A nice memoir perfect for people who have ever dreamed of living in a different country, or anyone interested in print journalism (does that even exist anymore)

Library hardcover

Light-hearted blitz through the author's fascination with Paris, her determined work ethic, her happenstance entrée to the fashion world and particularly, the personalities through which she discovers Paris - and herself.

A memoir written by a woman who went on to become a fashion editor, about her early days in Paris. She worked her way up, beginning as a magazine writer, and there is something about her writing that seems magazine-ish. She is best at sensory details, so that it becomes relatively easy to slip into the setting of the book and imagine oneself in Paris. This book does a fantastic job of transporting the reader. It is less good at being a book about anything. She actually underplays her personal journey and character developments, and seems to go almost instantly from underpaid but adventurous lackey to high powered person. Choose this book for a lovely interlude in a fantastic place, but not if you primarily want to read about a life with lots of twists and turns, or a book of wise reflections.

The writing is fine. It’s the story of a woman whose life seems to grow more empty the longer she lives...maybe more easy, but less essential and less attended. Ultimately for me it is a story that detracts rather than inspires life.

Actual Rating: 3.75 stars

I've been reading altogether too many books in this genre to try and understand the peculiar obsession with French culture that seems to run rampant among Americans. I particularly enjoyed this one because the author found many things not to like about Paris: truly a first.