France Books

This is an excellent guide to Paris for anyone. Many of the addresses suggested by Stimmler-Hall are de rigeur for any Paris aficionado. That the author is able to cast a sexy light to what is already the sexiest city in a manner that is tasteful and intriguing is to her credit. The book itself is quite practical and pretty making for a great purse-friendly companion as well as coffee table decor.

At last, a book that celebrates and encourages women's sexuality in that sexiest of cities, Paris. Naughty Paris: A Lady's guide to the Sexy City is a beautiful and inviting book, offering a feast of sensuality for both the armchair traveler and anyone going to Paris for a fling.

The book is beautifully designed and photographed, and Heather has written a thorough and delightful guide. She recommends cafés for a quiet tête-a-tête, restaurants where you can indulge in aphrodisiac foods and luscious environments, the best places to buy that sexy French lingerie and sex toys. If you've ever wondered about those secretive places where you can get sexy with strangers, Heather tells you where the Libertine Clubs are and how to access these hidden pockets of Paris.

How to dress, how to flirt, books and films to inspire you before you go...Naughty Paris is a complete guide to sparking your sexy juju in Paris. Heather has thought of everything, and whether you're going alone, with gal pals or a lover, you're bound to get in touch with your sexiest self.

No female Francophile should be without this book.

Naughty Paris is exactly what I expected: wonderful! I have spent a lot of time in Paris, and I thought I knew the city well, but Heather has introduced to me to all sorts of new places. She has even given me a new perspective on some old favourites. I am off to Paris again on Friday with an already well-worn copy of this book, knowing I will not be disappointed by any of Heather's suggestions and hints!!

Classy, sassy and extremely well written, this true insider's guide to the sexy side of Paris will allow the reader to feel safe yet bold. I know it did for me. How fabulous is that!

This is an interesting little book...filled with helpful information for those ladies who are perhaps curious, yet a bit shy, about the "other" Paris--the Paris outside the usual tourist attractions. And for the lady who wants to pamper herself while in Paris, this is definitely for you. Stimmler-Hall has done her homework and will lead you through the places to buy (or look at?) sex toys, oggle the strip-teasing hunks, have a fine meal, a relaxing spa treatment and much, much more, sometimes even on a budget. She also gives valuable information and tips on how to stay safe and how to remain a lady throughout your "sexy" visit (Hint: Don't drink too much, as an obviously tipsy woman is thought to be very unattractive in Paris). This is definitely a book for the somewhat shy woman who wants to venture into a bit of the naughty, but wishes to have a safety-net along, as well. The author advises that some of the venues might be better enjoyed with a friend or even a group of friends, but she also provides advice and direction for the solo woman visitor in Paris. All of this with just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek to encourage you to read on and perhaps find your own special bit of spice while visiting Paris. This might not be the book you would give your Grandma for Christmas, but it could be the ideal gift for your girlfriends!

Accessibly written by Gary Lee Kraut (winner of FracePress' Prix d'Excellence for work on France), Paris Revisited: The Guide For The Return Traveler is an excellent travel guide to exploring the splendors of France's grand capital, whether you are returning for revisit or are experiencing Paris' cultural, historical, and architectural grandeur for the very first time. Covering both famous and infamous historical sites, grand museums, prime shopping locals, choice hotels, extensive adventure and gastronomical delights in the restaurant scene, and so much more, Paris Revisited is a superbly organized and enthusiastically recommended reference for enhancing one's travel experience.

Very usable guide to your personal tour of Paris. What Parisian visit are you looking for....this time? If it's casual, or romantic, or historical, or the great cafes, or quick highlights, this is the book to have in hand. Mr. Kraut out does himself in this addition to his books on Paris. As a long time American in Paris, Gary Kraut walks you through the most beautiful and interesting and tasty parts of Paris.

A friends passed me this book--and after finding it so useful I've passed it on to others. It's not a typical guide book...and it is. What's great about this book is that it gets you off the beaten path a bit, and it's fun to read. Lots of info, and like a standard guidebook it has all the relevent information. As a more intimate guide, this author isn't afraid to tell you what he thinks or how he thinks--but the bottom line is always Paris in all its beauty and complexity. It's a good read, as well as a great guide. And for first time travelers, it might be ok, too.

