В Париже

by Жанна Дамас

Немало написано о парижанках — утонченных дамах, вызывающих всеобщее восхищение. Авторы этой книги отправились на поиски двадцати таких женщин, чтобы создать тонкий, проницательный и очень реалистичный портрет современных парижанок, а заодно и захватывающую необычную экскурсию по французской столице.

Все эти женщины разного возраста занимаются кино и ресторанным бизнесом, владеют книжными магазинами, разбираются в политике и антиквариате, живут в самых разных условиях. Они откроют вам двери своих домов и поделятся мыслями о жизни, историями и адресами любимых и интересных мест.

Каждый из этих портретов, написанных самой убежденной феминисткой из всех парижских журналисток Лоран Бастид, иллюстрирован фотографиями Жанны Дамас — «новой парижанки», как ее окрестила пресса. И сами авторы книги поделятся с читателями своими секретами и любовью к французской столице.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fashion, France, Travel, Coffee Table Books, Self Help, Memoir

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2017

Reviews

[Cátia Vieira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why should you read this book?
Well, I have always been completely obsessed with Paris. My father lived there in the 80s and he met Serge Gainsbourg in the metro. He used to tell me his stories of the French capital and I began to dream about it, about living there one day myself. It was my fantasy!

Then, I started learning French and watching French movies and being inspired by French women! I decided to move to Paris on a whim in 2017! I had just finished my Master’s degree and I didn’t really know if I wanted to pursue a PhD or start working right away. I was lost. So, I thought there was no better place to find myself. I left to Paris. I worked as a babysitter because my French was still very bad but that gave me enough time to visit many bookstores, to walk in the parks, to lose myself over and over again in the Cimitière du Père-Lachaise and to just enjoy the city! I spent three months there and I decided to come back and do a PhD in literature. Right now, I am studying Artistic Migration and Identity in the works of Henry Miller and Nuno Bragança. Both left to Paris to create, to write, to find themselves. Once again, I am completely immersed in Paris.

This personal introduction is just a way of assuring you that I am crazy about Paris and I was super excited about this book! My expectations were so high that I feared being disappointed. But, to my satisfaction, I was happily surprised by In Paris by Jeanne Damas and Lauren Bastide. Wait, have I told you that Jeanne is also one of my muses? Oh yes, she absolutely is!!

Bastide and Damas interviewed several fascinating women from different backgrounds and age range. What do they have in common? They live in Paris and they lead a very Parisian life. These two inspiring women also included some tips for when you visit the French capital like where you can have a nice dinner, buy your flowers or even shop vintage clothes! Sylvia Whitman was naturally one of my favorite features. She runs Shakespeare and Company that she inherited from her father. It was lovely to hear her thoughts on Paris and the Parisian life.

If you’re looking for inspiration, this book is for you. These women were all so different from each other yet so incredible and empowering! Go get your copy!

I’d like to thank Penguin Random House for the free copy. For more reviews, follow me on Instagram: @booksturnyouon

[Sabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to unwind from a normal big book and read about these women and take a look at a fraction from their lives. 3.5 stars

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very appealing, though extremely snooty and elitist. But considering both authors work in fashion, that was what I was expecting. That being said, I like reading the stories of real-life women and reading about the watered-down trajectories of their lives, and some of the recommendations I will definitely be utilizing on my first trip to Paris soon.

A personal issue that has lots to do with this book and nothing to do with it all: life, and living beautifully, is not effortless. Lots of folks have the passion to make hard work and constant toil look “effortless” or have the privilege to live aesthetically from the beginning. But there’s nothing about life that is effortless and in an Instagram society, it’s good for me to remind myself of that often.

[theirishbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elegant, Intriguing, Memorable.
From the very cover of this book, the elegance of the women interviewed is apparent. During a time when travel is restricted this book transported me inside the apartments and down the narrow streets of Paris to go on an adventure with each of the twenty ladies that were interviewed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the hints and tips about where to visit and eat in Paris. Some of these will definitely be included in my next trip. It is completely inspiring reading how each of these individuals have gotten to where they are today, it makes it a lovely, inspiring, intriguing and memorable read. I would highly recommend it, especially to anyone who has a love of Paris.

