What do you think?
Rate this book
Život v Paříži, můj splněný sen
Newyorčanka Lisa žije dlouhá léta v těsném sepětí se svou milovanou, ale svéráznou matkou, která má na dceru velký – možná až moc velký – vliv. Teprve když matka zemře, si Lisa začne uvědomovat, že si vlastně nevybudovala žádný osobní život. Pokouší se najít smysl své existence a klade si otázku, kým je bez matky a jejích očekávání.
Ve snaze dobrat se odpovědí zaměří Lisa pozornost na svoji oblíbenou destinaci – Paříž, rozhodne se přestat sázet na jistotu a impulzivně si tam pořídí byt. Tato zpočátku poněkud zoufalá akce Lisu vžene do proudu změn, které si dřív ani dokázala představit. Najednou se ocitá v roli běžné obyvatelky města, o němž se domnívala, že jej zná, ale její středoškolská francouzština stačí tak nanejvýš na to, aby si dokázala koupit chleba v boulangerii na rohu. Velmi rychle zjišťuje, že život tu nebude jen šňůra pikniků u Seiny; všechno od navazování vztahů po starosti s vlastnictvím bytu je tu jiné a Lisa začíná pochybovat o sobě i o své lásce k Paříži. Přišla sem nicméně hledat štěstí a nemůže se jen tak vzdát. Spokojenost přece stojí za to, aby o ni člověk bojoval, ne?
Život v Paříži, můj splněný sen je příběhem pro každého, kdo si kdy připadal ztracený či zoufalý, avšak sní o něčem víc. Tato upřímná biografie čtenáři přibližuje hledání poklidu a smyslu života jedné (osamělé) ženy a to, jak ji dobré i zlé aspekty života v cizině naučily nebát se strachu, vážit si sebe samé a vytvářet si skutečný a trvale spokojený život ve Městě světla.
Ve snaze dobrat se odpovědí zaměří Lisa pozornost na svoji oblíbenou destinaci – Paříž, rozhodne se přestat sázet na jistotu a impulzivně si tam pořídí byt. Tato zpočátku poněkud zoufalá akce Lisu vžene do proudu změn, které si dřív ani dokázala představit. Najednou se ocitá v roli běžné obyvatelky města, o němž se domnívala, že jej zná, ale její středoškolská francouzština stačí tak nanejvýš na to, aby si dokázala koupit chleba v boulangerii na rohu. Velmi rychle zjišťuje, že život tu nebude jen šňůra pikniků u Seiny; všechno od navazování vztahů po starosti s vlastnictvím bytu je tu jiné a Lisa začíná pochybovat o sobě i o své lásce k Paříži. Přišla sem nicméně hledat štěstí a nemůže se jen tak vzdát. Spokojenost přece stojí za to, aby o ni člověk bojoval, ne?
Život v Paříži, můj splněný sen je příběhem pro každého, kdo si kdy připadal ztracený či zoufalý, avšak sní o něčem víc. Tato upřímná biografie čtenáři přibližuje hledání poklidu a smyslu života jedné (osamělé) ženy a to, jak ji dobré i zlé aspekty života v cizině naučily nebát se strachu, vážit si sebe samé a vytvářet si skutečný a trvale spokojený život ve Městě světla.
278 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2016
48 people are currently reading
1492 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 144 reviews
August 10, 2017
The first chapter I felt like oh Lisa we are going to be such great friends we have the same dream, wanting to live in Paris (who hasn't) and so much in common. A loving but complicated relationship with her mother and then the grief of losing her mum. I sensed a strong mother attachment. I felt your pain. But then the next few chapters felt like an episode of Sex and the City, a single female living between New York and Paris with all the typical problems of living a luxury lifestyle of fortune and privilege. Oh you know the kind of problems...like what cafe should I spend all day pretending to write my book whilst trying desperately to look non touristy and blend in. I wish I had these problems, it was enjoyable and described Paris wonderfully even pointing out it's faults and flaws (shock horror!) but then I felt at times she verged on the whiney side. She kept justifying her privilege and stating how much she deserves this life and why shouldn't she? She is grieving her mother and feels like Paris is the perfect place to get over her mother issues, what she realises is that Paris can't fix ALL her problems, that stuff needs deeper analysis, like getting a life coach. Der!! Phew now that's better, she get's back on track realises that she's a little bit of a control freak and can't fix everyone else's problems and that Paris is not a bad place to bring all your all baggage to. You get to eat and drink ALL day and perve at beautiful French men and dazzle them with your stumbling French. You get to live in a beautiful renovated apartment (albeit with a leaking ceiling) and have lots of fun French soirees with zany and colourful French friends who call her Liza and weeee everything is oh so perfect again. Ok maybe I did start to resent Lisa and her smugness a little bit it didn't help listening to the audiobook version just so her twee French accent could rub it in even more. Le Sigh. 3 envious stars.