A friend gave this book to me just before my recent visit to Paris and it turned out to be the only one I used. There were extensive descriptions and background for places I'd never heard of before, the guidance intrigued me, and all of the ones I visited turned out to be little gems (and not overrun by tourists) that made my visit more memorable. The major sights are all covered also, but with more of an eye toward appreciation of their charms than a must-see checklist. A great resource.

Most of the mainstream travel books don't fit my personality or have listings that fit my pocket book. This one is for the traveller that wants to see the city - not just other tourists. It's easy to read, has opinions that you can agree (or disagree) with and encourages you to see things, not just for the first time but in a new way. You can tell the book was written by someone that loves the city and he makes you fall in love with Paris too. If you're going to Paris alone, or with someone you're fond of, you'll be delighted. I'm ready to go back.

"çà, c'est paris"! is a popular french song from WWII period. Parisians sang it when Paris was delivered by US and french troops. This is the song I started whislting when I read the first pages and table of contents of this book. It's good to read paris guide books where you're not obliged to go through 50 pages of historical descriptions before you understand what paris is all about. This book is not dull. It is well documented even if this documentation has nothing to do with "classical" culture. It belongs to a tradition in French publishing business: collection of essays written by famous writers about a specific place. In this case, I do not know the writers (I am french)and am not influenced by their past works. One could imagine to publish the same kind of books with texts from Victor Hugo, Ernst Hemmingway and other famous writers.

I took one of the Traveler's Tales books on my trip to Paris, and bought this one when I got back. One of the stories made me miss Paris so much that I wept. I'm doling the stories out slowly to make them last. If you love Paris, this book will keep your psychic connection alive.

If I had not already been Paris-bound, this book assuredly would have had me calling the airlines. What a wonderful, eclectic collection of essays! The piece on Ste. Chappelle, for example, actually manages to convey the jaw-dropping, heart-clenching, breath-taking sheer beauty of the place. Other pieces, such as SOS Medecin, captured utterly the blend of whimsy and solemnity that is Paris. You don't have to be headed for Paris to love this book; you don't even have to be a traveler.

Ahhh Paris. As a graduate student fortunate to be studying in Paris, I found myself falling into the dull routine of class and studying. I was failing to appreciate one of the prettiest cities on earth. This book opened my eyes to the multitude of interesting "trucs" around me in the Latin Quarter. Although some of the stories are more interesting than others, there is genuinely something for everyone's taste in this book. I now often study at the "Deux Magots" cafe due to its history and popularity with Jean Paul Sartres and Simone de Beauvoir that I read about. This book is wonderful for anyone interested in Paris, wanting to take a mental journey there, or a seasoned traveller who thinks they already know Paris. Anyone armed with "Paris Traveler's Tales" can discover the "Joie de Vivre" en Paris!

Like TT: France, this book is a perfect way to prepare psychologically for entering La France. Its collection of essays on living or traveling in Paris has passionate tales and historical accounts.

A book like this is an excellent way to give you pointers on Paris city life. I would never have thought of experiencing the Turkish bathes of a Paris without the wonderful story in TT: Paris. And many would find it maudlin to go exploring Pere Lachaise cemetery, until reading some stories of the experience.

Rick Steves' travel guides do a good job of highlighting particular things to see. Travelers' Tales take the experience to a deeper level.

this is a beautiful book. I could sit for hours looking at the pictures and wishing I could be there. Not only are the photos lovely, but there are bibliographic notes so that you can read more about what you are seeing in the photos. That seemed the most valuable to me, giving one a chance to learn more about this fascinating ruins.

This is in every way a splendid book. The photographs are superb, and present a well-chosen selection of the world's great archeological sites. The one-column authoritative descriptions are a bonus. Don't ignore the historical introduction or the hilarious jottings from the photographer, Georg Gerster. It all brings back so many memories.

