I really enjoyed that, too.

You might also enjoy "Paris I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down". It's also a "slice of Parisian life" memoir, written by man who moves with his wife to Paris to live the dream... and work in an ad agency. It's fun.

http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Love-Youre-Bringing-Down/dp/0374146683

jmct714---What a coincidence---that book is sitting here for my next read. MDH laughed out loud when he was reading it.

I read this book in April and I absolutely loved it. We had to cancel our trip in March to Rome, Sicily and Paris as my hsband had to have major surgery. I read this while we were in the hospital and I thought her children were soooo funny. Especially the girl. Oh yeah totally loved the fat chihuahua too ( we have a fat chihuahua too!!). I was having a little Paris nostalgia and this filled some of my time. I also read a really good biography of Coco Chanel. We are going on the trip this March and I cannot wait.

This book also had me "laughing out loud" about life in Paris (from a Brit's perspective). Absolutely hilarious.

"A Year in the Merde" by Stephen Clarke

http://www.amazon.com/A-Year-Merde-Stephen-Clarke/dp/1582346178/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344356417&sr=8-1&keywords=a+year+in+the+merde

Thanks for posting these - I just ordered them all from the library.

And if you like "A Year in the Merde," you can find more funny "merde" books at -

http://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Clarke/e/B001JPC9MW/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1344366601&sr=1-2-ent

Wow great minds think alike...just finishing up "Paris I Love You but Your Bringing Me Down"!

Thanks for the post, TPAYT, will get check it out!

Well, I finally finished "Paris I Love You but Your Bringing Me Down" and I was totally taken with the story of Parisian life from an American's viewpoint.

I did laugh out loud when he was trying to get a "credit card", the proper Parisian papers, and Marianne from "Orange" calling him all the time. In our area "Marianne" is "Rachel" from "card services"---almost daily calls. Who is the "Marianne or Rachel" in your area?

Fun to see his take on Americans toward the end---the ones with all the pockets with FODORS guides, etc. sticking out of them and also the ones who will comment on everything on TRIP ADVISOR. I think he's got us pegged!

In comparison, I did like "Paris in Love" a little better, but both took me away to my favorite place with charm and insite.

24 days and counting until my own French adventure.

I also cracked up over the many phone calls with Orange. Not my fav book on Paris but entertaining!

Rome is 19 days away...still need to catch the Woody Allen Rome movie....maybe it will be on the plane.

That fickle Rachel. I thought she only cared about my credit card interest! LOL

Tpayt, I read Paris in Love at your suggestion. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Some of you may also wish to check out this -

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/books/dreaming-in-french-by-alice-kaplan.html

http://www.salon.com/2012/03/26/dreaming_in_french_three_remarkable_women_in_paris/

Another review in the current London Review of Books.

Loving Paris in Love!! The part at Christmas really made me remember how great our Christmas trip was a few years ago.

I also have to say that I am always a little heartbroken by all the homeless people and their pets in Paris, so the Romanian homeless mane and pet at their Metro station made me a little sad!

I am really going to miss Paris this year (Rome better be awesome)!

thanks for the tip. Really enjoyed her book.

Here's another one.

Thank you, thank you to the Fodorite who suggested "A Year of Sundays" by Edward D. Webster on a different post(I don't remember where.)It's a true story about a man who takes his blind wife and 16 yr. old cat to live in Europe for a year.

It starts out in Paris for 1 month. That's what I'm reading about now. The story is so touching. Did you know that they have a room with sculpture that blind people can feel at D'Orsay?

It then moves on to Italy, Spain, England, etc. etc. If the rest of the story is as compelling as the Paris part, I'm hooked.

http://www.amazon.com/Year-Sundays-Taking-Plunge-Explore/dp/1889242217/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346164217&sr=1-1&keywords=a+year+of+sundays

These true stories have been such fun and have been taking me away in anticipation of our Sept. trip. I sit every afternoon on our deck with a glass of Rose and a good book while icing my foot in the hope it will be in shape for walking in France. Severe Plantar Faciitis has caused me to retire so I have a lot of time on my hands. Actually more time to travel the way I look at it. My foot is healing well and with Advil, Ice, and lots of foot exercises, I AM going to be able to walk! I repeat, I AM going to be able to walk!

