4 out of 4 stars
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“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Ernest Hemingway
I Dream of Paris by Isabela Pamelli Martins is a memoir of Isabela, the young South American student, who takes us first on a colorful journey to view her life in Brazil and its atmosphere in the 80s, and the cosmopolitan life and education she had there. However, in the back of her mind, she always had the dream of visiting the City of Lights.
I, personally, had butterflies the moment I saw the title of the book, because I, too, dreamt of Paris. Having learned French as a second language at school, I had a sort of preformed vision of what to expect. Boy, am I glad I picked this book for review as it surpassed my expectations.
The moment you embark on reading the book, you seek answers to the various questions that pop into your mind, such as, why was Isabela so eager to travel there? What sacrifices does she make to fulfill her dream? Was Paris what she thought it would be? Does she find love in Paris? What twists does her life take? All this and more will be unveiled as you read the book.
On a side note, the Paris memories and the book writing took place in the mid-1990s, but it was not until recently that the author decided to make it public. Using the first-person-narrative of Isabela, the book blends a memoir with a coming-of-age story and a travel romance.
With a compelling and witty writing style, the author does a monumental job in keeping the reader glued to the edge of her/his seat. I devoured the book in two sittings and it left me craving for more. I particularly liked the author’s honesty and candid recollection, which were seasoned with a great sense of humor.
Isabela also introduces us gracefully to the beauty and splendor of Paris, as well as the details of the Parisian daily life. The description is so rich and colorful that it played as a motion picture before my eyes. I loved that she took in and absorbed the details of the city, and was really present in the moment. Furthermore, her passion for Paris was evident, so much so that her book could serve as a guide on how to enjoy “Paris for one!”
I also appreciated the maturity, the wisdom, the courage, the perseverance, and the will power that the author was endowed with. “When two people really love each other, a temporary breakup can eventually bring them together and force them to make some radical decisions in order to stay together for good. However, when there is not enough love between them, this same separation only serves to distance them even more.”
Furthermore, I laughed with her, and at times I cried with frustration and melancholy, seeing what she had passed through.
I honestly cannot think of anything I disliked about the book. It is thoroughly-edited and grammatically clear. I could only spot three minor typographical errors throughout the whole book, namely an extra letter and a missing space between two words.
Blending more than one genre, the book would appeal to a wide range of readers. Fans of memoirs will enjoy this multicultural and engaging account. Additionally, those who enjoy travel literature will cherish the engrossing description of the beauty of Paris and are bound to have a three-dimensional experience, with the added advantage of almost having a taste of the French cuisine on your palate and in your olfactory bulbs. Travel romance is indeed present, but it does not overshadow the rest of Isabela’s rich journey. The impeccable editing came as the cherry on top. It is, therefore, my utmost pleasure to rate I Dream of Paris by Isabela Pamelli Martins 4 out of 4 stars.
I’ll wrap up with Isabela’s riveting words, “Deep down, I felt that France was my adopted country and that Paris was where I belonged. That’s where I felt truly at home as if I had returned to the place I should never have left to begin with! Had I been French in another life? How could anyone identify so much with a place so distant and so different from her own native land? A place so far away from where she had been born, raised and lived her entire life?”
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I Dream of Paris
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