The pictures are spectacular, giving you another perspective on nearly every major monument throughout the world. Also is provided a brief history of the monument and what archaeologists believe was the main purpose of it. Great book - highly recommend it to anyone

If you want to review the wonder of human kind's imprint on the earth, enjoy this book. If you want to wonder at the uses of the earth's treasures to show creativity and genius spend time with this book. That these architectural remains can be seen from the air in entirety is made possible by Georg Gerster's incredible artistry.

Exceeded expectations. The views were unexpectedly revealing, and the written descriptions of each view were also unexpectedly revealing.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1892145529/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title
The Patisseries of Paris: Chocolatiers, Tea Salons, Ice Cream Parlors, and more
With only nine days and a FULL program for my Paris vacation I won't have time for mistakes of 'so-so' restautants and patisseries. The book seems to be very thorough and well researched, many reviews agree with other 'foodies' opinions. I have 'tagged' the 'must visits' and 'possibles' and will give you my full review after I will have come back (April 2009).
Again, very well organized, well researched and easy to follow.

This book was everything I hoped it would be - exquisite photographs, evocative of a trip I'll never take, yet seems to be lingering in my brain. Love it ... hope there'll be more, just like it.

My sister and I recently returned from 2 weeks in France. While in Paris we visited several of the recommended patisseries and totally enjoyed the wonderful offerings. We actually planned some of our sightseeing and shopping around the location of a few of these. Good idea for Paris!

I love that this book is devoted to Paris' Patisseries, chocolate shops, and tea shops. When you go to Paris, these are special treats for the eyes and taste buds. Even if you are not traveling, it's a luxury to read the description of each shop's specialty and salivate at the photos.

This book lists the vendors by Arrondissement; and there is an index by business type and alphabetical listing. There are beautiful photos and a description of each shop.

Since the book is small (pocket size), the prints are tiny, I wish they used a bolder font. Also, you have to read through the text to find out what the author liked the most about each shop. The reading is great, but if I'm in one Arrond. and trying to figure out which shop to visit, it would be great to have the special dishes highlighted under each shop, to make them easier to find. Maybe make more use of a sidebar to highlight that info?

This cocoa-dusted treasure hits that mythical sweet spot between practical, trusted travel guide and gorgeous, dreamy (if petite) coffee table book. Full of the kind of beautiful photos and evocative lyrical prose that you'll never find in any guide and jam-packed with all of the actionable, expert advice that's missing from all those exquisitely photographed gift books, this one has it all. Organized by arrondissements, you're meant to flip to the neighborhood you're visiting to find the author's recos for the best macarons, tartes or baguettes nearby. If I were visiting France soon, that's just what I'd be doing. Cramming bookmarks between the pages, grabbing a map and taking off before the sun came up. But for now, curled up on my couch in New Jersey, I'm literally reading this like a romantic novel. Cover to cover. Dreaming of Paris...

The art of Pierre et Gilles shows beauty, sensual, intimate, contemporary and quality works made for two individuals that becomes an author in a perfect union. They create fantastic worlds with photography and paint. Their works talks about their dreams, lifes, obsessions, pleasures, pains, loves, friends, interests. They shows a unncommon vision of the contemporary world through topics related to religion, sexuality, mithology, personalities, and their own lifes. This is one of the most beautiful art books ever made, every single detail have been realized carefully.

The art of Pierre et Gilles shows beauty, sensual, intimate, contemporary and quality works made by two individuals that becomes an author in a perfect union. They create fantastic worlds with photography and paint. Their works talks about their dreams, lifes, obsessions, pleasures, pains, loves, friends, interests. They shows a unncommon vision of the contemporary world through topics related to religion, sexuality, mithology, personalities, and their own lifes. Even like an object, this is one of the most beautiful art books ever made, every single detail have been realized carefully.

The art of Pierre et Gilles shows beauty, sensual, intimate, contemporary and quality works made for two individuals that becomes an author in a perfect union. They create fantastic worlds with photography and paint. Their works talks about their dreams, lifes, obsessions, pleasures, pains, loves, friends, interests. They shows a unncommon vision of the contemporary world through topics related to religion, sexuality, mithology, personalities, and their own lifes. This is one of the most beautiful art books ever made, every single detail have been realized carefully.

The photography of Pierre and Gilles is absolutly fantastic. This makes a stunning coffee table book.

