A place where young Americans can seek poetic magic in the winding streets of a beautiful city. The museums, the cafés, the parks. An artist like Lucy can really enjoy Paris in January. If only she can stop griping at her mother. This comic journal details a mother and daughter¿s month-long stay in a small apartment in the fifth arrondissement. Lucy is grappling with the onslaught of adulthood. Her mother faces fifty. They are both dealing with their shifting relationship. All the while, they navigate Paris with halting French and dog-eared guidebooks.
French Milk
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
For her 22nd birthday—and her mother's 50th—Lucy Knisley and her mother went to Paris. For more than a month, they toured the City of Lights from their fifth arrondissement flat, exploring museums and cafes, taking photographs, eating pastries and drinking French milk, which Knisley says is sweeter than its American counterpart; she compares it with the influence we take in from our mothers. Knisley's first book is unquestionably a travel journal first and foremost: Lucy-the-writer is so close to Lucy-the-subject that at times the story lacks background and emotional complexity. But as a travel journal French Milk shines. Knisley's photographs from the trip punctuate sketches of her daily adventures and musings about graduating from art school, first love and having an adult relationship with her mother. Best of all are Knisley's portraits of home at the beginning and end of the book, which capture her childhood home and college life lovingly but with clear eyes. Knisley's cartoony drawings are pleasingly clean in one panel and tellingly detailed in the next. A word-of-mouth hit when it first came out in a self-published limited edition, French Milk will remind readers of their own early trips to Europe and of traveling in their 20s. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Review
"A keenly observed letter back home...the pleasure Knisley takes in food and company is infectious." -- Douglas Wolk, slate
"Charming." -- Publishers Weekly
"Wonderful....Read it and you will not be disappointed." -- Whitney Matheson, Usa Today --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
"Charming." -- Publishers Weekly
"Wonderful....Read it and you will not be disappointed." -- Whitney Matheson, Usa Today --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am very interested in travel, anything French especially Paris as I have not yet been and have always been interested in comics and cartooning so this book was a real treasure to find. I liked the simple style and also the musings on everyday things in life. I felt like I was on this trip with Lucy and her mom. I am planning on using it as a bit of travel guide, for when I finally make my trip, also as a mother/daughter team. I would love to read more books by her...how about one set in NYC - my favorite place in the world!
24 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Glass Castle author Jeannette Walls once told me that memoir should be universal, and I've kept that in mind ever since when I read them. What I think she meant is that while a memoir is specific to the storyteller in the details, anyone should be able to relate to it, somehow. As I read Lucy Knisley's French Milk, I was struck by her storytelling, but also her age, use of photography, and that I could never write such a book, though I too have traveled to Paris with my mother.
The fact that her divorced parents are on good terms, a fact she casually drops in, resonated with me, especially when her father comes to join them for a brief visit during their six-week trip. This would never happen in my divorced family, and it made me, briefly, jealous--again, this goes back to Walls's maxim; my life circumstances may not be the same as Knisley's, but hers caused me to reflect on my own. She also exhibits a particular pride and faith in her work (with the occasional doubts), one that I still struggle with in my early thirties. Her dedication to her art and the creation of this book are apparent. Other moments are brief but powerful, such as going up the Eiffel Tower on a particularly windy day, where Knisley writes, "You could feel the tower move in the wind and see the birds blown off course."
I was torn as to the value of the photographs she included; at first, I thought there was something unfair about it, but then I came upon one of her kissing a wall and realized there was no other way to capture that moment, at least, not so thoroughly. The photos are used sparingly, without comment, filling in gaps in her story, fleshing them out and creating what feels more like an intimate scrapbook than a memoir, albeit an accessible one.
French Milk is a travelogue, and as such, sometimes the details of each meal become less interesting toward the end. But it's Knisley's personality, and little details that make this book so charming, whether it's the odd characters she meets or her feeling low on a particular day or railing against a piece of bad art, going so far as to name the artist, who's made a rendition of Paris Hilton, by name.
I finished the book a bit jealous of Knisley's closeness with her mother, and impressed that she managed to finesse both the details and the bigger picture, a portrait of a young woman just starting out in "the real world," but taking a detour to a city full of pastries, lush dinners, cemeteries, art and adventure before she does so. French Milk will appeal to Americans who've, like Knisley, fallen for Paris, and those looking to recapture their college traveling days. As for me, I'm giving a copy to my mom, and hope that our travels are as fruitful.
