What do you think?
Rate this book
Paris versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities
"In his witty, high-concept, high-colored flibook, Mr. Muratyan's thesis emerges playfully on every Vive la différence!" -- The New York Times
A beautiful gift book of a popular travel journal as told by a lover of Paris wandering through New York
When Vahram Muratyan began his online travel journal, Paris versus New York , he had no idea how quickly it would become one of the most buzzed-about sites on the Internet—it garnered more than a million and a half page views in just a few months, and the attention of savvy online critics. Now Muratyan presents his unique observations in this delightful book, featuring visually striking graphics paired with witty, thought-provoking taglines that celebrate the special details of each city. Paris versus New York is a heartfelt gift to denizens of both cities and to those who dream of big-city romance.
A beautiful gift book of a popular travel journal as told by a lover of Paris wandering through New York
When Vahram Muratyan began his online travel journal, Paris versus New York , he had no idea how quickly it would become one of the most buzzed-about sites on the Internet—it garnered more than a million and a half page views in just a few months, and the attention of savvy online critics. Now Muratyan presents his unique observations in this delightful book, featuring visually striking graphics paired with witty, thought-provoking taglines that celebrate the special details of each city. Paris versus New York is a heartfelt gift to denizens of both cities and to those who dream of big-city romance.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
10 people are currently reading
1384 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
December 31, 2015
If you like modern graphic design that tends to be on the humorous side, you may like this. Stereotypes (accurate or not) and art seem to mesh together quite well. The references are alright. As clichéd as it sounds, it was nice to see my favourite film Amélie mentioned. It definitely brings back memories of time spent in each city.
January 10, 2016
This is a cute picture book with fun graphics and barely any words. It’s the type of book that would make a nice gift or something fun to browse through in the doctor’s waiting room or whatever, but not necessarily worth buying for oneself. I’ve lived in New York and have visited Paris. It was nice to experience some nostalgia and smile at all the memories.
August 25, 2015
Fofo, mas saiba o que está comprando...
Eu tinha me interessado por esse livro há um tempo nas minhas andanças pelas recomendações do GoodReads, mas imaginava algo completamente diferente. Sabia que era um livro ilustrado, mas nunca pensei que fosse apenas ilustrado.
Paris versus New York traz ilustrações comparativas de peculiaridades das duas cidades, como a diferença entre seus cafés, seus pães, seus museus e costumes.
As gravuras seguem sempre o mesmo estilo, cheio de cores e figuras sem contornos, o que deixou o livro charmoso, com um visual agradável. As comparações são bem interessantes, inteligentes e divertidas, especialmente se você conhece bem as duas cidades.
A edição é toda bonitinha, em capa dura, mas o livro é pequeno – quase do tamanho de uma mão aberta. É fofo, atraente e traz à memória lembranças – boas lembranças, claro! – porém, em poucos minutos já se viu tudo. Volto a dizer, é interessante, mas… talvez, sem querer desmerecer o talento gráfico do artista, seja um pouco descartável. Bem, é ótimo para uma sala de espera ;)
www.historiasdepapel.com.br
Eu tinha me interessado por esse livro há um tempo nas minhas andanças pelas recomendações do GoodReads, mas imaginava algo completamente diferente. Sabia que era um livro ilustrado, mas nunca pensei que fosse apenas ilustrado.
Paris versus New York traz ilustrações comparativas de peculiaridades das duas cidades, como a diferença entre seus cafés, seus pães, seus museus e costumes.
As gravuras seguem sempre o mesmo estilo, cheio de cores e figuras sem contornos, o que deixou o livro charmoso, com um visual agradável. As comparações são bem interessantes, inteligentes e divertidas, especialmente se você conhece bem as duas cidades.
A edição é toda bonitinha, em capa dura, mas o livro é pequeno – quase do tamanho de uma mão aberta. É fofo, atraente e traz à memória lembranças – boas lembranças, claro! – porém, em poucos minutos já se viu tudo. Volto a dizer, é interessante, mas… talvez, sem querer desmerecer o talento gráfico do artista, seja um pouco descartável. Bem, é ótimo para uma sala de espera ;)
www.historiasdepapel.com.br
March 4, 2012
Delicious. You can find most of the illustrations on the author's blog.
Read
July 27, 2022How fun! Can this count towards my goodreads goal if it’s a picture book that took me 15 minutes to read? A delight for anyone who’s been to NY or Paris or both.
March 17, 2017
Ein kleines schönes Buch, was den eigenen Alltag vergessen lässt.
March 24, 2018
Un livre graphique très drôle et très véridique.