Pierre et Gilles set a new standard when it comes to their combination of photograpy and painting. No wonder photographers like David La Chappelle try to knock off their style (imitation is the highest form of flattery). I found this massive coffee table book to be thorough, entertaining, titillating, and funny. I would recommend it to anyone interesting in modern "pop" art and portrait photography. The imagination of these two is priceless as is this collection of their work.

What a treat to find an interesting well written book that helps explain the Catholic outlook and its rituals to mistified Protestants. Father Frank is a very appealing young priest with his all too human failings, goals and yearnings. We see his family, parish and view of life through his eyes as he goes through a year in the church calendar in training for the NYC marathon. Along the way, we see his growth and that of his church, and we grow in our knowledge of the different celebrations of the church year and their meaning. Frances Bremer has given us a city Catholic priest, reminescent of the Episcopal Father Tim in Jan Karon's Mitford series. She leaves us wanting more.

This book is a fascinating story within a story. Frank, a runner in his 30s, is training for the New York Marathon.

Frank comes across as very human; he could be the boy-next-door with his interest in playing poker, football, drinking beer and hanging out with his friends. But what makes him interesting and complex and gives the story its resonance and depth, is that he is a Catholic Priest.

A very thought provoking book.

God isn't finished with Frank yet and He uses the New York City Marathon to teach him a thing or two. This true story chronicles a year in the life of a young priest in Boston as he struggles to answer Christ's call to follow Him as he attends to his parish and trains for the marathon. As a priest, following Christ means bringing the people of the parish along to learn the love of God for them and the demands of a loving response. And some people, vividly portrayed, don't make it easy.

The analogy of life as a race is at least as old as the Greeks. St. Paul used it to describe his life: I have run the race, I have kept the faith. The race demands training, self-discipline, suffering, and an iron determination to finish. It never goes according to plan and the reward at the finish might not be what was expected.

_Running for Paradise_ is an affecting account that recognizes the rituals and devotions of Catholicism as doors for the human heart to enter the Heart of Christ. Fr. Frank and his flock, in the sometimes gritty circumstances of life, are faced with the reality of the hardness and selfishness of their hearts and invited to open themselves to the life of God's Heart. It is a modern tale of the timeless truths.

This is not a book for cynics - or maybe it is. A sweet and simple story about ordinary people, it runs a bridge over the chasm between rationality, our need for hard proof, and the consoling power of prayer and simple faith. Those of us needing something more than the materiality of modern life may find comfort here. Others, too smart and too busy for religion in their lives, will not bother. They should.

What a treat to find an interesting well written book that helps explain the Catholic outlook and its rituals to mistified Protestants. Father Frank is a very appealing young priest with his all too human failings, goals and yearnings. We see his family, parish and view of life through his eyes as he goes through a year in the church calendar in training for the NYC marathon. Along the way, we see his growth and that of his church, and we grow in our knowledge of the different celebrations of the church year and their meaning. Frances Bremer has given us a city Catholic priest, reminescent of the Episcopal Father Tim in Jan Karon's Mitford series. She leaves us wanting more.

The book was just the up-lift I needed. Great humor!

Lisa Marie Kroeker of Memphis, the only girl out of a family of five children, honored her mother's ban on Barbie dolls and survived a father whose business sign sported his head atop the body of a frog. Amelie Jeanette DuPree, a refined and delicate creature called Amy, moved to Memphis with her mother and Grandmere when both girls were eight. These two young people of conflicting and diverse backgrounds formed an immediate bond of friendship
Lisa immersed herself in Amy's family and their refined family heritage. She loved the unhealthy snacks, bedrooms with flowers and frills, Mrs. DuPree's sophistication and Grandmere's floral French perfumes. Amy enjoyed the Kroeker's rowdy household even though Barbie dolls were disdained and sweets were nonexistent. This loving friendship lasted until their senior year of high school leaving Lisa to guess why Amy had pulled away.
As young women, the two are reunited at a hospital in Cincinnati. Their renewed relationship digs itself into a deeper more solid bond. When Amy's Grandmere dies, they find her white silk purse that holds enough money for both Lisa and Amy to visit Paris. The older lady's note asked them to meet and thank a special family in Paris who owned a world-famous, refined linens shop. This adopted family taught her to create exclusive, elegant needlework, which provided an excellent lifestyle for her family.
Touring Paris forces both girls to face personal fears from the time they arrive at the hotel in a stolen taxi and are entangled with the police department until their last fears are faced at the Eiffel Tower. Both women are Christians and their Paris experience helps strengthen their walk with the Lord. The famous Eiffel Tower parallels a step-by-step walk with God which helps overcome childhood fears.
Read Sisterchicks Say Ooh La La! as a travel guide to Paris: museums, churches, the Eiffel Tower, and a plethora of high and low-end shopping. The poignant and sentimental visit with Grandmere's Paris family is a beautiful story.
A Discussion Guide is included for bookclub members.