The fact that her divorced parents are on good terms, a fact she casually drops in, resonated with me, especially when her father comes to join them for a brief visit during their six-week trip. This would never happen in my divorced family, and it made me, briefly, jealous--again, this goes back to Walls's maxim; my life circumstances may not be the same as Knisley's, but hers caused me to reflect on my own. She also exhibits a particular pride and faith in her work (with the occasional doubts), one that I still struggle with in my early thirties. Her dedication to her art and the creation of this book are apparent. Other moments are brief but powerful, such as going up the Eiffel Tower on a particularly windy day, where Knisley writes, "You could feel the tower move in the wind and see the birds blown off course."
I was torn as to the value of the photographs she included; at first, I thought there was something unfair about it, but then I came upon one of her kissing a wall and realized there was no other way to capture that moment, at least, not so thoroughly. The photos are used sparingly, without comment, filling in gaps in her story, fleshing them out and creating what feels more like an intimate scrapbook than a memoir, albeit an accessible one.
French Milk is a travelogue, and as such, sometimes the details of each meal become less interesting toward the end. But it's Knisley's personality, and little details that make this book so charming, whether it's the odd characters she meets or her feeling low on a particular day or railing against a piece of bad art, going so far as to name the artist, who's made a rendition of Paris Hilton, by name.
I finished the book a bit jealous of Knisley's closeness with her mother, and impressed that she managed to finesse both the details and the bigger picture, a portrait of a young woman just starting out in "the real world," but taking a detour to a city full of pastries, lush dinners, cemeteries, art and adventure before she does so. French Milk will appeal to Americans who've, like Knisley, fallen for Paris, and those looking to recapture their college traveling days. As for me, I'm giving a copy to my mom, and hope that our travels are as fruitful.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked up this book because it incorporated photographs with the standard graphic novel. The artwork and unique manner of incorporating drawings and photographs are top-notch.
However, the story of the author and her mother spending a month in Paris really doesn't go anywhere. There's lots of writing about the food and visiting various sites. However, the author getting depressed and stressed while on vacation was annoying. Let's see, you have rich parents who can afford to take you to Paris for a month and you are going to lay around whining about your life. Smacks of pampered privilege to me, which I'm not interested in reading about.
Despite that, however, the art makes for a decent story about a month in Paris, although nothing is exactly ground-breaking.
However, the story of the author and her mother spending a month in Paris really doesn't go anywhere. There's lots of writing about the food and visiting various sites. However, the author getting depressed and stressed while on vacation was annoying. Let's see, you have rich parents who can afford to take you to Paris for a month and you are going to lay around whining about your life. Smacks of pampered privilege to me, which I'm not interested in reading about.
Despite that, however, the art makes for a decent story about a month in Paris, although nothing is exactly ground-breaking.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
French Milk!
Lucy Knisley's graphic memoir was so much fun to read. It was a feast for the eyes. I'm looking forward to reading "Relish".
Published 4 days ago by Susan J. Bybee
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Diary of Someone You Don't Know
Although I breezed through this graphic novel (which includes some photos), I was not overly impressed with it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Samantha Glasser
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Memories!
About a month ago I read Relish by Lucy Knisley and instantly became a huge fan of her work. After I read Relish I had to get her earlier, French Milk; and I'm so glad I did. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kinx's Book Nook
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid Story
I love Lucy Knisley's artwork. It's a nice, easy read that's pretty enjoyable once you get rid of all the intense jealousy (ha). Read more
Published 2 months ago by yolie contreras
2.0 out of 5 stars
If you like comic books this may be for you....
But not so much for me. It's just a college kids little scrap book about her trip to Paris. If you enjoy drawing or comic books....you will enjoy this. Just not my cup of tea.
Published 4 months ago by lcm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quirky Book
This book was pretty good as an afternoon read on a rainy day. It reminded me a lot of my sister who is very artistic. I bought this for her but enjoyed reading it myself.
Published 5 months ago by KyleMcAwesome
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cute and Relaxing Read
I originally saw this book as a recommendation in a fashion magazine. I am so glad I read it. It is beautifully illustrated, more comic-style than detailed illustrations. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ashley
4.0 out of 5 stars
It will charm your pants off
Throw away those Paris guidebooks and instead pick up a copy of 'French Milk'! Perfectly depicting Paris in an honest and straightforward way, combined with photographs and lovely... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Anna Clare
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
I found this 'novel' childish and boring. I felt like i was five years old again, reading from the perspective of another five year old. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jacqueline
5.0 out of 5 stars
Such fun, and such great food!
I loved this little book. I like anything that's a little different, and this illustrated travel journal definitely caught my eye in the bookstore. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Anne Salazar
