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Paris and Other Disappointments
Sick of going overseas and enjoying himself, comedian Adam Rozenbachs decided he should take his father on the trip of a lifetime to Europe. For his dad, it was a chance to return to the place he hasn’t seen fleeing post-war Germany as an immigrant. For Adam, it was a chance to repay his dad for everything he’d given him in life. As it turned out, after three weeks of travel, Adam decided not killing his dad was more than enough repayment. The trip took frustration to a whole new level as Adam discovered his dad doesn’t like museums, galleries, landmarks, travelling, or Paris.
God, he hated Paris.
But amid the irritation of travelling with an adult toddler (an adoddler), Adam learned – through gritted teeth – more about his dad, his family and himself.
If you’ve ever travelled with family, are considering it, or would never even dream of it, you will identify with the pain, pressure and triumph of Adam making it out alive (and with a hint of sanity left). Paris and Other Disappointments is a hilarious memoir about fathers and sons, and the joys and challenges of travel, from one of Australia’s most talented comedians.
God, he hated Paris.
But amid the irritation of travelling with an adult toddler (an adoddler), Adam learned – through gritted teeth – more about his dad, his family and himself.
If you’ve ever travelled with family, are considering it, or would never even dream of it, you will identify with the pain, pressure and triumph of Adam making it out alive (and with a hint of sanity left). Paris and Other Disappointments is a hilarious memoir about fathers and sons, and the joys and challenges of travel, from one of Australia’s most talented comedians.
272 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2019
16 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 26, 2019
This is possibly the funniest book I’ve ever read. Granted, I don’t read a lot of comedy, but as someone who reads in public places, I regularly drew embarrassing attention to myself snorting at unexpected moments.
Less of a travel book – although the major tourist spots are mentioned – this book is more a hilarious look at family, and particularly the father-son relationship between Aussie males. Despite the steady stream of jokes, I found the gentle reveals of Adam’s experiences with his dad both familiar and illuminating. The book not only recounts a family holiday, but also the discoveries we can make about ourselves when we finally see our parents as real, flawed people with their own insecurities and desires.
I flew through this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend it as an uplifting and very funny ride. Just maybe don’t read it on the tram.
Less of a travel book – although the major tourist spots are mentioned – this book is more a hilarious look at family, and particularly the father-son relationship between Aussie males. Despite the steady stream of jokes, I found the gentle reveals of Adam’s experiences with his dad both familiar and illuminating. The book not only recounts a family holiday, but also the discoveries we can make about ourselves when we finally see our parents as real, flawed people with their own insecurities and desires.
I flew through this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend it as an uplifting and very funny ride. Just maybe don’t read it on the tram.
April 10, 2020
Frustrating
Found the going back to childhood scenes with his father rather boring as I wanted to venture back into the trip and the adventures. His father moaning and being disinterested in the landmarks and history was very frustrating.
Found the going back to childhood scenes with his father rather boring as I wanted to venture back into the trip and the adventures. His father moaning and being disinterested in the landmarks and history was very frustrating.
September 21, 2019
Light reading, not as funny as I thought it would be
November 5, 2019
An easy to read travel memoir of comedian Adam Rosenbachs taking his dad for three weeks in Europe. Adam's father doesn't seem to like travelling that much, or indeed Europe. Although he does like that windows that change from top opening to side opening, and I can well understand that, they are fascinating.
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February 3, 2022
It was ok, I had a few chuckle’s. An easy read.
January 19, 2020
It’s not often that I laugh out loud when reading a book, or finish a non-fiction for that matter. So that’s saying something. Anyone who has ever travelled with their parents as an adult will love this, I’m sure! There’s just enough family backstory to allow the reader to understand who Tom and Adam are without it becoming dull and boring, and enough honest humour without feeling like Rozenbachs was trying hard to make the reader laugh. That’s a job well done in my opinion, or as Tom might say in two words - ‘It’s alright’.