April 14, 2018
I was torn on this one, hence my 3 star rating. I could relate to the author in her insecurities, fears, lack of confidence, perfectionism, and cheered for her as she made progress in her life. It was good that she started saying "Yes" to life, and more willing to let others see her flaws and appear "real". I was rooting for her as she dared to venture out into the "unknown" and begin a life apart of everything she knew in Paris. I enjoyed her descriptions of events, places, and things she and her Paris friends did, but for me, the downside of the book was how slow it was at times, moving back and forth from NYC to Paris, over time as she tried to become more assertive. The process took years, and at times goes into detail about trivial things. If not for that, I would have given it a higher rating.
I received this book in a giveaway. My thanks to the author and the publisher.
I received this book in a giveaway. My thanks to the author and the publisher.
May 25, 2017
Considering I have also referred to myself as a "part-time Parisienne" and bounce back and forth to Paris twice a year on average, and have absolutely used the city and its curative charms to help mend my heartbreak over losing my father too young, I was really excited to read this memoir. The author and I have a lot in common, and I envy her courage (and financial ability) to buy a little nest to call her own. But...I didn't love this one the way I'd hoped.
We're never told how old Anselmo is, but through narrative cues I figured she had to he in her mid-40s, which surprised me, not just because the headshot on the back cover makes her look far younger (she's got great genes!). Her voice and overall mentality throughout are somewhat...less mature than her years would suggest. Her flirtation and subsequent "omg does he like me??" with a waiter/wine shop ownwr comes across as very juvenile. Having to buy a scarf on a cold day makes her insecure people are judging her because the scarf has tourist monuments printed on it. She rarely sits by herself at a café because people will look at her pityingly, she fears. She doesn't seem very secure in who she is, which she fully admits throughout the course of the book; she is emotionally stunted and naively eager to please due to a whole host of maternal attachment issues. But I'm at least full decade younger and I couldn't relate to a lot of Anselmo's self-created emotional crises. Ain't nobody got time to worry about what someone thinks of me sitting alone at a cafe. I definitely assumed everyone had that figured out by 40!
The main takeaway I had, which I'd learned on one of my own trips to Paris, is that there is no geographical cure for unhappiness. Wherever you go, there you are, kind of thing.
I just really want to know if the leak in her apartment ever got fixed. I felt terrible reading about that.
We're never told how old Anselmo is, but through narrative cues I figured she had to he in her mid-40s, which surprised me, not just because the headshot on the back cover makes her look far younger (she's got great genes!). Her voice and overall mentality throughout are somewhat...less mature than her years would suggest. Her flirtation and subsequent "omg does he like me??" with a waiter/wine shop ownwr comes across as very juvenile. Having to buy a scarf on a cold day makes her insecure people are judging her because the scarf has tourist monuments printed on it. She rarely sits by herself at a café because people will look at her pityingly, she fears. She doesn't seem very secure in who she is, which she fully admits throughout the course of the book; she is emotionally stunted and naively eager to please due to a whole host of maternal attachment issues. But I'm at least full decade younger and I couldn't relate to a lot of Anselmo's self-created emotional crises. Ain't nobody got time to worry about what someone thinks of me sitting alone at a cafe. I definitely assumed everyone had that figured out by 40!
The main takeaway I had, which I'd learned on one of my own trips to Paris, is that there is no geographical cure for unhappiness. Wherever you go, there you are, kind of thing.
I just really want to know if the leak in her apartment ever got fixed. I felt terrible reading about that.
January 16, 2017
What a tedious book. I was hoping I would enjoy this account of life in Paris as much as I enjoyed Janice Mcleods - alas, it was not to be. I adored Janice's book but Anselmo's was hard going. I just did not like her. Too much self absorption, self analysis that went on and on.. I just didn't care.
March 18, 2017
The sad story of a poser.
She's from Jersey. But identifies as a New Yorker.
Paris is an expensive dump. But she fell in love with it.
She wants to live there. So she buys a home. But she is sad at the prospect of not being able to turn up a nice profit later on from selling the home.
She leads the reader to believe she is some sort of artist. She is not. And her life is so empty.
And nearly half the story is about her mother. An egocentric mother leaving behind a big baby in need of anybody's approval.
And somehow the city is at fault because after a dull life she can't afford a place in the trendy side of town. So she won't be able to brag on My Space or whatever site she is keeping her virtual friends. Because there are no friends in this sad empty life. Only men dragged from online dating sites and a couple of gay friends doing charity work.
She says it's a leap. But it is planned for years. It reminds me of the Vocational Guide sketch from Monthy Python.
In the end all one can feel is pity blended with disgust. An ignorant about things desperately wanting to be liked sinking deeper and deeper without Mommy. And at every corner ignorance jumps in. Cheese in Paris is not cared because of a secret cult of the sacred cheese. It's the 35 to 60€ per kilo added by the Parisian shop.
She's from Jersey. But identifies as a New Yorker.