August 10, 2017
This is a perfect coffee table book that is fun to look through when in need for inspiration. It is full of illustrations that describe common attributes of the two cities. From seasons and views, to food and traffic patterns, this colorful look cleverly compares what people may love about Paris, New York or both.
June 26, 2012
Muratyan uses incredible, unique graphics to compare and contrast two of the greatest cities in the world. Using minimal words, he describes to you the similarities and differences between New York City and Paris. It's a great gift for someone who loves both cities (like I do).
January 2, 2017
Ohh, precioso, una comparativa entre dos ciudades (y qué ciudades) a través de imágenes emblemáticas y fácilmente reconocibles de estas dos maravillosas ciudades. Me ha encantado!
December 20, 2012
Livro para ter na mesa de centro da sala de casa. Lindo de olhar, divertido e informativo. A visão de um designer sensível sobre as diferenças culturais entre Paris e Nova York. Dá para ler mil vezes, não fica chato nunca.
March 3, 2012
Génial, chouette / Wonderful, just brilliant!
Pour amoureux de Paris and lovers of NY, a great design et des références absolument parfaites.
Loved chaque page! ;-)
Pour amoureux de Paris and lovers of NY, a great design et des références absolument parfaites.
Loved chaque page! ;-)
April 8, 2013
Trop court mais un très beau livre !
May 19, 2021
No sabía que necesitaba este libro hasta que lo he leído.
January 6, 2024
Li no consultório médico.
Deve ser um livro interessante para quem estuda composição gráfica e cultura pop
Deve ser um livro interessante para quem estuda composição gráfica e cultura pop
February 6, 2023
I was looking for a book of Bach cello music when I unearthed this gem from one of the many piles of To-Be Reads squirreled away in my house. I'd gotten it as part of a subscription box devoted to French products and lifestyle, and put it away to enjoy at "another time". Well, that other time was definitely this weekend, as I took a much-needed brain break between heavy crime novels.
And I'm actually pretty glad I waited, as my French has improved drastically this past year, eliminating the need for me to look up most of the captions on the Paris side of the book. This is actually a great way for learners to ease into French-language books, as Paris/French are on one page while New York and the American equivalent are on the facing (for the most part.) Haha, it's almost like a board book for adults, deceptively simple while introducing sophisticated concepts to the reader. To be clear, this is not a book for kids, not because of any controversial content but because some of the references may go well over their heads unless they've been lucky enough to be raised in both cities.
But I'm being remiss in not properly describing the book itself. In bright colors and elegant linework, Vahram Muratyan, a Frenchman, compares and contrasts the features of two cities he adores. From geography to architecture to culture, he deftly draws out the similarities and differences with a wry sense of humor and a keen eye for detail. It's a startlingly clever, beautiful book that can be paged through quickly but deserves to be savored.
The book actually grew from a blog project the author started while living in New York City. It became something of a phenomenon, hence the book. And I'm glad this collection came out in physical format, as the blog no longer exists. Websites tend to disappear over time, as platforms rise and ebb away, so having this book is a wonderful snapshot of these two major cities in the 2010s, and Mr Muratyan's excellent work chronicling the two. You can, however, still follow the author on his website here.
Paris Versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities by Vahram Muratyan was published January 31 2012 by Penguin Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
And I'm actually pretty glad I waited, as my French has improved drastically this past year, eliminating the need for me to look up most of the captions on the Paris side of the book. This is actually a great way for learners to ease into French-language books, as Paris/French are on one page while New York and the American equivalent are on the facing (for the most part.) Haha, it's almost like a board book for adults, deceptively simple while introducing sophisticated concepts to the reader. To be clear, this is not a book for kids, not because of any controversial content but because some of the references may go well over their heads unless they've been lucky enough to be raised in both cities.
But I'm being remiss in not properly describing the book itself. In bright colors and elegant linework, Vahram Muratyan, a Frenchman, compares and contrasts the features of two cities he adores. From geography to architecture to culture, he deftly draws out the similarities and differences with a wry sense of humor and a keen eye for detail. It's a startlingly clever, beautiful book that can be paged through quickly but deserves to be savored.
The book actually grew from a blog project the author started while living in New York City. It became something of a phenomenon, hence the book. And I'm glad this collection came out in physical format, as the blog no longer exists. Websites tend to disappear over time, as platforms rise and ebb away, so having this book is a wonderful snapshot of these two major cities in the 2010s, and Mr Muratyan's excellent work chronicling the two. You can, however, still follow the author on his website here.
Paris Versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities by Vahram Muratyan was published January 31 2012 by Penguin Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
December 9, 2024
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Paris vs New York ?
