Did the city of Paris come alive for you in the novel? Was the sense of place an important aspect for you in your reading?

Did the city of Paris come alive for you in the novel? If you have been there, did it evoke memories? If not, could you picture it? Was the sense of place an important aspect for you in your reading?

I have been to Paris and loved it. Some of the places mentioned were familiar to me, but the details of daily life and lifestyle are so much more interesting than mere places. I also think that the sense of place and the French way of looking at things was appealing and interesting. Though most of the main characters were American you also saw the French influence on them and their interaction with the natives was also interesting to me. One of the most enlighting things about France for me was the size of their homes and apartments(much smaller than ours) and the more Spartan furnishings and appliances.

Yes, I thought the description of Paris and what it was like to live there was one of the best parts of the book.

I felt like I was transported to the city. There were the museums, the restaurants, the markets, the ice cream shop and all the places I have visited on trips to Paris. More than that, I found the culture accurately represented. I often felt that even though I couldn't travel to Paris this year, I was visiting the city though the eyes of the author.

Yes. I have visited Paris several times and really enjoyed seeing the places that I visited through the eyes of the characters in this book. Also agree that the author represented the French culture very well in this novel.

I have never been to Paris. The book did bring the culture of Paris out. The descriptions of the pastries, the cafes on the sidewalks, and the French language really brought you to Paris.

I have not been to Paris, but I felt the Reyl's description gave me a sense of what the city is like. I particularly liked the descriptions of social interaction which created a picture of the people and how they reacted to various attitudes and behaviors.

Yes, I felt that I was back in Paris. The descriptions were very good, both physical and cultural, an enjoyable read.

I have never been to Paris but it was exactly the description of the book itself that made we want to read it. I knew from the beginning that I was going to be engrossed in French society in a way that would make it feel like I had visited. I just loved the detailed descriptions; this book was everything I had hoped it would be! I felt like I was walking the dog throughout the city. Why can't I think of his name right now?

I visited Paris only once after having taken French in college. I was transported back to the Luxembourg Gardens with Katherine each time she walked Orlando. I envisioned hazelnut pastries. I gravitate to books set in and around Paris. This book did not disappoint!

Frankly I've not been to Paris----but I sure like to pretend when watching HGTV's House Hunters International! And that's the way I know I'd like to be there, but with a lot more money than those young people have to spend.

Yes, I loved the descriptions of Paris. I have been there several times and each time have seen a new part of the city that I did not see before. The last time we went we rented an apartment in the Marais district so this book was a great reminder of that time.

Have never been, but the book brought it to life for me. Majored in French in hopes of being a translator, but life intervened.

Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world. It is beautiful, historic, full of culture, and truly special. I don't get there often, and so for me, this book did help to bring the city alive. The sense of place WAS important!

Paris is on my bucket list, so I loved reading the descriptions of places and of the food. I think it would be fun to do a trip using the book to visit the places described and eating the food depicted so scrumptiously. I am dying to try something with chestnuts or artichokes like those in the book! She was so descriptive I felt at times like I was right there with her.
The french phrasing was used a bit too much. It became irritating to me after awhile.

Yes. I think Paris was almost as much a character in the story as any of the people. I have never been there except in books such as this that make me feel like I would love it. Like RiverLee I was mostly annoyed by the sentences/phrases that were in French. I hate not really knowing what people are saying. I realize this is thought to be important for establishing a sense of place. But it is not a mechanism that I enjoy.

Yes. I was drawn to the book because of the setting in Paris. I love Paris and I loved reliving it through the book.

I also was drawn to the book because of the Paris setting. And I enjoyed reading the French bits because that kept me in the French state of mind and it was done sparingly (in my humble opinion) not in long passages. What truly made me feel I was there was the food! My mouth was frequently watering! Also the fact that the French can do a lot with a little space in making a home (their appliances are so small compared with American ones). The only slightly irritating bit was when people kept repeating that Kate had no accent, and when she told herself that. My experience with attempting to speak French in France is, an American never has "the right accent" but in Paris they're more tolerant than in the smaller towns.

Yes, it did and I enjoyed this aspect of this book so much. I have never traveled to France, it is on my bucket list.