Paris is an expensive dump. But she fell in love with it.
She wants to live there. So she buys a home. But she is sad at the prospect of not being able to turn up a nice profit later on from selling the home.
She leads the reader to believe she is some sort of artist. She is not. And her life is so empty.
And nearly half the story is about her mother. An egocentric mother leaving behind a big baby in need of anybody's approval.
And somehow the city is at fault because after a dull life she can't afford a place in the trendy side of town. So she won't be able to brag on My Space or whatever site she is keeping her virtual friends. Because there are no friends in this sad empty life. Only men dragged from online dating sites and a couple of gay friends doing charity work.
She says it's a leap. But it is planned for years. It reminds me of the Vocational Guide sketch from Monthy Python.
In the end all one can feel is pity blended with disgust. An ignorant about things desperately wanting to be liked sinking deeper and deeper without Mommy. And at every corner ignorance jumps in. Cheese in Paris is not cared because of a secret cult of the sacred cheese. It's the 35 to 60€ per kilo added by the Parisian shop.
March 7, 2019
Lisa Anselmo had a good life in New York City. A good job, with family nearby, and regular vacations in Paris. Then her mother passed away from cancer, and Lisa felt utterly unmoored. She reached out to Paris, beginning to spend more time there. The time there helped. Next came the big purchase—her tiny Paris apartment in a neighborhood of locals. Slightly larger than a hotel room, it offered her a home base.
As Anselmo began to split her time between the two cities, she also dug deep into the feelings of grief. She thought about Ma. And looked for a thousand signs from Ma that she was doing the right thing. As much as it seemed to consume her, she was also starting to move forward.
I finished her memoir in two days. It slid down like the perfect wine, accompanied by scintillating company. She writes from the heart, tells charming stories, and keeps her readers anxious to know her next steps.
My conclusions
The element I loved the most in Anselmo’s journey is that the solution doesn’t come in the form of a man, Parisian or otherwise. She has a raft of male friends, and contemplates who might become more. But the solutions are hers and hers alone. She is her own Prince Charming.
The topics move easily from kitchen color and party planning, to job loss and the grieving process. Anselmo bares it all, but still has a sense of fun amidst some dramatic life changes and decisions.
Her writing is crisp and fresh, never maudlin despite the loss she’s coping with. It’s polished and professional, but I felt like her bestie while I was reading. I’ve now stalked her blog, her web series, and the spots she recommends in Paris.
If you’re looking for a grown-up memoir where the author saves herself, this is the ticket. Plus, of course, it’s set in Paris.
Please visit my book blog, TheBibliophage.com, for more reviews of the memoirs I've read.
As Anselmo began to split her time between the two cities, she also dug deep into the feelings of grief. She thought about Ma. And looked for a thousand signs from Ma that she was doing the right thing. As much as it seemed to consume her, she was also starting to move forward.
I finished her memoir in two days. It slid down like the perfect wine, accompanied by scintillating company. She writes from the heart, tells charming stories, and keeps her readers anxious to know her next steps.
My conclusions
The element I loved the most in Anselmo’s journey is that the solution doesn’t come in the form of a man, Parisian or otherwise. She has a raft of male friends, and contemplates who might become more. But the solutions are hers and hers alone. She is her own Prince Charming.
The topics move easily from kitchen color and party planning, to job loss and the grieving process. Anselmo bares it all, but still has a sense of fun amidst some dramatic life changes and decisions.
Her writing is crisp and fresh, never maudlin despite the loss she’s coping with. It’s polished and professional, but I felt like her bestie while I was reading. I’ve now stalked her blog, her web series, and the spots she recommends in Paris.
If you’re looking for a grown-up memoir where the author saves herself, this is the ticket. Plus, of course, it’s set in Paris.
Please visit my book blog, TheBibliophage.com, for more reviews of the memoirs I've read.
February 15, 2022
A memoir highlighting a journey from co-dependency and grief to a new life learning real independence, the growing pains of that, and the romanticism of living in Paris.
Not all views I agreed with and wasn't a very enlightening book, but I appreciated her experiences and the small glimpses in learning to live in Paris. The courage she gained along the way, etc. Was nice to see.
It was... meh...an okay book. Interesting enough but by chapter 12, I was skimming through and completely lost interest really.
For those who follow my reviews, this is not a Christian book.
Not all views I agreed with and wasn't a very enlightening book, but I appreciated her experiences and the small glimpses in learning to live in Paris. The courage she gained along the way, etc. Was nice to see.
It was... meh...an okay book. Interesting enough but by chapter 12, I was skimming through and completely lost interest really.
For those who follow my reviews, this is not a Christian book.
June 23, 2021
I absolutely LOVED this book. I am currently really obsessed with France (I have never been) and am day dreaming of a Paris apartment where I can write. While the author of this book clearly has a level of wealth and privilege that I currently only aspire to, the simple, direct way she talks about her life as an expat in France is relatable enough. Delightful. And her loving descriptions of the food and wine always made me hungry.
