickly because this writer is so darned good! And so funny. Something she does that I like, is begin each chapter with an essay on the subject the chapter relates to. The titles of the chapters are sometimes pretty funny too, for example the chapter titled Of "Breasts and Bras" or how about, "The Horror That Is the School Play."
The author isn't constantly trying to be funny, she talks about her mother's death from cancer, and her own and a friend's bout with that horrible illness. But it's a good read. This is a great book to take with you on a trip, or to the beach, because you can stop or start just about anyplace and not lose track of what's going on. I'm glad I read it, and if you like memoirs (or journals) you'll almost certainly like this one as well.

This was the first book I had read by Eloisa James. I picked it up at my local library because I am a francophile, who has been missing Paris lately.

I read this book in one day while traveling across the US. At first I was confused by the construction, and found it hard to read. Once I discovered that it was meant to be a string of Facebook posts, I understood the style, and decided to give it a chance. Since I read it all in one day, the narrative made sense and flowed together.

It was definitely an inspiring story, and I'd recommend it to others who have moments in their life they are trying to get through and need some inspiration to help them through it.

Eloisa James' sparkling memoir about her year spent in Paris is a love letter to the city of lights and a beautiful chronicle of her family's sartorial, culinary and aesthetic education. Even more important, it is the story of healing after a diagnosis of cancer, of learning to feel beautiful in the skin one is given, of growing as individuals and as a family. Humorous and thought provoking by turns, James' book is just the right one to read when you need a little escape from the humdrum of today and need to be reminded of the things in life that really matter. Written in short vignettes and micro-essays, it's easy to digest and will leave you wishing Eloisa and her family had stayed in Paris just a bit longer, so that you could enjoy it with them!!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this charmingly funny book written by best-selling romance novelist Eloisa James. While most of the anecdotes about Eloisa's sabbatical year in Paris are delightful in themselves, I was also totally won over by the way Eloisa narrates this book. I periodically re-listen the audiobook because I enjoy Eloisa's narration so much.

FLORATHEREDMENACE

Posted April 17, 2012
I have been a fan of Eloisa James' writing ever since I discovered her first book, "Potent Pleasures." Since then I have had the great pleasure of reading each and every one of her novels. When I learned that she had taken a sabbatical from her alter ego life as Mary Bly, tenured professor of Shakespeare at Fordham University, and was posting from Paris on Facebook, I finally took the plunge and joined Facebook myself.

At the time very few of us knew why she and her family decided to spend a year in Paris; we were just happy to be invited along on the adventure. Each day's post was an insight into "La vie Parisienne" told in the exquisite, evocative and descriptive style that is Eloisa James' signature.

In her Memoir "Paris in Love," I enjoyed reliving and remembering all those posts from that year. More importantly, the longer essays that are interspersed throughout the book are life lessons that expand on the theme of living each day to the fullest.

In retrospect, and now knowing more of the facts surrounding the decision to spend a year in Paris, (her mother's death from breast cancer in 2007 and her own diagnosis of the same disease just two weeks later) we see it as the brilliant decision that it is. It's "Carpe Diem" in its finest form; seizing the day when you are not sure what tomorrow and all the days after will bring.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough; I'd give it more that five stars if I could.

First of the majority of this book is cobbled together from the author's FaceBook posts, so much of it is not so much of a story, but paragraphs of experiences.

The author is a historical romance writer and I found much of her prose pretentious. Describing the flavor of a peach as moody, the rainy sky described as wet Victorian silk skirts, and "a lush vine with red berries crawling up a wall behind us, mother nature mocking the artist's work she had outdone."

In a twist I found amusing the author is reading a book that a relative of hers had written 100 years ago, and she takes issue with her long ago uncle's melodramatic writing style.

There is an extensive guide at the end of the book of places she recommends in Europe complete with websites that looks like it would be very helpful to a traveller.

This book is a bit different than what I usually read. I normally like fiction, historical romances to be exact. I love this particular author's work, so this book intrigued me. I borrowed it first from the library, then snapped it up on my kindle.

This book is a collection of human observations, both about a year spent in Paris, as well as the details of love and living. The reader feels like they have visited Paris, and had a great visit with a friend.

Reader beware, it is not a written story, but snippets of daily life as experienced by Eloisa James. Easy to read straight through, or in small doses of time. I recommend this book to anyone, fans of fiction or nonfiction, who enjoy small glimpses into another life.

Mary Bly/aka Eloisa James is a true wordsmith and I have long been an admirer of the way she writes. She does not disappoint here. Her way with words and ability to describe sights, thoughts and feelings is just as sharp as ever. What disappoints is the format.

This book took me forever to finish. I received it some 3 weeks ago, started it, enjoyed the reading of it, but put it down many a time to pick up something else to read. The "something else" turned into maybe 10 or more novels which I finished reading during the sporadic reading of Bly's memoir.

The problem I had is the same one many a reviewer seems to have had. The snippets-from-her-blog format doesn't lend itself to sit-down-for-hours reading. Instead this book is for picking up and reading at odd moments, somewhat like the occasional snacking on dark chocolate. Reading it that way was an enjoyable experience but I do prefer a more structured format for a memoir.