An encouraging "read" that pushed me to remember that we can always grow in the weak areas of our lives. I love Robin Jones Gunn's books and this book is a great success as she continues to highlight the blessing of having and being a good friend.

I can only say that Robin Jones Gunn has again spoken to my soul in this book. For everyone who has ever tried to be perfect so that God wouldn't be disappointed in you, it's a must read. The descriptions of sights and experiences in Paris are terrific. We see how God uses even the misguided, prejudiced, and legalistic tactics of one sisterchick's mother as a part of eventually lovingly drawing someone to Himself and how He orchestrates events to reconnect a lost friendship. I love everything about this book and the entire Sisterchicks series. The only drawback to these books is that since their effect is to make me crave visiting all the places Sisterchicks go, it could get to be a very expensive proposition. Can't wait for Sisterchicks in Gondolas. I've already pre-ordered it.

Sisterchicks Say Ooh La La! By Robin Jones Gunn is another entry in the fabulous Sisterchicks series. I've really loved every book in this series, but this one really plucked at my heartstrings. Maybe it was that Lisa is a little sarcastic and cynical like me. Lisa and Amy promised each other in grade school that when they grew up, they would go to Paris together. When Amy's grandmother passes away, they take the time for the trip and find that the road to the City of Lights is filled with bumps. There are a couple of laugh out loud moments in the book, but the strongest parts are about God and His love. Both Lisa and Amy need to face their fears to fully enjoy not only their trip but their lives as well.

Such a cute book!! Both informational and cute. Great for kids and the child within all of us.

Written and drawn in 1959 this children's book taught me a thing or two about a city I thought I already knew a lot about. The pictures and scenes are wonderful in bright colors and include most of the major sites in Paris from "le metro" to Montmartre and the Champs Elysees.

There have been a few of the drawings, or accompanying text, that have been asterisked to reflect the changes that have occurred in Paris since 1959 but if you are taking young ones over I highly recommend this book as a way to make some of what they will see a little more understandable for them.

This book has created a fabulous insight into the world of travel for my children. It has compelled us all to take a language course in French and to travel here and put our dreams into reality. It has planted the seed of intrigue and wonderment to which my children seek out this book to read at bedtime.

Once I have found this book at Amazon and I wondered about the Czech name of the author. I got to explore the book and realized that he was a Czech, what a mystery, we have never been taught about him at school (of no type). His books were written in English after he emigrated from the Czechoslovakia and were never published in Czech. I got too amazed and curious about this book, so I bought it, read it and love it! All the pictures and the style he wrote it in. I just feel cheated, that we Czechs do not know nothing about this wonderful books and about the author.

My granddaughter loves books about Paris; however, she is only 2 1/2 years old. While searching for other books about the city, Paris, we stumbled across this book on Amazon.com. She loves it. It is written in language she can understand and it has many drawings and illustrations to capture her attention. You won't be short changed with this book. We can't wait to order the rest of the books in this series.

