The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
I was excited to read this book but I found it lacking and very predictable.
28 Friday Jul 2023
Posted book review, Goodreads, paris, reviews
inThe Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
I was excited to read this book but I found it lacking and very predictable.
27 Thursday Jul 2023
Tags
actio, action, assassin, Kill Shot, Mitch Rapp #2, Vince Flynn
Mitch Rapp #2 Kill Shot by Vince Flynn
A pretty good mystery that I enjoyed. I liked the characters and the setting in Paris. The action, mystery and who too trust was well done.
04 Monday Jul 2022
‘Mimi Takes Paris’ (The Mimi Series #1) by Elizabeth Cooke
A very cute book that’s a fast read. Sure some things happen faster than they should but you know what I liked an easy mystery. Mimi the little poodle is charming and a good detective. The cover is cute.
A cozy mystery that’s for sure.
14 Monday Sep 2020
Posted birds, book review, books, paris, reviews
in‘The Wright Brothers’ by David McCullough was an interesting take on the subject of how they got into flying and really how they went about it.
Not really what I fully expected of the book but I liked the photos and learned so much more about the brothers and their family. I did not know that they had a large family or that their sister also was very involved. Learning about the time they spent overseas was also something new.
I have to admit that it was great to see how they approached flying. It would have been nice to hear if any descendants still live but a pretty good book.
18 Sunday Jun 2017
I was enchanted by ‘the little paris bookshop’ and could not wait to read ‘The Little French Bistro’ by Nina George, sadly instead of being enchanted I ended up being a little let down.
‘The Little French Bistro’ centers on the character of Marianne. Yes she is stuck in a loveless, unhappy marriage for over 40 years…so why not leave sooner? 41 years is a long time.
The book starts off dark (ie her wanting to end her life in the Seine) and only when she is saved does the book a lighten up. But the characters never really pop for me and Marianne seems to know to much at times (certain tricks in the kitchen even a chef does not know?)
Basically Marianne leaves and finds happiness elsewhere. Honestly it was like a lot of other books I read, very cookie cutter. Sure it has some nice/funny moments such as being naked on the boat or helping to delivery a baby. But it just felt very average.
(Side note the use French phrases without being translated becomes distracting after a while)
For me the its a very predictable book, you knew the outcome before it ends. I did like the cooking moments, in that it almost reminded me of the charming movie ‘the 100 foot journey’ which was much better then this book. But in the end for me this book was just average. There was nothing really different about it. Now had she maybe had a barge and started cooking on that, that might have spiced it up a little.
“I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”
24 Monday Apr 2017
They say never judge a book by its cover well I did in the case of ‘How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip’ by Hitha Palepu and it turned out to be a cute small book. Could I find some of these tips online sure but a book is much better. That being said the title ‘How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip ‘ is misleading. This book is aimed more towards the first time domestic traveler or business traveler.
Being a world traveler myself I can tell you some of the tips would not work on a 4 week long world trip.
Where one can lose luggage or have to wait days for it to arrive (which is where travel insurance is helpful). Hence my travel tip of ‘pack as if your going to lose it’ comes in. (Hey maybe I could get a book deal! LOL)
Those are the kinds of trips where one has to deal with jet lag or adapter’s as well as a number of other issues. Not to mention bringing gifts for family and friends.
I did find Hitha Palepu’s comments on cocoanut oil very interesting.
Some of the tips are good. As well as reminding people to get out and enjoy the city when you arrive.
And remember if you forget something you can always buy it at your end destinations.
The most important item when you travel is your papers and medication. Check, check and recheck.
Folding versus Rolling was interesting and yes this book is a fun and fast read. Cute drawings as well.
One important item the book misses is where are you staying? Hotel? Family/friends? Because certain items don’t need to be packed and leaves more room for say other items aka souvenirs.
Example: When your on a trip you can always buy that extra vacation T-shirt so you don’t have to take so many T-shirts with you.
Other questions started to pop up such as how are you flying? Domestic or International? Are you in couch or first/business class? If your in first/business you get a lot of items that she advises to pack. And snacks for an International trip are not good because upon arrival you have to dump any fruits/veggies/cheese ec you did not eat. PLus the travel lounge is open to certain fliers so they feed you well.
And this is just me but I am someone who can leave my computer/electronics at home when on vacation.
I rolled my eyes at the tea bags on your eyes…I think not! But true about the airplane being full of germs.