Favourite quotes:
“That’s good steel, that”.
When popular tourist attractions just don’t impress you much.
“I’d like to go to India”.
This is one of those moments when you’d want to rip your hair out in utter disbelief.
Favourite quotes:
“That’s good steel, that”.
When popular tourist attractions just don’t impress you much.
“I’d like to go to India”.
This is one of those moments when you’d want to rip your hair out in utter disbelief.
October 7, 2019
It was an enjoyable read. It was comical but not that comical, if you know what I mean? Pee smelling Paris with dog poo everywhere, are images I’ll never forget now. Plus, overcrowding tourists are not my idea of a relaxing holiday. So I completely sympathise with the father. But his lack of interest in Paris and other places, might be due to a lack of history in his repertoire of things learned.
I applaud Adam for making the time to be with his Dad and taking time out to take his Dad out of his comfort zone. They each learned something about each other, which was to accept each other as they are, unconditionally.
I applaud Adam for making the time to be with his Dad and taking time out to take his Dad out of his comfort zone. They each learned something about each other, which was to accept each other as they are, unconditionally.
January 10, 2020
It was an enjoyable story. I decided to buy a copy after hearing the author on the ABC radio program Conversations. It sounded hilarious. Some of the jokes about his travels with his Dad were a bit OTT but overall an interesting read. I enjoyed his children adventures dispersed throughout the main story. I would have perhaps liked a little more detail and substance to the story. It felt like a very short read.
February 6, 2020
I want to thank Adam for writing this book, because above all else, he showed me that I am not alone, because I too, have a Dad just like his. (And many experiences travelling with my Dad that mirrored his, except my Dad doesn’t use talc) Gee did I sympathise with Adam’s frustrations but boy did he make me laugh, the book had quite a few laugh out loud moments. When I recounted some of his stories to my family and friends, they laughed out loud too. I loved this book
October 8, 2019
Great read
I really enjoyed this book. Great story of a real family and real travel experience that we have all had in the past. Very easy to read and funny.
I really enjoyed this book. Great story of a real family and real travel experience that we have all had in the past. Very easy to read and funny.
December 6, 2019
I think this was an honest and humorous account of his family life and travels with his dad.
It was somehow lacking though, in what I’m not entirely sure.
It was somehow lacking though, in what I’m not entirely sure.
August 3, 2021
4.5 stars
Australian comedian Adam Rozenbachs has done a lot of overseas travel either by himself or for destination weddings and it’s been fun. Adam’s dad Tommy has been saying how nice it would be to go to Europe for years. In a moment of insanity, Adam offers to take him to Europe for three weeks. Three weeks of father and son time; seeing the sights, having a drink or two and enjoying the best that Europe had to offer. What could possibly go wrong?
As luck would have it, a fair bit actually. For Tommy, talking about going to Europe and actually going there are two very different things. For Adam, his objective of the trip is no longer to have a great time with his old man, now it’s not to kill him. Can these two Aussie blokes survive twenty one days together and get back to Australia in one piece? You’re just going to have to read this hilarious book to find out!
Here’s a little known secret about me. I’ve been to Paris and think it’s the most overrated place of the fourteen countries I’ve been to. So when I saw the title of this book, I had to buy it. What I didn’t expect was just how funny and insightful Adam Rozenback’s Paris and Other Disappointments would be.
I loved that this book is not just a laugh out loud, tears streaming down your face chronicle of Adam and Tommy’s trip; but that it also has a number of flashbacks to Adam’s childhood and early adult years. This gave a lot of context at the appropriate moment, which not only avoided slabs of backstory (my pet hate) but also meant that this book is not just a detailed travel diary; making it even more enjoyable. For despite all of Tommy's whinging and struggling, it’s also a good read in terms of how we view our parents as we become adults and move into our thirties and forties; and why a little insight into their world is not a bad thing.
