Paris In Mind

Rating:
Summary: Delightful Anthology
Review: In her book, Jennifer Lee, has collected a delightful anthology of American writers in Paris. The book is like a basket of delicious French pastries - all here for our taking. No avid reader will be able to pass this one up.

Rating:
Summary: engaging, informed and delightful.
Review: never before have i come across such an eclectic and engaging anthology writings about paris from an american perspective. not only does the editor cover different aspects of the parisian experience--love, food, living, tourism--but she does so from a variety of perspectives from thomas jefferson to langston hughes. i would definitely recommend this book to any american planning a trip to paris or anybody who is simply in a "paris state of mind."

Rating:
Summary: A sophisticated, literary valentine to the City of Light
Review: The Washington Post's Jonathan Yardley says "Paris in Mind is terrific in just about every respect." John Leonard of Harper's Magazine calls it an "engaging anthology" of notable Americans writing about the City of Light. Frank Prial in the New York Times imagines Josephine Baker singing 'I have two loves/My own country and Paris' as "the musical theme for this attractive book." PARIS IN MIND is a wonderful anthology for anyone who loves Paris.

Rating:
Summary: A sophisticated, literary valentine to the City of Light
Review: The Washington Post's Jonathan Yardley says "Paris in Mind is terrific in just about every respect." John Leonard of Harper's Magazine calls it an "engaging anthology" of notable Americans writing about the City of Light. Frank Prial in the New York Times imagines Josephine Baker singing 'I have two loves/My own country and Paris' as "the musical theme for this attractive book." PARIS IN MIND is a wonderful anthology for anyone who loves Paris.

Rating:
Summary: Unnecessary, inaccurate, overblown
Review: What a shame that such a nominally prestigious publishing house as Random House should choose to squander its prestige on an anthology as misguided and truly unnecessary as this. First of all, it begins from the wrong place, which is to say cliche: namely, the cliche of the American in Paris, getting charmed, getting frustrated (but just a little bit), getting (it is intimated) laid. What is missing is the realization that Paris is beautiful AND complicated, and no, juxtaposing a squib by David Sedaris (yawn) with one by Thomas Jefferson does not do much, if an7thing, in the way of promoting excitement or insight.
The inclusion of unknown writers is to be amended, the fact that their material is almost studiously lackluster is not. How an editor whose previous work includes "2sexE: Urban Tales of Love, Liberty and the Pursuit of Gettin' It On" was ever entrusted with this subject matter is beyond me, but if you think Paris deserves to be treated like a Fox News documentary, then maybe this slight tome is the book for you.