Give me a novel or memoir with a strong sense of place, and I’m usually hooked. Add the fish-out-of-water element of experiencing life in a new place, include a bit of envy-inducing fantastic experiences, and you have a book that I’m almost sure to enjoy.
“Paris in Love: A Memoir” wasn’t exactly what I expected, but it did contain the elements above, and I definitely enjoyed it.
Romance author by night, Shakespeare professor by day, Eloisa James decides to take a sabbatical and move her family to Paris. What was most surprising about this book was instead of it being a chronological account of her and her family’s time in the City of Lights, each chapter begins with an essay that is a page or two long covering topics such as school stuff, food, fashion. But beyond that, there are short paragraphs that give her observation about the city or something going on with her children (who are attending an Italian school as a nod to their patriarchal heritage), Milo her mother-in-law’s impressively overweight chihuahua, and her visits to local museums, markets, and sites.
Her stay in Paris was reconstructed from her Facebook and twitter updates, which made it read quite differently from a traditional memoir, but it actually makes for the perfect summer read.
There’s nothing more annoying than getting involved in a deep plot point and having to stop to help Junior on the swings, or make lunch, or attend to any of the other realities of daily life. We often try to sneak in reading while our kids are playing or while we’re traveling, but it’s hard to have time when we can completely focus. That made this book perfect. Because the pages were broken into little slices of life, it was easy to put the book down at any point (but it was also interesting enough that I wanted to pick it back up again).
Eloisa James writes in a straightforward wry observant sort of way that I enjoyed immensely:
We started out this year the way any modern American family would: with multiple cellphones. But I inadvertently left mine on a table in London months ago, and I haven’t replaced it. Life without a phone is riskier, lonelier, more vivid. My family doesn’t understand. “What if I have to talk to you?” Anna wails. “We already paid for the contract,” Alessandro scolds. I remain obstinately disconnected.
Check out Eloisa James’ Paris in Love page for excerpts, audioclips, videos and more. I also wrote a related post, Reading Under Stress, at 5 Minutes for Books about why this type of book was so perfect for this time in my life. I’d love to hear your response to being stressed out or the way it affects your reading.
Love this book
Great! I need a good summer read!
Another good one for my wife.
Summer reads are about my level right now! 😉
thanks for the chance
nannypanpan@gmail.com
Would love to win this, looks like a great read. Thanks for the chance.
Sounds like a winner. Count me in.
i would love to win, thanks for the giveaway
Definitely interested! I needed something new to read anyways 😀
I adore to win a copy of Paris in Love. Since I were in the city of my dream I fell in love 🙂 I love all things connected with Paris!!!
Thank you for the chance!
ksyshenka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sure to be a winner with my girlfriend.
Sounds like the prefect read for summer!
need something new to read!
Perfect sounding book! Thank you for this giveaway!
I would love to win a copy of this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
it does sounds like a good summer read!
I’d love to read this -I’m obsessed with jetting off with the hubs/baby and just lounging in Europe, lol
My wife said sign us up for this book please.
I would love to read this!
this sounds like the kind of reading that is best for me – knowing I could read one chapter at a time and set it down and return days later; i have a real hard time setting a book down once I start reading and can read all day and evening and through the night just to finish it and so be very tired the next day,
Perfect for my wife.
Eloisa James’ books are a perfect escape! I am looking forward to reading Paris in Love because I desperately need an escape!!
Escape and reading sound perfect for this summer, please add me!
I would love to win a copy of this fabulous book.
I love anything that has to do with Paris…with Paris in the title I’m sold, ha ha
world_as_one(at)live(dot)com
Bet this one will be good.
I wonder how many lots of 5 minutes would I need to finish “Paris in love”? I would love to win and find out. Thanks xx
sounds like a good one, hope to visit someday
Sounds like an interesting book!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Eloisa James is one of my favorite authors. I would love to read her new book.
What a TREAT! Just followed my email to visit PARIS IN LOVE by Eloisa James @Amazon Kindle site and decided I couldn’t afford it. Then saw Eloisa’s blurb on my Facebook page and jumped over here!
Hope I win and THANKS for this opportunity!
~Charlotte M Liebel / @Sharliebel
I’m an assistant principal at a comprehensive high school near LA. It sounds that “Paris in Love” is just what I need to wind down this summer. I would love a copy :))
This would be a nice book for me to read.
Love Eloisa’s take on life – looking forward to reading this book.
