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Lunch In Paris: A Love Story, With Recipes (2010)

by Elizabeth Bard(Favorite Author)

3.65 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

031604279X (ISBN13: 9780316042796)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Little, Brown and Company

review 1: Reading memoirs about American women (I've yet to find a Canadian one) living in Paris has become an occasional reading choice of mine. I pick them up when I want to imagine myself living there. Through the author's description of the food, culture and the city itself I'm able to visit a place I dream of making my home one day. This memoir, however, while I thoroughly appreciated her offering so many recipes (which made her more personable to me) and admired her way of writing, I found myself to be on more than one occasion annoyed. Bard spends at least half of the book (no exaggeration) complaining about one thing or another, from the culture to the social customs, to finances and family. The only thing I noticed her never complaining about was her husband, which I found... more to be dishonest because nobody's relationship is that perfect or without problems. Nothing was ever wrong with her husband, or if she did have a problem with him she found a way to relate it back to herself as the cause. While it's not my business I must certainly ask, if you are not going to portray the good and bad of your relationship, only the good (and decide to be woe-is-me in every other aspect of your life), what is the point of writing the memoir at all? They are supposed to be as personal as they come. And if you're not going to focus on the relationship, don't call it a love story in the title. I would say that if you're looking for a visit to Paris through the perspective of someone who could provide you with great descriptions as well as straightforward and good-looking recipes, pick this book up. If not, there are always other Parisian memoirs that could be your cup of coffee. With a macaron. On a rainy afternoon.
review 2: I really enjoyed this book. It's a story of how Elizabeth falls in love with a French man and French food, and begins a new life in Paris. She records her struggles with the culture, the language, and the people. It's a light read; she doesn't go in to depth about any topic except food. Though she mentions some very emotional subjects, like her father-in-law's death and her father's mental illness, it isn't an overwhelmingly emotional book. It includes recipes that I can't wait to try! less

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