I have been waiting to read this book since I first heard of it, and now I can agree with the enthusiastic, positive comments. Whether or not you've visited Paris, you'll enjoy this memoir written in an entertaining, self-deprecating style by a middle-aged author and professor of French literature and creative writing.

Instead of writing for the visitor, Carpenter humorously documents his experiences as a Mid-Westerner who moves to Paris with his wife and daughter. He writes of his everyday life as he wrestles with Parisian apartments (the plumbing, the size, the neighbors, the politics), health care, preparing a gourmet meal for friends, riding the metro, and even grocery shopping - all are entertaining stories as he describes his misadventures.

I recommend this lighthearted memoir of an American in Paris. It's a perfect read for this time period when we're doing very little traveling, yet need an entertaining escape from our stay-at-home world. ( )