April 27, 2017
Great memoir! Being from New York, an Italian American, a lover of Paris, and having lost my mother to cancer 7 years ago, this book really resonated with me on so many levels. The author gives you such insight into her journey. You feel like you are a part of her grieving process, her self discovery, and her growth. I loved all of the characters, especially the Parisian ones. At its core, this book is about self acceptance and creating a life for yourself that works and finding your family everywhere you are.
March 20, 2020
3.5 stars I guess. This is a memoir, and a light read at that. I picked it up mainly to relive some aspects of Paris: neighbourhoods, stores, buildings, setting, culture. It was so fun to read about those things. Lisa is an American woman, mid-30s I think, at least, who is very close to her widowed mother. But when her mom dies, at 80, Lisa is lost. This memoir is her journey to re-discover who she is and it is a nice story, though starts to drag near the end, when 3 years later she still has so much self-doubt.
October 3, 2016
Take this book at face value, and it's a witty, whimsical tale of moving to Paris and the adventures and woes that ensue. But for all its Carrie-Bradshawesque charm, My (Part-time) Paris Life goes much deeper. Yes, the Paris lover will find plenty to relate to, but beyond that, the author unflinchingly poses the question/challenge about when we're going to start living the lives we truly want to - even if it means breaking away from what loved ones want for us (or is that for themselves?)
Not everyone's going to want to move to Paris, but so many people are denying their dreams out of fear, or maybe the mistaken belief that they're crazy or selfish to want more than they have. The author acknowledges the fear of moving away from her established, comfortable life in Manhattan, then steps into the unknown--still terrified, and not entirely sure what the hell she's doing, but unwilling to live safely for one more minute. Not everything goes according to plan. Sometimes even when it does, Anselmo comes to the realization that's not what she's truly looking for, and takes the next step, ultimately emerging slightly battered, but stronger and wiser than she ever believed she could be. (Anselmo is too self-deprecating to use those exact words; I'm summing it up for her.)
For Christmas 2 years ago, I gave my close friends Zhena Muzyka's Life By The Cup for the inspiration to chase down their dreams. This year, they'll all be receiving My (Part-time) Paris Life--partly because of the beautiful packaging, but mainly because we all deserve to find that place in the world, be it physical or figurative, where we truly belong.
Not everyone's going to want to move to Paris, but so many people are denying their dreams out of fear, or maybe the mistaken belief that they're crazy or selfish to want more than they have. The author acknowledges the fear of moving away from her established, comfortable life in Manhattan, then steps into the unknown--still terrified, and not entirely sure what the hell she's doing, but unwilling to live safely for one more minute. Not everything goes according to plan. Sometimes even when it does, Anselmo comes to the realization that's not what she's truly looking for, and takes the next step, ultimately emerging slightly battered, but stronger and wiser than she ever believed she could be. (Anselmo is too self-deprecating to use those exact words; I'm summing it up for her.)
For Christmas 2 years ago, I gave my close friends Zhena Muzyka's Life By The Cup for the inspiration to chase down their dreams. This year, they'll all be receiving My (Part-time) Paris Life--partly because of the beautiful packaging, but mainly because we all deserve to find that place in the world, be it physical or figurative, where we truly belong.
July 11, 2017
This memoir has its moments, and I do advise checking out the author's blog to feel more connected to the story. I guess I expected little anecdotes about relocating to Paris. I know, I know, it's all been written before, but I like that sort of thing.
Frankly, I found the author's years-long, seemingly endless inability to let go of her late mother to be an emotional drag. The constant presence of the little voice saying "You don't deserve this!" began to wear on me. Again, the blog shows she seems to have got over the worst hurdles, but her anxiety began to make me unsettled.
Only 3 stars, but maybe that's just me.
Frankly, I found the author's years-long, seemingly endless inability to let go of her late mother to be an emotional drag. The constant presence of the little voice saying "You don't deserve this!" began to wear on me. Again, the blog shows she seems to have got over the worst hurdles, but her anxiety began to make me unsettled.
Only 3 stars, but maybe that's just me.
May 6, 2018
It started off so well, but don’t dedicate several chapters to various challenges and then end the book with no mention of whether they were resolved or not. A fun read that became mildly annoying!
