... that I think you'll love (plus bonus tip!)
1. Astier de Villatte: Ma Vie à Paris
Now in its fifth edition, Ivan & Benoit, owners of the emporium that is Astier de Villatte, share their best kept Paris tips in this beauty of a book. True to AdV form, it's printed on letterpress and comes with gilded edges. It's been a treasure in my bookcase since it first came out, and I desperately need an upgrade, as the revised edition has a promised 200 or so additional addresses waiting between its pages.
2. Ernest Hemingway: A Moveable Feast
Hemingway's memoir of his years as a struggling journalist and writer in Paris in the 1920s that was published posthumously in 1964. The book is dotted with references to notable figures during the time, from Shakespeare & Company's Sylvia Beach to F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein, and captures the ambience of 1920s Paris, which, coupled with Hemingway's sharp and straightforward prose, makes it a fascinating read on every level.
3. Muriel Barbery: The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Originally published by Gallimard, this novel by Muriel Barbery is set within the walls of a Parisian hôtel particulier. At its heart is Renée Michel, a seemingly unremarkable concierge who carefully conceals her intellect and deep love of art and philosophy. When she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the precocious daughter of an upper-class family in the building, her guarded world begins to shift.
4. Julian Green: Paris
Julian Green was born to American parents in Paris in 1900. In this book, he leads the reader on a dreamlike journey through Paris's courtyards, alleys and secret corners. It's atmospheric, evocative and the perfect read when you're longing for a spot of Parisian flânerie.
5. Ruth Reichl: The Paris Novel
My most recent Paris read, this was one of those light-but-not-silly books that sweeps you along to wander through many familiar corners of Paris and dive into restaurants to sample the dishes. Set in 1980s Paris, the novel follows reserved New Yorker Stella, as she's drawn into a world of art, food and culture, discovering a new side of herself. A foodie treat.
And for the bonus tip! (You might have guessed...)
Rebecca Skye Watson: Parisienne – Secrets to Paris-Inspired Living
An invitation to sprinkle some Parisian charm into your everyday, from styling your home with Haussmannian elegance to curating a Parisienne wardrobe and throwing a soirée. A visual feast filled with inspiration, recipes and secret addresses – and more reading tips.
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