I so love Eloisa James books. If you haven’t read her, she is a must!!! She always makes me laugh and cry and just feel her characters. Can’t wait to read Paris in Love!
would love to sit back in my easy chair and read another great book by eloisa james. thanks for the give a way. gert
Eloisa James is a fantastic writer of prose- I can’t wait to read her book!
Sounds like a good read. A nice little escape from kids and family.
My copy of “Paris In Love” is stained with tea! Read it when recovering from
hand surgery. It is a wonderful escape! At the end of the book you can
imagine further with reading about great places to visit and tour! My children are military adults now, yet this book brought back memories with them. (They are the ones who are all over the globe at present and Mom is just imagining traveling!) The book is so descriptive and funny too–a great travel escape! CSC
I need a good book that isn’t a Marketing textbook!
Ive heard so much about it! I def would like to curl up in bed during a light summer shower and read it!! 🙂
looks like a good book!
When stressed I like to read books that do not require alot of thought, I need distraction. I sometimes grab a kids book just to give myself a break and a chuckle
I love to escape! 🙂 That’s why I love my vacations. 🙂 Paris in love is an amazing book… I read it from the library and really enjoyed it….
I find reading to be a mini vacation. If I only have 5 minutes, I will pick up a Country or Country Extra magazine. The beautiful photo will take you away and most of the stories are written by the readers and are only 1 page long.
I have been wanting this book since it came out. But on a tight budget right now, so I am not able to buy any new books.
I remember some of EJ’s posts and remember thinking, “Wow! How elegant and prosy!” If any of those are included in the book, I can understand why the book is so fantastic. 🙂
This is a book I can’t wait to read!
When stressed, I close my eyes and let my imagination take me away…for 5 minutes atleast, I can be in the Caribbean, India or even Paris 😉
I wanted to got to Paris for my 25Th birthday; but life got in the way and I didn’t go. I loved everything ; I read from Eloisa James; she has so many LOL moments;
that you can almost see yourself there.
A book from one of my all time favorite authors. Who wouldn’t want to win a copy of this book! She’s a delight to read. I’m new to this website and it’s really neat.
I’d love to add this to my summer reading stack.
What a great escape! Paris and your porch swing!
What an interesting book. Nice way to learn about Paris.
It’s raining in our place, it would be nice to be wrapped in blanket, curl up beside the window, sipping hot chocolate while reading this book. I want this so much! 😀
Pick me! 🙂 I’ve been eyeing this book for a while!
Love Eloisa’s books
This sounds like a great read. I read Eloisa’s comments of FB while she was in Paris and would just love to read the book. I have had it on my “to Buy” list for a while. How great it would be to win a copy!!
sounds like a great escape… just what I need right now.
Sounds like a great beach read!
This book has been on my list..
Your description of how it’s written sounds interesting. I remember reading the 1st Meg Cabot told completely in emails, loved it.
Thanks for the chance.
Love Eloisas books and I’m sure a new one’ll be a pleasant journey into her world!
I’ve heard great things about this book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy! My favorite 5 minute break is reading!
I would love to win Eloisa’s memoir of Paris In Love to take along on our cross country trip this summer. While reading in a car often makes me sick, I’ve recently discovered that I can read for short periods of time and not have problems 🙂 this would be the perfect boredom buster while we make our way from Ohio to Rapid City, South Dakota!
Sounds like the perfect summer reading! I love all her books!
I have my Kindle with me all the time. If I have 5 minutes to spare…I read!!!
I would love a copy of this. I usually don’t have five minutes to myself but when I do I like to sit outside and just relax and listen to the wildlife.
I adore Eloisa James. This sounds like a great read.
I love to sit and relax with a book. 🙂
This book sound like something I’ve always wanted to do ~ just pick up and take my kids on an adventure!
An escape to Paris sounds good right now.
Oo La La, what I would not give to be in Paris right now!
I would love to win a copy of this book. Thank you…K
i want this book 🙂
When stressed – I try to do things in small chunks. The fun of being a special ed teacher is practicing what I preach. So I read in bits rather than eat the book. Gives me a quick burst of energy. Love reading Eloisa James.
I would love to win a copy!
This book sounds like a great way to ‘escape’ to Paris, at least without a plane ride!
This sounds like the perfect summer read! I’d love to win a copy!
Sounds like a great book.
i would love to, i love Paris
Sounds like a good read. I need to find some good beach books!
Sounds so good.
I would LOVE to escape with this book. 😉
I could use a great book for our upcoming trip to the beach.
Sounds an interesting read while in a hammock with a nice breeze under the sun!