I did like the little list at the end of the book that could easily be pulled out. So that was a plus.
The book is nice and again depending on the type of traveler you are this might be helpful.
Read it and enjoy your trip.
Side note: one little tiny item that bugged me was that there was no photo of the author?
“I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”
14 Saturday Jan 2017
What would happen if you cooked for Picasso? Well what if there was a Picasso painting hidden, waiting to be found? This is what ‘Cooking for Picasso’ by Camille Aubray tries to answer.
So I liked the idea of someone cooking for Picasso. I thought ‘I like this mix of fact and fiction…’ so that is why I was enjoying the first part of this story…and then it would not end. No really it just kept going and going and well that’s never a good sign when one gets bored.
This story after a while becomes very long winded. And predictable. So so very predictable. Ondine cooks for Picasso and likes Picasso she then sleeps with Picasso and becomes pregnant by Picasso but the man she loves who has been gone for so long and thought was dead is back…and they go to america…and and and you get the idea. So VERY predictable.
I was finding myself rolling my eyes more and more as the book went on and I think even my cd player had had enough and on disk 6 the cd got stuck and would not go on (very telling).
I mean you start to get hungry and almost wish that some of the recipes had been listed in the book. And then at times it almost feels like a cook book.
Speaking of books I have discovered that I am not a fan of audio books. They are just not for me. I would rather have a book in my hand instead of listening to over 11 disks meaning well over 13 + hours of being read to. Now sure it is read well by Mozhan Marno but this book just did not work for me.
The mystery could have made this a good book but sadly this one failed. Then all these amazing things happen by pure luck. They find the lawyer alive, and the boy is alive and everything works so well…not to mention there are little details that do not move the story any further. Side note the sex scenes… at times its almost a romance novel that made me roll my eyes even more so.
So cook for Picasso but please just let the man paint.
“I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”
09 Tuesday Aug 2016
Posted actor, books, food, French, funny, Olivia de Havilland, paris, reviews, Uncategorized
in‘Every Frenchman Has One’ By Olivia de Havilland.
Yes that Olivia de Havilland. Let me start by saying that 5 stars is not enough for this book, it needs more. Better yet just buy the book.
Olivia de Havilland has such a wonderful writing style. She talks about her living experiences in France. The humorous stories such as dealing with french doctors, french painters, french drivers…the list goes on and on.
Her humor flies off the pages.
‘Every Frenchman Has One’ is so laugh out loud funny… I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. Sure I might have gotten strange looks from other people in the room but I didn’t care.
This book will leave you with a smile on your face the entire time your reading it. Short and sweet.
It doesn’t matter if ‘Every Frenchman Has One’ was originally published in 1961 this book is timeless. On a funny note this is a very tiny book, think smaller then an iPad mini.
I do wish that the additional interview by Olivia de Havilland at the end had been a little longer but better to have had something then nothing at all.
Oh and happy 100th Birthday Olivia de Havilland and thank you for writing such a wonderful book.
“I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”
27 Wednesday Jan 2016
Upon seeing ‘Cats in Paris A Magical Coloring Book’ by: Won-Sun Jang, the first word that comes to mind is elegant. Simply elegant. This is a must have book.
The drawings are wonderful. Won-Sun Jang really captures the quirks of cats so well. The book is easy to color…if you feel like it or simply leave it as is.
The trip through the streets of Paris is magical.
All the ‘must see’ places of Paris pop up along the way.
Oh and the hidden picture under the cover is a nice surprise.
The little story of the cat as well as the forward puts a smile on your face.
What more could one ask for.
“I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”
20 Monday Jul 2015
‘The Little Paris Bookshop’ by Nina George
I love the idea of a literary apothecary. And seeing Monsieur Perdu set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Sure not so well planned but hey that’s life. Is the book a little predictable sure but its still fun to read. Shows life is an adventure.
I did find it a shame that Monsieur Perdu waited so long to open the letter but then we wouldn’t have this story. I like how his life turned out in the end. And how the lives of others who are a part of this journey turn out for the better. There are a few surprises along the way.
You do find out why he never opened the letter and more importantly whats in the letter.
The companions he meets along the journey are interesting and defiantly different.
Bartering for books was a great idea. It makes one long for physical books because an ebook just can’t capture the really thing.
Once or twice the book did lag a little but in the end I did enjoy it. Its a mixture of adventure, healing, wisdom, life and books.
“I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”