July 21, 2009
BOOK REVIEW: 'Europe Beyond Your Means: The Paris Edition'
Not for the Backpack and 'Rough Guide' Crowd
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Book Critic
If a trip to Paris is in your future -- or even if it's not and the only Paris you'll be passing through this summer is the one northeast of Lexington, KY -- reading "Europe Beyond Your Means: The Paris Edition" (iUniverse, 180 pages, $16.95, available on amazon.com) is well worth the expenditure.
Authors Conrad G. Lucas II, a native of Lincoln County, WV and New Yorker William D. Norgard compare nations to high school students in a must-read hilarious section. France is the perfectly coiffed, always well dressed girl with an elegant cigarette case in her Louis Vuitton purse, the girl who turns down your request for a date, but the one the boys all flock to.
And don't worry, boys, she knows that Bic makes razors as well as lighters and that you'll be more likely to see unshaven female armpits in Berkeley, CA than in the City of Light, the authors say.
They offer tips on lodging, warning travelers away from hostels -- they call them "hostiles" -- and giving plenty of advice about what to wear to avoid looking like a typical American tourist. Some things to avoid: T-shirts with vulgar sayings; jean shorts -- basically shorts of any kind -- ratty jeans, rip-stop fishermen pants that zip off to yield shorts, etc. Sartorial tips are offered for men and women alike.
Don't look for the information you'll find in a "Rough Guide" in "Europe Beyond Your Means": By pointing out the endearing quirks of the French, Lucas and Norgard aim to help a potential tourist or even a short- or long-term expat negotiate one of the world's most visited cities. Among the tips they offer treat a visit to Paris like one to New York or Chicago or San Francisco or Toronto. You want to look your best in a fine restaurant in those cities, so it's even more important in a city known for the best restaurants and hotels in the world.
This is not a Paris on a budget travel guide: It's for those who want the best experience possible. The authors deal with the essentials of packing, what to take and what to leave behind (ditch the big camera for a point-and-shoot, for example, and remember, you'll find deodorant in Paris, so don't overload the luggage).
Like any travel guide, "Europe Beyond Your Means" lists the tourist attractions, including giving directions to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, where Jim Morrison is buried. The authors give advice about getting around, advising the use of buses and taxis, as well as the Metro. One useful tip is taking several of your hotel's business cards, all of which have directions to the hotel, so you can hand one to your taxi driver.
Remember, all liquor stores are closed on Sunday in France, not just until church lets out like in West Virginia or Texas. Also, wine is cheaper than beer or soft drinks, vin ordinaire, that is. Tips like these, plus a good index, make the book an ideal one to take along and actually use. One feature I liked is a detailed segment on planning an American day in Paris, complete with the kind of eating you had in the States.
Norgard and Lucas are both francophiles. Norgard is a frequent visitor to Paris and lives in New York City where he writes and helps manage the family farm in Kansas -- a neat trick! Lucas, a native and resident of Lincoln County, West Virginia, will be appearing for three book events in the Tri-State area. Lucas, an attorney and former aide to U.S. Rep. Shelley Capito, holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt, a master’s from Harvard, a law degree from Tulane, and a certificate in International Law from Sorbonne. He is currently spending the year finishing up his doctorate from Vanderbilt.
Lucas will be appearing to sign books at the following locations:
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BOOK REVIEW: 'Europe Beyond Your Means: The Paris Edition'
Not for the Backpack and 'Rough Guide' Crowd
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Book Critic
If a trip to Paris is in your future -- or even if it's not and the only Paris you'll be passing through this summer is the one northeast of Lexington, KY -- reading "Europe Beyond Your Means: The Paris Edition" (iUniverse, 180 pages, $16.95, available on amazon.com) is well worth the expenditure.
Authors Conrad G. Lucas II, a native of Lincoln County, WV and New Yorker William D. Norgard compare nations to high school students in a must-read hilarious section. France is the perfectly coiffed, always well dressed girl with an elegant cigarette case in her Louis Vuitton purse, the girl who turns down your request for a date, but the one the boys all flock to.
And don't worry, boys, she knows that Bic makes razors as well as lighters and that you'll be more likely to see unshaven female armpits in Berkeley, CA than in the City of Light, the authors say.
They offer tips on lodging, warning travelers away from hostels -- they call them "hostiles" -- and giving plenty of advice about what to wear to avoid looking like a typical American tourist. Some things to avoid: T-shirts with vulgar sayings; jean shorts -- basically shorts of any kind -- ratty jeans, rip-stop fishermen pants that zip off to yield shorts, etc. Sartorial tips are offered for men and women alike.
Don't look for the information you'll find in a "Rough Guide" in "Europe Beyond Your Means": By pointing out the endearing quirks of the French, Lucas and Norgard aim to help a potential tourist or even a short- or long-term expat negotiate one of the world's most visited cities. Among the tips they offer treat a visit to Paris like one to New York or Chicago or San Francisco or Toronto. You want to look your best in a fine restaurant in those cities, so it's even more important in a city known for the best restaurants and hotels in the world.
This is not a Paris on a budget travel guide: It's for those who want the best experience possible. The authors deal with the essentials of packing, what to take and what to leave behind (ditch the big camera for a point-and-shoot, for example, and remember, you'll find deodorant in Paris, so don't overload the luggage).
Like any travel guide, "Europe Beyond Your Means" lists the tourist attractions, including giving directions to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, where Jim Morrison is buried. The authors give advice about getting around, advising the use of buses and taxis, as well as the Metro. One useful tip is taking several of your hotel's business cards, all of which have directions to the hotel, so you can hand one to your taxi driver.
Remember, all liquor stores are closed on Sunday in France, not just until church lets out like in West Virginia or Texas. Also, wine is cheaper than beer or soft drinks, vin ordinaire, that is. Tips like these, plus a good index, make the book an ideal one to take along and actually use. One feature I liked is a detailed segment on planning an American day in Paris, complete with the kind of eating you had in the States.
Norgard and Lucas are both francophiles. Norgard is a frequent visitor to Paris and lives in New York City where he writes and helps manage the family farm in Kansas -- a neat trick! Lucas, a native and resident of Lincoln County, West Virginia, will be appearing for three book events in the Tri-State area. Lucas, an attorney and former aide to U.S. Rep. Shelley Capito, holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt, a master’s from Harvard, a law degree from Tulane, and a certificate in International Law from Sorbonne. He is currently spending the year finishing up his doctorate from Vanderbilt.
Lucas will be appearing to sign books at the following locations:
- Huntington: Friday, August 7th - 6 pm - 8 pm - Empire Books
- Hamlin: Saturday, August 8th - 11 am - 2 pm - Hamlin Public Library
- Charleston: Wednesday, August 12th - 11am - 2 pm - Taylor Books; For more information, go to: www.europebeyondyourmeans.com.
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