There were many things I could relate to in this book: The charming but at times bemusing ways of a husband and in-laws of a different nationality; the culture shock but mostly awe of life in a big foreign city; the difficulties of children acclimating to a new type of school; the joys of eating and sightseeing in a foreign country, etc. However, I wish more entries had had a bit more substance to them. A great many were frivolous, albeit humorous and entertaining, ruminations. Bly was on the mend from a very traumatic couple of years, with the death of her mother and her own bout with cancer, so perhaps the light-hearted approach was more healing for her.

I do wish that this had all been written as a more cohesive book. As it is, it's often a delightful read but not quite to my reading taste.

When I am having a bad day, I tell myself that I'll just move to Paris and forget all the bad stuff. After reading Eloise James book PARIS IN LOVE, I realized that I really want to live in Paris - even though it isn't all perfect there either. Her book was fantastic - I liked the way it was written in short facebook messages with a few longer essays - it made it all seem more real and current. I laughed out loud in this book and cried a few tears, too - especially when she was writing about her parents. I have visited Paris many times but this gave a completely different view of the city than you get as a tourist. I added several places to my list of things to see the next time I am in Paris. This book is a lot of fun -- easy to read and enjoy

I visited Paris last June and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it took me back. The author's stories read more like thoughts, skipping back and forth from vignettes about fashion, to children, to Parisian habits and back again. It was light reading, easy to pick up and read even a paragraph or two ... and an unexpected surprise at the end. Several pages of recommendations for visitors to the city of light. I got to pass it on to a friend who will soon be visiting the city. You should read this in combination with another book like Paris, Paris, for a more in-depth city review by someone who has lived there for decades. But the vantage point of an ex-Pat who lived there for one year was enlightening in its own way, kinda of like being a tourist (like most of us), but one who is really in the know.

This is not your traditional memoir, or travel book. Eloisa alternates a chapter with a small tale, with chapter on basically Facebook posts or tweets, and random thoughts she had during their stay in Paris. It does make the book read quicker, but I found myself wishing for more a traditional format. But Eloisa does offer some great ideas of things to do, should you got to Paris (in fact she has a great Guide to Paris at the back of the book) And her comments on the Parisian lifestyle are noteworthy for their charm and insight.

it is in fact the perfect book for picking up and putting down, due to the format. Thus it is great for poolside/beach/backyard reading, while wishing you were in Paris!

I kept checking the flap to see how old her daughter was. She is supposed to be 11 but is portrayed as a poorly behaved five year old. Needing her bath drawn? Bursting into tears at school daily? Downing three glasses of champagne at a fancy dinner when Mom and Dad step out to argue? I can't decide if she will be mortified at the way her mother wrote about her or if she will be pissed at her mother for the way she raised her.

I also didn't think it was funny that the family is essentially killing their dog. Yes, I get that it's supposed to be humorous that the stereotypical Italian mother in law refused to listen to reason and keeps overfeeding the dog but is that really funny when it's a real dog? I don't even like dogs!

I should have paid closer attention that this author writes romance novels. The whole family came across as over indulged and childish. They celebrate when her 15 year old finally does his homework? Awesome. They insist on putting the kids in an Italian school when it's clear that they are functioning illiterates in the language. Really great. And why did James constantly romanticize French women but made no effort to be like one? I hate it when people move abroad but do nothing to actually fit into their new city. Except for the good food, it seemed like a wasted year.

I read this book shortly after reading The Sweet Life by David Levobitz. Despite some funny observations about Parisian line jumping and salad eating, this author's point of view was more upbeat and her interests were broader. Also, she periodically goes to another amazing city, Florence, and that was fun. I enjoyed reading about the different museums and sights she went to and it was interesting to hear about how her two kids, age 15 and 11, adapted to the move. The family dynamic was also interesting, if again, pretty superficial. I had to let go of some disappointment at the clipped way the book was written, essentially as Facebook updates, and I found it a little disturbing that the author starts by talking about her breast cancer but then seems to forget about it. Also there was a brief mention of her daughter having a disease of the liver that requires four medications a day. For an 11 year old that sounds quite significant. Nothing is really said about it again and everything blithely continues with baguettes, pastries, descriptions of chocolatiers and gelato. It seemed strange and maybe even delusional but this is a "memoir" written under a pen name so perhaps it's not meant to be taken to heart. Some great tips about what churches and smaller museums to visit someday.

This book was amazing. I was laughing all the time with Eloisa's kids. They are so funny. They were young but acted like they were adults with the things they would do and say. I totally enjoyed her adventures in Paris. Between the food, clothing, people, museums can't forget the candy, I felt like I was there with her. It was sad to know that she had to go through some toughs times which lead her to escape to Paris to be able to take time to think and be open minded. I had the great opportunity to meet Eloisa in person this past year. Thanks for sharing your memoir. Totally recommend this book to everyone to read.

No..it's not a great story or novel. Just light hearted family fun set in Paris.
This book was loaned to me by a friend. I picked it up just to see if it was something I would want to read. I just delighted in the short little tidbits. Yes....some are mundane. But I even liked that "ordinary" look into a life that will never be ordinary for me. I loved her casual, no-drama attitude toward her kids failings. No over-stressed importance here.
It may not be for everyone, but if you want a light, fun read, I recommend this book. For chics, I'd say. Can't see guys going for it.

