The Only Street in Paris

Life on the Rue Des Martyrs

By: Elaine Sciolino

Narrated by: Elaine Sciolino

Elaine Sciolino, the former Paris bureau chief of The New York Times, invites us on a tour of her favorite Parisian street, offering an homage to street life and the pleasures of Parisian living. While many cities suffer from the leveling effects of globalization, the rue des Martyrs maintains its distinct allure. On this street, the patron saint of France was beheaded and the Jesuits took their first vows. It was here that Edgar Degas and Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted circus acrobats, Emile Zola situated a lesbian dinner club in his novel Nana, and François Truffaut filmed scenes from The 400 Blows. Sciolino reveals the charms and idiosyncrasies of this street and its longtime residents - the Tunisian greengrocer, the husband-and-wife cheesemongers, the showman who's been running a transvestite cabaret for more than half a century, the owner of a 100-year-old bookstore, the woman who repairs 18th-century mercury barometers - bringing Paris alive in all of its unique majesty. The Only Street in Paris will make listeners hungry for Paris, for cheese and wine, and for the kind of street life that is all too quickly disappearing.

©2016 Elaine Sciolino (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The atmosphere on rue des Martyrs is refreshing and enticing in our modern world." ( Library Journal)

Good book- marred by the reader

This is a fascinating glimpse into a wonderful area of Paris. It is unfortunate the author did not engage a professional reader who could have done justice to her work.

The author is the reader

Would you try another book from Elaine Sciolino and/or Elaine Sciolino?

maybe

What didn’t you like about Elaine Sciolino’s performance?

This may have been really enjoyable but the reader/author was so hard to listen to that i stopped after a couple of chapters.

This book makes me long for a walk along the Rue Des Martyres!

A must read for anyone going or wanting to go to Paris. For it's the people and the sense of community Elaine brings to life.

Elaine's story, Elaine's voice

I hope I get to meet Elaine some day. I loved hearing of her life experience. The rich descriptions of the fascinating people on the rue des martyrs, the culture and the history were all facets that held my interest. It was extra special that she was the narrator.

A Magical Journey

Absolutely wonderful book! As soon as the book begins Elaine takes you on a fantastic journey through her favorite street in Paris, the sights, smells, and people of the little community come to life on a magical journey. This is a highly recommended listen :)

Not just for Paris lovers.

This is a great book for people who enjoy history, Paris and live somewhere other than where they come from.
It reminds of how people use to know everyone on their street. In this day and age people seem to hardly know the people they live with much less people on their street.
I will be visiting this street the next time in Paris.

I felt as if I knew

I felt as if I knew the buildings, the people, the street. What a great book to learn about Paris, the French, history and even yourself.

Not as Interesting as it Should Have Been

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not really. This is after all a story of a street in Paris - which should hold a wealth of STORY - but alas - it may be due in part that its author is also its narrator - it's just not well conveyed or delivered.

If you’ve listened to books by Elaine Sciolino before, how does this one compare?

I have not listened to Ms. Sciolino prior to this book.

Would you be willing to try another one of Elaine Sciolino’s performances?

Doubtful.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Perhaps.

Any additional comments?

Shame really - Paris is filled with wonders!

interesting information!

I enjoyed learning about this lesser known slice of Paris! Reading voice was just ok. Pacing stalled in some places, but overall informative and fun listen!

Enjoyable journalist diary of time in Paris

Author admirably shared colorful descriptions of the inhabitants of her neighborhood. Listened while puttering around house in the evenings. Easy listening. 4/5 stars.