Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light

Paperback - 01 September, 2005 - Transatlantic Press
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By: David Downie
ISBN: 0976925109

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Reviews by readers

Paris Paris: Journey into the City of Light

David Downie is a magnificent writer. His exquisite prose reveals Paris as few other writers have. It is a must! As a native New Yorker and avid reader with eclectic tastes who has greatly enjoyed reading books on Paris and Parisians, for the more than 40 years I have lived here, Paris, Paris, has thoroughly delighted me. Every chapter is unexpected, original and yet finely tuned to reveal the universal truth or should one say truths of the City of Light. Downie writes with such extraordinary sensitivity and respect about this city, its history, its culture and most of all its people that he deserves a special place in the Pantheon of Americans who have found inspiration in their experience of the French capital. Downie demonstrates deep love of his subject matter but far from blind he also writes about the problems of Paris and the shortcomings of its population with compassion. More importantly perhaps he brings to the written page the kind of humanity that leaves his reader a better person for having taken the journey with him.

Wendy Johnson

A "Parisian" New Yorker

Uniquely insightful glimpses of Paris, very well-written.

In order to share my positive feelings about "Paris, Paris"
I am posting a copy of the e-mail I sent to the author and
photographer. Here goes:

Hello to David and Alison.

I want you to know how much I'm enjoying reading your
new book, "Paris, Paris", and looking at the
photographs.

I'm a Californian (San Mateo) who has visited Paris
fourteen times so far since 1986. There is a unique
magic to the city that keeps bringing me back.

In between trips to the City of Light, I read about
Paris whenever I get a chance. I have read at least a
couple of dozen books about Paris, but not until
"Paris, Paris" did I find a book that captures some of
the precise feelings and experiences I've had.

Let me start by saying that, when friends ask me why
they might enjoy a visit to Paris, I often say
something like, "When you're there, you know you're
there." (There is definitely a there there.) For me,
just popping out of a metro or RER station on arrival
in the city and looking around is a very special
thrill: "I am in Paris!" David mentions this,
especially in the chapter on street furniture,
capturing the essence of what I too experience.

Then there's the walk around the perimeter of the
Ile-Saint-Louis, counter-clockwise, of course. I
became fond of this circuit a few years ago, when I
walked the perimeters of both Ile-Saint-Louis and Ile
de la Cite the night before I had to depart for home.
I too enjoyed looking up at beamed ceilings, etc. It's
a nice walk by day, too, but extra special by night.
How interesting it was to me that David chose to write
about the same stroll.

Other points of agreement abound, particularly the
sadness at how some modern developments in Paris have
blighted their portions of the usually wonderful city.
Again David mentions something in particular I've also
noted, the "hairnets" on the unbelievably ugly
Bastille Opera. I further agree with his assessment
that Le Corbusier was a man whose work betrays no
human qualities or sense of humor. In fact, the man
seems to have had no soul.

Re the Place des Vosges, I enjoy the concerts given by
young people with violins and cellos on weekend
afternoons. Their spirited renditions of classical
selections and gypsy-style music are great. You must
have seen them under the arcades just to the left as
you enter under the Pavillion du Roi, yet you only
mention hack musicians in your description of the
Place des Vosges. An unfortunate oversight, or maybe
you don't like these musicians, either.

One of the wonders of reading is the ability to
connect with people you've never met, even those who
have died but left their writing behind. Sometimes you
find a kindred spirit of sorts of a kind you might
never encounter in person. Thank you for writing a
book of essays that gives me the sense of connection
to a like-minded (at least in some respects) person.

One last remark: I read a lot. Only rarely do I come
across a contemporary book as well written as "Paris,
Paris." So congratulations too for your skill at the
craft of writing.

Best wishes!

Bruce Nelson

Merci, David and Alison!

Thank you, David and Alison, for sharing your Paris with me. Soon I will have the pleasure of spending a month in Paris, and the joy of being able to introduce my 16-year-old grandson to the greatest-of-all-cities. Your book deepened my knowledge of Paris, and will allow me to share more of its history with my grandson. I will be taking your book along, reading it in Paris, and looking for all those pieces of the city that you so beautifully described. Again, merci!

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