“Paris is a moveable feast,” Ernest Hemingway famously wrote, and in this captivating anthology, American writers share their pleasures...
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reviews
Nov 18, 2011
Gavin
rated it: 
Before: Never been here, let's see what I can learn through the veil of nostalgia.
After Read: When I was a young man, I read A Moveable Feast and was intoxicated by the idea and mystique of Paris. I wanted to be an expatriate that made love to a Parisian woman, clumsily at first, but soon with the deftness and craft of a master. And I fantasized that the only way to accomplish this was to run off and escape my way to Europe. I was seventeen at the time. Needless to say, that neve More...
After Read: When I was a young man, I read A Moveable Feast and was intoxicated by the idea and mystique of Paris. I wanted to be an expatriate that made love to a Parisian woman, clumsily at first, but soon with the deftness and craft of a master. And I fantasized that the only way to accomplish this was to run off and escape my way to Europe. I was seventeen at the time. Needless to say, that neve More...
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Aug 03, 2011
Giuliana
rated it: 
Interesting compilation of essays about American perceptions of Paris. What's good about this book is that I got to read Langston Hughes, James Baldwin and Bricktop, none of whom I'd read before. Editor Jennifer Lee includes an excellent bio on each author that gives a good contextual reference for each piece. There is a wonderful essay by Maxine Rose Schur about being newlywed and "Penniless in Paris" that captures a lot of the magic of the City of Lights, and sets up an expectation t
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Oct 21, 2011
Another book I have that I read sporadically. This is a book of essays, book excerpts, letters, articles and journal entries from writers that have a passionate relationship with Paris. Some of the authors in the book: Langston Hughes, Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain, E.B. White, Gertrude Stein, Irwin Shaw.....
Mar 26, 2010
Suzanne
rated it:
An interesting book with perspectives on Paris by Americans from Jefferson and Franklin to present-day authors. I must admit I like reading the 20th-century impressions the best, but it's also good to think about what Paris was like in other times and to people from different cultural backgrounds. Love the sepia-toned cover picture of a snow-dusted Paris street...can almost believe I'm in an apartment overlooking it, except for the old-fashioned cars....
Aug 11, 2011
Some of the essays in this book I really enjoyed; others, not so much. But it is a nice representation of how many great writers have viewed Paris over the last 200 years or so.
Jan 08, 2012
Adena
rated it: 
A collection of excerpts from Americans writing about Paris over the last three centuries. The strange thing is how so many of them come to the same conclusion: I arrived expecting the Paris I heard about. I didn't find that Paris but I found My Paris.
You keep expecting the myth of Paris to fail but in text after text, it never does.
You keep expecting the myth of Paris to fail but in text after text, it never does.
May 16, 2011
Marion
rated it:
I really enjoyed the collection of pieces that Lee put together. It was fascinating to read so many Americans' perspectives of Paris - throughout a broad period of time. I was particularly intrigued by Sylvia Beach's description of starting Shakespeare and Company, Dave Barry's entertaining columns about sightseeing in Paris, and James Baldwin's reflections on being black and American in Paris.
Feb 01, 2008
Elaine
rated it:
I loved this book. There's no chance of getting bored because if you don't like the writing style of one author you simply move to the next. I didn't skip any chapters, though and was delighted the whole way through. I need to go to Paris again.
Jun 09, 2008
MissLadyFemme
rated it: 
Read this before my trip to Paris. It was given to me as a graduation present by a very dear former prof. It really transports you to the land of read wine, crust bread, and walks along the Seine.
Jul 10, 2008
mLe
rated it:
although this collection of personal encounters w/ the city of light was a bit "eh" at times, there were still enough anecdotes to conjure up images of my favorite haunts in paris.
Aug 23, 2008
Kassie
rated it:
such a wonderful collection of touching, funny, informative, romantic, personal, beautiful remembrances of paris. READ IT. GO TO PARIS. READ IT AGAIN.
May 09, 2008
shannon
rated it:
Eh... I couldn't get excited about this collection of writings on Paris. Who doesn't love Paris? This whole thing seemed lukewarm at best.
Feb 24, 2008
Magali
rated it: 
A bit too nostalgic for my taste and trying a little too hard to reinforce the idea of uncultured, fat Americans. Blah.
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