"Ces graphismes sont cultes, on les a tous croisés au moins une fois sans forcément savoir de quoi il s'agit exactement, alors quand j'ai appris la réédition de ce livre, je me suis dit que c'était l'occasion d'en apprendre un peu plus."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Après avoir grandi à Paris, l'auteur découvre New-York et commence à proposer, sur son blog d'abord, des illustrations opposant les deux villes et c'est ainsi que naîtra ce match visuel..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Ce voyage entre les deux capitales est vraiment interessant, il s'inspire de leur esprit, d'éléments que nous connaissons tous, ou presque, de clichés bien sûr aussi parfois et le revendique. Certaines pages sont drôles, certaines font sens immédiatement, d'autres demandent de se creuser un peu plus la tête... Le tout servi par un graphisme très épuré que j'apprécie vraiment et qui sait s'adapter à ce qu'il nous propose. J'ai beaucoup aimé les oppositions verticales par exemple, qui dynamisent l'ensemble. Comme, je n'ai pas lu l'édition précédente, je ne sais pas exactement quelles pages ont été ajoutées mais j'ai apprécié d'y découvrir les récents jeux olympiques de Paris qui semblent décidément devoir faire date dans l'histoire de la ville. Mon seul petit regret c'est que cette révision aurait pu être l'occasion à mon sens de retirer certaines planches qui me paraissent aujourd'hui dépassées mais ce n'est que mon avis."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"On en aurait voulu encore plus, évidemment, et le voir décliner autour d'autres villes. Je suis curieuse d'ailleurs de découvrir sur quoi Vahram Muratyan a pu travailler d'autres."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Ces graphismes sont cultes, on les a tous croisés au moins une fois sans forcément savoir de quoi il s'agit exactement, alors quand j'ai appris la réédition de ce livre, je me suis dit que c'était l'occasion d'en apprendre un peu plus."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Après avoir grandi à Paris, l'auteur découvre New-York et commence à proposer, sur son blog d'abord, des illustrations opposant les deux villes et c'est ainsi que naîtra ce match visuel..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Ce voyage entre les deux capitales est vraiment interessant, il s'inspire de leur esprit, d'éléments que nous connaissons tous, ou presque, de clichés bien sûr aussi parfois et le revendique. Certaines pages sont drôles, certaines font sens immédiatement, d'autres demandent de se creuser un peu plus la tête... Le tout servi par un graphisme très épuré que j'apprécie vraiment et qui sait s'adapter à ce qu'il nous propose. J'ai beaucoup aimé les oppositions verticales par exemple, qui dynamisent l'ensemble. Comme, je n'ai pas lu l'édition précédente, je ne sais pas exactement quelles pages ont été ajoutées mais j'ai apprécié d'y découvrir les récents jeux olympiques de Paris qui semblent décidément devoir faire date dans l'histoire de la ville. Mon seul petit regret c'est que cette révision aurait pu être l'occasion à mon sens de retirer certaines planches qui me paraissent aujourd'hui dépassées mais ce n'est que mon avis."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"On en aurait voulu encore plus, évidemment, et le voir décliner autour d'autres villes. Je suis curieuse d'ailleurs de découvrir sur quoi Vahram Muratyan a pu travailler d'autres."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
January 22, 2025
O autor é designer e artista plástico. Em 2010 ele criou o blog Paris versus New York e o sucesso foi tanto que deu origem a este livro, publicado em diversos países!
Ele não possui uma história. É um livro ilustrativo que mostra de um lado uma cena de típica de Paris, e do outro a cena correspondente em Nova York.
Logo ele é muito rápido de ser ‘lido’. Mas é um livro tão bonito que toda hora você quer abrir uma página e olhar algumas das imagens.
Aliás, mesmo ele não possuindo história, nós conseguimos fazer uma análise das duas cidades atráves da visão do artista. Por exemplo, na forma como a pressa e a vida cosmopolitan está tão inserida em Nova York, igualmente a arte e tranquilidade está em Paris.
Sonho em conhecer as duas cidades, e o livro só aumentou a minha vontade! Espero poder realizar esse desejo em breve. Ah, e a edição da Editora Intrínseca está um amor! Capa dura, com uma cor bem chamativa. É um livro que vai deixar sua estante mais bonita e charmosa com certeza!
Ele não possui uma história. É um livro ilustrativo que mostra de um lado uma cena de típica de Paris, e do outro a cena correspondente em Nova York.
Logo ele é muito rápido de ser ‘lido’. Mas é um livro tão bonito que toda hora você quer abrir uma página e olhar algumas das imagens.
