Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #371514 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
While older readers might not relate to Spencer's dramatic declaration ("I had woken up at age 23 to realize I was living a life I had never planned"), 20-somethings fresh out of college just might cotton to the latest in nanny memoirs as Spencer narrates her journey from cubicle to croissants, traveling to Paris in order to try her luck as an au pair for a wealthy Parisian family. Visions of shopping trips are quickly replaced with the more quotidian aspects of cooking, cleaning and caring for three children in a foreign country where a simple shopping trip can turn into an adventure. Spencer's portrait of the family she works for is not always flattering and can even become uncomfortable as she describes a particular evening sharing a meal and a couple of bottles of wine with the monsieur of the house. A week in the French countryside exposes Spencer to the highs and lows of country life, giving her a new appreciation for the overwhelming bustle of the city. In this light read, Spencer nicely describes the charm of Paris and the quirks of the French, but her constant surprise at being treated as an employee, as well as her repetitive descriptions of her love of espresso grows tiresome. (Dec.)
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Customer Reviews

Didn't enjoy this book at all
Aspiring journalist Rachel Spencer wrote a blog about her experiences as an au pair in Paris. The stories were later compiled into this book. I'm a sucker for stories about ex-pats in Paris but was sorely disappointed by this one. The writing style is very unsophisticated, in my opinion, and there's little to no character development.

Rachel is in her early twenties, working in ad sales at the Houston Chronicle. She decides she hates it and applies to graduate school, but takes the summer off to go work as an au pair in Paris and have a big cultural adventure before classes start. Rachel's whole gimmick is that her period in Paris teaches her about herself and brings her back to the USA a more confident and secure person. However, you really don't see that change in her on the page. There's just not enough depth to her personality.

Also, lacking in this book is a true connection to the children Rachel nannies and the city in which she is living. Rachel fails to meaningfully explain how they impact her, change her opinions, open her eyes, etc. The observations are very general. The one moment in which the story threatens to go a little deeper and expose some true emotion (the oldest daughter in the Parisian family rebels and Rachel is left in the uncomfortable position of challenging & reporting her behavior) is not fully fleshed out.

Pathetic drivel.
Was this book ever published in hard-bound? I doubt it. It appears to be capitalizing on the current fad for nanny stories and the always fascinating Paris. But really, there is nothing new here; nothing even vaguely amusing.

When in France, Be a Nanny!
Rachel Spencer's Au Paris is a fascinating study on one woman's adventures as an au pair in Paris. Rachel Spencer often has a unique voice, a journalism major from Texas, Spencer certainly has a distinct way of storytelling. Her memoir is sometimes witty though sometimes self important, if not honest. I spent 3 weeks in France as a part of a study abroad program and her insightful observations of French Culture that can come only with true immersion are poignant. Spencer has created great literature with Au Paris. If you have a little extra time this chic, chick read will reveal a world of language mishaps, unfortunate encounters hilarious disasters and tons of heart. I especially recommend this book to anyone who has already traveled to France, or knows the language or to anyone who is about to depart to the world of chic elegant. Bon Travail, Spencer!