I got this softcover at a local Savers thrift shop, for another release copy.

I found the book a charming - and sometimes moody - travel-journal, with a mix of illustrations and text that helps impart the artist's thoughts. There are some photos, too, including one of the author's cat - recently deceased {sniffle}: "it was devastatingly sad, but also kind of funny, in a horrifying way".

The travel journal includes tourist destinations, of course (including a photo of Oscar Wilde's tomb in Père Lachaise, which I visited myself years ago), but also features people - old friends and new, family members and strangers, interesting people seen on the street... clearly there's an artist's eye at work. [She doesn't eschew the artwork of others; there's a funny bit where she's visited the Musée d'Orsay, and includes a sketch of "Garcon et Chat", "one of the sweetest, funniest paintings. Combines my love of cats and naked boys!"]

There are lovely descriptions of food - and poignant descriptions of being homesick, worried about the future, and otherwise being fretful. But the downer moods don't last, and overall it's a great way to visit by proxy.

I'm sending this to BCer LaveggioCoffee to fill a wish - hope you enjoy it!

*** Released for the 2021 Wine+Food challenge. ***

Thanks for this wishlist book - I look forward to reading it, adding to MT TBR

At first I had a hard time getting into this book, but once they arrived in France it was smooth sailing. The illustrations are well done and you definately get the mood of the artist. I would have liked a bit more about France than the artist's struggles with her future, but I guess that's what getting away can do for you - give you time to think about your life. All in all I enjoyed this.

reserving for another bookcrosser via the wishlist tag game

sent off to another bookcrosser for the wishlist tag game.

2021 Keep Them Moving Release Challenge
June 2021 Allergic to 'A' release challenge

Enjoy

Received safely. Thank you so much! I'm really looking forward to this one and suspect that I will get to it sooner rather than later. Thanks again!

Well, I admittedly didn't enjoy this one quite as much as I had expected to. I think I was anticipating a bit more introspection by the author on her experiences. The book felt a bit like a simple litany of activities to me: first we went here, then we ate this, then we went to this other place, etc. Not that the work is in any way bad or uninteresting. I was just expecting more of a through line... perhaps more of an indication of what Lucy and her mother were both hoping to get out of their time in Paris and whether the trip succeeded in bringing that to them or not. Still, I would be willing to check out more of Knisley's work in the future.

I hope the finder enjoys the book!