Paris in Love

A Memoir

By: Eloisa James

Narrated by: Eloisa James

In 2009, New York Times best-selling author Eloisa James took a leap that many people dream about: She sold her house, took a sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor, and moved her family to Paris. Paris in Love: A Memoir chronicles her joyful year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

With no classes to teach, no committee meetings to attend, no lawn to mow or cars to park, Eloisa revels in the ordinary pleasures of life - discovering corner museums that tourists overlook, chronicling Frenchwomen’s sartorial triumphs, walking from one end of Paris to another. She copes with her Italian husband’s notions of quality time; her two hilarious children, ages eleven and fifteen, as they navigate schools - not to mention puberty - in a foreign language; and her mother-in-law Marina’s raised eyebrow in the kitchen (even as Marina overfeeds Milo, the family dog).

Paris in Love invites the reader into the life of a most enchanting family, framed by la ville de l’amour.

©2012 Eloisa James (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“While the children struggled then triumphed in school and with new friends, the dog grew fatter, and Alessandro advised his French conversation partner in affairs of the heart, James discovered a ‘materialist’s playground’ in Paris, finding just that precious objet or museum or nibble, and relaying in her sensible, reflective prose the lessons to take home and dream over.... [An] effervescent diary.” ( Publishers Weekly)

"What a beautiful and delightful tasting menu of a book: the kids, the plump little dog, the Italian husband. Reading this memoir was like wandering through a Parisian patisserie in a dream. I absolutely loved it." (Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love)

A Sweet Retelling of a Wonderful Experience

What made the experience of listening to Paris in Love the most enjoyable?

James reading her own work was pitch perfect. She has the most wonderful demeanor and her descriptions of food were incredible!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Paris in Love?

Any scene with her mother-in-law's dog.

Which scene was your favorite?

I adored the small snippets from Twitter and social media.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Her return to the U.S. was moving.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book more than I anticipated. I think the use of social media in putting it together was modern and delightful. Her descriptions are rich and wonderful and I felt like I knew all of her characters.

Random Neural Firings - Parisian Style!

The more I read it, the better it got.

I wasn’t sure I‘d enjoy this book based on the way it started: random neural firings written in point form - like reading Twitter or Facebook status updates.

At first, it didn’t seem to flow; it felt jumpy and disjointed… yet the next thing I knew, I was totally into it!

I wonder if you could get as much out of it if you’ve never been to Paris, I think a lot of the fun is to remember yourself in the places she is writing about.

Overall, quite enjoyable… a nice way to spend an afternoon.

I sweet little collection

Would you consider the audio edition of Paris in Love to be better than the print version?

Don't know, perhaps yes because I don't have to assume the tone voice.

What did you like best about this story?

The level of detail. There was one little story in particular where the author described the rain down the groves of the grey wall and how they hit the ground in white. I had to pause the story at that point and re-listen. The words were so beautifully descriptive.

What about Eloisa James’s performance did you like?

I liked that it wasn't just a story from Point A to Point B. There wasn't a worked out plot... It' was just a collection of observations that reminds us that life is in the little things.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part about the rain, see above.

Any additional comments?

I've never read her novels before. The memoir was just beautiful to me. It was life, as it happens.

Interesting

What made the experience of listening to Paris in Love the most enjoyable?

I guess I was looking for a "How to" book on how to move to Paris (in my dreams) but this is anecdotes about life in Paris without any "nuts and bolts" information but I still enjoyed it.

Not at all what I thought it would be.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes, the way it is written. This book is written in short snip-its of unrelated topics. It could be a books of tweets! Not very interesting because there is no story here, just a family's daily encounters as they live in Paris.

How could the performance have been better?

The author narrates the book and she does so with a see-saw rythm and it is a little annoying.

For All Who Love Paris

This is a wonderful book about a family that moves to Paris for a year. It follows them through their year, the adjustments, the fun of exploration and the magic of Paris. I couldn't stop listening.

Delightful

A collection of vignettes from Eloisa James' sabbatical year in Paris. Delicious recipes, a delightfully precocious daughter, and an adorable prosciutto-addicted overweight chihuahua. Lovely descriptions of the city, the people, and the culture, as well as some moving thoughts on surviving cancer and coping with an aging parent.

Ms. James narrates the audiobook herself and did a great job - she has a very pleasant speaking voice and warm, natural reading style.

I didn’t want it to end!!

I felt like I was whisked away to Paris. The author gives such great detail of her experiences, you feel as if you are there.

New Paris perspective

If you could sum up Paris in Love in three words, what would they be?

enjoyable, interesting, enlightening

What was one of the most memorable moments of Paris in Love?

I enjoyed listening to her reaction to the homeless people she encounters.

What about Eloisa James???s performance did you like?

Since it is her experience, she reads it in a way that let's you relive it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have listened in one sitting, but that's not a reality for me. But I listened every chance I got.

Any additional comments?

I've never wanted to visit Paris, but she gave me insights into a Paris I didn't know before.

Wonderful

Lessons learned from a Parisian always enjoy everything and never forget to stop and smell the roses, and have some wonderful food.