• The Sweet Life in Paris

  • Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious - and Perplexing - City
  • By: David Lebovitz
  • Narrated by: David Drummond
  • Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (211 ratings)

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The Sweet Life in Paris  By  cover art

The Sweet Life in Paris

By: David Lebovitz
Narrated by: David Drummond
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Publisher's summary

Like so many others, David Lebovitz dreamed about living in Paris ever since he first visited the city in the 1980s. Finally, after a nearly two-decade career as a pastry chef and cookbook author, he moved to Paris to start a new life. Having crammed all his worldly belongings into three suitcases, he arrived, hopes high, at his new apartment in the lively Bastille neighborhood. But he soon discovered it's a different world en France.

From learning the ironclad rules of social conduct to the mysteries of men's footwear, from shopkeepers who work so hard not to sell you anything to the etiquette of working the right way around the cheese plate, here is David's story of how he came to fall in love with - and even understand - this glorious, yet sometimes maddening, city.

When did he realize he had morphed into un vrai Parisien? It might have been when he found himself considering a purchase of men's dress socks with cartoon characters on them. Or perhaps the time he went to a bank with 135 euros in hand to make a 134-euro payment, was told the bank had no change that day, and thought it was completely normal. Or when he found himself dressing up to take out the garbage because he had come to accept that, in Paris, appearances and image mean everything.

The more than 50 original recipes, for dishes both savory and sweet, such as Pork Loin with Brown Sugar-Bourbon Glaze, Braised Turkey in Beaujolais Nouveau with Prunes, Bacon and Bleu Cheese Cake, Chocolate-Coconut Marshmallows, Chocolate Spice Bread, Lemon-Glazed Madeleines, and Mocha–Crème Fraîche Cake, will have listeners running to the kitchen once they stop laughing. The Sweet Life in Paris is a deliciously funny, offbeat, and irreverent look at the city of lights, cheese, chocolate, and other confections.

©2009 David Lebovitz (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"David Lebovitz is the greatest thing to happen to dessert since the spoon, but this time he shows that beyond his artful nose and flawless taste, he also has a keen reporter's eye." (Mort Rosenblum, author of The Secret Life of the Seine)

What listeners say about The Sweet Life in Paris

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great content, but it needs a different narrator

I have only listened to part of the book, which I purchased on impulse without listening to the sample. The narrator's voice would be more suited to scientific or other scholarly content. His voice is reminiscent of a narrator from an educational program.

This book really could have used someone who had a more mellow and relaxed style, and who could pronounce French correctly. I'm feeling conflicted -- I am really interested in the content, but I'm not sure I can get through the rest of it.

From now on I will always, always listen to the sample before purchasing.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The narrator

The narrator is why i want to return this book. His voice, tone, manner of speech shows he has no idea about the world he is speaking of.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

This narrator.....

Giving this 3 stars bc the book is ok, but good Lord whoever chose the narrator was dead wrong. This guy needs to narrate instruction manuals. It's too bad

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I Want to live in Paris

I have been in love with the French language since high school and continued with language classes in college. Is it any wonder I have been in love with Paris for the fashions, food, culture, art, and history. This book had me laughing and smiling and I could hardly wait to hear more. I have been to Paris three times and have fantasizes about living there someday. This account of living in Paris rang true with brilliant examples from the author 's life. Each chapter told a different aspect of living in Paris, while at the same time worked in sync with references from a previous chapter. I loved this audio book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Sounds more like he hates Paris then loves it.

What did you like best about The Sweet Life in Paris? What did you like least?

I have to say I was really disappointed with this book. A friend recommended I read it because I am going to Paris next month and I am also a food lover. After listening to this book I wish I could cancel my trip. David doesn't say anything positive about Parisians at all, just how dirty and rude they are. I truly do not understand why he continues to live there if there is so much to complain about.

Would you ever listen to anything by David Lebovitz again?

No

What else would you have wanted to know about David Lebovitz’s life?

Nothing

Any additional comments?

If you are planning a trip to France, skip this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Horrible narrative.

Worst
Of all is the Americanized French words: not even a feeble attempt at proper pronunciation. The author’s other book’s narrator choice is a huge step above this audio book .

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

I was not interested

I disliked the narration and the content did not grab me. I started at three times and gave up.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun story, awful narration

I’m 2 hours in and have given up listening to the last 4 hours. Though the story is fun, the almost smart device sounding narrator has little intonation and monotonous cadence. He’s reading, not telling an entertaining first-person story. Lots of funny lines! But the bland narration doesn’t elicit the likely frequent chuckles if I were reading the physical book and hearing an animated voice in my head. Disappointing.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved the book…not the narrator

Oh why didn’t David L read his own book…he’s a delight! Lovely story and inspires me right into the kitchen…or on a flight to Paris!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book is a blast!

This book is fun, humorous, and just flies by. I’m sure I’ll listen to it a few more times when I need a smile!

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