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Dear Paris: The Paris Letters Collection
Be transported to the banks of the Seine, a corner boulangerie, or beneath the Eiffel Tower with these beautifully illustrated vignettes of life in the City of Light. What began as a way to fund travel became 10 years of a letter subscription service delivering thousands of painted letters to subscribers who delight in fun mail!
Eat, Pray, Love meets Claude Monet in this epistolary ode to Paris. What started as a whim in a Latin Quarter café blossomed into Janice MacLeod’s yearslong endeavor to document and celebrate life in Paris, sending monthly snippets of her paintings and writings to the mailboxes of ardent followers around the world. Now, Dear Paris collects the entirety of the Paris Letters 140 illustrated messages discussing everything from macarons to Montmartre.
For readers familiar with the city, Dear Paris is a rendezvous with their own memories, like the first time they walked along the Champs-Élysées or the best pain au chocolat they’ve ever tasted. But it’s about more than just a Paris frozen in nostalgia; the book paints the city as it is today, through elections, protests, and the World Cup - and through the people who call it home. Wistful, charming, surprising, and unfailingly optimistic, Dear Paris is a vicarious visit to one of the most iconic and beloved places in the world.
This audiobook purchase includes a PDF supplement of a selection of the illustrated letters from the Paris Letters project.
Eat, Pray, Love meets Claude Monet in this epistolary ode to Paris. What started as a whim in a Latin Quarter café blossomed into Janice MacLeod’s yearslong endeavor to document and celebrate life in Paris, sending monthly snippets of her paintings and writings to the mailboxes of ardent followers around the world. Now, Dear Paris collects the entirety of the Paris Letters 140 illustrated messages discussing everything from macarons to Montmartre.
For readers familiar with the city, Dear Paris is a rendezvous with their own memories, like the first time they walked along the Champs-Élysées or the best pain au chocolat they’ve ever tasted. But it’s about more than just a Paris frozen in nostalgia; the book paints the city as it is today, through elections, protests, and the World Cup - and through the people who call it home. Wistful, charming, surprising, and unfailingly optimistic, Dear Paris is a vicarious visit to one of the most iconic and beloved places in the world.
This audiobook purchase includes a PDF supplement of a selection of the illustrated letters from the Paris Letters project.
Audible Audio
Published March 9, 2021
57 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Janice MacLeod
14 books207 followersJanice MacLeod is best known as a Paris author and artist. She is the best selling author of Paris Letters, her memoir of how she became an artist in Paris. She created a letter subscription service called Paris Letters, which are illustrated letters sent through the mail.
Her next book, A Paris Year, is an illustrated journal detailing the life of an artist in Paris. It is hailed as One of the Most Beautiful Books by USA Today.
The third Paris-based book is Dear Paris, an anthology of all the Paris Letters created by MacLeod over 10 years. This was hailed by Forbes as One of the Most Romantic Gift Books.
She lives with her family in Canada and Paris.
Her next book, A Paris Year, is an illustrated journal detailing the life of an artist in Paris. It is hailed as One of the Most Beautiful Books by USA Today.
The third Paris-based book is Dear Paris, an anthology of all the Paris Letters created by MacLeod over 10 years. This was hailed by Forbes as One of the Most Romantic Gift Books.
She lives with her family in Canada and Paris.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
July 18, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Dear Paris: The Paris Letters is a collection of letters written by the author Janice Macleod to her friend Aine.
This whimsical book of illustrated letters is so beautiful and a book I could just pick up whenever I feel like a dose of romantic art and whimsical reading. Janice captures the beauty of Paris within these letters as well as adding in the realities of travel and the city itself too.
I received a pdf version of this book but would love to see a paper copy which I'm sure would be even more beautiful.
I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
*** AUDIO BOOK VERSION ***
Dear Paris is a beautifully narrated book where the narrator reads letters sent by the author to her dear friends during her time spent in the beautiful city of Paris.
Although this version is audio and doesn't have the stunning artwork that is visible in the physical or pdf version of this book (which I have previously read and reviewed), the narration is fabulous and really brings the letters to life!
This book would be fabulous to listen to at the same time as reading the physical copy to enjoy the stunning artwork within these letters as shown in the book itself.
A delightful listen that made this book even more beautiful!
Dear Paris: The Paris Letters is a collection of letters written by the author Janice Macleod to her friend Aine.
This whimsical book of illustrated letters is so beautiful and a book I could just pick up whenever I feel like a dose of romantic art and whimsical reading. Janice captures the beauty of Paris within these letters as well as adding in the realities of travel and the city itself too.
I received a pdf version of this book but would love to see a paper copy which I'm sure would be even more beautiful.
I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
*** AUDIO BOOK VERSION ***
Dear Paris is a beautifully narrated book where the narrator reads letters sent by the author to her dear friends during her time spent in the beautiful city of Paris.
Although this version is audio and doesn't have the stunning artwork that is visible in the physical or pdf version of this book (which I have previously read and reviewed), the narration is fabulous and really brings the letters to life!
This book would be fabulous to listen to at the same time as reading the physical copy to enjoy the stunning artwork within these letters as shown in the book itself.
A delightful listen that made this book even more beautiful!
July 3, 2025
I could only take one real book along with me to Paris.
This was the perfect book.
Dear Paris is a collection of illustrated letters Janice MacLeod wrote during the time she lived in Paris over a series of ten years.
I loved reading a few letters a day during the weeks I spent in Paris. Each letter mentions places and people of Paris. It was a delight.
This was the perfect book.
Dear Paris is a collection of illustrated letters Janice MacLeod wrote during the time she lived in Paris over a series of ten years.
I loved reading a few letters a day during the weeks I spent in Paris. Each letter mentions places and people of Paris. It was a delight.
May 13, 2022
Reading Dear Paris The Paris Letters Collection by Janice MacLeod will make you want to pack your bags and jet off to the City of Lights. What started out as a way to fund travel turned into ten years of snippets and beautifully illustrated vignettes of the author's life in a whimsical recollection of life in Paris.
It really would be charming to receive these in a subscription service like this.
Pub Date 09 Mar 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
It really would be charming to receive these in a subscription service like this.
Pub Date 09 Mar 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
November 11, 2020
I first read Janice's book Paris Letters when a blogger I followed featured it as a pick for her book club. I devoured it in not just a day, but in a sitting. I had never before had my perfect brand of wanderlust described in writing. I felt so connected to her stories of Paris and her unique way of sharing it with others. I've also read A Paris Year, which was just as amazing but with the addition of gorgeous art that had me searching for flights to Paris on the internet and digging through my closet for my suitcase, desperate to feel the same feelings half a world away. Suffice to say, I'm a huge fan of Janice, her art, and her Parisian memoirs. I've always always had a fascination with France without even realizing. I thought my heart lie elsewhere, until I slowly detected a pattern in the things that I loved. French history. French art. The French language (which I'm terrible at). French names and French films. It was time I admitted my affair and obsession; it's been a whirlwind ever since, and Janice has a huge part in that.
Dear Paris: The Paris Letters Collection is the culmination of all of Janice's work since her first step in Paris so many years ago. It was so refreshing and lovely to experience this romantic city through her illustrations and ethereal descriptions of life in the City of Lights. She's poetic but relatable, romanticising just enough to make you itch to visit, while also not shielding away the realities. Nearly all of the letters are addressed to her friend Áine, and I thought it would be strange at first to read the letters written to someone else. But it isn't. It's a love affair from afar, where one friend can send the beauty of a city through a letter and another friend can receive it on the other end. It's a way to experience Paris, to have that affair, while never even being there. You can easily picture Janice sitting at a café, or walking along the Seine, as she pens these letters with curiosity and patience, a leisurely flâneur of the city. Occasionally she mentions current events, such as the devastating fire at Notre Dame or the Yellow Vest protests. The majority of the letters however can be read as if written at any point in recent history. They're dated, but whether it's October 2020 or April 2014, they all had a similar air to them that made them timeless - which makes revisiting them all the more enjoyable, as you are taken back to a time when life was just a little bit less unknown and worrying. I also particularly loved the quotes included at the bottom of each letter. They were not all about Paris. They were not all about leisure, or historical figures, or literature, or even related to the content in any synonymous way. But they all flowed seamlessly in with the subject of each letter, and even if you recognise the quote or the person who said it (this is a subtle shout-out to the inclusion of Robert Pattinson at the height of Twilight fame), it still manages to blend in and make it seem like it was said precisely for this moment, no other. It was the perfect addition to each page.