Aliás, mesmo ele não possuindo história, nós conseguimos fazer uma análise das duas cidades atráves da visão do artista. Por exemplo, na forma como a pressa e a vida cosmopolitan está tão inserida em Nova York, igualmente a arte e tranquilidade está em Paris.
Sonho em conhecer as duas cidades, e o livro só aumentou a minha vontade! Espero poder realizar esse desejo em breve. Ah, e a edição da Editora Intrínseca está um amor! Capa dura, com uma cor bem chamativa. É um livro que vai deixar sua estante mais bonita e charmosa com certeza!
June 2, 2020
I enjoyed Muratyan’s other book, About Time so much I ordered this one hoping for a similar experience. This book has the same style of minimalist graphic art that manages to effectively convey its subject. Here, Muratyan compares aspects of Paris and New York on facing pages often showing parallels. I worked in NYC over the course of three summer internships and the first six years of my career, so the New York half was mostly familiar. But I’ve never been to Paris, and only have the most basic knowledge if it. There are brief captions with the illustrations, but those for the Paris side are in a French, and I can’t speak or read French. So the majority of the French half of this book went over my head, hence my low rating whiCh is a reflection of my personal experience with this book, not a comment on its quality. The right reader, someone familiar with both cities, would probably enjoy this much more than me.
May 13, 2019
During my second visit to Paris, I discovered this book displayed on the shelf of a quaint coffee shop by the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur. I flipped through a couple of pages, very amused and determined to read the book again in full.
Now that I have a year of living in New York under my belt, I find that Muratyan's (endearingly) clever showdown really highlights how fortunate I am to have experienced both of these worlds, and just how much I yearn to become equally familiar with the Paris side of the story.
Now that I have a year of living in New York under my belt, I find that Muratyan's (endearingly) clever showdown really highlights how fortunate I am to have experienced both of these worlds, and just how much I yearn to become equally familiar with the Paris side of the story.
January 4, 2024
Un livre qu’on analyse visuellement, en tout cas qu’on regarde davantage que ce qu’on le lit : il s’agit de double-pages qui contrastent à chaque fois un élément de Paris avec un élément de New-York. J’ai vraiment bien aimé, c’est amusant de voir ça. N’ayant jamais été à New-York, j’ai d’ailleurs appris quelques choses typiques de la ville ou des habitudes de ses habitants.
Je recommande, le style minimaliste et très coloré est sympa.
Je recommande, le style minimaliste et très coloré est sympa.
October 7, 2024
As an admirer of both Paris and New York, I was fascinated by this book. It highlights some of the useful comparisons to be made between these amazing cities by using beautiful graphics and descriptions. I was surprised how useful this book is as a type of travel guide - pointing out those unique features of both cities that warrants closer attention when you next get the opportunity to visit.
A wonderful little book to get if you even wish to visit these cities!
A wonderful little book to get if you even wish to visit these cities!
August 1, 2022
i read this little book sitting at the starbucks in barnes & noble, sipping on my green tea matcha latte, and missing new york. the graphics are flat design which i like and the text and graphics make up a witty and humorous read, though admittedly, i couldn't understand all the french phrases. after spending quite a bit of time in nyc, this book makes me want to get to know paris
May 13, 2024
Very cool “picture book” depicting the differences and yet similar aspects of Paris and NYC. I loved his take on the different neighborhoods placed on the opposite city map to compare the similarities (and perhaps personalities). Having lived in NYC and been a frequent visitor to Paris, I found this witty and fun!
March 21, 2019
Not at all what I was expecting, but a fun display of visual comparisons between two formidable cities. The stark yet simple graphic images drew some unique parallels between the "City of Lights" and the "City That Never Sleeps." Definitely a quick "read".
August 24, 2024
while me and james visited RI, we went to this really cute book store vintage store, it had old informative books, prints, and more! the store was called “commonwealth books.” i spotted this witty book that compares the two with pictures and (french) and he’s gonna give it to his mom as a gift :)
March 6, 2025
A nice souvenir for a trip to either of the cities. Having to travel several times to Paris and a first-timer to New York, I do find this graphic book fascinating, showing both truth and a tiny bit of stereotypes (in a good way) makes it worth a read.
April 13, 2018
Read this at the NY MoMA gift shop heh. I LOVE the graphics and the distinctions between the two cities. Very well done. The Carrie and Amelie one made me LOL. Love love love
January 17, 2019
De l'humour et des illustrations magnifiques forment un très bel ouvrage.
August 5, 2018
Great graphics, and if you know and love both cities, you will swoon for this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews