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conoraflynn's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
drsldn's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this because of the title, I love the idea of being a flaneur and histories of shopping and department stores often refer to Balzac's works about wandering around Paris. Also because the cove is absolutely beautiful. It wasn't as poetic or geographical as I expected, but it was still very interesting. White muses on Parisian literary figures, the black, Jewish and gay stories of Paris, and royalists/monarchists, not physically wandering but pottering about in the city's history, I guess. I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Paris as a different way of seeing the city (with a few alternative locations to head for).
_annikab's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
This book encouraged me to see more of Paris while exploring its underlying history of transformations. There were parts that dragged along as we got into the details of history, and I enjoyed learning about the author's personal history more.
therealkathryn's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of musings on parts of Paris through time, some more interesting than others.
ivostarr's review against another edition
4.0
If Goodreads allowed you to do 1/2 stars, I'd give this one a 3.5. I've read some of Edmund White's fiction, so I expected the book to be well written and interesting. And, maybe I'm being greedy, but somehow I wanted more from him.
What was interesting was the White gives voice to a whole host of people that live "in the margins" in Paris. He gives us an interesting mix of history and his personal observations about what it means to be a woman, a man, a foreigner, a transvestite, a Jew, a royalist, a monarchist, an atheist, etc. in Parisian society.
In the end, I admore that White attempts to inspire his readers to plunge beneath the surface of Paris--no matter how enchanting the surface might be!
What was interesting was the White gives voice to a whole host of people that live "in the margins" in Paris. He gives us an interesting mix of history and his personal observations about what it means to be a woman, a man, a foreigner, a transvestite, a Jew, a royalist, a monarchist, an atheist, etc. in Parisian society.
In the end, I admore that White attempts to inspire his readers to plunge beneath the surface of Paris--no matter how enchanting the surface might be!
jwsg's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this little gem of a book, part of Bloomsbury's Writer and the City series. Although the title "The Flaneur" suggests some sort of journey through the sights of Paris, from the famous to hidden nooks known only to Parisian denizens, it really is more an account of the city's lesser known stories and history. From the African American and Jewish presence in Paris, to the more esoteric of Parisian museums beloved by White (the Gustave Moreau museum and the Hotel de Lauzun), the gay community in Paris and the city's lingering love affair with the monarchy, the Flaneur is an intimate and thoughtful portrait of the city. Made me want to hop on a plane and engage in a little stroll through the paradoxes of Paris myself.
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
Pleasant little essays about aspects of Paris. The history of black Paris was the most interesting to me.
justfoxie's review against another edition
3.0
I chose this book from the title alone, and it lived up to the expectations. Like the flaneur himself, this book ambles gently and easily through Paris in all it's modes - historical, "current" (at least based on the author's term there in the 80s), philosophical, and cultural. He treats the less attractive sides of living in Paris with the same matter-of-fact curiosity as it's more delightful. A great book for those who know and love Paris, or those who want to visit vicariously and see a side of the city less travelled by guidebooks.