I think too many people expected too much from this "memoir"! It is snippets, generally funny or amusing ones, of her stay in Paris for a year. The serious issues of her health or her family's health are just slightly touched on. I thought of this like I used to think of Erma Bombeck. Anyone old enough to remember her? The snippet-ness of the book can make it choppy at first but frankly, life is like that! What it is NOT is so amusing as this book is.. so we could all use an attitude adjustment at times and this book can help with that!

Loving all things Paris as I do, I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It's about an American couple who pack up their family and head off for a sabbatical year in Paris. The bits and pieces about the family living in Paris were sometimes interesting and delightful, as were the author's observations about Parisian life. But bits and pieces do not make for good reading. I got bored far too often and the reason is this: the book is nothing more than a collection of Facebook posts that are loosely bound into chapters that begin with a few pages of longer prose.

The Facebook post paragraphs that make up the bulk of the book are disjointed and disconnected, making the reader's experience akin to reading the Facebook posts of certain friends (you know the ones I mean) who use the social network as a means to publicly convey every little detail of their lives in what amounts to a "me, me, and more me" free association narrative. In short, this book hops from subject to subject, giving too much information about family members who we really never get to know in any depth. The Facebook paragraphs are enveloped in the overarching theme of living abroad, but held together by very little else. It was simply not enough to hold my attention for very long. I ended up skimming through the last half of the book, pausing to read the few entries that piqued my interest.

I expect that I would have liked the book better if it had been written and organized in a more traditional narrative vein. The Facebook gimmick did not work for me at all, and I found that it functioned more as an obstacle to the full enjoyment of the book than anything
else. It really should have been a blog.

I adore this book. Small paragraphs led me to, in, around, and through Paris - off into Italy, and even on a short jaunt to Germany. My wandering soul - never allowed anything but to dream and live vicariously - took great delight in every page. There are more than a few laugh out loud moments, some of her words will wrap around you like a warm shawl, a few will find their way into your heart. And I do believe I gained a good five pounds reading about the scrumptious food she shares with her reader. Maybe ten. I fell in love with the author's family...even the pampered pup who, if and when he finally goes to his final reward, certain to be wrapped in prosciutto, will most assuredly roll in like an over-inflated beach ball. This is a memoir to savor, from the Parisian confections, to the fleeting moments of children growing up, to the joy a cancer survivor finds beyond a suburb in New Jersey. You will miss a great deal of joy if you fail to find your way into the charming book.

I loved "Paris in Love." I found the journal like entries a refreshing change from other more traditional methods. I think this book appeals to so many different people.

It was like a delightful French pastry with many layers and each better than the next. I found to enjoy the book the most, you need to savor it. I found myself coming back again and again to reread certain pages, as I just could not get enough of Eloisa's delicious view of Paris. I felt as if on a daily basis I was receiving a beautiful handwritten letter with details about one of the most beautiful cities in the world shared through the eyes of a dear friend.

Loved it. I liked the anecdotal approach to the memoir of her year plus stay in Paris. So many insights into French life that you can never get just as a tourist. I appreciated her recommendations of chocolate shops which I will have to try next time and some museums I have not been to. Also the hard times and triumphs of her children as ex-pats in Paris. I enjoyed every minute of this book.

I love Eloisa James' romantic fiction, so when I heard she wrote a memoir about a year she lived in Paris I thought "that's nice," with no intention of reading it. I love Paris & enjoy her writing but had no interest in reading her writing about it. I'm really glad I changed my mind. I wish I had Ms. James' gift of words. She made me laugh, cry & remember a time I spent in Paris, if only briefly. I enjoyed how she made it a mini travelogue that can be used by others who visit there. I never used my Kindle dictionary so much! Thank you Ms. James for an enjoyable read!

This book was like a journal telling me all the things I would ask if contemplating a trip to Paris. I felt a kinship with the writer and her family. Her description of various cuisine made me drool and return to unused cookbooks. Her sense of humor and sarcasm made me smile as I turned pages.

I'm studying French because I love French movies. I don't have any particular interest in visiting the country but I am grateful that I stumbled on this book. Eloisa James writes in a clear, fun to follow style about the nuances of French culture. She spends an ample amount of time discussing food, dining, and fashion. I knew the French weren't capitalists but I was surprised to learn that stores can only have sales twice a year.

However what intrigued me the most was her children's school experience. James's husband is Italian, so the children went to Italian schools in Paris. I found her entries on her fourth-grade daughter hysterical. My heart aches for those beleaguered teachers and I still giggle about the not ready for prime-time English teacher.

I loved the look into Eloisa James's life in Paris with her family. I am a Francophile and I love Paris! Reading the memories made me want to return to Paris and visit my favorite places as well as the places that are new to me from the memoir.

I am also a cancer survivor and I could identify with her decision to live in Paris. I was able to return to Paris for a fourth visit in June.

