Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod: A Review

Books are a remarkable thing. They have the ability to immerse us in a fictional world that does not exist. They can take us back in time to experience a generation that came long before us. Or, they can take us back to a time in our lives that had meaning and fulfillment. This is what Paris Letters did for me. Listening to Janice describe Paris in such intricate detail made me feel like I was back there, walking down medieval streets and eating lunch while sitting in front of the Louvre. I could taste the macarons from Ladurée and smell the freshness of the farmer's market. I almost forgot that I was reading a book about someone else's life and instead dreamt that it was my own. When a book resonates that deeply with you, you know it's good. 

via Goodreads

What Goodreads Says:
“How much money does it take to change your life?”

Unfulfilled at her job and unsuccessful in the dating department, Janice MacLeod doodled this question at her desk. Then she decided to make it a challenge.

Over the next few months, with a little math and a lot of determination, she saved up enough to buy two years of freedom in Europe.

But she had only been in Paris for a few days when she met a handsome butcher (with a striking resemblance to Daniel Craig)—and never went home again.

A love story in the vein of Almost French and Lunch in Paris, Paris Letters (February 4) is a joyful romp through the City of Light, and an inspiring look at what can happen when we dare to create the life we want.

Realizing that her Parisian love affair would be forever, MacLeod began her own business on Etsy, creating beautifully-illustrated letters from Paris inspired by artists like Percy Kelly and Beatrix Potter. She now paints and writes full-time, bringing beautiful things to subscribers around the world and reviving the lost art of letter-writing.

What I Say: 
I wish I could send Janice a thank you note for writing this book. It helped me remember my dreams and refocus where my life was taking me. It's a weird road, this thing called life, and sometimes you get so overwhelmed by what's happening around you that you forget the big picture. I am determined to pack my things and leave in no more than 3 years, hop a one-way flight to Europe and live in the French countryside or a mid-size city. Paris Letters gave me that kick in the butt I needed to actually make a plan of it. Dreams are possible if you commit to them. They don't come easy and they don't come fast but they will come if you believe in them. I heard someone say once that when one door closes you open a window. I don't care if you have to kick the thing in, it's possible to find a way to get what you want in life and I truly believe that was the main message of this beautifully written memoir. I encourage anyone who loves travel or Paris to read this book. I encourage anyone who has a dream to read this book because not only does it prove that achieving that dream is possible, it shows how rewarding it is when you follow through.