Book: A Town Like Paris

I loved this book. It made me want to get on the next plane to Paris.

It's a memoir of how Bryce Corbett, a 28 year old Australian living in London, wanted a change of scenery. So he took a job in Paris.

All-in-all it is a highly amusing read. He tells of finding a place to live; the battles with Parisian plumbers; the perplexing courting rituals of the French woman; the drunken revelry; the trips throughout Europe; the Sticker Bitch; buying a vespa; appearing on French game shows; starting a band; falling in love.

As it would happen, he fell in love with a dancer at the Lido. She also happened to be Australian (a Brisbane girl, no less!)

By the end of the book I was thoroughly in love with Paris. I've always wanted to go there but now I think the trip overseas next year may be amended slighty. As soon as I finished the book I went and raided G's collection of programmes and pulled out the one from the Lido (he and B and B's girls went there last year), searching for her picture and/or name.

Couldn't find her picture - Corbett was right when he described all the women as being look-alike Amazons. At least while in costume. Did find her name though!

Perusing the names, particularly those of the guys, I did begin to wonder which one was the one with the pec impants - if indeed he was still there.

Anyway, the book was thoroughly enjoyable and one you could repeatedly read. Sadly, I have to take it back to the library but will keep an eye out for it to see if I can pick it up cheap one of these days.

Finally, I found this YouTube video of Corbett wandering around Paris, talking about the book. Enjoy!



UPDATE: YouTube keeps dropping out so if you can't see the embedded video above, try clicking here.

Shay Stafford