[Seda Hovhannisyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Բավականին էլիտիստ ու սնոբ, բայց միևնույն ժամանակ պոեզիայով, կրեմագույն տռենչով ու կանացիությամբ լի պատմությունններ։ Էսթետիկորեն բավականին հաճելի ա կարդալ փարիզյան կյանքի, ամեն անկյան վրա բուլանժերիների առկայության, կրուասանային առօրյայի ու ֆեշըն-փարթիների մասին, բայց միևնույն ժամանակ տխուր, որ մի քանի երկիր էն կողմ ինչ-որ մեկն ապրում ա քո երազանքների առօրյան` իր շեքսպիրյան գրախանութի գրքերով ու շրջելով փարիզյան արվարձաններով, իսկ դու պոստսովետական քո Հայաստանում կարդում ես էդ ամենը ու մտածում, թե ինչի ա էնպես նկարագրած էդ ամենը, ոնց որ շատ հեշտ ա հասնել էդ կյանքին։ Երկակի ստանդարտներ ու կյանքերի տարբերություններ, սրա մասին ա գիրքը ։

[Lisa Lumos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Классическая table book, которой место больше на фото в Инстаграме, чем на полке. Истории о непостоянных и загадочных парижанках продолжают продаваться.

[Hong Trang · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 sao⭐
Sách trình làng một loạt phỏng vấn với các 'cô gái' Paris điển hình: muôn hình vạn trạng cuộc sống được phô bày nhưng điểm chung là toàn những người thú vị. Có điều tập hợp này giống như một loạt câu chuyện chỉ có mở bài, mà không có thân bài, chia sẻ chung chung và hơi thiếu chiều sâu. Nếu chia thành 2 tập và đào sâu thêm vào những chia sẻ của các người phụ nữ để hiểu thêm về cuộc đời họ thì sẽ hay hơn.
Sách dễ đọc, nhiều hình đẹp (thêm sao), một số chia sẻ vui vẻ tinh tế hữu ích cho một chuyến đi Pháp tuyệt vời (chuyến đi trong mơ).

[Valerie Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and looking at all the color photos, but I wouldn’t say it’s a “good book.” The writing is quite clumsy, and the photos are instagram-pretty but I thought they could be more interesting and varied. This was almost like a zine by some rich girls profiling their rich friends. They made an obvious effort to include one older woman and a younger girl, and some WOC, but overall it was obviously mainly people who run in the rich, insta-famous crowd, which is not the most interesting bunch of people. It was cool to hear some background on the women’s lives/careers, until you found out they basically all have such great lives because they had a rich and/or famous dad or mom or aunt etc. Also, I feel that the authors might as well have profiled themselves, as well. They kept being like “this is what a Parisian woman is like!” But then also trying to show that Parisian women can de varied... but then, like, not really? It’s kind of bizarre. Basically if you want a glimpse into the rich, easy, fashionable world of stereotypical, insta-famous French girls, it’s super enjoyable. (The exceptions are one self-made, mixed-race woman, and one Muslim woman who talked about being blamed for the Nov 13 attacks & how she volunteers a lot to help others.)

[Taynara Arimatéa Neves · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an eternal lover of the city of light and also someone who has studied and lived in Paris, I simply ADORED this book! Do you know those intriguing women you usually spot in cosmopolitan cities like London, New York or Paris? Yeah, that kind of woman that makes you wonder how her life is, what she does for a living, what her hobbies are... So, this book presents us with 20 Parisian women that carry this sort of 'je ne sais quoi' with then, and through a small taste of their lives, we can also have a taste of Paris.

[Céline · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 ster afgerond naar boven. Leuk idee maar niet sterk uitgevoerd. Volgens mij hebben veel van deze vrouwen (niet allemaal...) best wat interessants te vertellen, maar minstens de helft van de tekst wordt in beslag genomen door observaties over de geïnterviewden als: "Ze is zo mysterieus, een echte Parisienne." Of: "Als het over de liefde gaat, wordt ze serieus, zoals de vrouwen in Parijs dat hebben." "Ik vond haar op Instagram en was meteen verliefd!" Na een paar interviews weet je het dan wel. Gemiste kans.

[Theresa Comer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Paris through art history books, my first trip was early fall many years ago after graduating from design school. Total I’ve been three times and still feel an affinity towards Paris and a pull to return. This book is a wonderful way to revisit through the eyes of the women who call it home. The eclectic nature of Paris is in these pages. I now have some new places to explore and others to look at through a different lens on my next visit.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein wunderbar träumerisches Buch über Frauen in Paris und ihre Geschichte. Eine Liebeserklärung an eine der schönsten Städte der Welt.

