Paris

A Love Story; a Memoir

By: Kati Marton

Narrated by: Kathe Mazur

Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

This is a memoir for anyone who has ever fallen in love in Paris, or with Paris - and for anyone who has ever had their heart broken or their life upended.

In this remarkably honest memoir, award-winning journalist and distinguished author Kati Marton presents an impassioned and romantic story of love, loss, and life after loss. Paris is at the heart of this deeply moving account. At every stage of her life, Paris offers Marton beauty and excitement, and now, after the sudden death of her husband, Richard Holbrooke, it offers a chance for a fresh beginning.

With intimate and nuanced portraits of Peter Jennings, the man to whom she was married for 15 years and with whom she had two children, and Richard, with whom she found enduring love, Marton paints a vivid account of an adventuresome life in the stream of history. Inspirational and deeply human, Paris: A Love Story will touch every generation.

Kati Marton is the author of several books, including Enemies of the People, a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and the subject of an upcoming motion picture, and the New York Times best seller Hidden Power, among others. She is an award-winning former correspondent for NPR and ABC News. She lives in New York City.

©2012 Kati Marton (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A great read - the lightness of love, the drama of war and sudden death - with Paris in the background." (Diane von Furstenberg)

"I stayed up last night and read this book cover to cover. I can’t remember the last time I did that. It is wonderful - touching, romantic, and honest - and oh, how it made me want to go to Paris!" (Barbara Walters)

"Kati Marton has written movingly about her love, loss, and the healing power of an elegant city. She takes readers on a journey, as she writes, to find a place where there is joy in remembered joy." (Diane Sawyer)

MLF: Must Love French

This book contains so many French proper names whose pronunciations are so attenuated and exaggerated it was difficult for me not to become annoyed. Writers must just adore writing and saying to themselves the district designation "arrondissement" because it's always specified whenever a Parisian address is required. And the word is equally loved by the narrators, and this narrator in particular enjoyed her own spoken French just a little too much for my taste.

Whatever, it's a good story, a bit shallow and a little heavy on the name-dropping and on the politics, but it has some good things to say about love and family. And there is a very bad example of a dysfunctional love affair, in which our heroine nearly loses the prestigious job she's worked so hard for. How this woman walked away from one guy and one marriage into the next guy (and the next marriage) who happened to be driving by in an armored car is unbelievable.

I am also just not into having that perfect person around me at all times to fill in all the empty spaces and make repairs when I need fixing. It's not about having someone else to make someone feel fulfilled.

Anyway, I prefer when listening to spoken English, to hear foreign words pronounced without accents. Anything else just sounds phony and pretentious.

This book was OK for an afternoon, fine as far as it went, but it could have been so much more.

I Had a Change of Heart

Would you consider the audio edition of Paris to be better than the print version?

I quickly accepted the narrator's voice as the author's … except for her rather stilted French pronunciations, which seemed to have been coached, and almost set off in audible quotes, rather than the voice of a woman who has spoken French nearly all her life. But that was a rather minor distraction.

What did you like best about this story?

Kati Marton's account of her love life, both in and out of Paris, rings true. She presents her story warts and all. Now maybe some things Kati did -- like taking off at Christmas leaving her children with her sister, after just telling them she is splitting up with their father, to go for a spur of the moment trip around France with a man she barely knew -- she doesn't regard as shameful, but maybe she does and in either case I respect her for including such details. There are a number of incidents like that which I would have been tempted to not to reveal in a memoir, but she does and in doing so offers a more honest account of herself and her life.

Which scene was your favorite?

The memoir opens with a quick visit to Paris -- Kati arriving from the US, Richard from his diplomatic mission in Iraq -- which happens to be, unbeknownst to them, their last time together in the City of Love. I almost stopped listening to the story at this point, ready to request a refund. I found Kati's account so smug and self-satisfied and their perfect little marriage so obviously a fairy tale that I turned to the internet to learn more about this unpleasant woman. But finding more evidence of her ambition and social-climbing made me change my mind about a refund. Instead I decided to start the story over again, in the hopes of coming across more examples of her awfulness, for the pure joy of feeling superior -- and yes I did find lots more evidence, but somewhere along the line my envy and dislike melted away and I began to feel interested in and compassionate toward this woman and her story. Is she someone I would ever trust, or be close friends with? Probably not. Would I want a woman like this for my mother? As a model for putting my own needs first, Yes!! Is she someone I would admire and respect -- at least for her drive and hard work? Definitely. I learned a lot from her tale and am glad I stuck with it.

Any additional comments?

I originally chose this book to learn more about France and Paris, and was quite satisfied on this account. I have taken note of many of the little shops and hidden corners that are mentioned throughout and intend to pay a visit the next time I am in Paris.

deep unexpected pleasure

Paris is always a good idea. wasn't sure what this was. turns out a very remarkable and moving story. connection in spirit accomplished on the journey.

Pretentious but worthwhile

A heartfelt and never boring memoir. The author is a woman of high intellect who tries unnecessarily hard to convince us of this throughout. I found it an interesting, humorless tale of trying to have it all, times ten. Did she ever laugh, I wonder. The French pronunciations are annoying, the name dropping is over the top amusing, but it’s definitely worth a listen, whether you like Paris or not.

Kati tells of Peter, Richard, Paris and love.

Surprised by the contents but oddly drawn to it. Almost stopped listening just 3 - 4 sentences in, put off by the distinct lack of musicality of the performer. Every sentence begins on the same drole note. Only the writer's prose saved the experience.

Beautiful love story

an unbelievable love story, I have read it twice now. will undoubtedly read it again as the messages given in this book are so important to daily life, and love...

Self serving

A very self serving and self centered view of the author. The good parts are only that deal with Mr Richard Holbrooke. Only read for that and his determination and courage.

Non Fiction with the feel of a good Novel.....

I loved this Memoir. It is so well done. This writer has be ability to write non-fiction with interest of a novel. What a life you have had. Thank you for sharing this with us...K. Mazur is a fabulous narrator.

How Paris helped her grieve.

Any additional comments?

The author writes about her long-standing love affair with Paris and how Paris helped her heal after the death of her husband. I could really relate to the widowhood aspect of the book and I so want to visit Paris someday myself. I would be nice to have the money to buy myself a little apartment in Paris and relocate there but, alas, that doesn't seem to be in the cards. Enjoyed the book, in spite of the name-dropping.

Swept me away

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Takes you to Paris, the city of love. The mix of history and personal reflection is perfect.