There are thousands of books out there about what it's like to live in Paris. With how the internet makes it easier to connect to others around the world, there are even more bloggers and influencers who share the same thing, day in and day out. But there's something special about a book that just offers you a glimpse into daily life, from wandering down your street to your boulangerie, or experiencing Paris during the month of August, when it becomes a ghost town as everyone flees to the Mediterranean. I've read tons of those blog posts and tons of those books, but Janice's books still remain my favourite. Romantic yet real, titillating yet ordinary, I think I will always keep them on my shelf for reference, but also as a way to escape and dream of pleasanter days ahead.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dear Paris: The Paris Letters Collection is the culmination of all of Janice's work since her first step in Paris so many years ago. It was so refreshing and lovely to experience this romantic city through her illustrations and ethereal descriptions of life in the City of Lights. She's poetic but relatable, romanticising just enough to make you itch to visit, while also not shielding away the realities. Nearly all of the letters are addressed to her friend Áine, and I thought it would be strange at first to read the letters written to someone else. But it isn't. It's a love affair from afar, where one friend can send the beauty of a city through a letter and another friend can receive it on the other end. It's a way to experience Paris, to have that affair, while never even being there. You can easily picture Janice sitting at a café, or walking along the Seine, as she pens these letters with curiosity and patience, a leisurely flâneur of the city. Occasionally she mentions current events, such as the devastating fire at Notre Dame or the Yellow Vest protests. The majority of the letters however can be read as if written at any point in recent history. They're dated, but whether it's October 2020 or April 2014, they all had a similar air to them that made them timeless - which makes revisiting them all the more enjoyable, as you are taken back to a time when life was just a little bit less unknown and worrying. I also particularly loved the quotes included at the bottom of each letter. They were not all about Paris. They were not all about leisure, or historical figures, or literature, or even related to the content in any synonymous way. But they all flowed seamlessly in with the subject of each letter, and even if you recognise the quote or the person who said it (this is a subtle shout-out to the inclusion of Robert Pattinson at the height of Twilight fame), it still manages to blend in and make it seem like it was said precisely for this moment, no other. It was the perfect addition to each page.
There are thousands of books out there about what it's like to live in Paris. With how the internet makes it easier to connect to others around the world, there are even more bloggers and influencers who share the same thing, day in and day out. But there's something special about a book that just offers you a glimpse into daily life, from wandering down your street to your boulangerie, or experiencing Paris during the month of August, when it becomes a ghost town as everyone flees to the Mediterranean. I've read tons of those blog posts and tons of those books, but Janice's books still remain my favourite. Romantic yet real, titillating yet ordinary, I think I will always keep them on my shelf for reference, but also as a way to escape and dream of pleasanter days ahead.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2023
An opus. A masterpiece. A triumph! Will invoke wanderlust.
March 30, 2021
Where’s my passport? Talk about inspiring a bout of wanderlust!
Only one other book has made me want to pack a suitcase and hop a flight the way Dear Paris has: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and its southern locale of Savannah, Georgia.
This unique book of Paris love notes (with several other dreamy locations thrown in) is as magical as it is breathtaking! The colors and language are so vivid and bright!
Janice Macleod, a former advertising copywriter, transports readers to the many delights of Paris with this collection of letters she hand painted and illustrated to send to subscribers. This subscription service was designed to fund her adventures in Paris; it worked!
The result is as if you were right there alongside Macleod experiencing the sights, sounds, and conversations firsthand. Paris just lights up on these pages! Pun intended!
The “Urban Hike” term was perfect for discovery! The mentions of Hemingway and the rest of Lost Generation, the paintings of Moulin Rouge and the carousels, and, the fitting quotes from celebrities, authors and artists that accompanied each letter and piece of artwork were not lost on this avid reader. The cultural takes on the World Cup and perfume were enlightening. The surprise of finding hidden treasures in a city, like the wandering Ferris Wheel, a human sundial, and remnants of a former equine city, were delightful! And, the stamps! I love, love, love her stamp fascination. It’s all so visual, colorful, and imaginative.
I was a little thrown off when I encountered the letters from other places (such as Route 66, Budapest, Calgary, Venice, etc) since this is an ode to Paris but I loved them just the same.
I was also thrown by the amount of travel and eating at cafes during the timeline of the current pandemic. Wasn’t Paris on lockdown like the rest of the world? Maybe we were spared any negativity brought on by such conditions to keep the collection light and breezy.
I listened to the Audiobook provided by NetGalley and perused the ebook on Hoopla while doing so. It was a lazy, cool, rainy afternoon in Texas for me yet I felt as if I was meandering the cobblestone streets of the City of Light with a lifelong friend.
This is a gem of a book!
Only one other book has made me want to pack a suitcase and hop a flight the way Dear Paris has: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and its southern locale of Savannah, Georgia.
This unique book of Paris love notes (with several other dreamy locations thrown in) is as magical as it is breathtaking! The colors and language are so vivid and bright!
Janice Macleod, a former advertising copywriter, transports readers to the many delights of Paris with this collection of letters she hand painted and illustrated to send to subscribers. This subscription service was designed to fund her adventures in Paris; it worked!
The result is as if you were right there alongside Macleod experiencing the sights, sounds, and conversations firsthand. Paris just lights up on these pages! Pun intended!
The “Urban Hike” term was perfect for discovery! The mentions of Hemingway and the rest of Lost Generation, the paintings of Moulin Rouge and the carousels, and, the fitting quotes from celebrities, authors and artists that accompanied each letter and piece of artwork were not lost on this avid reader. The cultural takes on the World Cup and perfume were enlightening. The surprise of finding hidden treasures in a city, like the wandering Ferris Wheel, a human sundial, and remnants of a former equine city, were delightful! And, the stamps! I love, love, love her stamp fascination. It’s all so visual, colorful, and imaginative.
I was a little thrown off when I encountered the letters from other places (such as Route 66, Budapest, Calgary, Venice, etc) since this is an ode to Paris but I loved them just the same.
I was also thrown by the amount of travel and eating at cafes during the timeline of the current pandemic. Wasn’t Paris on lockdown like the rest of the world? Maybe we were spared any negativity brought on by such conditions to keep the collection light and breezy.
I listened to the Audiobook provided by NetGalley and perused the ebook on Hoopla while doing so. It was a lazy, cool, rainy afternoon in Texas for me yet I felt as if I was meandering the cobblestone streets of the City of Light with a lifelong friend.
This is a gem of a book!
did-not-finish
November 15, 2020I received an advance review copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.
DNF @ 14%
I was intrigued by the concept and drawn in by the visual design — the drawings are lovely, as is the color palette and design of pages that feature text.
But if I were looking for an outsider/touristy perspective on Paris I might as well go there myself; while there is clear love for Paris, it feels more like "look how cool and different everything is; marvel at how lucky I am to be here right now" than respect or even simple appreciation for the culture in its own right. I just can't seem to get invested in the writer's experiences and musings, in part due to the almost-excessive use of personification. (Statues, the rain, even hot chocolate ... you name it, it's been personified.) And I'm also not particularly impressed with the selection of quotes, some of which seem arbitrarily chosen because they're just barely related to the content of a letter.
