Paris

16 essays and texts including:

Paul Dukas - The Influence of Wagner
Max Leroy - The 1st French friends of Wagner
A Duibisson - Wagner and his French editor
A Coeuroy - Notes on the French Wagnerian novel
E Dujardin - Summary of La Revue Wagnerienne
A Jullien - The opening of Tannhauser.

Lots of quirky bits of info you don't normally hear about. Dull in parts, gripping elsewhere; depends what you're after!

The conversations are recorded in a tradition interview style with the interviewer's questions written after his initials and a colon and the subject's responses after his initials and a colon. This, however, is as close to tradition as Weiss gets and his innovation works well. For the most

I enjoyed the story, but kept feeling like it wasn't coming from Ms. Sayers' own "quill." This novel was written very lightly and loosely compared to Ms. Sayers' other novels. Too many extraneous subplots were included.

I appreciated knowing what happens to the family, but felt a sense of finality too. I guess no one plans to write further stories about Lord Peter. The door was firmly shut at the end of the book.

Of course, don't forget the short story about Lord Peter's first son being born - The Haunted Policeman. And, wasn't there another short story with both sons included? So, we, Lord Peter Wimsey fans, are not totally bereft of tales of the Wimsey family after Lord Peter and Harriet Vane married.

The story picks up a few months after BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON. Lord Peter and Harriet have returned to their London residence, Harriet is still trying to adjust to her new lifestyle and both are struggling with Peter's family. A murder takes place involving a young couple with which they are acquainted. Peter and Parker solve the crime with the assistance of Harriet and Bunter.

The scenes of the Wimseys' domestic life are wonderful, and well written. Harriet finally standing up to her overbearing sister-in-law is fantastic! There are many delightful journal enteries from the Dowager Duchess as well as scenes with many old friends from previous novels.

The flaws I found were really more in the editing than the writing. Some passages could have been trimmed a bit, perhaps others even eliminated since fans of Lord Peter and Harriet Vane really don't need to be reminded of the back story. More details about the time period, particularly Edward and Mrs Simpson, the rise of Hitler and the changing of societal rules were added in this work than in the original stories but Ms Sayers was writing for a contemporary audience while Ms Walsh's readers are separated from the era by seventy years.

I found the book a pleasant read but there is not much focus to it. The plot follows her adventures or misadventures and the characters come and go. It rambled too much for my taste and, and even though I learned a bit about her experience as an expatriate, I found the story too one-dimensional and soon got bored.

Boston, MA

As a Christian, I read this book because I felt it as my duty to see why so many people both Christians and non-Christians are flocking to get the book. It seems that the book generated a lot of fans and recieved huge ammounts of media coverage, even by those who hadn't even read the book. There was no way I could just sit by quietly while so many people are making all sorts of judgements and opinions about my God and what He stood for.
I controlled my natural human tendency to place judgement upon the book and its subject matter without first reading the book, thus, I approached it with as much of an open mind as possible. Upon completion of the book, I was astounded. I was amazed at how a writer could claimed the book as a work of fiction, yet used countless claims of facts based upon numerous "reliable" sources. Many inaccuracies of the sources have already been pointed out by the posts of other readers, thus I will not have to repeat them. I find the author to be very contradictory simply in the notion that facts do not result in fiction! Why label a book as fiction when attempting shamelessly to portray the material as supported by facts? Therefore, regardless of how many "theories" Mr. Brown came up with, supported by his discovery of many "factual sources" in the book, obviously he himself did not believe in what he wrote, thus, passing the book off as fiction.

I find it incredibly sad and also aware of how dangerously gullible our society's become when so many will accept a book of fiction as truth due to their attraction to controversy, doubts and desire to rebell and prejudge against something they do not understand or hold dear. I am amazed how this could be accomplished by someone cleverly manipulating to interwove facts and fictions to serve their own ideals and beliefs. I am amazed at how the principle of religious tolerance is a big building block of our great country, yet a book such as this could be published and accepted by so many.

As a Christian I am deeply offended by Mr. Brown's attempt at dragging the core of Christianity through the mud and than hiding his actions by labeling his book as "fiction", yet knowing the potential damage it'll generate. He is fully responsible for spreading false information and leading those who are gullible enough to treat this information as truth and is helping tremendously in the efforts of those trying to take away everything that is sacred about Christianity and the Church.

As a Christian I am deeply offended and can't help wondering how many of those same people who have embraced the book have took the time to read the most accurate Christian text available on earth, the Holy Bible. Just as I would never go and read a book contesting the core believes of any other religion without fully comprehending that religion, I find it appalling how many people would be tempted to believe a work of fiction over the Holy Bible.

