In Books
  • All Departments
  • In Books
  • In Bargain Books
  • In eReading
  • In Kids' Books
  • In Teens' Books
  • In Toys & Games
  • In Video Games
  • In Lifestyle & Paper
  • In Movies & TV
  • In Music
  • In Used & Rare Books
  • In Used & Rare Movies & TV
  • In Used & Rare Music
Advanced Search
Paris Times Eight: Finding Myself in the City of Dreams

Average rating: 4/5

Based on 19 ratings

Rate this

Paris Times Eight: Finding Myself in the City of Dreams

by Deirdre Kelly

D&M Publishers, Inc. | September 14, 2009 | Trade Paperback

A poignant and often amusing reminiscence of growing to womanhood through eight visits to Paris.

For Deirdre Kelly, Paris is not only a dream city but also the place where she attains a deeper understanding of herself. Having always defined herself in opposition to her mother, Kelly finds in the city itself her "other mother," the mother of her imagination.

At nineteen, Kelly first arrives in Paris as a starry-eyed ingÈnue. In a subsequent visit she appears as a budding writer, eager for intellectual and sexual adventure, who interviews the legendary Nureyev and crashes an exclusive fashion show. In an emotionally charged return, Kelly takes her mother to Paris to meet her "other mother," with not altogether happy results. She also takes her future husband, who has his own connection to the city. On her last trip, she is a mother herself.

During all these visits, Paris is the constant, but Kelly''s shifting emotional world creates varying perspectives on both the city and her evolving self. Paris emerges as a principal character, an influence that inspires and guides Kelly on her path to growth and maturity.

Save 24 %

$22.95
$17.44
$16.57

In Stock

All Editions Online Member
Kobo Edition (eBook) $10.59 n/a

This item is found in: Travel

  • Eligible for FREE Shipping on orders over $25. + Details.

Reviews

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    I love Paris and I love a good read so when I spotted this in the bookstore, I just had to have it. I wasn't let down! Ms. Kelly is a writer who inspires with her simple, yet not simplistic, style. She draws the reader in oh-so-subtly, so that one soon identifies and is "there." I found myself profoundly moved by some parts of this book. In her earlier experiences, I felt her loneliness even when surrounded by my family on the sofa. At other times, I laughed out loud. Few writers manage to achieve this and Ms. Kelly is one of them. This is her first book and I hope there are many more.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Paris Time Eight

    Vanessa Grant

    3 years ago

    I really enjoyed reading this book. I’ve only been to Paris once and wasn’t there for nearly long enough and Deirdre Kelly's book has me just dying to return. I found her writing genuine and although I didn’t feel forced to connect with Deirdre as the protagonist (like many books aimed at women), I was totally rooting for her.

Product Buzz

Details

From the Publisher

A poignant and often amusing reminiscence of growing to womanhood through eight visits to Paris.

For Deirdre Kelly, Paris is not only a dream city but also the place where she attains a deeper understanding of herself. Having always defined herself in opposition to her mother, Kelly finds in the city itself her "other mother," the mother of her imagination.

At nineteen, Kelly first arrives in Paris as a starry-eyed ingÈnue. In a subsequent visit she appears as a budding writer, eager for intellectual and sexual adventure, who interviews the legendary Nureyev and crashes an exclusive fashion show. In an emotionally charged return, Kelly takes her mother to Paris to meet her "other mother," with not altogether happy results. She also takes her future husband, who has his own connection to the city. On her last trip, she is a mother herself.

During all these visits, Paris is the constant, but Kelly''s shifting emotional world creates varying perspectives on both the city and her evolving self. Paris emerges as a principal character, an influence that inspires and guides Kelly on her path to growth and maturity.

About the Author

Dierdre Kelly first joined the Globe and Mail in 1985, and since 2006 has been a reporter-at-large for the Globe's features department. Her articles have also appeared in Elle, Marie Claire, and Vogue. She lives in Toronto.

Trade Paperback

320 Pages, 5.25 x 7.5 x 0.82 in

September 14, 2009

D&M Publishers, Inc.

English


1553652681
9781553652687

From the Critics

"[ Kelly ] takes the reader on a colourful travelogue along the narrow streets of the Marais district, the spectacular Tuileries gardens and the bustling Galleries Lafayette department store... Paris Times Eight is a fast-paced, breezy read, its substance subtly woven into a tale of a city whose glamour and beauty never fades."— Ottawa Citizen “ Kelly recounts how each of her visits to the French capital coincided with a major change in her life, and helped her become the self-proclaimed fashionista she is today. ‘Each time I am in Paris, I find myself studying the female populace, emulating the way they wear their hair and tie a scarf, paint their nails and walk everywhere in heels.’ Men might even enjoy this read...”— FranceGuide Prestige 2010 "In 1979, Kelly , a freshly minted high-school graduate from Canada, made her first trip to Paris. She returned to the city eight times over the next two decades, and this book divided into eight chapters, one for each visit tracks her evolving relationship with her favorite city-away-from-home: at her first visit, she is young and impressionable, and the city is strange and wonderful; by the eighth visit, she is a mother of two, and Paris is an old friend, comfortable but still exciting. Written in a very engaging style ( Kelly is a veteran journalist), the book shows us Paris in various incarnations, as seen through the eyes of a woman who sees it differently each time she visits. This charming travel memoir shows us how a person and a city can grow and change in tandem."—Booklist (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.) “ Deirdre Kelly ’s writing is fast-paced and full of colour and gives the reader an insider’s view. She gets it right.”—Sally Armstrong, author of Bitter Roots, Tender Shoots: The Uncertain Fate of Afghanistan’s Women "Erudite, charming, and yet sharply appraising, Kelly 's ode to Paris evokes the spirit of the city itself. A lovely book."—Patricia Pearson "In this elegantly written memoir, Deirdre K elly evokes her infatuation with Paris. These eight chapters contain hundreds of adventures, subtly combining poetical descriptions with vivid, confessional details. We leave Kelly 's City of Dreams refreshed and fulfilled."—Julie Enfield, author of Kiss and Tell: An Intimate History of Kissing " Deirdre Kelly is the latest in a line of marvelous writers from Steinbeck to Gertrude Stein who have found their muse in Paris. Hers is a poignant, honest and deliciously sexy coming-of-age story that speaks to any woman who has been there, or ever dreams of going."—Jan Wong, author of Beijing Confidential, A Tale of Comrades Lost and Found

< close and return to chapters.indigo.ca
kobo
  • Take your library with you wherever you go
  • Use the device you want to use… smartphone, desktop and many of today’s most popular eReaders
  • Use Indigo gift cards to buy eBooks and subscriptions

WHY KOBO?

We love the Kobo eReading service… and we know you will too. We’ve partnered with them to bring you the most flexible, enjoyable eReading experience in Canada.

SHOPPING ON KOBO

You’ll be asked to sign in or create a new account with Kobo. Once you do, you’ll immediately get access to millions of titles and be ready to start eReading. Anytime. Anyplace.

continue to kobo

Protected by Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices and Terms of Use | Privacy Policy  

Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation © 2010

Powered by EndecaVeriSign SecuredEssential Accessibility 

As Canada’s purveyor of ideas and inspiration, Indigo is the largest book, gift and specialty toy retailer in Canada. Indigo operates in all provinces under different banners including Indigo Books & Music; Indigo Books, Gifts, Kids; IndigoSpirit; Chapters; The World's Biggest Bookstore; and Coles. The online channel, www.indigo.ca, features books, eBooks, toys and gifts and hosts the award winning Indigo Online Community.

111