DNF @ 14%
I was intrigued by the concept and drawn in by the visual design — the drawings are lovely, as is the color palette and design of pages that feature text.
But if I were looking for an outsider/touristy perspective on Paris I might as well go there myself; while there is clear love for Paris, it feels more like "look how cool and different everything is; marvel at how lucky I am to be here right now" than respect or even simple appreciation for the culture in its own right. I just can't seem to get invested in the writer's experiences and musings, in part due to the almost-excessive use of personification. (Statues, the rain, even hot chocolate ... you name it, it's been personified.) And I'm also not particularly impressed with the selection of quotes, some of which seem arbitrarily chosen because they're just barely related to the content of a letter.
April 20, 2021
Janice MacLeod did it again - another beautiful book about Paris. This time the book features illustrated letters about Paris - observations about traditional French fair(such as macarons, museums, fashion) but also unique anecdotes (people in her neighborhood, unique encounters with strangers). Her cursive was easy enough for me to read, but the publisher provided the text of every letter in print just in case. It is also filled with lovely quotes about Paris from famous people, mostly artists, who lived and created there. There are 140 illustrated letters in all, so I definitely felt like I got my money’s worth. I can’t wait until her next book about Paris comes out - I’ll be pne of the first readers in line.
February 21, 2021
A beautiful tome and charming ode to one of the most romantic cities in the world, Dear Paris is for anybody who wants to escape (virtually) to the city of light–and beyond–through the whimsical brush strokes of a true artist and the heartfelt/relatable words of a pen–two of MacLeod’s talents coming together while bringing on wonder and wanderlust. I honestly can’t say which letter/illustration is my favorite– because all of them, collectively, create magic (and it would be like choosing a favorite child!) Romantic and heartwarming–utterly charming and highly recommended.
December 6, 2020
This is a true love letter to Paris. It is absolutely stunning! The art work is to die for. I love Paris and this is life in Paris in a nutshell what's. not to love!
There were a couple of other random travel pages in there which felt disjointed and unnecessary ( could just be a separate book! or could've been spaced more thoughtfully!).
Would love to have this as a coffee table book though!
* I received an arc in exchange for an honest review *
There were a couple of other random travel pages in there which felt disjointed and unnecessary ( could just be a separate book! or could've been spaced more thoughtfully!).
Would love to have this as a coffee table book though!
* I received an arc in exchange for an honest review *
March 26, 2021
Dear Paris was a great audiobook to escape and travel in my mind. I have never been to Paris or France, but through this book, I felt like I was experiencing it alongside the author. There were so many letters and events that I remember the audiobook more as an experience that made me feel happy. Since there were it was difficult for the listener to connect them all. Overall, I felt like I was seeing, tasting, and traveling through Paris myself. I also learned quite a bit about the culture of Paris.
March 23, 2024
Delightful delineation of day-to-day chronicle in the City of Lights, Paris.
January 1, 2024
This book helped me survive the winter blues with beautiful illustrations and bite size stories to ponder. It’s also a guide to some lovely places to keep in mind for Paris visits.
September 10, 2021
A painterly, epistolary, poetic memoir chronicling an expat’s love affair with Paris (2012-2020):
Chers Lectures (Dear Readers),
“Paris is truly enchanted” in artist/writer Janice MacLeod’s 140 “painted letters”: calligraphy pen and watercolor illustrations enveloping charming, uplifting, catchy prose. Dear Paris: The Paris Collection Letters is a creative memoir spanning eight years of a Canadian expat’s life as an “urban walker” with a “romantic heart” in what MacLeod exudes is “the most romantic city in the world.” You may disagree, as plenty of bucket-list travel websites have other opinions. When you read MacLeod’s perspectives on why “Paris is a magical city,” treated on every page to its Joie de Vivre culture and attitudes, you might change your mind.
“I love her,” MacLeod says, despite the city’s “bloodbath” history, which makes many letters historically interesting. Her observations, paintings, and reflections absorb that history, giving depth to a wide range of subjects in the City of Light that has drawn artists and writers to it for centuries. “I love her through all of it, perhaps because of this.” You’ll find her musing on the 1920’s Lost Generation when F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived in Paris, as did Hemingway with his first wife Hadley and Jack “Bumby” their first son. You’ll also be taken to the Beat Generation, the Belle Époque, Napoléon Revolution, Bastille Day. “History is everything and everywhere in Paris.”
“Are we allowed to behold such splendor, allowed to be this happy?” she asks. Her answer: “Yes! Oui! Weee!” See why you’ll get hooked?
You can see examples of the letters on MacLeod’s Etsy website https://www.etsy.com/shop/JaniceMacLe..., which she explains in a crisp, engaging introduction was the genesis of this unusual collection that began in 2011 when she left her Creative Director advertising job in Los Angeles (formerly copywriter) to “become an artist.” She broke new ground when she conceived of the first letter-writing subscription service on the crafty website. A pen-pal service that sends out monthly letters that can be framed, and serves as a travel memoir to “the most beautiful city in the world.” This is her third Paris journeying book. USA Today named her 2017 A Paris Year one of the “Top 10 Most Beautiful Books.” Wonder how they’ll rate this gorgeous Dear Paris: The Paris Letters Collection?
Expect to gaze at and read about Parisian gardens, flowers, blossoming trees, and the changing seasons (“a vibrant costume change”); a slew of lively cafés, lingering with her coffee, patron and waiter watching; fountains (200 in Paris, here are some beautiful ones: https://www.vogue.fr/fashion-culture/... Art Nouveau lampposts; carousels (also calling Paris the City of Carousels, all free, a “gift to citizens and visitors”); cathedrals (Notre-Dame before, capturing the 850-year-old church, and after the 2019 fire that shocked the world); iconic and not as well-known statutes and monuments; holiday celebrations (May 1 is their Labor Day, or Lily-of-the-Valley Day celebrated by giving these lovely white flowers to a friend), and her annual Bonne année et Bonne santé wishes (“Happy New Year and wishes for good health”); umbrellas in a wet city that’s freezing in the winter, colder than many “big, big cities” because of the humidity and the fact that Parisians spend their time outdoors. Dear Paris reflects that c’est la vie and laissez-faire and on every page, in every letter.
“Paris does something to a person. It unleashes the pent-up romantic.” Early on you’ll find whispers of a man she meets; as the years go by you’ll see she’s fallen in love with him, and has a future with him. While she respects his privacy, we’re told his name is Christophe, an expat from Poland, who works at the boucherie on the street she lives on in the Latin Quarter, Rue Mouffetard. That street in the 5th arrondissement (district) means a lot to her, so the first letter depicts a colorful fruit stand beneath a church, a scene outside of her apartment. We also know he looks like Daniel Craig, one of the 007 actors. Check out her Instagram account and you’ll see he definitely does, which adds to the romantic sparkle of the book.
MacLeod shows us she’s become the artist she dreamed of becoming. She also knows her way around words that grab our attention, presumably a skill she carried with her from her advertising days. Passionate about her art supplies, worthy of a letter when she finds herself in heaven shopping at one of Paris’ legendary department stores, Le Bon Marché, first in the world. The deluxe stationary shop is seen as a sensual experience.
In the artist’s eyes, her “painted letters” sometimes need a finishing touch. So the collection is partly a numismatic collectors’ delight, increasingly adorned over the years with postage stamps she’s pored over to fit the subject or theme of the letter.
The letters go beyond visual and lyrical food for the soul. This being Paris, expect mouthwatering tastes at boulangeries (ubiquitous bakeries; baguettes are taken so seriously that the government limits ingredients to flour, yeast, and salt); patisseries, including the macaron craze, a “jewelry box of deliciousness”; chocolatiers; glaciers (ice cream shops); restaurants; and specialty shops.
