My Review of "L'appart"

David Lebowitz's L'appart: The Delights and Disasters of My Paris Home is a tale of the miseries and woes of buying and renovating a home in Paris.  In spite of his attempts to convince readers how much he still loves Paris -- when describing being able to run down the street for a freshly made baguette or getting to know the ruggedly handsome man at the little café close by, for example -- Lebovitz peels off the plaster to reveal a Paris beyond tourism.  Lebovitz's stories shimmer with despair, distress, and regret, but he nevertheless embraces life with all its flaws in the city he loves.

It was, overall, a depressing little book, whose only real redemptive value are the genuine French recipes scattered throughout.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.