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stacey_mb

Book of the Week

stacey_mb
9 years ago

Paris in love : a memoir / Eloisa James.

This is a wonderful book for summer reading. It has a lighthearted tone and it is written in short snippets that makes it easy to read. Best of all, it's a way to experience a year in Paris without leaving home.

Author Eloisa James lost her mother to cancer and was herself diagnosed with the disease two weeks later. Fortunately, her cancer was cured and she decided she "wanted to live someone else's life -- specifically, that of a person who lived in Paris." So she moved to Paris for one year with her husband and two children.

James has a very charming way of describing their life in Paris, even when things go awry. The children are not fluent in French and have difficulty adjusting to their Italian language school in Paris. Son Luca is not able to understand mathematical principles as explained in Italian and daughter Anna has numerous conflicts at school.

James observes Parisians and everyday life in Paris, and visits many churches, museums, restaurants and grocery stores. At the end of the book, she lists the names, descriptions and locations for museums, shopping and food that she mentions in her memoir.

I loved the humor in this book. One of the humorous stories running through the text is the continuing saga of trying to slim down overweight Milo, the family's Chihuahua, who is being cared for in Italy by the author's mother-in-law. Milo's caregiver is reluctant to accept that the dog is obese despite what veterinarians say. But reality cannot be denied when the family goes on a shopping trip for a dog coat and the store staff directs them to the plus-size department.

A lively and interesting account of a year in a beautiful city.

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