The book is smartly designed. The handwritten inked/watercolor letters consume the right side of the page, sometimes two. For those who prefer to read them in a formal though considerably less intimate format, or in case there’s a handwritten word that’s hard to decipher (I found none), the letter is typed on the left side of the page. If you stick to the warmer-feeling letter, make sure you don’t forget to read the quote at the bottom of every left page. Each adds insight to that month’s letter, written by authors, poets, songwriters, filmmakers. Without even telling us, or painting the most famous bookstore in all of Paris, Shakespeare and Company, we gather simply from the diversity of these messaging quotes Macleod is a diverse reader of literature and culture.
Each letter is a new exploration, a new experience particularly when your way to get to know a city is by walking hours and hours until you’re feet hurt and then resting, indulging, and observing the people around you, alone or with a friend or lover.
The 140 illustrated letters are always addressed to her good friend Áine, except the one addressed to Patrice, a devoted subscriber she learned passed away in a letter from her daughter, Bernadette, who continued her mother’s Etsy subscription.
Paris is “eye candy,” “a giant Ferris wheel,” “one big plant box,” seducing us in the “City of Amour,” so each version charms us. When a letter is interspersed among all the Paris ones, written and postmarked from a different city, we’re surprised each and every time we stumble upon it – mostly from other European countries and cities, and a few Canadian and American ones. It’s as if MacLeod relishes re-falling in love with Paris, again and again.
“Joyful Rapture” is how the artist/writer describes the annual tradition of turning on the fountains. Joyful rapture also describes this special reading and visual experience.
“We must find our place in the world.” Janice MacLeod has found hers. For those who wish to travel to find theirs, she inspires us. We’re happy for her. Truth be told, we’re also a bit envious.
Lorraine (EnchantedProse.com)
Chers Lectures (Dear Readers),
“Paris is truly enchanted” in artist/writer Janice MacLeod’s 140 “painted letters”: calligraphy pen and watercolor illustrations enveloping charming, uplifting, catchy prose. Dear Paris: The Paris Collection Letters is a creative memoir spanning eight years of a Canadian expat’s life as an “urban walker” with a “romantic heart” in what MacLeod exudes is “the most romantic city in the world.” You may disagree, as plenty of bucket-list travel websites have other opinions. When you read MacLeod’s perspectives on why “Paris is a magical city,” treated on every page to its Joie de Vivre culture and attitudes, you might change your mind.
“I love her,” MacLeod says, despite the city’s “bloodbath” history, which makes many letters historically interesting. Her observations, paintings, and reflections absorb that history, giving depth to a wide range of subjects in the City of Light that has drawn artists and writers to it for centuries. “I love her through all of it, perhaps because of this.” You’ll find her musing on the 1920’s Lost Generation when F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived in Paris, as did Hemingway with his first wife Hadley and Jack “Bumby” their first son. You’ll also be taken to the Beat Generation, the Belle Époque, Napoléon Revolution, Bastille Day. “History is everything and everywhere in Paris.”
“Are we allowed to behold such splendor, allowed to be this happy?” she asks. Her answer: “Yes! Oui! Weee!” See why you’ll get hooked?
You can see examples of the letters on MacLeod’s Etsy website https://www.etsy.com/shop/JaniceMacLe..., which she explains in a crisp, engaging introduction was the genesis of this unusual collection that began in 2011 when she left her Creative Director advertising job in Los Angeles (formerly copywriter) to “become an artist.” She broke new ground when she conceived of the first letter-writing subscription service on the crafty website. A pen-pal service that sends out monthly letters that can be framed, and serves as a travel memoir to “the most beautiful city in the world.” This is her third Paris journeying book. USA Today named her 2017 A Paris Year one of the “Top 10 Most Beautiful Books.” Wonder how they’ll rate this gorgeous Dear Paris: The Paris Letters Collection?
Expect to gaze at and read about Parisian gardens, flowers, blossoming trees, and the changing seasons (“a vibrant costume change”); a slew of lively cafés, lingering with her coffee, patron and waiter watching; fountains (200 in Paris, here are some beautiful ones: https://www.vogue.fr/fashion-culture/... Art Nouveau lampposts; carousels (also calling Paris the City of Carousels, all free, a “gift to citizens and visitors”); cathedrals (Notre-Dame before, capturing the 850-year-old church, and after the 2019 fire that shocked the world); iconic and not as well-known statutes and monuments; holiday celebrations (May 1 is their Labor Day, or Lily-of-the-Valley Day celebrated by giving these lovely white flowers to a friend), and her annual Bonne année et Bonne santé wishes (“Happy New Year and wishes for good health”); umbrellas in a wet city that’s freezing in the winter, colder than many “big, big cities” because of the humidity and the fact that Parisians spend their time outdoors. Dear Paris reflects that c’est la vie and laissez-faire and on every page, in every letter.
“Paris does something to a person. It unleashes the pent-up romantic.” Early on you’ll find whispers of a man she meets; as the years go by you’ll see she’s fallen in love with him, and has a future with him. While she respects his privacy, we’re told his name is Christophe, an expat from Poland, who works at the boucherie on the street she lives on in the Latin Quarter, Rue Mouffetard. That street in the 5th arrondissement (district) means a lot to her, so the first letter depicts a colorful fruit stand beneath a church, a scene outside of her apartment. We also know he looks like Daniel Craig, one of the 007 actors. Check out her Instagram account and you’ll see he definitely does, which adds to the romantic sparkle of the book.
MacLeod shows us she’s become the artist she dreamed of becoming. She also knows her way around words that grab our attention, presumably a skill she carried with her from her advertising days. Passionate about her art supplies, worthy of a letter when she finds herself in heaven shopping at one of Paris’ legendary department stores, Le Bon Marché, first in the world. The deluxe stationary shop is seen as a sensual experience.
In the artist’s eyes, her “painted letters” sometimes need a finishing touch. So the collection is partly a numismatic collectors’ delight, increasingly adorned over the years with postage stamps she’s pored over to fit the subject or theme of the letter.
The letters go beyond visual and lyrical food for the soul. This being Paris, expect mouthwatering tastes at boulangeries (ubiquitous bakeries; baguettes are taken so seriously that the government limits ingredients to flour, yeast, and salt); patisseries, including the macaron craze, a “jewelry box of deliciousness”; chocolatiers; glaciers (ice cream shops); restaurants; and specialty shops.
The book is smartly designed. The handwritten inked/watercolor letters consume the right side of the page, sometimes two. For those who prefer to read them in a formal though considerably less intimate format, or in case there’s a handwritten word that’s hard to decipher (I found none), the letter is typed on the left side of the page. If you stick to the warmer-feeling letter, make sure you don’t forget to read the quote at the bottom of every left page. Each adds insight to that month’s letter, written by authors, poets, songwriters, filmmakers. Without even telling us, or painting the most famous bookstore in all of Paris, Shakespeare and Company, we gather simply from the diversity of these messaging quotes Macleod is a diverse reader of literature and culture.
Each letter is a new exploration, a new experience particularly when your way to get to know a city is by walking hours and hours until you’re feet hurt and then resting, indulging, and observing the people around you, alone or with a friend or lover.
The 140 illustrated letters are always addressed to her good friend Áine, except the one addressed to Patrice, a devoted subscriber she learned passed away in a letter from her daughter, Bernadette, who continued her mother’s Etsy subscription.
Paris is “eye candy,” “a giant Ferris wheel,” “one big plant box,” seducing us in the “City of Amour,” so each version charms us. When a letter is interspersed among all the Paris ones, written and postmarked from a different city, we’re surprised each and every time we stumble upon it – mostly from other European countries and cities, and a few Canadian and American ones. It’s as if MacLeod relishes re-falling in love with Paris, again and again.
