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181st out of 766 books
—
1,210 voters
Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light
by
David Downie (Goodreads Author),
Diane Johnson
“Beautifully written and refreshingly original… makes us see [Paris] in a different light.” -- San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
Swapping his native San Francisco for the City of Light, travel writer David Downie arrived in Paris in 1986 on a one-way ticket, his head full of romantic notions. Curiosity and the legs of a cross-country runner propelled him daily from an unh...more
Swapping his native San Francisco for the City of Light, travel writer David Downie arrived in Paris in 1986 on a one-way ticket, his head full of romantic notions. Curiosity and the legs of a cross-country runner propelled him daily from an unh...more
Paperback, 303 pages
Published
April 5th 2011
by Broadway
(first published September 1st 2005)
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Dec 09, 2012
switterbug (Betsey)
added it
I decided to read this, at a leisurely place, while I am reading novels, in preparation for my Europe trip in the spring, which includes the City of Light. I got this, as it was highly reco'd for us discerning readers and travelers who want to read about the places in Paris that are not as well known or understood, places connected to history that many would bypass.
" David Downie is the master of educated curiosity. With him we discover Paris, a seemingly public city that is, in fact, full of se...more
" David Downie is the master of educated curiosity. With him we discover Paris, a seemingly public city that is, in fact, full of se...more
Dec 22, 2011
Carol
added it
I have read this book before, just prior to our May trip to Paris and enjoyed it immensely. The details, especially about aspects of Paris, like the boat people, I knew nothing about, are amazing and David Downie layers the information, in splendid prose. Today I took the book to sit and read to a friend who is dying. Read aloud it is even more wonderful. We both felt so pleased and satisfied. If you love good reading and Paris you can't go wrong here.
I have decided to read this book because of my wife's enthusiastic review, as follows ...
... I have lived in the South of France each summer for the past 7 years, which also includes at least one month in Paris each year. I read about 6 to 7 books each year about Paris, my favorite city. David Downie's book, Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light is one of the best I have ever read. What a fun book to read. Downie takes some obscure things, i.e. the poles on the sidewalks to keep cars from...more
... I have lived in the South of France each summer for the past 7 years, which also includes at least one month in Paris each year. I read about 6 to 7 books each year about Paris, my favorite city. David Downie's book, Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light is one of the best I have ever read. What a fun book to read. Downie takes some obscure things, i.e. the poles on the sidewalks to keep cars from...more
Reviewed yesterday on my blog, Part-Time Parisian
What a combination. David Downie is part flâneur, part hard-nosed reporter, part scholar — and all writer. Combine that with his eye for the common man and you get “Paris, Paris,” the indispensable guidebook for the curious visitor less interested in the overworked tourist sites than in the small nooks and crannies it’s difficult to find unless someone like him has already blazed the trail.
One of the best pieces of news I’ve heard recently is that...more
What a combination. David Downie is part flâneur, part hard-nosed reporter, part scholar — and all writer. Combine that with his eye for the common man and you get “Paris, Paris,” the indispensable guidebook for the curious visitor less interested in the overworked tourist sites than in the small nooks and crannies it’s difficult to find unless someone like him has already blazed the trail.
One of the best pieces of news I’ve heard recently is that...more
I read this book in April of 2011 -- it is the updated and re-released version from 2011 that I had and which I reviewed on my blog here: http://analienparisienne.wordpress.co...
And here is the intro to that post:
PARIS, Paris: Journey into the City of Light is a collection of 31 essays about La Ville Lumière in which historical and personal narratives enlighten readers about Paris’s present. Author David Downie has distilled decades of study and experience and blended it with his unique adventur...more
And here is the intro to that post:
PARIS, Paris: Journey into the City of Light is a collection of 31 essays about La Ville Lumière in which historical and personal narratives enlighten readers about Paris’s present. Author David Downie has distilled decades of study and experience and blended it with his unique adventur...more
There is much to enjoy in this book about Paris. It is full of trivia about Paris. There is also much to make you stop and ponder. Written by an ex-pat couple who live in Paris, there is more cynicism than I would like to have seen. While it is meant to sound wise and very learned, most of the whining sounds as common as Texan complaining about illegal immigration. If that is what you are looking for, then this is just what you need. If you need a dose of reality about Paris, Mr. Downie is your...more
I loved this book. My wife and I traveled to Paris a year ago before we had read this book and wish we had read it prior to our travel. It gives you so much insight into the history of Paris and the uniqueness of the city itself. It goes into the less traveled areas giving you insight and stirring up a desire to walk the city to discover the "undiscovered" areas most Americans miss. My favorite chapter "A Lively City of the Dead" goes into detail about the many famous people buried there and the...more
Paris is not my favorite city. I started this book before traveling there for a conference, reading the essays connected with the neighborhood in which we were staying. Even those helped me better appreciate Paris. But, how I wish I'd been able to read it all before that trip. Dowie's prose style and stories leave me wanting to visit several places I missed. These aren't travelogues but a collection of personal stories, researched pieces, and adventures that make Paris come alive.