David Douglas Duncan is one of the great photojournalists of the 20th Century. Beginning in 1950 he published twenty books over his lifetime. The first one, "This is War" was about the U.S. Marines in Korea and was recognized as a classic as soon as it reached the market. His book "The Private World of Pablo Picasso" introduced that enigmatic artist's personality to the world. People were able to see the private world that the artist both shaped and functioned within. When I was growing up I was so impressed with that book-length photographic essay that I wanted to follow in D.D.D.'s steps. It impressed me every bit as much as "The Family of Man," a Museum of Modern Art exhibit catalog of many photographers that changed the direction of my professional life. Alas, this book is not in the same league as Duncan's classic coffee table photography essays that have sold an almost unbelievable 2 million plus copies. Don't be too disappointed however, that this is not anything like his classics or his wonderful illustrated memoir "Yankee Nomad."
This is a dog lover's book. Anyone who is a German Shepherd owner will especially enjoy it. Overall, I rated it five stars for the dog memoir. I rated it only three stars for a photographic essay. That's how I arrived at an over-all rating of four stars. I was somewhat disappointed in it, but still love having it for my personal book collection.
The chief reasons for my disappointment with the book are my awareness of the volume's poor layout and design and so-so text. Many of the pictures are not up to the usual standard of the famous photojournalist author-photographer. Some of the layout looks exactly like a poorly done photo album. There is even one oval shaped photograph included to make it really resemble a family snapshot album. It's a lovely image and it suffers from the oval presentation. The biggest design problem is the choice of text fonts. I suspect the book was probably printed in several different languages and the French edition was just fed into a computer to translate the text. It was a perfect example of how not to translate a book. As a result, the font and layout reminded me of an elementary school textbook from 45 years ago when that style of type was the norm. At this time in history the poorly designed text blocks actually distracted the reader from some of the really beautiful photographs. I also had a problem with the free verse. The text is a bit confusing, disjointed, missing some basic information and seems too much like a cut-and-past edit, but that too may be the result of translating the text via a computer program?
For the loyal D.D.D. fans as well as all dog lovers, this is a must for your collection. Duncan was always a dog lover and this is only the latest acknowledgment of it. "Thor" really was well named. An unusual observation, feeling, I noticed while reading the book was how interesting the homes and countryside of Southern France appeared in many of the black and white photographs. In some cases I would have liked to be able to step into the pages of the book to better explore the locales shown in the pictures. Thor lived in quite a picturesque home and mountain village. Some of the interior pictures of Thor relaxing at home in front of the fireplace while guarding his owners have a distinct Georgia O'Keefe flavor to them. Some of the bronzes shown decorating the home's interiors have a distinct Picasso feel to them. Thor seemed quite happy living in this artist environment. Like most dogs, however, home to him was were his owners were and he would have been just as happy living in an igloo.

Simply the best book ever published, in my opinion. I wish I could have known Thor. It would have been an honor to share a piece of my life with such a noble being. I see so much of the dignity, the desire for solitude, the love for a family, and the good sense of Thor in my own beloved dogs, Pup and Skit. If you want to know the goodness that resides in the soul of dogs, then find a copy of this gentle book.

A few people reviewing this book have it confused with a novel titled Thor. This is by far my favorite book of all time, in fact, so much so, that I have 2 copies. The pictures are amazing and the love oozing from the words of the author are so touching. I could write a book just like this about my past and present "babies". God speed sweet Thor....snow dancing forever.

The book Thor is one of my favorites...assuming there are not two. The synopsis above does not seem to describe at all the book I and the reviewers have read. The book I so enjoyed described a loyal dog's silent, lonely, heroic struggle to protect his family from an enemy within which he had no chance of defeating. It's truly a wonderful book, in some ways in the spirit of Watership Down or Tailchaiser's Song. The book described in the synopsis, however, seems to be the story of a beloved pet in real life. Very confusing...if you find the suspense tale entitled Thor, on which I believe the movie "Bad Moon" (and equally bad movie, but not the author's fault) was based, pick it up. It's a wonderfully engaging one or two night read that will keep you up til dawn. I hope the author gives those of us who enjoyed the book so much another night or two of pleasure...it's a stretch, but if Bruice Willis continues to get into Die Hard situations, why not Thor? Thrilling, heartwrenching read. Poor kitty.

reviewer o.c., ca. certainly never saw or read the book. as a shepherd trainer and owner i would have to describe this a combinatin of poetry and fine art. genuinely touching. a remarkable epitaph to a dog that was loved and is missed.