“Joyful Rapture” is how the artist/writer describes the annual tradition of turning on the fountains. Joyful rapture also describes this special reading and visual experience.
“We must find our place in the world.” Janice MacLeod has found hers. For those who wish to travel to find theirs, she inspires us. We’re happy for her. Truth be told, we’re also a bit envious.
Lorraine (EnchantedProse.com)
May 22, 2021
Light reading, but interesting and with lovely illustrations. It all seemed so authentic until 2020 was reached and it was as if life went on as usual. A missed opportunity to let us know what Paris was like during the Covid pandemic. We know life did not go on as usual, which took away from the sense of genuine experience. It must have been completed before the end of 2019. Who could anticipate the world would change? But it did.
December 29, 2021
This was such a great audio book! I will have to purchase this one to see all the drawings from the author but what a fun book. Since the pandemic has halted all travel this was a perfect escape to take me to Paris. I could picture the cafes and the people, I could see the fountains and the buildings. Oh how I miss Paris.
April 19, 2021
Dear Paris is a visual feast
Posted on April 19, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist
I sure do wish I was in on this “Dear Paris” project, artist and author, Janice Mac Leod shared with her subscribers on Etsy over the past ten years.
What a brilliant, creative, lovely expression of France, its culture, and its romantic attitudes; especially for someone who never left the United States and is left to explore her imagination and travel show memories to identify the author’s love for her surroundings.
Ten years ago Mac Leod needed money to help her travel and live in The City of Lights, so she started a paid physically illustrated journal service designed to fund her expenses and remember her experiences.
In return, subscribers received a “painted letter” in the mail that depicted Mac Leod’s artistic interpretation of the day. Beautiful.
The author explains at the beginning of this book, Dear Paris, The Paris Letters Collection – which is also on audio – that one subscriber in particular, supported Mc Leod religiously for her entire journey, and so in honor of that loyalty, each letter is addressed to “Aine,” (Anne).
The letters are unremarkable, ordinary in their text. They depict one’s life, in and out, ebb and flow, while living in Paris. I suppose, as a subscriber, who is receiving these illustrated letters in the mail, the words would not matter. They wouldn’t to me. And I suspect that Mac Leod’s story would grow on me as I lived overseas vicariously through her paintbrush.
The undeniable strength of this book is in its art.
I am an enormous impressionist fan. All actual, real art that I want on my walls is Monet, Manet, Renoir, or one of the gang. So, to see the physical art attached to these letters is compelling, fragrant, and addictive, making the words another layer of the texture that adds to the overall picture.
I listened to this book on audio. While audio enabled me to imagine walking the streets of Paris, or jumping into one of my favorite impressionist paintings, listening to a project so visually enhanced was itself, like looking at an impressionist painting, not fully formed, made up of an organized chaos of color shards applied artfully to suggest something not fully present.
In my opinion, this book is without a doubt better on paper. This one, on audio, is missing a massive slice of its potential beauty.
That said, listening to Dear Paris did allow me to see France in the eyes of my imagination. For readers who visited the City of Lights, Dear Paris is a personalized love letter to the enigma of their memories.
All in all, had I known about this subscription and possessed the money to support a traveling artist, I would have loved to participate.
I applaud Mac Leod’s work, admire her talent, and envy her experience. Dear Paris is one of those titles that is going to sit on tabletops for quite a while into the future.
BoutiquePublishingService@hotmail.com
BoutiqueBooks@hotmail.com
Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2
Posted on April 19, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist
I sure do wish I was in on this “Dear Paris” project, artist and author, Janice Mac Leod shared with her subscribers on Etsy over the past ten years.
What a brilliant, creative, lovely expression of France, its culture, and its romantic attitudes; especially for someone who never left the United States and is left to explore her imagination and travel show memories to identify the author’s love for her surroundings.
Ten years ago Mac Leod needed money to help her travel and live in The City of Lights, so she started a paid physically illustrated journal service designed to fund her expenses and remember her experiences.
In return, subscribers received a “painted letter” in the mail that depicted Mac Leod’s artistic interpretation of the day. Beautiful.
The author explains at the beginning of this book, Dear Paris, The Paris Letters Collection – which is also on audio – that one subscriber in particular, supported Mc Leod religiously for her entire journey, and so in honor of that loyalty, each letter is addressed to “Aine,” (Anne).
The letters are unremarkable, ordinary in their text. They depict one’s life, in and out, ebb and flow, while living in Paris. I suppose, as a subscriber, who is receiving these illustrated letters in the mail, the words would not matter. They wouldn’t to me. And I suspect that Mac Leod’s story would grow on me as I lived overseas vicariously through her paintbrush.
The undeniable strength of this book is in its art.
I am an enormous impressionist fan. All actual, real art that I want on my walls is Monet, Manet, Renoir, or one of the gang. So, to see the physical art attached to these letters is compelling, fragrant, and addictive, making the words another layer of the texture that adds to the overall picture.
I listened to this book on audio. While audio enabled me to imagine walking the streets of Paris, or jumping into one of my favorite impressionist paintings, listening to a project so visually enhanced was itself, like looking at an impressionist painting, not fully formed, made up of an organized chaos of color shards applied artfully to suggest something not fully present.
In my opinion, this book is without a doubt better on paper. This one, on audio, is missing a massive slice of its potential beauty.
That said, listening to Dear Paris did allow me to see France in the eyes of my imagination. For readers who visited the City of Lights, Dear Paris is a personalized love letter to the enigma of their memories.
All in all, had I known about this subscription and possessed the money to support a traveling artist, I would have loved to participate.
I applaud Mac Leod’s work, admire her talent, and envy her experience. Dear Paris is one of those titles that is going to sit on tabletops for quite a while into the future.
BoutiquePublishingService@hotmail.com
BoutiqueBooks@hotmail.com
Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2
April 4, 2021
Dear Paris was my first ever audiobook! I’ve been saying for years I’d give audiobooks a try, but I kept putting it off because I know my tendency to get distracted. Plus I just couldn’t figure out where to slot them into my life - people say while driving or on a commute, but I work from home. Or they suggest listening while cleaning or working out, but I like music to keep me motivated. When I saw Dear Paris was available as an audiobook on Netgalley, I knew it was finally time to give audiobooks a try, and I listened to this one in the span of two days while house cleaning a bunch of old papers. Having Janice MacLeod’s company made a tedious task so much more pleasant, and the time flew by.
A couple of months ago, I randomly discovered Janice’s 2014 travel memoir, Paris Letters. I devoured the book, and it’s one of my favourites of 2021 so far. I immediately added A Paris Year and Dear Paris to my wishlist, hence why I was thrilled to discover Dear Paris on Netgalley. Now that I’ve listened to the audiobook, I’d like to have a physical copy even more so I could enjoy Janice’s artwork as well as her words. However, as an introduction to audiobooks, I’d say this was a good place to start since I was already familiar with Janice’s story and her love of Paris.
Dear Paris was such a delight. I loved Janice’s observations and anecdotes, and felt like I was wandering the streets of Paris with her. We got to see the simple, everyday aspect of life in Paris from the viewpoint of an expat, while also getting a glimpse of the more popular tourist side. I love that she took delight in both, and I especially enjoyed seeing things from an artist’s perspective. During a time when it’s not safe to travel, it was fun to step into someone else’s shoes and explore Paris. I’ve been to the city twice - both short, hectic visits that left me wanting so much more - and Dear Paris stirred up all my dreams of returning to the city and enjoying it at a slower pace. I had a huge smile on my face most of the time I was listening, and I laughed out loud several times.
