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There are currently 28 member reviews
for The Seine
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M K. (Minneapolis, MN)
The Seine: The River That Made Paris by Elaine Sciolino
The Seine, nearly five hundred miles long, showcases Paris in all its glory and winds its way to the English Channel and adventures outward to New York and elsewhere. It is a shallow dirty river with a history of novelists and artists, breweries and booksellers, and romantics and dreamers. Eliane Sciolino's journey takes you into all the nooks and crannies that are the bounty of any long river. Her zealous research covers infinite possibilities as well as focusing a good deal of the energy to the river's intimate relationship with Paris. Whether you've been to Paris or not, Sciolino's history is rich and bound to entice anyone to at least imagine seeing this river in their lifetime, if only in the many films the Seine plays a part.
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Colleen T. (Lakewood, CO)
The Seine
The Seine – The River That Made Paris by Elaine Sciolino is a wonderful historical description of the River Seine that flows through the heart of Paris, France. Sciolino begins with a description of the Seine as it currently looks and follows the river from its headwaters to its emptying at the English Channel. There are histories and stories of wineries, fishing, barge life, songs, and movies among other things and her story telling is magical. I enjoyed the book and really felt as though I was with the author as she discovered the river from the beginning to the end. However, I wish there would have been more photos of the bridges and buildings, and a glossary of French terms for those of us who don't know French.
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Mary Jane D. (Arlington Heights, IL)
"Everything" Seine
The Seine : The River That Made Paris is an excellent compilation of facts about "everything" Seine. It covers many well researched topics such as its source, its history, its geographic features, its cities, its influence on the arts,its people who live on it and along its banks, its iconic place as a symbol of Paris. The writing style is easy to read and makes all the facts flow like a comprehensive story. At times I thought it got bogged down a bit in details. I would recommend it for people who have visited Paris and the cities on the Seine as I have and it rekindled happy memories. It would also be a good read for someone anticipating a trip for ideas of what to look forward to.
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MN Book Lover
Without the river, it wouldn't be Paris
Although mostly about Paris, this is really about the entire River Seine, from its source in Burgundy to its entry to the sea in Le Havre. But it is mostly about Paris, and how the city depends on the river for commerce, tourism, and romance. Written by a journalist who has lived in France for years, it has a journalistic style, but some portions actually read more like a novel than a travelogue. There are chapters on the bridges, the houseboats, the book sellers, the movies, pollution, floods, and more. Lots of stories about people who live on or make their living on the river. Entertaining and informative.
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Mary G. (North Royalton, OH)
A Book Journey
Reading takes you somewhere else when you have to stay where you are. I've just completed a pleasant journey to The Seine. Along the way I learned myth and history, islands and shorelines, stories, art, and song. Most interesting were the people that tell the stories of the river and its environs. A good book prompts more questions and explorations and I can easily imagine a book group discussion on many topics here. Any one planning to travel to Paris would do well to explore this book prior to boarding your flight.
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Barbara E. (Rockville, MD)
La Belle Seine
This is a wonderful and enthralling history of the Seine from its source to the Atlantic. Sciolino writes in a breezy and very engaging style and includes loads of interesting and little known details about the river, it's history, and life on it. This book made me want to start researching river cruises along the navigable length of the Seine. Such a pleasure to read.
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Lola M.
Unless you are familiar ...
I really believe that if The Seine had been written as a coffee table or travel book with pictures on every page or so it would have been more enjoyable. As it was, I was crawling through the French Language, references to luminaries whose names I did not know and text that had almost a stage musical feel to it.
I am not saying at all that Ms. Sciolino's enthusiasm and obvious love of Paris and the river were a problem ... the setting needs to change. I think the right book format and loads of pictures in color will really capture her heart, the City and the River and the joy she is trying to convey.
Then, I'd be willing to give it another try.
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