I enjoyed reading about her children and their experiences in Paris with school, making new friends and visiting the sites of France.

Most of us just can't travel to Paris every summer.

This would be a sad thing, a tragic thing, really, if it weren't for marvelous books like these that take us to Paris anyway, saving us $1213 (price of an airline ticket to Paris minus the cost of this book) and sixteen hours on plane.

Paris in Love is a book with tiny, tiny stories, some mere paragraphs, about the year she and her family spent in Paris.

Absolutely delightful. If you can't travel to Paris this summer, you must read this little book.

Like those who reviewed Paris in Love before me, I agree that the style of essays, vignettes and blurbs make this an easy read before bed. But if you choose this option, be sure to have a pen and paper at hand. How else will you remember to look up Paul Bertolli's receipe for rissota. Or visit Gordon Ramsey's Boxwood Cafe in London. And don't forget to read W. G Sebald's Austerlir. Eloisa James surrounds you with her year abroad in a way that just took me there with her. I will be reading more by her and Mary Bly.

If I never wanted to go to Paris before I do now. Ms. James writing reads like a travel log with short quick views of her and her families adventure in Paris. She has just went through a battle with cancer and has a fresh view on life she shares with her readers. She has run a away from it all to Paris. Her, her Italian husband two kids and a dog. It is reality with a wonderful sense of humor. the ugly, the beautiful and the wondrous are all shown in her memoirs.

I found it a quick delightful read and enjoyed every minute.

I read this memoir while I was on a cruise to Alaska. The brief vignettes were just right for cruise reading. Ms. James delivered Paris to the reader through her keen observation of Parisians, through her interactions with the people, and through her Italian husband and their two children whose own experiences were delightful. I was particularly appreciative of the list of the stores and restaurants at the end of the book. When I make it to Paris I want to visit some of those places listed. Thank you, Ms. James, for such a lovely memoir. It was simply enchanting!

Many years ago I had the opportunity to live and work in Paris myself. Although I led a far more lonely existence than the author during the time I was there, I instantly fell in love with this, what I would consider, the most beautiful city in the world. I found this particular book to be a lovely read, highly amusing and wonderfully told. Oh to go back and visit each and every unique museum, delicious chocolateries, restaurants and shops Eloisa James so lovingly describes. This is one of those books you wish would never end.

This book is a lighthearted romp of the author's impressions while spending a year in Paris with her family. Some moments were laugh-out-loud funny. Others should have been edited out. I enjoyed those passages best where the author gave several pages to her subject. I felt a bit cheated by the brevity of many of her observations. If you're interested in Paris, have a short attention span or are looking for a light read, "Paris in Love" is "parfait"!

I had followed Eloisa James's story of her year in Paris on Facebook, and enjoyed her posts, so getting PARIS IN LOVE was like taking a vacation. I lived the year in fast-forward, relishing her breath-taking descriptions of the streets, the shops, the people and the foods. Her kids' (who are so real, funny and smart) resentment of the whole adventure made me laugh out loud. The fight with her husband was funny and all too real, too. If you want a book that wisks you away, PARIS IN LOVE is exactly what you need.

Read this book over a year ago, and it still remains to be one of my favorite reads. Though I was surprised to find the formatting of the book (a collection of short entries of James day to day experience), the short entries connect wonderfully together, forming a story/a window into the real life experiences of living as a foreigner in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world

I was so excited when I bought this book, and was eagerly looking forward to it. I love books written by people who have left everything behind to go and live for a year or so in a foreign country. Imagine my disappointment when I opened this on my kindle yesterday and discovered that it wasn't an actual story of Eloisa's time in Paris but a series of incredibly disjointed anecdotes, none of which link together particularly well, and none of which are any length to sink your teeth into. It is NOT as described on the the store page, it's just a pile of Eloisa's facebook statuses bunged into a book format. Yes, they are cute. No, the are not in any depth. Susan Elizabeth Phillips says that she's a sucker for travel narratives - this is not a travel narrative, it's a collection of facebook statuses. She also says sit down and devour it... you can't because it's so disjointed that there is no flow and no rationale for why each ditty comes after the previous one. It doesn't flow, it feels clunky. There is little sense of the family, there is little sense of what is acutally happening. Yes, the anecdotes are funny in places, and yes they are interesting enough, but I do not believe that placing some lengthened facebook statuses into order makes any type of worthwhile reading experience. I am particularly disgusted that I have been charged $10 for something I could have had for free off Facebook. BUYER BEWARE. I've returned mine for a refund.

I read this memoir while I was on a cruise to Alaska. The brief vignettes were just right for cruise reading. Ms. James delivered Paris to the reader through her keen observation of Parisians, through her interactions with the people, and through her Italian husband and their two children whose own experiences were delightful. I was particularly appreciative of the list of the stores and restaurants at the end of the book. When I make it to Paris I want to visit some of those places listed. Thank you, Ms. James, for such a lovely memoir. It was simply enchanting!

I LOVED this book! Eloisa has a way with words which made this snow hater want to sit in her study and watch it snow.
Seriously, I am ready to pack-up and move today. Maybe not to Paris, only because of cold and snow, but all of her reasonings are so honestly true, why not?
Her children, husband, mil, dog, the kids friends all want me to do the same thing she did. She's right on when she says in the very beginning, "time is all that matters". We all lose things, give things away, but to have the time to spend with your family is all that matters.