David Downie is an engaging writer and clearly knows Paris very well. I enjoyed this volume of collected essays except for two things. First, it was repetitive. The essays may have originally appeared at different times, and the newspaper or magazine reader not care about repetitions, but in a single volume it's tedious and annoying. Second, Downie has beefs with certain aspects of Parisian life and culture, such as the renovations made by Baron Haussmann, and he carps on about these too much. A...more
To a Francophile, this is a "must read". If you love Paris, you'll love this book. The author delves in detail into a variety of Paris locales, making one want to go check out these places. I'm looking forward to bringing this book with me on a future trip to Paris. The jeu de mots with the title is truly apt.
Great book about Paris! Not having been there, but wanting to go, this book really whet my appetite. It's part travelogue and part history of the city; a perfect combination for me. One reviewer suggests taking this book in hand and literally following the author's journeys, which isn't a bad idea.
Two problem I had was the author's repetitiveness of some phrases and the reuse of some material in later chapters. In the first instance, he could find another phrase for "button-holing" as he did th...more
Two problem I had was the author's repetitiveness of some phrases and the reuse of some material in later chapters. In the first instance, he could find another phrase for "button-holing" as he did th...more
I am really enjoying David Downie's new book. It is a delightful, intimate, colorfully-written stroll through various Parisian neighborhoods tracking both the historical and the here-and-now flavor of the area. Downie's musings are like macarons for the mind. Yum. I'll take two.
Liked this book. Enjoyed the writing style & sense of humor/observation. Very interesting prospect to write about the different neighborhoods of from a walker's point of view. After reading this little book, I became homesick for Paris even though we had just been there.
I like the way Downie writes. Will look for his other books. To enjoy this book, you need to be interested in Paris. Downie took me off the beaten path with his experiences in the many neighborhoods of the city. It is a history book and travel journal all in one.
I loved this book!! Downie describes several places and "people" that I've never heard of - and that are off the beaten path of mass tourism. He uses French words throughout the book. However, most are followed with a sentence that allows the reader to infer.
David Downie has a sharp wit not unlike a paper cut. You barely notice the subtle cynicism, but then you realize it's there and you can't help but take notice. My new favorite Paris "fact": drinking water in Paris has passed through 5 other people before it touched your lips. The more you know...
Wonderful read. David Downie talks about Paris, Paris in the interview with FiveBooks and recommends his favourite five books on the subject: David Downie on Paris
Prepped me to fall hard for Paris. Wonderful off-the-beaten path wanderings, beautifully-described discoveries in an already well-chronicled city. His chapters illuminate fascinating overlooked details of history, personality and architecture.
An absolutely stunning read about Paris, appropriate for both dreamers and expats. Read an interview with the author, David Downie, on my site: http://www.lostincheeseland.com/2011/...
An artful and intimate personal tour of Paris by an American who has lived there for 25 years, this book combines history, interviews and observations to help visitors better understand what they're seeing in the City of Light.
I felt like I was taking a very leisurely stroll through this book of essays about Paris...from night walking in Paris, to cafe culture, to the mysterious draw of Coco Chanel, to the Moreau museum. My list of places to see in Paris continues to be ever-growing. Magical, always-fascinating Paris...
Read my review of this book at my blog, Cindy's Book Club:
My Review of Paris, Paris
My Review of Paris, Paris
Excellent book if you're planning to visit Paris. Even better to read while there if you have time. A series of essays by a long-time resident of Paris.
I am the author and cannot review this book. For reviews please visit Amazon.com, RandomHouse.com or my website http://www.davidddownie.com
Thank you!
Thank you!
Maybe a 4 1/2. You see Paris from an insider, one who was not born in France but has lived there for the past 20 some odd years. History lessons from a charming teacher. Learned lots about the City of Light. Really enjoyable.
There were some interesting chapters in this book but I think unless you have a really good knowledge of the geography and layout of Paris so much of the descriptions of where things are and where he walked is meaningless and it just sort of feels like this guy is showing off. If you can read around all of that location information there is some interesting stories about the people of Paris.
I can read this one again and again. It takes me right back to walking the streets of Paris and makes me smile.
Wonderful, colorful,informative, interesting short stories of places, people and phenomena of the City of Lights.
Part history, part tour guide, this little book takes a look at Paris, the well-known and the obscure. Very nicely done.
Nicely written, sometimes repetitive but gave me some great idea of places to walk and see.
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Dec 13, 2012 03:49am
Dec 13, 2012 05:30pm