Paris and Other Disappointments is a nice and easy read. I read it in one sitting in a few hours and it was a much welcome form of escapism and armchair travel. If you need a laugh, are just crazy enough to think that travelling with your parents is a good idea and/or love the travel genre, then this is the book for you!
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
Australian comedian Adam Rozenbachs has done a lot of overseas travel either by himself or for destination weddings and it’s been fun. Adam’s dad Tommy has been saying how nice it would be to go to Europe for years. In a moment of insanity, Adam offers to take him to Europe for three weeks. Three weeks of father and son time; seeing the sights, having a drink or two and enjoying the best that Europe had to offer. What could possibly go wrong?
As luck would have it, a fair bit actually. For Tommy, talking about going to Europe and actually going there are two very different things. For Adam, his objective of the trip is no longer to have a great time with his old man, now it’s not to kill him. Can these two Aussie blokes survive twenty one days together and get back to Australia in one piece? You’re just going to have to read this hilarious book to find out!
Here’s a little known secret about me. I’ve been to Paris and think it’s the most overrated place of the fourteen countries I’ve been to. So when I saw the title of this book, I had to buy it. What I didn’t expect was just how funny and insightful Adam Rozenback’s Paris and Other Disappointments would be.
I loved that this book is not just a laugh out loud, tears streaming down your face chronicle of Adam and Tommy’s trip; but that it also has a number of flashbacks to Adam’s childhood and early adult years. This gave a lot of context at the appropriate moment, which not only avoided slabs of backstory (my pet hate) but also meant that this book is not just a detailed travel diary; making it even more enjoyable. For despite all of Tommy's whinging and struggling, it’s also a good read in terms of how we view our parents as we become adults and move into our thirties and forties; and why a little insight into their world is not a bad thing.
Paris and Other Disappointments is a nice and easy read. I read it in one sitting in a few hours and it was a much welcome form of escapism and armchair travel. If you need a laugh, are just crazy enough to think that travelling with your parents is a good idea and/or love the travel genre, then this is the book for you!
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
August 24, 2020
Having bought this today for my Dad for Fathers' Day I ended up reading it when I arrived home! It was an easy read with several laugh-out-loud moments that were not at all contrived. Written as an autobiographical travel memoir this book has lots of appeal. As a thirty-something year old man taking his sixty-something Dad from home in Australia on a three week trip to Europe, what could possibly go wrong? Even though I'm in my early sixties and my Dad is almost 95 I related to this book and I'm sure my Dad will too as we share a great sense of humour. Although mostly a light-hearted account there's an underlying gradual reveal of the father-son relationship whereby the trip events are interspersed with accounts of childhood memories and family dynamics. An entertaining read that I can’t wait to give to my Dad!
November 7, 2022
Listened to the audiobook after seeing some positive reviews.
Disappointing and stories weren’t funny — some were a bit amusing but nothing made me actually laugh and I’m usually a sucker for the lamest comedy.
The audiobook sounded VERY monotonous, I suspect if I were a little more tired, it would’ve just lulled me to sleep. Dragged on, bored at times.
Instead of the trip, there’s a lot of build up with other stories I didn’t care for and irrelevant to the context of the main bloody thing that pulls you in — his trip to Europe with his dad
Loads of time wasted on unfunny tales from his childhood and of his previous trips.
Disappointing and stories weren’t funny — some were a bit amusing but nothing made me actually laugh and I’m usually a sucker for the lamest comedy.
The audiobook sounded VERY monotonous, I suspect if I were a little more tired, it would’ve just lulled me to sleep. Dragged on, bored at times.
Instead of the trip, there’s a lot of build up with other stories I didn’t care for and irrelevant to the context of the main bloody thing that pulls you in — his trip to Europe with his dad
Loads of time wasted on unfunny tales from his childhood and of his previous trips.
January 15, 2023
Hmmm - more like 2.5 stars.
I think I would have rated this higher if I hadn't been expecting something particularly funny. It would have been better described as mildly amusing (at times). Fortunately Tommy (Adam's father) also didn't whinge the whole way around Europe, so there's that...
