French Affair, A: The Paris Beat 1965-1998 [Paperback]

Mary Blume (Author), Ronald Searle (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2000

"Sophisticated . . . Witty . . . Blume has a unique talent for tracking down interesting, sometimes bizarre, and almost always funny . . . doers of things French." -Diane Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle

Mary Blume brings her insight, humor, and unique perspective to bear on the French in this collection of thirty-three years of International Herald Tribune columns. A trusted insider in an exclusive world, Blume is also the quintessential American in Paris. Francophiles will love her intimate conversations with French icons such as Franois Truffaut and her tribute to Simone Signoret. In another essay, Blume takes us back to the humble beginnings of the Citroen 2 CV, which began as a motorized wagon and became a beloved symbol to the French, despite its ungainly practicality. From "The Friends of Mona Lisa" to "The Fine Art of Window Shopping," this collection of sixty-one pieces, with illustrations by Ronald Searle, is a delightful celebration of French ways and their meaning.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Even the most dedicated expat rarely manages to completely fit into an adopted foreign culture. It's precisely this quality that allows American Mary Blume to so thoughtfully observe and record Paris, the city that's served as her home for over three decades, though its ways may still mystify her. In A French Affair--a collection of essays published in the International Herald Tribune--the columnist deftly captures the quirks and changes that are visible only to those who live in France, though they may be most interesting to those who don't.

In these commentaries--ranging from the opening of invention conventions to the mire of bureaucracy that accompanies the naming of a street (which may only be named after dead people, preferably deceased for at least 15 years)--Blume unveils the French quest for perfection in a world that's perfectly imperfect because of French design, and how the logic of Descartes's descendents--regarding such points as grammar--is sometimes extreme to the point of being irrational. She captures trends, from the fashionable la ratte potato to the metric system. She records notable moments---the death of a designer, the opening of a charm school for men--and notable people, such as Renoir's jet-setting son and Simone de Beauvoir. Of course, this being a book about France, Blume occasionally delves into food, be it the inner workings of a soup kitchen or the launching of cooking classes taught by royalty. With these witty and insightful short snippets, Blume provides small, crystal-clear windows into true French life--a rare accomplishment from an expatriate or a native. --Melissa Rossi --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Blume (C?te d'Azur: Inventing the French Riviera) has lived in France for over three decades. Here is a collection of 61 of her International Herald Tribune columns, which includes commentary on French social and cultural life and profiles of writers and film directors. She describes, among other things, a museum built in honor of the bearded lady of Thaon, Clementine Delait; a street still waiting to be named; and an uprising led by the regulars of a restaurant who do not want things to change under the new managementAall of which read like absurdist comedy. Illustrations by Ronald Searle enhance the irreverent and perceptive text. These essays give us an insider's view of things quintessentially French, but a collection of columns, by nature, tends to be dated. Not an essential purchase.ARavi Shenoy, Hinsdale P.L., IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Plume (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452282039
• ISBN-13: 978-0452282032
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,269,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Open a vintage Bordeaux and enjoy this wonderful book., January 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A French Affair: The Paris Beat, 1965-1998 (Hardcover)

I don't think I've enjoyed a book this much in ages. Mary Blume really understands the French, especially the Parisians, and gives them to the reader without the colonialist tendencies of Peter Mayle. If you love Paris, you must read this book. A votre sante!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, February 3, 2001

By 

Tom Williams "Marketing Maven" (Albany, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Affair, A: The Paris Beat 1965-1998 (Paperback)

I have visited France frequently, and am an avid reader of books about France. I loved the title and cover photo on this book, and had great hopes for the book since the writer had reported from Paris for The International Herald Tribune for many years. While the book is well written, I felt that many of the essays failed to connect with the French spirit and joie de vivre. I found some of the writing to be dry and the book slow. Each story was originally an article in the paper, and while they might have worked reading them with the morning coffee, they did not work for me as a collection.

The book title would lead you to believe that the book is about France, some of the stories take place in other countries and I could not figure out how they ended up in the book. Additionally the last section of the book focuses on a group of European filmmakers that would have worked well as a Filmography, but for my money did not belong in a book of this title.

Don't get me wrong, there are some interesting and well-written pieces in this book, but you have to trundle through pages that I feel are slow and dated to get to them. If you have not read much about France, I recommend Adam Gopnick's "Paris to The Moon," John Littell's "French Impressions," or for a humorous perspective any of Peter Mayle's "Provence" works. Of course, don't miss the grandfather of all books on France, Hemmingway's "A Moveable Feast."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put it down, January 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A French Affair: The Paris Beat, 1965-1998 (Hardcover)

An entertaining, literate, even exciting book, a collection of her journalistic writings while living in Paris for a number of years. I'm trying to stretch the book out, to make it last as long as possible. I wish it was possible for a sequel right away!