Many years ago I had the opportunity to live and work in Paris myself. Although I led a far more lonely existence than the author during the time I was there, I instantly fell in love with this, what I would consider, the most beautiful city in the world. I found this particular book to be a lovely read, highly amusing and wonderfully told. Oh to go back and visit each and every unique museum, delicious chocolateries, restaurants and shops Eloisa James so lovingly describes. This is one of those books you wish would never end.

This book is a lighthearted romp of the author's impressions while spending a year in Paris with her family. Some moments were laugh-out-loud funny. Others should have been edited out. I enjoyed those passages best where the author gave several pages to her subject. I felt a bit cheated by the brevity of many of her observations. If you're interested in Paris, have a short attention span or are looking for a light read, "Paris in Love" is "parfait"!

I had followed Eloisa James's story of her year in Paris on Facebook, and enjoyed her posts, so getting PARIS IN LOVE was like taking a vacation. I lived the year in fast-forward, relishing her breath-taking descriptions of the streets, the shops, the people and the foods. Her kids' (who are so real, funny and smart) resentment of the whole adventure made me laugh out loud. The fight with her husband was funny and all too real, too. If you want a book that wisks you away, PARIS IN LOVE is exactly what you need.

Read this book over a year ago, and it still remains to be one of my favorite reads. Though I was surprised to find the formatting of the book (a collection of short entries of James day to day experience), the short entries connect wonderfully together, forming a story/a window into the real life experiences of living as a foreigner in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world

I was so excited when I bought this book, and was eagerly looking forward to it. I love books written by people who have left everything behind to go and live for a year or so in a foreign country. Imagine my disappointment when I opened this on my kindle yesterday and discovered that it wasn't an actual story of Eloisa's time in Paris but a series of incredibly disjointed anecdotes, none of which link together particularly well, and none of which are any length to sink your teeth into. It is NOT as described on the the store page, it's just a pile of Eloisa's facebook statuses bunged into a book format. Yes, they are cute. No, the are not in any depth. Susan Elizabeth Phillips says that she's a sucker for travel narratives - this is not a travel narrative, it's a collection of facebook statuses. She also says sit down and devour it... you can't because it's so disjointed that there is no flow and no rationale for why each ditty comes after the previous one. It doesn't flow, it feels clunky. There is little sense of the family, there is little sense of what is acutally happening. Yes, the anecdotes are funny in places, and yes they are interesting enough, but I do not believe that placing some lengthened facebook statuses into order makes any type of worthwhile reading experience. I am particularly disgusted that I have been charged $10 for something I could have had for free off Facebook. BUYER BEWARE. I've returned mine for a refund.

Unputdownable yet also book for reflection on the choices you make and the consequences of those choices.
Crisis can change the course of your life.
Eloisa James captures the surprises that await major change as well as note the simple quiet moments when rain falls on the roof outside your window.
Her vignettes capture with words much like an artist paints a picture.
It's impossible not to be drawn in and carried away.

Well haven't. Read any of Eloisa James romance novels nor am I likely to. But it was fun to read about her writing away as she looked out her window onto the streets and roofs of Paris. I am amazed that she was able to write anything at all given her care for her children, her other travels, and her cooking ( there is a lot about her cooking.).
Sk

Paris in Love is a wonderful book that let me peek inside the experience of living in Paris. Her writing is as light as a soufflé and just as tasty. Loved hearing about the shops she visited, the struggle of moving a family abroad and her challenges with the high fashion of France. Love in Paris is broken into tight little pieces that are just long enough for me to read at bedtime. It is not a deep heavy book or filled with travel information. It is just what I wanted as I prepare to take women on a writing trip to Paris in May.

I really enjoyed Paris In Love. The unusual style of short entries and essays worked for me and I think fans of memoirs will enjoy it. At the end James compiled a list of recommended museums, places to eat, stores to buy food or clothing, etc. It would be helpful to anyone planning their own trip to Paris. It's going on my travel book shelf because Paris is on my bucket list!

A lovely memoir by Eloisa James of her time spent living in Paris. The entries are short snippets, so it's an ideal book to leave on your nightstand if you're looking for a bit of light reading before bed. I keep it my guest room and a number of our visitors have told me they purchased the book after they left our house to finish reading it.

I was interested in this book because of an upcoming trip to Paris, my first. The author certainly brought me along with her. I felt part of her neighborhood before all was said and done. Her diary-entry style made for pleasant, bedtime reading, and highlighted her ability to pack an emotional punch with an economy of words. I laughed and cried in all the right places.
My only difficulty with this book was the author's candidness about her children's behaviors, which felt exploitative at times.
But I would recommend the book, and the author's website. She is quite talented, and I'm now interested in reading some of her novels.

I enjoyed reading this delightful book of little snippets about a family's life while living in Paris for a year. I got several chuckles; I've also been to Paris several times, so many thoughts hit home with me. And I've lived in Italy, so reading about Milo's (the family dog) dietary issues (defended by Nonna) were funny.

Reading this book was almost as good as a vacation. I always enjoy her books and this look into her personal life was engaging. I was transported to France and endlessly entertained by her characters and fabulous descriptions of places, clothing and food. I can hardly wait to visit some some of the restaurants, museums and shops she recommends.

Appreciate this book, absorbed it, made some notes while reading it; however, upon reaching the final 10 pages ("My Very Idiosyncratic Guide to a Few Places in Paris"), wondering: Are these shops, brasseries, and musees product placements? James/Bly mentions so many of these several times that this point just occurred to me. I would like to know!

And what IS with this title?

Eloisa James creates a visual gastronomical memoir. Readers can visit Paris,the art and fashion with a better understanding of the people. Laughed out loud at the children (Anna is my heroine), Luca learning to cope in school in a different country. Italy, NYC and NJ play minor roles but James permits the reader to enjoy the journey and the changes this family traveled.

This book is a compilation of "snippets" with an occasional short essay thrown in. There is no "plot" that you will remember down the road, but you will feel like you have gained some insight into what it would feel like to live as a local in Paris, knowing no French to speak of, for a year. I feel like I know Ms. James' family intimately now, and I wonder if their dog Milo stayed behind in Florence with Allesandro's mother to live out his days in the lap of luxury. I have not been to Paris since I was a child (50 years ago), but if I have the privilege to go again, I will re-read this tasty little book and make notes of which museums to visit and restaurants to try. Thoroughly enjoyable light read!

Her poor kids. Such a selfish, shallow woman, dragging her kids to Paris, away from everything they know and their friends....so she can live out her fantasy life of eating bon bons, flirting with Frenchmen and window shopping. The kids clearly did not adjust well to their new life and suffered bullying and abuse at school. Yet the author has a very "ho hum, oh well" attitude about it all. She got what she wanted--never mind the kids. i hope Anna writes her own "tell all" memoire about her self absorbed "Mommy Dearest" someday.

I was so excited when I bought this book, and was eagerly looking forward to it. I love books written by people who have left everything behind to go and live for a year or so in a foreign country. Imagine my disappointment when I opened this on my kindle yesterday and discovered that it wasn't an actual story of Eloisa's time in Paris but a series of incredibly disjointed anecdotes, none of which link together particularly well, and none of which are any length to sink your teeth into. It is NOT as described on the the store page, it's just a pile of Eloisa's facebook statuses bunged into a book format. Yes, they are cute. No, the are not in any depth. Susan Elizabeth Phillips says that she's a sucker for travel narratives - this is not a travel narrative, it's a collection of facebook statuses. She also says sit down and devour it... you can't because it's so disjointed that there is no flow and no rationale for why each ditty comes after the previous one. It doesn't flow, it feels clunky. There is little sense of the family, there is little sense of what is acutally happening. Yes, the anecdotes are funny in places, and yes they are interesting enough, but I do not believe that placing some lengthened facebook statuses into order makes any type of worthwhile reading experience. I am particularly disgusted that I have been charged $10 for something I could have had for free off Facebook. BUYER BEWARE. I've returned mine for a refund.

This memoir, was written as Facebook postings, almost diary style. It is an upbeat, honest and humorous recollection of Eliosa's year with her family living in Paris. She has such a fresh and upbeat way of seeing the world. A very pleasant read.

Paris in Love: A Memoir, by Eloisa James

Memoirs are curious creatures. They blur the lines between public and private, staging the minute, personal, even intimate, against the familiar backdrop of larger historical moments, cultures and places. Striking a balance between the two is no small feat, but trickier still is taking the seemingly arbitrary minutiae of life, holding them up to the light so we see their worth, their beauty, while suggesting larger thematic continuities: purpose and meaning beneath the enchanting daily flotsam. It is, perhaps, no surprise that a writer who can navigate both the form and content of popular romance fiction and Shakespearean academia can pull it off, but the seeming effortlessness with which Eloisa James's latest book does so makes it a joy to read.
Paris in Love documents a year's hiatus for the bestselling author and her quirkily endearing family in France's capital. It's a simple enough premise for a book that becomes about Americans abroad as well as the special appeal of one of the world's most seductive cities, but the whole is rather more than the sum of its parts. The parts are captivating of themselves: the embattled children trying to stay socially and academically afloat in a strange culture, the morbidly obese pet Chihuahua, the agonizingly slow progress of a friend's wistful romance, and--perhaps most of all--the beautifully observed reflections on all things Parisian, particularly food and fashion, delicious confections all. It is funny, poetic, and poignant. Behind it all is a powerful sense of personality, a wry, self-deprecating, sensitive soul who watches, reflects and observes, lyrically, thoughtfully and with disarming honesty.
But it's that honesty that makes the whole more than a series of vignettes and bon mots. James begins the book with a confession that undergirds the whole book, that the year abroad was a complex response to being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. The book treats the subject lightly but with candor, and quickly moves beyond it into the details of the Parisian sojourn itself, but from time to time it reappears, a bass note which balances and makes sense of the book's playfulness, its celebration of life in its tiny and fleeting details. As such the memoir becomes a meditation on mortality, however colorful, however gaily lit, the passage of time in micro and macro terms manifested by various insistent forms of temporality which tick like a clock in the background. Deadlines have to be met, children start to turn into adults, relationships shift, disease advances, the landscape shifts with the seasons and the stolen year moves inexorably to its end and the family's return to New York. Life, says the book, has its glories, its moments of joy and affirmation which have to be caught and savored, need to be, because they go by so fast. That the book itself is one of those joys is only fitting.