This was more a reflection on Adam's life with the trip to Europe being the piece that brought back those memories. By the end, I was enjoying it, but the first 30% was a bit hard going.
Narrated by Adam Rozenbachs - sadly his delivery was a bit flat. A professional narrator may have lifted this story.
I think I would have rated this higher if I hadn't been expecting something particularly funny. It would have been better described as mildly amusing (at times). Fortunately Tommy (Adam's father) also didn't whinge the whole way around Europe, so there's that...
This was more a reflection on Adam's life with the trip to Europe being the piece that brought back those memories. By the end, I was enjoying it, but the first 30% was a bit hard going.
Narrated by Adam Rozenbachs - sadly his delivery was a bit flat. A professional narrator may have lifted this story.
March 14, 2020
Travelling with your parents and you get older and they get older is not easy.
I admire the effort, time and somewhat patience Adam had in travelling overseas albeit for a small period of time with his dad.
It would not have been easy at all.
Just for you Adam- my husband and I are taking my Mum overseas later this year for 7 weeks. Wish us luck!����
I admire the effort, time and somewhat patience Adam had in travelling overseas albeit for a small period of time with his dad.
It would not have been easy at all.
Just for you Adam- my husband and I are taking my Mum overseas later this year for 7 weeks. Wish us luck!����
June 14, 2020
A very enjoyable, albeit light, read. The author explores himself and his family as much as his father's failings (of which there are many!)
A gentle examination of how we relate to our parents when we're adults. And it made me reflect on a road trip with my son last year. I hope I came out of it better than his dad!
A gentle examination of how we relate to our parents when we're adults. And it made me reflect on a road trip with my son last year. I hope I came out of it better than his dad!
December 30, 2024
Quite disappointing. Thought it might be either a funny odd couple road trip story or a heart warming tale about a father and son trip. It was neither. Just a son complaining the whole time because his father wasn’t interested in the same things or didn’t have the same fitness level as him. Don’t get me wrong, I like Adam Rozenbachs, but just not in this.
June 29, 2020
I found this book to be good but not great. I felt like Adam Rozenbachs had too much material for an hour long show but not enough for a book and as a result it got repetitive. Having said that, there were moments that were enjoyable.
Read
March 14, 2020Awful
March 14, 2020
Light and amusing.
Good fun. Nothing to rave about but it kept me amused and entertained. Perfect for reading on the beach or a long haul flight.
Good fun. Nothing to rave about but it kept me amused and entertained. Perfect for reading on the beach or a long haul flight.
March 23, 2020
Tedious. Unfunny.
May 8, 2020
Hilarious and true. This resonates strongly in me, a 30-yr-old Australian Arts Graduate living with her parents.
August 1, 2020
A good read . Adam talked of his parents so well.
It was a very interesting exercise taking his dad to Europe.
It was a very interesting exercise taking his dad to Europe.
Read
January 11, 2021a light fun bonk and I recognized quite a few men I know in it.
April 6, 2023
Light hearted, easily read, heartwarming at times. Don’t expect the world and you’ll enjoy this one.
June 5, 2023
Laughed out loud so many times. Loved every page...
August 18, 2023
Very funny - reminded me of my life growing up.
March 1, 2020
Not as funny as I thought it would be. Interesting insights into the Australian psyche. Wish I'd read this 15 years ago! And as a Parisian, what were you thinking when you chose to stay in that district?? With your dad? Seriously?
December 11, 2019
a light funny entertaining book. I like the way he showed the love of his parents by taking his father on a first time trip to Europe giving his mother abreak.
Flaws and quirks that he didn't know about or might know a little about become the smile on the readers face.
I recognized some of those quirks esp the talc usage .LOL
Flaws and quirks that he didn't know about or might know a little about become the smile on the readers face.
I recognized some of those quirks esp the talc usage .LOL
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews