I'll Always Have Paris: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: A kindly memoir of an idyllic time in the City of Lights.
Review: Art Buchwald's memoir of his, and his family's sojourn in Paris, evokes vivid images of one of the world's great cities and chronicles Buchwald's experiences of people and events in the years following World War II. Much of Buchwald's recollections are seen through the lens of his work on the International Herald Tribune, which opened countless doors and gained access for him to the great and near great of the age. Balanced against this are the experiences of his family, who had to compete, not always successfully, for Buchwald's time. Buchwald seems generous, bordering on guilty insincerity, about the sacrificies (not always made voluntarily) of his wife Ann, but it is always highly evident that he would not have done anything differently if given the chance. In short, for more than a decade, Buchwald had the best of everything and had the talent and will to make the most of it. This memoir offers more than a glimpse of what those years must have been like, but only hints at what is not found on the page; that would make even better reading

Rating:
Summary: Witty tribute
Review: Heard the taped version of I'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS: A
MEMOIR, written and read by Art Buchwald . . . Buchwald has
always been one of my favorite humorists/columnist, though I
regret that he doesn't appear in my local paper.

This book is a follow-up to his earlier LEAVING HOME . . . it is a witty tribute to 1948 Paris, a city he fell in love with as he began his quest to become a great writer . . . there are a lot of cute stories, plus much name-dropping (Hemingway, Bacall, etc.).

I also liked hearing about how he met and fell in love with
his wife . . . his trials and tribulations as a father also had me laughing . . . as he notes, "..."

Overall, I enjoyed it . . . though this is one time where
a professional reader would have helped . . . Buchwald's voice
is not the easiest to understand--or at least not on these tapes.

Rating:
Summary: City of Love
Review: I first read this book last year after a trip to Europe which included a brief and wonderful trip to Paris. Buckwald has captured the essense of life in Paris. For those not in love with the city, this might lead to the thought that this would be a dull book. However, this book is a witty scream which left me at times reading with my mouth hanging open in amazement and at other times laughing out loud as I read turned the page. I wish I could have met him - or better yet, been able to attend one of the parties mentioned in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone. It is fascinating, irreverent and jovial. A great read.

Rating:
Summary: Light and fun to read!
Review: I picked up this book at the used bookstore not knowing anything about Art Buchwald; I was more interested in reading about a person living in Paris than I was about Mr. Buchwald himself.

I thought the book was delightful and I came away liking Art. His stories are funny, touching and sad, but always mixed up enough to keep the book lively and fun. I consider it light reading; a great escape from the office at lunchtime.

Rating:
Summary: This Made Me Want to Read More Buchwald & Go to Paris!
Review: While I had heard of the legendary Buchwald, I had never read any his books or his popular newspaper column. After having read this, though, I would consider myself a fan.

This delicious memoir chronicles Buchwald's experiences in Paris -- finding love, studying on the G.I. bill, getting his first job at the much-revered "Trib" (Herald Tribune newspaper). He recounts these times with a nostalgic air permeated with his delightfully self-effacing wit.

The book stirrs an amazing desire to want to throw yourself in a jet and fly to Paris as Buchwald lovingly describes the food and places that shaped his trip.

You may even want to read this book just for the cameos by famous writers, musicians, and politicians. It seems that Buchwald bumped into just about every 20th-century history maker during his time in Paris. (The part about Ginsburg and Picasso is wonderful!)