Better than a beach read, this enchanting read had me looking up lots of words in the dictionary! It was at times funny and entertaining, as well as a primer on Paris. Generally it was really enjoyable. Her style of writing is intelligent and concise, not an author who overuses words, although she did have lots of analogies that were quite poetic.

The packing slip read "Paris in Love" but the incorrect book was inside. I emailed the provider immediately. They said they would check their stacks and, hopefully, find the correct copy. They did, and it was mailed out to me.

I adored the book, its format, and the sights, sounds, of my favorite city in the whole world. Just had to wait a bit longer to read it.

The wrong copy was passed to my three grandchildren; it was for a much younger audience. However, the mix up resulted in three stars instead of the five "Paris in Love" deserved.

The author's remembrances of Paris parallel many of my own and that is what holds this book in such high regard for me. If you have been to Paris and loved the city, then this will be a joy to read. Can't recommend this book too highly. I particularly liked the short paragraph style then author uses that keeps the stories moving swiftly along.

I borrowed this book from the library so I did not read the reviews first, as I would if I were buying the book. The stories are disjointed and the writing is mediocre at best. I would have felt cheated if I had bought this book!!!

I discovered this author because of this book. Not only is it an enchanting account of the James' family tossing all to live and work in Paris, her perspective and light-hearted style kept me turning the pages. After finishing this book I looked up her fictional work and have been fan ever since.

I always enjoy this kind of reading....snippets which are colorful, entertaining and when you put the book down for a period of time, you don't have to go back through the book to bring to memory just what is happening. Would recommend this to every mother who has always wanted to add some excitement to her life.

Really no words needed it is an Eloisa James book. Again she is gives a witty and charming read. would recommend this book to any one. It is a fun look into her families life as the take off to live a year in Paris. Its cute and funny, touching, its just great!!!

This book is written in an interesting format where each segment of the story is a Facebook post.

This is cool up to a point, but it became tedious. Many issues were suddenly resolved, such as an initial health issue I expected to be more meaningful. The children and France play less of a roll in the story than I'd like. Much of the story could be interesting if you don't mind piecing it together and appreciate subtlety, but the book would be so much better if rewritten in a story format, perhaps with brief chapters of Facebook posts scattered throughout.

Go ahead and give the preview a spin. The entire book is like that. In a few places, you might get an entire page or two, but 99% of the time you get a paragraph or two per episode.

Plot wise I enjoyed getting to know the somewhat aloof and out of touch professor and her genuine concerns stemming from her abrupt decision to have a sabbatical in France. It's a good lesson on parenthood and priorities with the correct dose of drama... not too much, but enough to be interesting.

I'm afraid I struggled to finish the book and kept longing to read a different one, and I can't recommend this.

Beautiful prose and and remarkable wit...I have read this book twice, and I plan to recommend it to my book club. There remains a distinct possibility that I may read it all over again. Seldom have I found a book as amusung yet poignant as the
colourful description of the author and her family's year in Paris.
M. Holliday

Author a warm, honest, down-to-earth woman. I loved seeing Paris through her eyes. She's a mom, wife, friend, an astute observer of people, situations, the city's beauty. Now I must read one of her romance novels!

I was a little skeptical about this book.. I've read quite a few stories and memoirs about Americans in Paris, and they always seem to revolve around affairs and discontent. However, the author of this story is happily married (how refreshing!) and her book is truly about her love of the city, despite the challenges of being an expat. It also includes great tips for those planning a visit!

Absolutely love this book. Eloisa's writing is so succinct. Love the little quips about her family. I particularly enjoy the ones with her kids. It's fun and it's oh-so-now (21st century social media) style is easy to pick up and read anytime. Bit by bit. Thanks for a fun journey Eloisa.

Having stayed in Paris a mere 14 days as a Rutgers student, I was transported back through Eloisa/Mary's delightful family's joys and trials. At first I was hesitant - a memoir of Facebook entries - choppy I expected, shallow I predicted, but no - it is a book written with true honesty and insight. The book has a taste of Paris that is authentic and honest. It is not a romance novel, it is a book about family and loving life. Five stars!

The author spends so much time talking about fashion and chocolate but with no real story attached.
Not a boom that I enjoyed in the least and should be categorized as a series of blog posts. Not a good memoir at all.

I would give this enchanting memoir 10 stars if I could. Eloisa James's story of running away with her family to Paris for a year is told in poetic snippets (her Facebook posts) interspersed with longer essays. It's a wonderful combination of funny, poignant, and intensely personal observations of her family, the Parisians around them, and the magic of the city itself. If you've ever been to Paris, you'll want to go back the minute you finish the book. If you haven't been yet, you'll want to hop on the next plane.