August 14, 2017
What a beautiful and touching book. I've always wanted to live in Paris, or at least visit there as a tourist, for my entire life. Lisa, with her amazing and brutally honest writing, helped me bring a little piece of Paris home. She made me feel like I was in Paris myself because she doesn't talk about the typical tourist places like the Eiffel Tower or the Seine, but instead makes you feel like an authentic Paris citizen because she talks about how humid it is in Paris, the dampness in her apartment, how leakage is a widespread problem and takes a year to solve, and how funny the people talk. I liked how she showed us the bad side of Paris, and didn't try to make it seem like it was perfect. She talked about how it was only marginally cleaner than New York, and had the same smell. However, through all the imperfections, Paris still has a captivating look to it, and both Lisa (through living there) and me (through reading about it) have fallen in love with Paris because all of its imperfections just make it more perfect to us. I liked how she even talked about the difference between American and French guys and how the guys in Paris weren't afraid to make eye contact or make moves, but they had the horrible tendency to get cold feet and not show up to dates. I liked how she talked about how expensive paris was, and how there's a bakery on every street, and if you want a carb and gluten free diet, Paris is not the place for you. I even liked how she joked around about how when the Parisians try to speak english, it's so funny. Like they called attic- a dick!! LMAO. And I liked how she slowly learned french and wasn't just automatically good at it and how she kept explaining how french people talk with "something something fawfawfaw" it was just so funny! She even included authentic french phrases, making me feel more connected to the city. Additionally, I really liked how she recounted memories with her mom, and everything her mom taught her. Her mother seemed like an amazing woman, and her legacy has been shared with millions of people around the world. I'm glad she encouraged Lisa to go to Paris and how Lisa finally felt like Paris was her new home. It was a touching story. Another thing I wanted to talk about, was all the lessons that Lisa included in the story. I really liked the lesson of "who do you think you are" and "Crabs in a bucket" because it was such an interesting theory. It was like, everyone wants to be great, and we always idolize people who are doing great things, but when it comes to ourselves, we do nothing. We never try to achieve greatness because we feel like everyone is going to hold us back. Or when we do try to achieve greatness, the people around us are quick to question us, with "who do you think you are" which makes us question whether we should even pursue our dreams. Furthermore, throughout the memoir, Lisa had a very honest and funny tone. She made it seem like you were her friend and she was telling you everything. There was no sense of holding back or forced politeness, which made me stay hooked to the book even more. I really could not put it down because just every chapter was amazing. I even liked how she named the chapters like "Eating Paris" and "Le Dating Game." It was just pure gold, man. I highly recommend this book to everyone. People who have been to Paris, or dream of going like me, or just anyone whose a fan of travelling and good stories.
June 6, 2018
An enjoyable, (mostly) light read about an American woman making a home in Paris. Potentially a very relevant topic for me, depending how the next year unfolds.
August 11, 2024
It was a cute book since it’s based in France but I was underwhelmed. I don’t really know what to say about this book other than it was good but I wanted more.
March 21, 2017
I am a total sucker for this kind of book. Memoir, finding yourself, learning a new language and making a place in a new culture ... I love it. I thought her writing was pretty good, but what got me was just how real she made it all for me. I felt like I'D just bought a little apartment in Paris.
August 26, 2019
I must stop reading books about moving to France or I may just end up there!!
February 6, 2017
Lisa decides after her mother's death, to buy a small apartment in Paris and recounts her life in the famous city. There were parts of the story I enjoyed like hearing about city, the food and the people that live there. I wish I had a job that would let me travel there a couple of times a year.
October 17, 2017
Better narrative elsewhere. The book isn't quite what it was marketed to be. Woman decides to change her life and begin living in Paris part-time. Isn't it great? She gets to discover a new language, a new life, new people, etc. while learning about herself and coming to terms with her life, her career, her history, etc.
Yeeeeah, not so much. I'll admit that perhaps I remembered the marketing incorrectly but I thought it was a much more upbeat book. That it was not is not a problem but in this case it's a detriment.
Author Anselmo begins the book by talking about the relationship she had with her mother. When mama was happy, everything was great. When her mama wasn't happy, nobody was happy. Her mother appears to have had some sort of issue although what it is appears to be not named (maybe not identified at all by the mother or the author). But this sets the tone of the book: the author grew up with an apparently co-dependent (personally I think there's far more to it than that but I'm not a doctor) mother who she is unable to let go of even after her mother's death.
Coupled with the changes in the magazine/media industry, she is at a crossroads of sorts. So she buys a Paris apartment.
It seems like a whimsical sort of purchase and we then learn what it's like to buy housing in Paris, the differences in culture, language, food, etc. as these stories often go. Some of it is quite hilarious, some of it is cringe-worthy, some of it isn't interesting at all. And beyond that point it just got a bit tedious. It was hard to sympathize with someone who clearly has the money/flexibility in work/time to travel back and forth when really, what perhaps actually needed was/is therapy instead of thinking traveling back and forth would help. It just got hard to relate to after being in a friendship with someone who was similar: she kept moving to a different place every few years after college partially due to life circumstances (graduation, contract job ended, relationship failed, graduate school, new job in a new country, etc.) She said it was because she loved traveling but just like with this author I suspect there's something else to it that neither admit to.
That said, the book does have its positive points. The author seems to be a bit obnoxious but her story was still intriguing. The very first few pages had me identifying with the author more deeply than I had expected. It was still enough to keep me at least skimming to see how it resolves (if at all).
