Books About Americans in Paris

Flavorwire highlighted the "25 Essential Books About Americans in Paris," According to the article:

"Americans have been traveling to Paris to be appreciated for their poetic struggle for years, and a whole Seine's worth of books have come along to share the story."

Here are three of our favorites on the list:

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough

Leave it to unparalleled dad-historian David McCullough to go into the root of the American artist’s journey to Paris, covering minds like John Singer Sargent, Isadora Duncan, and Mary Cassatt.-Flavorwire 

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik
A plus about writing for The New Yorker: they will send you to Paris. You will probably have to write about your impressions. Gopnik calls his time in Paris, with un bebe in tow, a “sentimental re-education.”-Flavorwire 

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

A crucial piece of the Hemingway mythology, this memoir takes you to 1920s expatriate Paris with Hemingway and the rest of the gang, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and Ford Maddox Ford, among others. Learn where Hemingway smoked, drank, and wrote, and feel some sort of inspiration in that knowledge.-Flavorwire 

If you'd like to travel to Paris without the expense before the chaos of the fall "Back to School" fever grabs hold of your life look at Flavorwire's  list and pick one to take you on a ride down the Seine.  

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

Visit Paris with Madeline

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I guess I'm not a Madeline fan, nor is my daughter. She lost interest in this book long before it was finished, and it is very short on words. However, my daughter loved the illustrations. From the adult perspective, I loved the Parisian landmarks that were sprinkled throughout the book, but again, the story did not match the quality of the illustrations. Another thing that I did like about Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans is the fact that a short history of each landmark is included on the last page of the picture book, just in case the reader is not familiar with them. I also need to mention that the story is told using a simple rhyme scheme, which is very nice for introducing your child to this concept.  Each of these points are why the book received three out of five stars.

Madeline is the story of the littlest girl at a Catholic boarding school in Paris, France. Madeline is her name, and Madeline is not afraid of anything, not even tigers at the zoo. Madeline, along with all her classmates, travels throughout Paris on her daily walks, and enjoys the sights and sounds of Paris. Unfortunately, one day Madeline is stricken with appendicitis and has to be rushed to the hospital, but not to worry, all is well in the end.

I know that Madeline is beloved by many children and adults, but for my little munchkin it is not a favorite.  As to the Why?  Why is this book not a favorite?  Well, I'd have to say that substance of story is one reason, and then there is the subjectivity factor, which can not be discounted.  For our two member reading group this book did not have the five star qualities others we have read possess.  Again, reviews are very subjective, and based on all the good points this book has to offer I would most definitely share it with children.  The introduction to Paris is priceless, and I will enjoy taking Irene to Paris one day to see all the Parisian landmarks we visited with Madeline in person.