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Paris, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down    by Rosecrans Baldwin Amazon.com order for
Paris, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down
by Rosecrans Baldwin
Order:  USA  Can
Picador, 2013 (2012)
Hardcover, Softcover, e-Book
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Rosecrans Baldwin had always dreamed of living in Paris. Offered a dream job in Paris - although he barely understood, let alone spoke French - he accepted. He was to work for an ad agency, making presentations to potential clients and writing scripts for video ads.

So there he and his wife Rachel were, renting an apartment and trying to work their way through the mountains of paperwork needed for them to live in this glorious city. Indeed, to work in France. The language came slowly with lots of help from work mates. Love of the city came more quickly. Roaming for miles, they explored Paris and became familiar with its restaurants, cafes, shops, parks and historic edifices.

Rosecrans and Rachel both agreed that it wasn't all delight. Paris does have faults. The culture is very different and they had to change. It wouldn't change for them.

Paris I Love You But You Are Bringing Me Down is the story of two people who weren't averse to stepping out of their box to live and work in a city so far from home. Especially when not speaking the language - have to give them points for that. In telling their story, they reveal they spent a lot of time partying. Having good times, meeting other ex-pats as well as the natives. Humorous tidbits bring a smile to the reader's face.

It's an interesting take on a city everyone romanticizes. Reading an everyday account of the business of living there changes the perspective just a bit. I still would like to go back. While working long hours there, Rosecrans managed to write a novel, which I shall look for.

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