Dear Paris is a love letter to the City of Light and Love. If you’re looking to be transported to Paris, look no further. While I still personally prefer Paris Letters (I think because it was so much more personal, plus we got to watch Janice fall in love with Christophe, and I AM, after all, a Romance reader and writer), this book would make a lovely addition to any Paris- or art-lover’s collection.
*I received an advance copy of this audiobook for review from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are my own
A couple of months ago, I randomly discovered Janice’s 2014 travel memoir, Paris Letters. I devoured the book, and it’s one of my favourites of 2021 so far. I immediately added A Paris Year and Dear Paris to my wishlist, hence why I was thrilled to discover Dear Paris on Netgalley. Now that I’ve listened to the audiobook, I’d like to have a physical copy even more so I could enjoy Janice’s artwork as well as her words. However, as an introduction to audiobooks, I’d say this was a good place to start since I was already familiar with Janice’s story and her love of Paris.
Dear Paris was such a delight. I loved Janice’s observations and anecdotes, and felt like I was wandering the streets of Paris with her. We got to see the simple, everyday aspect of life in Paris from the viewpoint of an expat, while also getting a glimpse of the more popular tourist side. I love that she took delight in both, and I especially enjoyed seeing things from an artist’s perspective. During a time when it’s not safe to travel, it was fun to step into someone else’s shoes and explore Paris. I’ve been to the city twice - both short, hectic visits that left me wanting so much more - and Dear Paris stirred up all my dreams of returning to the city and enjoying it at a slower pace. I had a huge smile on my face most of the time I was listening, and I laughed out loud several times.
Dear Paris is a love letter to the City of Light and Love. If you’re looking to be transported to Paris, look no further. While I still personally prefer Paris Letters (I think because it was so much more personal, plus we got to watch Janice fall in love with Christophe, and I AM, after all, a Romance reader and writer), this book would make a lovely addition to any Paris- or art-lover’s collection.
*I received an advance copy of this audiobook for review from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are my own
March 29, 2021
Where’s my passport? Talk about inspiring a bout of wanderlust!
Only one other book has made me want to pack a suitcase and hop a flight the way Dear Paris has: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and its southern locale of Savannah, Georgia.
This unique book of Paris love notes (with several other dreamy locations thrown in) is as magical as it is breathtaking! The colors and language are so vivid and bright!
Janice Macleod, a former advertising copywriter, transports readers to the many delights of Paris with this collection of letters she hand painted and illustrated to send to subscribers. This subscription service was designed to fund her adventures in Paris; it worked!
The result is as if you were right there alongside Macleod experiencing the sights, sounds, and conversations firsthand. Paris just lights up on these pages! Pun intended!
The “Urban Hike” term was perfect for discovery! The mentions of Hemingway and the rest of Lost Generation, the paintings of Moulin Rouge and the carousels, and, the fitting quotes from celebrities, authors and artists that accompanied each letter and piece of artwork were not lost on this avid reader. The cultural takes on the World Cup and perfume were enlightening. The surprise of finding hidden treasures in a city, like the wandering Ferris Wheel, a human sundial, and remnants of a former equine city, were delightful! And, the stamps! I love, love, love her stamp fascination. It’s all so visual, colorful, and imaginative.
I was a little thrown off when I encountered the letters from other places (such as Route 66, Budapest, Calgary, Venice, etc) since this is an ode to Paris but I loved them just the same.
I was also thrown by the amount of travel and eating at cafes during the timeline of the current pandemic. Wasn’t Paris on lockdown like the rest of the world? Maybe we were spared any negativity brought on by such conditions to keep the collection light and breezy.
I listened to the Audiobook provided by NetGalley and perused the ebook on Hoopla while doing so. It was a lazy, cool, rainy afternoon in Texas for me yet I felt as if I was meandering the cobblestone streets of the City of Light with a lifelong friend.
This is a gem of a book!
Only one other book has made me want to pack a suitcase and hop a flight the way Dear Paris has: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and its southern locale of Savannah, Georgia.
This unique book of Paris love notes (with several other dreamy locations thrown in) is as magical as it is breathtaking! The colors and language are so vivid and bright!
Janice Macleod, a former advertising copywriter, transports readers to the many delights of Paris with this collection of letters she hand painted and illustrated to send to subscribers. This subscription service was designed to fund her adventures in Paris; it worked!
The result is as if you were right there alongside Macleod experiencing the sights, sounds, and conversations firsthand. Paris just lights up on these pages! Pun intended!
The “Urban Hike” term was perfect for discovery! The mentions of Hemingway and the rest of Lost Generation, the paintings of Moulin Rouge and the carousels, and, the fitting quotes from celebrities, authors and artists that accompanied each letter and piece of artwork were not lost on this avid reader. The cultural takes on the World Cup and perfume were enlightening. The surprise of finding hidden treasures in a city, like the wandering Ferris Wheel, a human sundial, and remnants of a former equine city, were delightful! And, the stamps! I love, love, love her stamp fascination. It’s all so visual, colorful, and imaginative.
I was a little thrown off when I encountered the letters from other places (such as Route 66, Budapest, Calgary, Venice, etc) since this is an ode to Paris but I loved them just the same.
I was also thrown by the amount of travel and eating at cafes during the timeline of the current pandemic. Wasn’t Paris on lockdown like the rest of the world? Maybe we were spared any negativity brought on by such conditions to keep the collection light and breezy.
I listened to the Audiobook provided by NetGalley and perused the ebook on Hoopla while doing so. It was a lazy, cool, rainy afternoon in Texas for me yet I felt as if I was meandering the cobblestone streets of the City of Light with a lifelong friend.
This is a gem of a book!
April 26, 2021
💐 I really want to appreciate the author for her efforts. She lived in paris for nearly eight years to get these books completed. Now I'm really jealous of her because she got to see the most beautiful place.
💐 I want to go to paris "City of love". I don't know when it became my dream city but i've always have been crazy about it. Now reading these collections of letters is like a glimpse of paris.
💐 I didn't knew that it contains pictures. It took me by surprise. Those pictures made me so happy that I nearly went mad. Also the quote written at the end of each letter was thoughtful.
💐 I learned so much from this fabulous book. Though there are some things which disappointed me, I can't deny the fact that I learned many things. First of all, their dressing style. In Autumn, boots and gowns. In winter coats and scarfs. I find it pretty amusing that a entire letter is dedicated to boots 😍😍. I also learned their monthly living style.
💐 There was a particular letter which took a special place in my heart. It was about the toy soldier and ballerina decorations. I know it sounds silly but it kind of reminded me of Tom and Jerry movie. In that movie Jerry will be the toy soldier and a little girl will be his ballerina. I loved it so much.
💐 The way she explained spring blossoms was extraordinary. It was delightful to imagine standing in the centre of them and watching them bloom.
💐 I also learned about some of parisians famous food. Those hot chocolate, lemon chocolate, crepes, macarons. It kind of made my mouth watering.
💐 I wish that some of those letters could have been a little more descriptive. I wanted to read more about Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musée du Louvre etc. It was overall a great read.
💐 I want to go to paris "City of love". I don't know when it became my dream city but i've always have been crazy about it. Now reading these collections of letters is like a glimpse of paris.
💐 I didn't knew that it contains pictures. It took me by surprise. Those pictures made me so happy that I nearly went mad. Also the quote written at the end of each letter was thoughtful.
💐 I learned so much from this fabulous book. Though there are some things which disappointed me, I can't deny the fact that I learned many things. First of all, their dressing style. In Autumn, boots and gowns. In winter coats and scarfs. I find it pretty amusing that a entire letter is dedicated to boots 😍😍. I also learned their monthly living style.
💐 There was a particular letter which took a special place in my heart. It was about the toy soldier and ballerina decorations. I know it sounds silly but it kind of reminded me of Tom and Jerry movie. In that movie Jerry will be the toy soldier and a little girl will be his ballerina. I loved it so much.