Denisea----Yes, Rome will be awesome.
Rhea58-----Love the quote on your profile.

Cool...had no idea about the room for the blind at D'Orsay...am intentionally reading slow through Paris in Love, getting towards the end and she hits on some favorites for me! AND, as I was checking in for a flight the people in front of me were going to Paris.

Sorry about the plantar fascitits...had a minor case a few yrs ago and it sucks. I still have a love-hate relationship with golf balls, as they make great foot massagers but that HURT!! (am still terrified that it will eventually put an end to my love affair with really high heels ! I am so jealous of the daily glass of Rose...although at this point I couldn't limit myself to just a glass but probably an entire bottle.

Denisea----Checking in for your flight to Rome? Have a great trip. Actually, the Italians make some great cold white wine for those hot days. I'll be waiting for your always interesting TR.

TPAYT and JMCT--Just downloaded your books. Thanks!

TPAYT--Fall 2005 began my year of plantar fasciitis while walking the pavements with a pair of really GOOD shoes on a visit to NYC. Still don't understand how it happened.

I am so sorry you are going through this!

I tried just about everything from night foot splints to PT to frozen golf balls etc, but I think the treatment that got me over the worst of it was an oldie but goodie--taping the bottom of my foot.

Time was the best medicine, of course. Some bad days, some good days, and then the good days started outweighing the bad. I found out late in the game that while I couldn't walk without pain, I could cycle. I don't use clips, so all I had to do is make sure I pedaled over my instep.

Since then, if I wear a new pair of shoes and even feel a twinge in my heel or my arch--GONE.

Tried Keen Newport H2s this summer, and they were not only great for preventing PF but also wonderful for my horrible knees and degenerating hips (not only did I cycle and walk, but also I even HIKED in these things).

Even so, the fit wasn't automatic. I had found one pair where the arch worked perfectly. Went to get a second pair, and found the arch in the right foot was off and I knew PF would be the result. Took it back and tried on every other pair in the store until I found one that worked.

HEAL well and fast!

Thanks for the post. Leaving for Paris today, so it was just in time. The funny thing is that I looked at the books online and when I saw the author's name of "I love you Paris...", Rosecrans Baldwin, I said OMG I went to college with him! But when I googled him I saw he was too young. Guess I went to college with his father. First time I have had the generation gap come up and slap me in the face.

susncrg--I know the feeling. I said "hi" to a man recently that I thought I had taught in HS. It was his son.

AlessandraZoe-----thanks for the good thoughts about my foot. My Nike Air shoes seem to be the best and also some Easy Spirit slides. These are really the only two shoes I can wear at present.

susncrg and Alessandra---very funny about the generation gap. I needed a good laugh.

To all---the farther I am into "A Year of Sundays" the more I am enjoying it. Put it on your list for any European travelers. The characters are delightful and their travel experiences a joy to read about.

TPAYT--glad you are enjoying Ed Webster's "A Year of Sundays."

Ed and Marguerite are our best and most long-lasting friends. When you get to their time in Vence, the "Bette" who arrives on page 304 is my dear wife, who went to Provence to stay with them for a while. Desolee, my work commitments kept me in CA.

BTW, Ed Webster has an interesting website.

d_claude_bear
I'm so glad that you responded. I couldn't remember which Fodorite suggested the book and I post so often that looking back didn't help me much.

We've been to some of the places in the book so that is fun. I love his style of writing and the humor in some "iffy" situations. We also have 2 cats, so the stories of Felica are endearing.

Right now I am traveling with The Websters in Salzburg. We've been to Vence and much of Provence, I'm looking forward to that part. I'll keep an eye out for Bette.

Please give The Websters my best regards and tell them how much I am enjoying the book. I will definitely look up the website.

Thank you again for posting about it.

Alors, Felicia la chatte est terminee.

So sad, I'll bet they miss her very much.