Do you love Paris? Admit it, you know you do! I could pull the old cliche on you, but I won’t. You already know it’s always a good idea to go to Paris, don’t you? Picture yourself strolling along the Seine while biting into a flaky croissant, exuding the glorious taste of full fat butter.
If you hadn’t planned on visiting Paris any time soon, one of these books might persuade you to. On the other hand, if you are planning on visiting Paris, this list of books is just what you need, my dear.
These four books do more than exude all that charm & romance that Paris is well known for. They have a good dose of reality, which makes them all the more appealing.
By Jennifer L. Scott
Have you ever wondered what it was like living in a Parisian home? Sure, you can watch movies about Paris, read books, listen to La Vie en Rose – but what is it like to submerse yourself into a real Parisian household? Jennifer Scott gives us an inside scoop through her tales of Famille Chic, the family she lived with while in Paris to study.
From the “only the locals know” secrets she learned (Did you hear about what occasionally takes place outside the Louvre at midnight?) to the faux pas she made (I’m still laughing at the thermometer incident) to the advice from Madame Chic that inspired the 10-item wardrobe, this book is a delight to read!
“Travel as much as you can. Seeing other cultures is the best way to cultivate your mind and expand your horizons (After all, look what visiting Paris did for me!) When you travel, don’t just go for all the major tourist destinations. Try to immerse yourself in the culture like a native. Make some local friends. Find out-of-the-way eateries.”
By Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan,Sophie Mas, Caroline de Maigret
Paris itself is so postcard perfect, from the shops to the cafes to the Eiffel Tower – but what about the women? They have a fascination that so many others envy. Wouldn’t you just love to get inside a Parisian woman’s head, and learn the tricks to attaining that so sought after allure?
I don’t know about you, but when it comes down to what a Parisian woman is like, I care about more than simply her diet, or her skin regimen. I want to know what books are on her bookshelf. What are her favorite recipes? Does she use slang? Where does she like to shop?
This book had me hooked from the first page, and I didn’t stop laughing until it was finished. I’m still laughing. And the lovely thing was that I found myself relating to the antics of these women. Maybe we Parisian women are not so different as we think?
Another reason to love this book is because it is written by four Parisian women. There are hundreds of books out there about this subject, but what author is more qualified than a Parisian woman herself?
“Fashion rules the world and Parisians rule fashion. Fine, it may not be true. But the world still needs fairy tales.”
By Janice Macleod
If you ever wondered what is was like to quit your job, move to Paris, and find a man to fall in love with (who doesn’t speak the same language as you)… look no further, this is the book for you. Janice Macleod experienced these events not long after she asked herself this question, “How much money does it take to change your life?”
We all get burned out at one time or another. But wouldn’t it be nice to escape by changing your life, instead of just taking a long weekend vacation (granted the vacation does sound like a lovely, and much easier solution). This book is so inspirational, it will have you rethinking your dreams, if not your life.
If you’d like to see the results of the initiative of someone who’s determined to make a living doing what she loves, check out Janice’s Etsy Shop.
“We must know how to design our lives. We are all artists, and each day is a canvas.”
By Elizabeth Bard
This isn’t another typical “Visit Paris, fall in love with a Frenchman, stay in Paris” story. Not that we don’t love those stories! But you’ll get a real taste (pun intended) for the realities of living in Paris. From dealing with the occasional “the customer is always wrong” attitudes to how to buy fish from your local fishmonger.
Besides the in depth experience into Parisian culture, the highlights throughout the book are the recipes! Personally, I can’t wait to try out “Gwendal’s Quick and Dirty Chocolate Souffle Cake.” It sounds divine, doesn’t it?
And here’s a fun little tidbit… The author has treated us to a sequel to this delightful memoir, . You can read my review of A Picnic in Provence .
“If “Sex and the City” taught us anything, it’s that Paris is the only city in the world that New Yorkers actually fantasize about.”
So tell me, are there any books about Paris that you recommend? Have you already read any of the books in this list? Let me know in the comments.
This is a guest post by Hannah Harding.
Hannah is a creative twenty-something with a passion for reading books & traveling the world on a budget. In her spare time, she enjoys writing romantic fiction, and obsessing over everything vintage. You can find her frequently pinning & tweeting on Pinterest & Twitter @HepcatHannah and sharing her whimsical thoughts & adventures on her blog
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