💐 The way she explained spring blossoms was extraordinary. It was delightful to imagine standing in the centre of them and watching them bloom.
💐 I also learned about some of parisians famous food. Those hot chocolate, lemon chocolate, crepes, macarons. It kind of made my mouth watering.
💐 I wish that some of those letters could have been a little more descriptive. I wanted to read more about Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musée du Louvre etc. It was overall a great read.
June 21, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
I absolutely adored this book. I don’t think I can emphasise my praise for this book enough. To illustrate this I will just share this with you, thanks to the covid pandemic, my husband spent the majority of last year out of work and therefore finances were very tight for us. When it was my birthday my husband very apologetically said he could only afford to get me one small gift, and a physical copy of this book is what I chose.
I deeply resonated with this book and I have honestly used it as part of my mental self care routine. I am a bit of a Paris geek, and if you stick a picture of the Eiffel Tower on the front of a book, I will certainly at least give it a try. So I was probably an easy sell from the get go. However, these series of post cards that the author drew and wrote, featuring different aspects of her life in Paris, and places she visited, or observations on current events, began at a time that holds quite a bit of significance for me- that is 2012. That was the year I first became a mother and as I was reading what the author was living through at that time, it was prompting my own personal memories of that time, although I was in the UK, and going through quite a different experience. I had visited Paris a few years prior to that though, so I had visited some of the places the author mentioned and it was wonderful to re-discover them in this book.
Like I say, this book was like a soothing balm to my soul and I really took my time to read it and wrap it round me in a lovely comforting hug. The artwork was just lovely and I actually learnt quite a bit from the notes which the author included on her postcards.
I could probably gush on for much longer but I’ll just say I have personally gotten such a lot out of this book and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Paris, or an appreciation for whimsical, beautiful artwork. So, so happy to have found this book
February 18, 2021
4 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy and opportunity to honestly review this work.
As a person who took French in school and always found the place and culture of France so intriguing, Dear Paris was an instant fit for me. I loved the concept of this book- someone processing their love affair with their new city through letters and paintings. I found myself googling the actual places, to see what they would look like if I walked up to them today- places like the boulangerie on such and such street or the cafe with the best hot chocolate she's ever tasted. I also found myself making a bucket list for Parisian experiences and stops on my hypothetical future visit to Paris- spots that may not be the tourist's dream, but would be up my alley and bring me the most happiness. I loved the romance and the stereotypical "French-ness", yet I loved the mundane and previously unknown parts too.
I applaud the author for being immersed in where she was, in almost a spiritual way, acknowledging the sacredness of a shared cafe across hundreds of years, for example, or describing the beauty of the color and juiciness of a citrus fruit she had from the market. I recommend this book for anyone who loves Paris, the idea of Paris, travel, sense of place, and the magic of everyday living. It inspires me to do a similar type of project with my favorite city to visit and spend time in. Maybe it will for you too!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy and opportunity to honestly review this work.
As a person who took French in school and always found the place and culture of France so intriguing, Dear Paris was an instant fit for me. I loved the concept of this book- someone processing their love affair with their new city through letters and paintings. I found myself googling the actual places, to see what they would look like if I walked up to them today- places like the boulangerie on such and such street or the cafe with the best hot chocolate she's ever tasted. I also found myself making a bucket list for Parisian experiences and stops on my hypothetical future visit to Paris- spots that may not be the tourist's dream, but would be up my alley and bring me the most happiness. I loved the romance and the stereotypical "French-ness", yet I loved the mundane and previously unknown parts too.
I applaud the author for being immersed in where she was, in almost a spiritual way, acknowledging the sacredness of a shared cafe across hundreds of years, for example, or describing the beauty of the color and juiciness of a citrus fruit she had from the market. I recommend this book for anyone who loves Paris, the idea of Paris, travel, sense of place, and the magic of everyday living. It inspires me to do a similar type of project with my favorite city to visit and spend time in. Maybe it will for you too!
March 27, 2021
What a delight this book was to read! I read through it a second time because I enjoyed it so much! Dear Paris by Janice MacLeod transported me back to my time in Paris and France.
I spent a summer living in France (a week of it being in Paris.) The second entry about the Metro is so true. I found this relatable, funny, and beautifully illustrated.
I do not normally gravitate towards books that aren't novels, but the cover and title grabbed me right away. I am so glad I picked this up. Whenever I am missing France, I can just pick up this book and read for a bit.
I often enjoy when an authour narrates their own work. I often find them filled with emotion. The narration by Janice MacLeod was decent. I couldn't say I got that out of this. She spoke clearly, but it sounded very robotic. I preferred this book in its written format better.
If you have never been to Paris or France but you dream of it, I would highly suggest picking up a copy of this book. It will have you yearning to go. On the flip side if you have been and miss it treat yourself and be transported to a place you love.
I received an eARC from Andrew McMeel Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.
I gave the original book 5 stars, but I gave this 3 stars just due to the narration not being very exciting.
I spent a summer living in France (a week of it being in Paris.) The second entry about the Metro is so true. I found this relatable, funny, and beautifully illustrated.
I do not normally gravitate towards books that aren't novels, but the cover and title grabbed me right away. I am so glad I picked this up. Whenever I am missing France, I can just pick up this book and read for a bit.
I often enjoy when an authour narrates their own work. I often find them filled with emotion. The narration by Janice MacLeod was decent. I couldn't say I got that out of this. She spoke clearly, but it sounded very robotic. I preferred this book in its written format better.
If you have never been to Paris or France but you dream of it, I would highly suggest picking up a copy of this book. It will have you yearning to go. On the flip side if you have been and miss it treat yourself and be transported to a place you love.
I received an eARC from Andrew McMeel Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.
I gave the original book 5 stars, but I gave this 3 stars just due to the narration not being very exciting.
April 1, 2021
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books written about life in Paris, but blogger Janice Macleod's beautiful book of illustrated letters from Paris stands out. Macleod has been creating watercolor chronicles of her time in France paired with letters addressed to her friend Aine for years, so it is no surprise that this collection is so lovely.
Macleod creates a romantic image of Paris, but it's not the glamorous image of romance that you expect. Instead, it's a softer kind of romance. She wanders through the city noticing the small details, like sitting at a cafe or the statues in a park.
I'll be honest that Paris is not my favorite place to visit in France. Despite the wealth of historical significance that the city holds, I find that the crowds make me anxious, and I would rather enjoy French culture in smaller cities. However, reading Macleod's letters makes me want to go live in Paris and spend my days just the way that she spends hers.
As you read each letter, you do truly feel as if you are reading a letter from your adventurous, but relatable, friend. The friend that you feel comfortable with even when you haven't seen them in ages.
I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book.
I received a digital ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Macleod creates a romantic image of Paris, but it's not the glamorous image of romance that you expect. Instead, it's a softer kind of romance. She wanders through the city noticing the small details, like sitting at a cafe or the statues in a park.
I'll be honest that Paris is not my favorite place to visit in France. Despite the wealth of historical significance that the city holds, I find that the crowds make me anxious, and I would rather enjoy French culture in smaller cities. However, reading Macleod's letters makes me want to go live in Paris and spend my days just the way that she spends hers.
As you read each letter, you do truly feel as if you are reading a letter from your adventurous, but relatable, friend. The friend that you feel comfortable with even when you haven't seen them in ages.
I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book.
I received a digital ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2021
I love Paris, and so of course, the premise of Dear Paris: The Paris Letters Collection appealed to me. What I was not prepared for was how much this book itself appealed to me. It is thoroughly charming and delightful, an absolute virtual tour of this beautiful city. The author's love for this city is so evident, and I found myself smiling and nodding with each destination that she mentioned. Yes, author Janice Macleod knows this city well. However, making this epistolary tour extra special are her illustrations.
I listened to the audio book, read by the author. While this format is my least favorite and seldom-used format for experiencing a book, it worked this time. A pdf of the illustrations made it acceptable. Do not miss the illustrations!
Now I want to buy this book to set on my coffee table and browse over and over again. I will also keep this book in mind as a potential gift for all of my Francophile friends.
Many thanks to NetGalley for making this available to me.
I listened to the audio book, read by the author. While this format is my least favorite and seldom-used format for experiencing a book, it worked this time. A pdf of the illustrations made it acceptable. Do not miss the illustrations!
Now I want to buy this book to set on my coffee table and browse over and over again. I will also keep this book in mind as a potential gift for all of my Francophile friends.
Many thanks to NetGalley for making this available to me.
March 6, 2021
Dear Paris is a love letter to the city of love. The book is a series of letters over a nine year period that the author, an expat, wrote describing her experiences and thoughts on her life in Paris. Each letter is accompanied by beautiful watercolor illustrations which could be framed and hung up. The letters themselves range from thoughts on the macaron, random people she encounters, to headlines of the day including protests and France’s presidential elections. There is no shortage on her thoughts about the many cafes that dot Paris or the plethora of macaron flavors and this is perfect! What better way to spend a glorious beautiful day in Paris than enjoying coffee and a macaron!
I have never been to Paris, but as a traveler I have journaled these same seemingly mundane everyday experiences on my travels. Reading the author’s letters and seeing her illustrations took me to Paris, a city I want to visit. And if this pandemic is going to keep me at home, then what better way to see the city than through the eyes of Ms. Macleod.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I have never been to Paris, but as a traveler I have journaled these same seemingly mundane everyday experiences on my travels. Reading the author’s letters and seeing her illustrations took me to Paris, a city I want to visit. And if this pandemic is going to keep me at home, then what better way to see the city than through the eyes of Ms. Macleod.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 25, 2021
This book is just what my pandemic homebound heart needed! I miss the days of planning trips, exploring new cities, and seeing the world through a new lense. I have never been to Paris, but in Dear Paris Janice Macleod enlightened me sharing the splendor of day-to-day living in Paris. The cultural traditions, the history, the architecture, and the food! My gosh, the food!!!! Baguettes with fresh soft cheese, macarons, warm croissants, and thick rich hot chocolate….. you guys why aren’t all Parisians extremely overweight?!?
Perhaps my favorite part of this book is the format. It’s a true compilation of 140 letters written by Macleod spanning 2012-2020. In print, you see a typed copy of a letter on one page followed by a hand painted and colorful written copy of the original letter. It makes for a breathtaking book with short “chapters” or letters which are quick to take in.
I loved every minute of my quick trip to The City Of Light, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Paris, history, or just needs to get away!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars for the gorgeous captivating compilation.
Perhaps my favorite part of this book is the format. It’s a true compilation of 140 letters written by Macleod spanning 2012-2020. In print, you see a typed copy of a letter on one page followed by a hand painted and colorful written copy of the original letter. It makes for a breathtaking book with short “chapters” or letters which are quick to take in.
I loved every minute of my quick trip to The City Of Light, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Paris, history, or just needs to get away!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars for the gorgeous captivating compilation.
April 6, 2021
I received an audio ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
To fund her travels, artist Janice Macleod started a letter subscription service. People could pay to have her send monthly paintings and letters to her followers around the world. Dear Paris collects all of these paintings and letters into one collection.
Sadly, because I listened to this as an audiobook, I was unable to see Macleod's paintings. (I understand that if you purchase the audiobook, it will come with a PDF file showcasing the paintings.) However, we do get to listen to Macleod herself narrate the book, and I loved getting to hear the letters with exactly the tone she intended. Through her letters, we get to know about Macleod's life in Paris, as well as being taken back to the news events coming out of Paris and France over the past decade. My chief complaint with the book would be that Dear Paris is a bit of a misnomer, as there were several letters written from other cities and countries as she traveled elsewhere. The book was overall an interesting look into Macleod's life and small glimpse of what it is like to live in Paris.
To fund her travels, artist Janice Macleod started a letter subscription service. People could pay to have her send monthly paintings and letters to her followers around the world. Dear Paris collects all of these paintings and letters into one collection.
Sadly, because I listened to this as an audiobook, I was unable to see Macleod's paintings. (I understand that if you purchase the audiobook, it will come with a PDF file showcasing the paintings.) However, we do get to listen to Macleod herself narrate the book, and I loved getting to hear the letters with exactly the tone she intended. Through her letters, we get to know about Macleod's life in Paris, as well as being taken back to the news events coming out of Paris and France over the past decade. My chief complaint with the book would be that Dear Paris is a bit of a misnomer, as there were several letters written from other cities and countries as she traveled elsewhere. The book was overall an interesting look into Macleod's life and small glimpse of what it is like to live in Paris.
April 23, 2021
Dear Paris: The Paris Collection Letters by Janice Macleod
4 stars. This is a great audiobook to listen to, especially during this time of pandemic where we only travel in our minds.
And when I saw this audiobook on NetGalley, I just had to request it. And so happy I got a copy.
Never knew the author before but looks like she has a subscription service (?) that she personally illustrates and write. Something I’ll be investigating later.
This audiobook is comprised of letters to her friend as she lives and experiences this most famous city. I keep thinking to myself that I gotta note Fuente this restaurant or see this sight that I missed on my trip to Paris years ago. My mouth watered with the description of the macarons and baguettes and the hot chocolate!!
Sadly, all I can do is comfort myself and my passport, promising soon, we’ll travel again. And maybe take a detour to this city again.
Maybe someone else will make a similar one about another city? There’s a thought.
Thank you so much @netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this great audiobook. Really enjoyed my trip to Paris with this one.
4 stars. This is a great audiobook to listen to, especially during this time of pandemic where we only travel in our minds.
And when I saw this audiobook on NetGalley, I just had to request it. And so happy I got a copy.
Never knew the author before but looks like she has a subscription service (?) that she personally illustrates and write. Something I’ll be investigating later.
This audiobook is comprised of letters to her friend as she lives and experiences this most famous city. I keep thinking to myself that I gotta note Fuente this restaurant or see this sight that I missed on my trip to Paris years ago. My mouth watered with the description of the macarons and baguettes and the hot chocolate!!
Sadly, all I can do is comfort myself and my passport, promising soon, we’ll travel again. And maybe take a detour to this city again.
Maybe someone else will make a similar one about another city? There’s a thought.
Thank you so much @netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this great audiobook. Really enjoyed my trip to Paris with this one.
March 26, 2021
Dear Paris is a wonderful look into every day life in Paris, France. I was partial to this book in the first place as I minored in French in college and studied abroad in Vichy. The largest city in France i've been to is Lyon, not Paris, so I was excited to hear about life and travel there.
I loved the audio version of this book, it made for very casual listening. I felt like I was reading my friend's letters as she's sitting in a café writing to me personally. The descriptions of places and events were well done and it had me looking up many places and adding them to my travel list!
I wish there had been less about touristy things and more about every day life, maybe even some more French thrown in there would have been nice. I just felt like a tourist wrote this instead of someone fully immersed in the city, culture, and people.
With that said, I would still love to own this as a coffee table book and definitely recommend to all my France loving friends. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved the audio version of this book, it made for very casual listening. I felt like I was reading my friend's letters as she's sitting in a café writing to me personally. The descriptions of places and events were well done and it had me looking up many places and adding them to my travel list!
I wish there had been less about touristy things and more about every day life, maybe even some more French thrown in there would have been nice. I just felt like a tourist wrote this instead of someone fully immersed in the city, culture, and people.
With that said, I would still love to own this as a coffee table book and definitely recommend to all my France loving friends. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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