This book is very specifically about the St. Germain area in Paris. There is a lot of history, which I personally don’t care about because it has a lot to do with times of Queens and princesses, kings, matters of court, that I really don’t find interesting. I do like to read about the writers and artists, Expats, etc, That said, there are some wonderful jewels in this book which I will take with me next time I go to Paris. I have some new places to go and new insights into a world I love.

Meandering stuff^%$#%, regarding St-Germaine,Paris. I feel more comfortable with Rue Bonaparte now, and very glad to learn about the first public library in France created 1648, Bibliotheque Mazarine. Facing the Seine, close to D'Orsay--must get there. But otherwise, how did this book get past an editor?

Heading to Paris soon, so this book was a perfect read to whet my appetite for the city. Interesting and enjoyable trip through the history and buildings of St Germaine.

History Alive

I loved that it was a memoir about life in France but really chock full of history. It is very amazing how much she packs in.
Makes me want to read The Three Musketeers.

Great little diversion on the charming neighborhood of St. Germain. We stay there each summer and found this description spot on.

Having just spent a couple weeks in a rented apartment in the 6th arrondissement in Paris, I was fascinated by this book. I enjoyed delving into the history of the neighborhood, and reading the anecdotes of the author. A fun read for anyone who has visited or lived in the area.

interesting bits of history.

An informative and fun read about Paris.

More reading in preparation for our trip to Paris next year!

I don't know what to make of this book. The author herself calls it an "essay," but if it is, what is the thesis? These are just a collection of random, haphazard vignettes based on her experience living in the St-Germain-de-Pres quarter (6th arrondissement) in Paris. I found the book disjointed, largely frivolous, and horrendously self-serving. I lost count of the number of times she referred to her specific address on Rue Bonaparte (who cares!) and that she can see a chapel built by Queen Marguerite de Valois in 1608 outside her kitchen window.

The book meanders around, and apparently any Parisian history before the 15-1600's isn't really worth delving into. She mentions the strong quartet of French queens, and the historical d'Artagnan, but this isn't a book about the strong women who shaped the quarter or the real-life Dumas character. It's just "color" for some architectural musing, most of which lead nowhere, like the connecting wall between her kitchen and that cursed chapel.

Nor is this a "guidebook to literary Paris" in any sense of the word "guide." The book jumps back and forth in time and place constantly, with little in the way of segue. She does a LOT of name-dropping: I knew so-and-so painter, I saw such-and-such actress buying groceries. Wow! What does having dinner with a member of the Academy Francais have to do with the quarter? About as much as the list of famous names on pages 168 and 169. I quote:

"[Natalie Clifford] Barney was beautiful and rich, and gathered around her a powerful, arty circle, people like Joyce, Flanner, of course, and Colette, and longtime friend the painter Romaine Books. The following list from a website devoted to her, of people who ate the cucumber (some say chicken) sandwiches and drank the champagne at her Friday salons, is worth quoting for its informative roster of Parisian figures: ... "

She then literally just lists 47 prominent writers and artists, all of whom quite famously spent significant time in Paris. Which begs the question: so what? You could just as easily make a list of the famous people who visited the Eiffel Tower, or walked in the Louvre. She then digresses into why Hemingway was absent, a question she doesn't answer, before going into descriptions about famous English-language bookstores in the area (because Hemingway was friends with the founder of Shakespeare & Company). Again, it's all just superficial observation - there is but the faintest threads of trying to tie anything together into something more meaningful.

Honestly, if you enjoy disjointed, pointless prose, you'll like this book. I hope her novels don't read like this, but I feel like her editors just gave her a pass because she's relatively famous. A shame.

part of the national geographic traveler series that also has dunlop's spain National Geographic Traveler: Spain and roff smith's oz National Geographic Traveler: Australia. diane johnson is a noted and popular novelist from "Le divorce" and "lulu in marrakech" Lulu in Marrakech (she of two pulitzers, 3 national book award noms) johnson lives in st germaine de pres (sp and diacritics? uff) and takes the reader all aournd poking noses in old churches, haute shops, and literary cafes like flores and deux magots. is you like your history with some sugar, this is a very nice read with lots a juice on queen margot and her family of fuck ups. you'd think the guillotine (HE lived in the neighborhood too) would of done the trick. 3.5 star

Anecdotal history of the St. Germain area in the sixth arrondissement. She knows how to choose her anecdotes and includes intriguing bits of history. Read in preparation for Paris.