Overall, though, I wouldn't recommend it. I enjoy travelogues but other books have done it much better. The Goodreads ratings are on the mark and I kind of regret buying this as a bargain buy/used. If you enjoyed 'Eat, Pray, Love' (which is mentioned in the flap) then this might be a really good fit for you. Otherwise, library if you're really interested or a bargain buy if you really want.
Yeeeeah, not so much. I'll admit that perhaps I remembered the marketing incorrectly but I thought it was a much more upbeat book. That it was not is not a problem but in this case it's a detriment.
Author Anselmo begins the book by talking about the relationship she had with her mother. When mama was happy, everything was great. When her mama wasn't happy, nobody was happy. Her mother appears to have had some sort of issue although what it is appears to be not named (maybe not identified at all by the mother or the author). But this sets the tone of the book: the author grew up with an apparently co-dependent (personally I think there's far more to it than that but I'm not a doctor) mother who she is unable to let go of even after her mother's death.
Coupled with the changes in the magazine/media industry, she is at a crossroads of sorts. So she buys a Paris apartment.
It seems like a whimsical sort of purchase and we then learn what it's like to buy housing in Paris, the differences in culture, language, food, etc. as these stories often go. Some of it is quite hilarious, some of it is cringe-worthy, some of it isn't interesting at all. And beyond that point it just got a bit tedious. It was hard to sympathize with someone who clearly has the money/flexibility in work/time to travel back and forth when really, what perhaps actually needed was/is therapy instead of thinking traveling back and forth would help. It just got hard to relate to after being in a friendship with someone who was similar: she kept moving to a different place every few years after college partially due to life circumstances (graduation, contract job ended, relationship failed, graduate school, new job in a new country, etc.) She said it was because she loved traveling but just like with this author I suspect there's something else to it that neither admit to.
That said, the book does have its positive points. The author seems to be a bit obnoxious but her story was still intriguing. The very first few pages had me identifying with the author more deeply than I had expected. It was still enough to keep me at least skimming to see how it resolves (if at all).
Overall, though, I wouldn't recommend it. I enjoy travelogues but other books have done it much better. The Goodreads ratings are on the mark and I kind of regret buying this as a bargain buy/used. If you enjoyed 'Eat, Pray, Love' (which is mentioned in the flap) then this might be a really good fit for you. Otherwise, library if you're really interested or a bargain buy if you really want.
March 2, 2017
Written with a lively spirit and wonderful prose, this beautiful memoir shows what one can do when they take a leap of faith. Anselmo dared to follow her heart and her dreams, claiming her happiness– even when haunted by bouts of grief and facing frustrations – in the city of lights. I really hope Anselmo is working on a follow-up. As we learn in this memoir, everybody needs something to LFT (look forward to). And I'm really looking forward to hearing more about this journey.
November 11, 2016
Lisa Anselmo’s memoir, My (Part-Time) Paris Life, enthralled me. First, it’s about Paris, a city that never seems to lose its allure. Second, it’s about mothers and daughters, a subject whose depths we can never fully plumb. Third, it’s about going away to find oneself, an idea that perennially captivates.
There’s something about witnessing another woman seeing what she wants and then going after it — even as she wrestles with doubts and the improbability of what she’s doing. It’s inspiring, and — if we have even a shred of a common impulse — motivates us to do the same.
Lisa’s literary voice is filled with wry joie de vivre and strikes exactly the right note between restraint and authenticity. She introduced me to a new concept — or rather, a new way of expressing a familiar concept, a fresh shorthand for that “thing that grabs your heart and says, yes!” The French call it a coup de couer, and doesn’t that just put it so neatly in a nutshell?
Lisa’s whole memoir is really about her discovery of a series of coup de couers — an apartment first, and then an entire second life in the City of Light, with insightful moments at many points along the way. Of course every reader will claim a different coup de couer — we don’t all desire to move to Paris — but those with any sense of life’s potential will see how Lisa’s story applies to our own. This is the genius of memoirs like hers: learning about another’s journey sheds light on our own.
Lisa Anselmo show us the value of saying goodbye to an old way of life so that we may say hello to a new one unencumbered. By her own example, she reveals what possibilities await us when we’re willing to take risks, make plans, and throw ourselves headlong after our coup de couer.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me this copy free of charge. All opinions are mine.
There’s something about witnessing another woman seeing what she wants and then going after it — even as she wrestles with doubts and the improbability of what she’s doing. It’s inspiring, and — if we have even a shred of a common impulse — motivates us to do the same.
Lisa’s literary voice is filled with wry joie de vivre and strikes exactly the right note between restraint and authenticity. She introduced me to a new concept — or rather, a new way of expressing a familiar concept, a fresh shorthand for that “thing that grabs your heart and says, yes!” The French call it a coup de couer, and doesn’t that just put it so neatly in a nutshell?
