Reading A Paris Year: “La Vie Est Faite de Petits Bonheurs”*

June 23, 2017

Let’s take a break from the everyday adventure of blog redesign to bask in the simple pleasure of a new book!

I got this little beauty in the mail this week:



I’ve been waiting impatiently for it since I used part of my Mother’s Day gift card to preorder it. I loved Paris Letters, and I’m happy to say A Paris Year, while different in format, is also completely delightful.

MacLeod’s love of Paris shines on every page. It’s the love of a woman who has spent time getting to know her beloved intimately through the year’s seasons, through dark and light, through frustrations and delights. Amazon accurately describes it as a love letter to Paris.

Set up in diary format, each page holds photos or art—or both—as well as wonderful little snippets of information. So far, I’ve learned about the Wallace fountains (page 19), “le macaron” (page 59), the Arago Rose Line (page 61), and salt harvesting (page 75). 

Pretty endpapers


My photos don’t do the book justice, but I wanted you to see a little bit of what’s inside.

This is the type of book I’d love to write. Where each page is a delicious little morsel to enjoy, that satisfies a longing for beauty and inspiration.

I’m doing my best to read just a few pages a day so I can savor the experience, rather than gulping it down in one swallow. Something tells me, though, I’ll be finished soon—maybe I’ll go back and reread it, then reread Paris Letters. Why, yes, I’m in the mood for some escapist reading, why do you ask?

Where are you escaping to this summer?

*“Life is full of small pleasures”

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10 comments

  1. Please, pretty please, bring this tomorrow!!

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  2. I'm looking forward to this book too. Thank you!

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  3. Rita, I think you'll love it. You'll have to let me know what you think.

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  4. Kathy this looks like my kind of book. Will hop on line when I get an opportunity and check it out. In the meantime - enjoy each wonderful page. Hugs!

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  5. I am enjoying it very much, Debbie. I think you'll like it, too!

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  6. This looks delightful! But then, I am rather partial to all things Paris. :) Enjoy your summer escapade there!

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  7. Paris is always a good idea :). I enjoyed my vicarious travels there very much!

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  8. I haven't heard of either of those books and am intrigued as I LOVE anything Parisian! I need to check them out!

    Here are my June reads: https://elle-alice.blogspot.ca/2017/06/june-book-reviews.html

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  9. Elle--I think you'll love them! You can read more about the author at her website, janicemacleod.com. Hope you enjoy!

    I just briefly checked out your book reviews for June, and want to go back and read them fully. Lots of interesting stuff there. Have you seen the movie A Room With a View? You might like that better than the book, especially since you're going to go to Italy (lucky you).

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