[Sadhbh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather than sort my Erasmus accomodation, I shall continue to read these books

[Yvette Moorman]

Not a review, just a favourite quote from the book:

“It was pouring it down, worse than today, but I was in awe. The lights, the buildings with their Houssmannian architecture, the French language I could hear everywhere I went. I felt as though the images, the sounds, were drawing me in, and I knew that one day I’d come and live here”

[Krianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of Paris and the perfect “parisien person” has long been a draw in for people everywhere hoping to, just for a while, feel as though they could encapsulate the unparalleled chic-ness, arrogance and melancholy of the French. However, as dreamy as that idea can seem and how perfect this book can seem (I mean it is practically a how to guide with person insight from real life parisien women) I was disappointed with how time and time again the women chosen were the classiest, most artistic and best dressed. There was hardly and room left for originality. Almost every woman was a young, messy haired artist who some how had the money to always have a designer bag on her and never wore makeup. I can understand how this book reflects mostly the personal preferences of the authors (aesthetic or otherwise), however I felt as though each interview was a loose repetition of the precedent.
Lastly, I so wish I had read this in French instead of English. Not only was the translation awkward but image ready about the elusive beauty and intrigue of the French capital *in French.* nothing could make it better.
I won’t pretend for a second that I’m not one of the many that dreams about wandering through Paris, stopping at vintage shops, popping into boulangeries and visiting museums. Pretty much everything I just listed is something I yearn to do someday, but at the end of the day I don’t believe that this slightly, ever so French, arrogant portrayal of “the Parisienne woman” can accurately depict exactly who all these woman are. There’s more to them than vintage designer, trench coats, red lipstick and hip night clubs.

[Laila-Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES YES YES!!! This is my favourite type of book!!! If you loved “How to be Parisian Wherever you are” then you will certainly love “À Paris”. I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time after Goodreads recommended it to me and I wasn’t disappointed. I love Lauren Bastide and her feminist texts so her and Jeanne Damas, a Parisian icon, teaming up was sure to create heaven for me. This is one of those books that I would describe as a very readable coffee table book (in the best way possible). There are large sections of text, its format makes it easy to dip in and out of, and beautiful images as well as a very stylish cover.

I love everything about Paris, it’s a dream for me so although I go there relatively often I never go for more than a few days and don’t think that I actually want to live there anytime soon as that would make the dream a reality and break the spell. But I love living out the dream through books like this… imagining what my life would be like if I did live in Pigalle. I liked the fact that not all of the women profiled are French natives. Being a non-native myself it is nice to hear that one can become French / Parisian and that it is not inherent. The only criticism that I would have is that I would have loved more… more women, more stories, and more detail / info for each person profiled! More direct speech and traditional interview style sections would have been a nice addition as well. I think it is important to acknowledge that this book represents a certain type of Parisian (middle class boho chic), so it is not a comprehensive guide but a representation of a certain Parisian milieu.
*Read in French*

[Jess Debanné · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s rare to find an ode to paris that isn’t overly clichéed- that talks more about its regal intellectuals and feminist philosophers, indie film industry, socially progressive protestors, robust gastronomical culture and the distinct fabric of each arrondissement than about the eiffel tower, bérets and baguettes (which foreigners tend to reduce paris to). the women in this book paint a portrait of a more authentic paris (albeit quite privileged) and skillfully disillusion readers about their city while keeping it mysterious and exciting.
ce livre fait rêver... et les témoignages de ces 20 parisiennes (et damas/bastide) m’ont plongé dans une admiration complète de cette ville des lumières que j’aime tant.

[Thảo Giang · Rating 4 out of 5]

mình luôn thích phụ nữ Pháp. mình ngưỡng mộ cách họ sống hết mình: làm việc hết mình, yêu hết mình, đam mê hết mình. họ sống cảm xúc nhưng mạnh mẽ, họ phù phiếm nhưng sâu sắc, họ đẹp tuyệt vời bởi chính cá tính của bản thân họ.
điều mình ngưỡng mộ nhất là những người phụ nữ được đề cập trong sách đều yêu bản thân họ, yêu chính bản thân họ và sống vì bản thân họ. một điều nữa là họ có phông văn hóa cực kì tốt. đấy chính là điều mình luôn ngưỡng mộ, và là định hướng cho tương lai của mình, cho con người mình muốn trở thành.

[Bianca Picinali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant snapshot of 20 carefully chosen Parisian women and their lives in the city they all adore. I loved the way they showcased the difference of all of their lives. Together creating a true insight into what it is like to be Parisian and the many parts of Paris. I look forward to following many of the suggestions next time I’m in Paris.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating stories.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a little while to get into it, but once I settled in and better understood Jeanne and Lauren’s flow, the more I liked it. This is not a tourists’ guide to Paris, or a book filled with too many neighbourhood secrets, but it is a beautiful snapshot of the women who live there and the experiences they’ve had. Once you realise that and approach it with open eyes, then you start to feel the real benefit contained within. I have ideas and suggestions for upcoming trips (I’m headed to Paris tomorrow, as it happens), but for the most part I’m enriched by the wonderful ‘village’ atmosphere, and the idea of ‘living more Parisian’ in my own hometown. Not that it can replace Paris (how could it?) but you need to make the most of where you are, no? Highly recommended as something you can nicely dip in and out of.

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mình thấy sách viết chưa được sâu lắm (thực ra điều này cũng dễ hiểu vì hai tác giả chỉ phỏng vấn phần lớn các cô gái trong sách chứ không quen biết họ), mình đọc sách xong cũng không đọng lại được gì nhiều. Lối sống tự do của các cô gái trong sách đúng là rất hay, nhưng ở một nước phương Đông như Việt Nam thì chắc là khó áp dụng.

-------------

Mình có mở một tiệm sách nhỏ xinh trên Facebook (www.facebook.com/tiemsachlaplanh) và Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tiemsachlap...). Tiệm mình chuyên cung cấp sách đã qua sử dụng (nhưng còn mới) với giá yêu thương. Mong được bạn ghé thăm. ^^

[nirvana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always wish I was a Parisian millionaire but this really hit different. The girls were kind of really privileged and sometimes irksome but overall totally lovely to read how everyone perceives paris in different yet equally magical ways. also the lists of all the places I didn’t visit in Paris filled me with sadness (cause I haven’t visited them) but with excitement (because maybe I will experience them).

Found it kind of weird they featured a 14 year old because ?? She might regret sharing some info to such a wide audience but whatever. Also the photos weren’t always that good, but wonky chic?? Overall a comforting read because I miss paris and love it so.

[Hello_ripper · Rating 2 out of 5]

JD caught my eye on social media years ago and I started following her and her brand. I finally came round to reading her book and it was okay. There are some negative reviews about the content, but as this sort of books go, they're not really meant to be deep. It's a coffee table/IG friendly book. The women profiled are interesting and embody Paris in them- some I'd be interested to follow or learn more about.

The other negative comment, one that I agree with, is the book had many typos, which is unexpected. The layout is also a bit off, so not sure if this is the case with all editions or not.

[Lucila Gareis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The french it girl jeanne damas wrote a book not on “how to be parisian” but on parisians themselves. I bought the book mainly because i am a fan of her and all the parisian je sais quoi thing and was really surprised that the book is a series of interviews to different french woman and the way they embody the parisienne way of living. It also have some specific recomendations made by jeanne and lauren about places in paris. Easy reading book, not gonna change your life but its gonna make you want to move to paris

[Juliette McBain · Rating 3 out of 5]

+ beautifully nostalgic as a former Parisian myself
+ gorgeous mix of eclectic woman (what I loved the most was the elderly woman who represents a cohort of women who choose to age gracefully, and gracefully they do)
+ reconditions that only a local can provide
+ lovely film photography
+ an easy read

- over-use of “that’s so Parisian” or the likes. We get it.
- over-glamorisation of smoking. Yes a lot of Parisian woman smoke but that’s not what makes them cool & elegant

Overall, very good, 3.5 if it was possible to give it

[Mayra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always been obsessed with Paris and this was a good way to get a glimmer of the city knowing I won’t be able to travel there for a while. The stories were very chic and Parisian. I wish they would’ve highlighted more diverse women. There were a few Black women included but the rest seemed to be very wealthy and privileged white women. It was still an easy and enjoyable read but quite superficial.

[Miyako Watanabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it.
beautiful description of every 20 women in this book,
about to be a true parisienne in paris.
the city of lights so they say,
but also the city of love.
love the details they tell in this book,
where to go and where to eat
or have a good red wine / white wine
and partying, etc.
wonderful photos of each women and
the authors themselves too
in this book.
very entertaining to read it.
if you're a true fan of paris city itself, etc...
then it's a must read book.

[The Adventures of Isabelle Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird thing to say but I have never understood people’s draw and attraction to Paris till reading this book. I received this book as a recycled Christmas gift and was intrigued by the concept of reading about the lives of women from a far off country. Through the writing and the women we meet I have come to see Pairs as a city of poetry. I have only been once before but with these new insights and suggestions I’m keen to go again and see the city with a new lens.

Bonne lecture x

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's called getting the fuck through another Seattle January. Don't judge. I love Paris and especially faubourg culture and there's something wholly dream worthy about imagining these 20 "French girls" as some extension of that pretty-pretty fucked up world? Sue me.

Plus you know, I'm a mom now so I have the attention span of a cabbage.