Lisa’s whole memoir is really about her discovery of a series of coup de couers — an apartment first, and then an entire second life in the City of Light, with insightful moments at many points along the way. Of course every reader will claim a different coup de couer — we don’t all desire to move to Paris — but those with any sense of life’s potential will see how Lisa’s story applies to our own. This is the genius of memoirs like hers: learning about another’s journey sheds light on our own.
Lisa Anselmo show us the value of saying goodbye to an old way of life so that we may say hello to a new one unencumbered. By her own example, she reveals what possibilities await us when we’re willing to take risks, make plans, and throw ourselves headlong after our coup de couer.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me this copy free of charge. All opinions are mine.
September 8, 2018
Books about Paris are always of interest to me. My Part Time Paris Life is right up there at the top. When the author talks about her experiences I felt like I was right there with her experiencing each moment as she did. This is a story about the dream of living in Paris, realizing the dream, and the reality of the dream as she adjusted to the many changes in her life.
If you've ever visited a foreign country with only a little knowledge of the language or the workings of everyday life this book is for you? You will go along for the ride as she figures things out. Her writing flows with information, language, story, and humor in a most enjoyable way.
The authors sense of humor is very evident. Her use of "faw faw faw" when not understanding what's being said is exactly how one would feel. Her sprinkling of French words ( and their meanings) is enjoyable. Her use of language about everyday life hit home, for example: at one point she meets a man and when he realizes that they can't communicate because of the language barrier she thinks this, " ...because I couldn't carry on a conversation in French, this man would never learn that I was worth knowing..."
She progresses throughout the book until one day she does understand French. She grows as a person working through her life until she fully realizes that she has arrived in a good place. Her life spoke to my life, and what many of us realize as we also grow as people. It also will speak to those who understand how Paris seeps into ones being and remains there.
My Part Time Paris Life doesn't really end. It's the beginning of another chapter.
If you've ever visited a foreign country with only a little knowledge of the language or the workings of everyday life this book is for you? You will go along for the ride as she figures things out. Her writing flows with information, language, story, and humor in a most enjoyable way.
The authors sense of humor is very evident. Her use of "faw faw faw" when not understanding what's being said is exactly how one would feel. Her sprinkling of French words ( and their meanings) is enjoyable. Her use of language about everyday life hit home, for example: at one point she meets a man and when he realizes that they can't communicate because of the language barrier she thinks this, " ...because I couldn't carry on a conversation in French, this man would never learn that I was worth knowing..."
She progresses throughout the book until one day she does understand French. She grows as a person working through her life until she fully realizes that she has arrived in a good place. Her life spoke to my life, and what many of us realize as we also grow as people. It also will speak to those who understand how Paris seeps into ones being and remains there.
My Part Time Paris Life doesn't really end. It's the beginning of another chapter.
February 7, 2017
Following the death of her mother, Lisa is left feeling lost. This well written book is her journey through childhood memories, feelings and emotions towards finding happiness with her life as it is now. Paris had always been her escape and buying an apartment there becomes her focus. I loved joining her as she got to know her neighbourhood, celebrated life with her Parisian friends and learned how to structure her days in Paris. Her Paris is certainly not tourist Paris, and I liked it so much more for that.
There is a real air of sadness every time Ma is mentioned and for every Happy Hour apero in a Parisian café there is a dark place and difficult time that Lisa shares with the reader. My head can also butterfly from one feeling/worry to the next, but nothing quite like hers does. At times it was exhausting and I was glad I was only in her head for the duration of the book, but this very personal reflection gave me a feeling of attachment with Lisa. I enjoyed making the journey with her.
If you like reading memoirs not just because of where they are set or the life the author has led, but because they are a window into the heart of the author, you will love this book. I did!
There is a real air of sadness every time Ma is mentioned and for every Happy Hour apero in a Parisian café there is a dark place and difficult time that Lisa shares with the reader. My head can also butterfly from one feeling/worry to the next, but nothing quite like hers does. At times it was exhausting and I was glad I was only in her head for the duration of the book, but this very personal reflection gave me a feeling of attachment with Lisa. I enjoyed making the journey with her.
If you like reading memoirs not just because of where they are set or the life the author has led, but because they are a window into the heart of the author, you will love this book. I did!
January 4, 2023
I having been following Lisa Anselmo on Facebook since the beginning and have always enjoyed her informative and, often humorous, posts as she made her transition from being a “frequent flyer” between her life and high-powered career in the magazine publishing industry in NYC and vacations to Paris, France. After the death of her Mother and the downsizing of her job she made the bold move to increase the time she spends in Paris by purchasing an apartment there while still maintaining one foot in NYC. “My (Part-Time) Paris Life” is the poignant, touching, memoir of that move. It’s a story of loss, change, conquering life’s challenges, and making dreams come true regardless of those challenges. Lisa opens up her heart and soul about her relationship with her Mother and the on-going effect of this loss on her life choices then and now. It is truly a masterful work and one that will leave you feeling brave and ready to explore your own challenges in a different light. An added benefit is a travel log of Paris and life as a Parrisiene that will tempt you to visit Paris or return to “The City of Light”.......La vie est bon!!!
May 7, 2019
The author's style is engaging and her adventure in Paris draws the reader in. She is skilled in making characters come alive. I'm like most other reviewers--we are more interested in her experiences in Paris than in her introspection on her relationship with her mother. It is good to have growth and a character arc, but the last of the book was too heavy-handed. She learned way too much and talked way too much about what she'd learned. A big question is what happened to her water problem in her apartment. We really cared! She invited her family to Paris, so we assume it was resolved or she'd never have brought her family over to see her apartment in its moldy condition (at least, I assume she wouldn't.)
January 3, 2017
2.5 stars. Easy and fun read about a NYC woman who moves to Paris. However, living in Italy myself a lot of this felt familiar and very little was shocking or new. The author deals with a lot of baggage from her childhood and had a tight and complicated relationship with her mother which was difficult for me to relate to. My favorite takeaway from the book was the importance of having a LFT - a "Look Forward To".
February 16, 2017
Okay this books gets two stars for the life in Paris. How I miss the city of lights. What brought down the book was I hated the narrator. I found her to be self absorbed, codependant and snobbish especially when she was whining about having to eat polenta YE GODS for a week. A shame because her description of Paris was wonderful her attitude not so much!
July 21, 2017
2.5 stars. I've read many a memoir of the naive American who moves to Paris (or some such). This did not break the mould. Language gaps (tant'pis), apartment buying and renovating woes (quelle horreur), making friends, dealing with the past. Tick tick tick - all the memoir boxes are ticked. Diversionary if not illuminating.
May 7, 2019
Lisa first became enamored with Paris when she went on a trip to Europe in high school. After giving up her dream of becoming a full time opera singer because it wasn't paying the bills, she successfully climbed the corporate ladder in the media/ publication world. She used all her allotted vacation days to visit Paris where she made friends and became more and more in love with Paris.
Her relationship with her mom was both destructive and amazing. She describes her mom as her best friend and they would do all the things close girlfriends do together (shop, watch movies, cook, etc). Her mother never got to fulfill her own dreams of living abroad as an artist and resents Lisa for leaving her alone and dashing off to Paris. Lisa, ever the dutiful, perfectionist daughter, feels guilty for leaving her mom alone but revels in her brief getaways to Paris. Then online publications does a number to all print media jobs affecting Lisa's professional life as well. Given more and more responsibilities with less and less people in her team, she decides that it's not worth it and gives up her job, and buys a small 280 sq ft apartment in Paris. She describes the nightmare of owning property in a different country where you don't speak the language as well as getting through French red tape. It's enough to dissuade any rational person! Amidst all the negatives, she truly enjoys the different lifestyle that the Parisians live. The pleasure they get from getting a group of friends around a simple fare of good cheese and wine even in her small tiny apartment. That's life!
She discovers much about herself and her complicated relationship with her mother (I wonder if she's been through therapy or she made all these deep self-realizations on her own?). Her low self-worth, perfectionist personality is a result of growing up wanting to please her mother. I found these realizations of low self-esteem, "who do you think you are" lack of self-worth a bit repetitive starting near the middle of the book.
I wish she had given the readers more specific places in Paris she enjoyed. She talks a lot about avoiding the tourist traps and priding herself in being part of the native Paris community. But overall, an enjoyable read.
Her relationship with her mom was both destructive and amazing. She describes her mom as her best friend and they would do all the things close girlfriends do together (shop, watch movies, cook, etc). Her mother never got to fulfill her own dreams of living abroad as an artist and resents Lisa for leaving her alone and dashing off to Paris. Lisa, ever the dutiful, perfectionist daughter, feels guilty for leaving her mom alone but revels in her brief getaways to Paris. Then online publications does a number to all print media jobs affecting Lisa's professional life as well. Given more and more responsibilities with less and less people in her team, she decides that it's not worth it and gives up her job, and buys a small 280 sq ft apartment in Paris. She describes the nightmare of owning property in a different country where you don't speak the language as well as getting through French red tape. It's enough to dissuade any rational person! Amidst all the negatives, she truly enjoys the different lifestyle that the Parisians live. The pleasure they get from getting a group of friends around a simple fare of good cheese and wine even in her small tiny apartment. That's life!
She discovers much about herself and her complicated relationship with her mother (I wonder if she's been through therapy or she made all these deep self-realizations on her own?). Her low self-worth, perfectionist personality is a result of growing up wanting to please her mother. I found these realizations of low self-esteem, "who do you think you are" lack of self-worth a bit repetitive starting near the middle of the book.
I wish she had given the readers more specific places in Paris she enjoyed. She talks a lot about avoiding the tourist traps and priding herself in being part of the native Paris community. But overall, an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews