I picked this book up at Shakespeare & Company in Paris, thinking it would be an appropriate choice - since the shop itself is depicted on the cover, and it's Hemingway's own vignettes on living in Paris in the 1920s. I was definitely right, but I was also sad, because I wanted to be back in Paris while I read it.

I haven't read any of Hemingway's novels yet--I had a low opinion of him for a number of years, and I think a high school teacher really didn't teach his writing properly, because I was so turned off by his writing when we were required to read him. Now, I get it. I've re-read the short stories I was required to in high school, and I get it. Reading this was enlightening as to the type of person he was...and it's interesting to think of all these renown writers/artists just going to Paris to write during the 1920s. His portrait of F. Scott Fitzgerald is not particularly complimentary, and mainly it's due to his low opinion of Zelda.

I enjoyed every part of this book, and found it insightful. He keeps calling this his book about "the first part of Paris," and mentions the dissolution of his first marriage (which seemed loving and, yes, maybe a little bit magical - and probably exaggerated by Hemingway).

Overall, fascinating. Will most likely read again before any future trips to Paris.