Over All Rating Reviews :
The root of good humor is serious issues, and the book is grounded in loneliness, alienation and the quest for good food (if you don't think this is serious, ask Parisians). Lebovitz first realizes he's become Parisian when he puts on a fresh ironed shirt and nice pants just to walk downstairs to deposit a bag of trash. Apparently clothes are continually judged there. He also refers to a series of commercials for a newspaper, Le Parisian Publicite, which very humorously portray Parisians' self-centeredness. At the same time, he continually humiliates himself as he inadvertently mangles the language, e.g. a one-syllable mistake that leads him to repeatedly refer to a male body part without realizing it.
The interspersing of recipes is not only useful but makes for a good read. As Lebovitz is a cookbook author (he mentions the time he spends testing recipes) and former pastry chef, they fit smoothly into the narrative. Often I'd end up reading a recipe before bed and making it the next day. Thus far I've tried the mousse (quite easy--it's considered a basic dessert in France), the macaroons (unbelievably good) and the socca (chick pea crepes). While I enjoy Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop as well, the sheer quantity of recipes can be overwhelming. I hope to actually make a good percentage of the recipes in The Sweet Life in Paris, especially considering Lebovitz seems to have included many of his favorites.
By the end of the book, Lebovitz isn't sure if he's more Parisian or American. Parisians (a unique group within France, just as New Yorkers are in the U.S.) still occasionally perplex him, but he often feels even more out of place among Americans.
This would be a great book to read if you're planning a trip to Paris, if you love tasteful (not cloying) dessert recipes, or if you just want to have fun learning more about Paris (and, by comparison, the U.S.).
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