My biggest amazement is how someone can get away with treating Christianity this way. I highly doubt anyone would dare challenge another major religion in this way and be able to get away with it. That just embodies the level of forgiveness Christians are blessed with and the reflection of how Jesus Christ still forgave those who sent Him to the Cross. Christians have been persecuted throughout history, and unfortunately, even to this day, surprisingly even in this country. This is evident in the huge outcry of anti-semitism Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" received even before it's release. There is without a question that there are people who are uncomfortable and feel their own ideals threatened by the concept of Christianity and they react with hatred and opposition, the same elements that misleads one to racial prejudice. I pray that God will show them the gift of compassion in their hearts. Christians of all backgrounds, and racial groups applaud the film. Knowing how the history of our great country have been tainted by racial, ethnic and religious intolerence, and how hard we all fought against those intolerances for the sake of liberty and freedom, I highly doubt the diverse Christian community in this country would have embraced the film had there been any form of hate towards our fellow human beings, aside from the fact that the message of hate would be contradictory, hypocritical and a direct attack on the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. That's how I see Mr. Brown's book to be; a body of contradictory and hypocritical theories, a tragic but a dangerously effective method to desecrate a great religion and increasing the bank account.

A violent murder is committed in the Louvre Museum. The museum's chief curator, who is also the head of a remarkable secret society that has existed since the death of Christ, is found dead and gruesomely positioned on the floor near The Mona Lisa. In the minutes before he died, this very complex man was able to leave clues for his daughter to follow. The daughter, a brilliant cryptographer, along with a famed US symbologist, follow her father's codes and leads, hoping that he will, through his death, finally tell her what he wanted to confide in her while he lived. The secret society included members such as: Leonardo Da Vinci, Boticelli, Gallileo, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, Jean Cocteau, etc. These folks really Did belong to this society, which Really existed! This is when I first began my online search.

The mystery, or mysteries, take us through England, France and far back in time. We learn about the secret of the Knights Templar, and the symbolism in many of the world's most treasured paintings, as well as architectural symbolism in some of history's most sacred churches. Of course, we also learn who committed the murder and why - although this is almost secondary next to the real epic mystery the novel uncovers.

If there are flaws in the plot, I was too busy reading to discover any. That is probably the sign of a terrific book! The writing is excellent and the characters are a bit on the super-hero/heroine side, but who cares? Is what "The Da Vinci Code" proposes true? Well, the research is correct. The historical events and people explored in the book are real. But no one knows the Truth...nor will we ever, probably. I think that some things are meant to be a mystery. With all the world's diverse religions and each individual's belief in what is Divine - the Truth would have to destroy the beliefs, hopes and lives of many of the world's population. So, perhaps, in the divine scheme of things, there are many more Truths than one. Don't take the book too seriously. Just read it and enjoy!

But overall, this is an extremely compelling story that pulls you into the lifestyle of 15th century Venice and makes you wish you lived there. Any book that can do that is worthy of at least 3 stars - add to that the creative writing style Anne Rice fans will love, and you have a book that is almost on par with the others in the series. Its a shame that you know the end is approaching the entire time - that Armand will eventually descend into the crypts of Paris - but its a splendid show up until then and Anne makes sure not to spend too much time on the downers. Four stars for this one - the 5th is reserved for the sweeping epics that are her other books in this series.

After bravely having worked my way through it (does that happen to you, too? Once you start a book you have to finish it for better for worse?), I agree with all those readers who commented that while it was very well written from a linguistic point of view, and does have some amusing passages, the majority of his stories are yawn-inspiring. Who apart from family and friends cares about his son's adventures and preferences when all you want to know is the writer's own view of Paris - after all, he IS a well-reputed "New Yorker" essayist? I particularly disliked all his American "Look what fancy part of Paris I live in" showing off. Very clearly, the typical French understatement hasn't rubbed off on him in all his five years here.

I understand that his book is a collection of Adam Gopnik's essays. Pity about his talent.... he could have used this opportunity to write a different kind of "American in Paris" book.

You really have to struggle through the clunky first few chapters to get to the good stuff. I quite nearly put the book down after the first couple of chapters. But after he finally gets into a grove and you settle into the odd disjointed style of a collection of essays, you're in for a treat. My favorite essay is the one about trying to get some exercise in Paris (the mere thought of which the Parisians consider unhealthy.) He has hysterical descriptions of the French view that sweat is not good for you, and all activity should be combined with a good meal and wine.

Although this is not as good of a book as Mayle's Year in Provence, it is a very enjoyable read, and a great escape to Paris

Gopnik makes it clear from the outset what his and his wife's admittedly enviable plans are for the next five years, for the duration of this book. Buyer beware.

I would agree that he takes awhile to hit his stride, but Gopnik's talent for generalizing from common experience is wonderful. The parallel he finds between Americans' attitudes toward sport and the French's toward government officiousness is priceless. He manages to come to an understanding of soccer, a feat that to my mind compares favorably with writing, say, War and Peace. He may wander for a time in fashion circles (were I in Paris with the appropriate press pass I would too), yet he has a talent for bringing the whole crazy scene down to earth. He and his wife are raising a boy and (near the end) giving birth to a girl, and I find nothing wrong, and everything praiseworthy, about giving this side of his life center stage from time to time. The description of pregnancy and childbirth in France is one of the most memorable parts of the story.

As you might expect, there is plenty here about food, and about restaurants, and about language, and about globalization, and about New York, too, aka home. As with New Yorker writing at all times, the prose is idiosyncratic, breezy, maybe a little unedited. That's just the way it is. I guess if you like it, you love it, and if you don't you don't.