The author wrote about her daily life in Paris. She didn't dwell on the good or bad, just stated it. The story is about a normal family adjusting to the changes in their life because of cultural differences, a new language, learning to shop. All of our daily chores. But in a very different environment. I enjoyed it.

I really didn't care for this book, the cover describes it as a memoir but it's really a blog and not an interesting one at that. Although I love France and I was looking forward to reading this book, I just could not get into it. I found it to be boring, tedious and just plain uninteresting. Based on the romantic title "Paris in Love" and the witty description in the back of the book, this book is disappointing and it's not what it's all cracked up to be. It falls short on its deliverance.

as a writer and traveler myself I appreciated the astute observation,voice, sense of humor and descriptions. but most of all her warm generous sensibility. made me feel as if I actually was in Paris alongside the family. great reading,I just whizzed through it.

This is a book without much of a story.

Romance novelist Eloisa James (her pen name and the daughter of famed poet Robert Bly), takes a one year sabbatical and moves to Paris with her husband and two children to live the expatriate life. This memoir is meant as a chronicle of that year, but it's more a collection of disconnected and often times trite observations about life in the City of Light. The entries are reminiscent of a young teenager's diary, something not typically fit for public consumption because there is usually only an audience of one. But the reader is dragged along, page after page, as James pities a homeless man on a stoop, slathers a chicken in lavender-scented mustard and makes homemade Christmas cards. Nothing wrong with any of these things, but there's a real lack of insight and introspection on the pages, so much so, that I wondered more than once what the publisher must have been thinking. Not recommended.

This book was a pleasure to read. I was able to visit Paris a year ago and this book enabled me to re-visit. Eloisa's daily accounts of her everyday life felt like I was living it with her. An enjoyable and easy read. Visit Paris, read this book!

I loved the style of the book that made it such an easy read. I loved how she shared small details to make me feel like i was there. I was completely fascinated by the whole experience and was moved by her call to do the same.

Like several others, I was dumbfounded that a large publishing house would put this book on the market. I can imagine that someone could fashion a readable narrative out of posts and tweets but-----there is no narrative here much less an arc, and no character development. Not interesting. Non!

I am a sucker for any book that is set in Paris, so I assumed that I would very much enjoy "Paris in Love," a memoir about the American author's experience of moving to Paris for a year with her husband and two children. I was wrong.

The weirdest thing about the book is that it's incredibly choppy. The author freely admits at the beginning of the book that she intended on writing four books during her Paris sabbatical, but became so enamored with her surroundings that she instead did no writing whatsoever. Instead, she referred to the Facebook and Twitter statuses she posted during her year abroad, revised them a bit, slapped them all together, and called it a memoir. Needless to say, it doesn't work very well. For the most part, every little vignette in the book is only a few sentences long and reads like a Facebook status update...because that's what it is. Yes, the writing is more lyrical than you'd see in the typical Facebook post, but come on...is Random House so desperate for sales that they would agree to publish this collection of status updates, which makes for an incredibly lousy memoir (if you can even call it a memoir)? There are a few cute stories here and there, but the lazy writing style makes it impossible to feel anything for these people or to walk away from this book with a true sense of the writer's experience. It's a shame, really. The book is a super quick read (again, because you are just reading a bunch of STATUS UPDATES!!!), so at least if you do buy the book, you won't waste too much of your life reading it.

Most enjoyable read. I liked the diary style. I don't usually like books that feel like they are happening only inside the writer's head, which this one does, but it worked very well for this book. Thanks for a look at what life would really be like if I lived in Paris with my children. It didn't pull any punches. Her children behaved pretty much the same as mine would have under the same circumstances and that level of honesty was appreciated. I really enjoyed reading this. Thanks!

It really is a shame that anyone can put "Paris" in a title and sell it to an waiting audience. This is just a mish-mash of tweets and Facebook posts that does not make a book. There are so many really interesting and worthwhile books on Paris and France--don't waste your time or money on this one.

I am a sucker for any book that is set in Paris, so I assumed that I would very much enjoy "Paris in Love," a memoir about the American author's experience of moving to Paris for a year with her husband and two children. I was wrong.

The weirdest thing about the book is that it's incredibly choppy. The author freely admits at the beginning of the book that she intended on writing four books during her Paris sabbatical, but became so enamored with her surroundings that she instead did no writing whatsoever. Instead, she referred to the Facebook and Twitter statuses she posted during her year abroad, revised them a bit, slapped them all together, and called it a memoir. Needless to say, it doesn't work very well. For the most part, every little vignette in the book is only a few sentences long and reads like a Facebook status update...because that's what it is. Yes, the writing is more lyrical than you'd see in the typical Facebook post, but come on...is Random House so desperate for sales that they would agree to publish this collection of status updates, which makes for an incredibly lousy memoir (if you can even call it a memoir)? There are a few cute stories here and there, but the lazy writing style makes it impossible to feel anything for these people or to walk away from this book with a true sense of the writer's experience. It's a shame, really. The book is a super quick read (again, because you are just reading a bunch of STATUS UPDATES!!!), so at least if you do buy the book, you won't waste too much of your life reading it.