Review of We’ll Always Have Paris by Jennifer Coburn.
I have just finished reading a travel memoir called We’ll Always Have Paris by best-selling author Jennifer Coburn. I don’t generally read nonfiction but I was intrigued by this mother’s tale of taking her daughter to Europe to create special memories – just in case. Jennifer’s story is captivating from the first page and in less than 24 hours I had devoured this entertaining book.
In We’ll Always Have Paris, Jennifer tells the story of several mother-daughter summer trips to European cities beginning in 2005 when she took 8 year-old Katie to Paris and London. Jennifer lost her father to cancer as a teenager and is consumed by the fear that she will also die prematurely and wants to ensure that she leaves her young daughter with wonderful memories. When planning that first trip to Europe she imagines herself on her deathbed telling Katie “we’ll always have Paris“.
In subsequent years, the two also travel through Italy and Spain, to Amsterdam and back to Paris but as much as the memoir is about the experiences of the duo in Europe, it is also the story of how those travels helped Jennifer address her fear of dying and learn to live in the moment.
This is the kind of book that I just love to curl up with and I thoroughly enjoyed it for so many reasons. The author and I are about the same age and my older daughter, also named Katie, is the same age as hers but when I read this passage from the introduction I knew that I would relate to her story.
Whenever my doctors tells me I’m perfectly healthy, I lament the state of the American health care system. I shake my head, saddened that the doctors are so inept that they haven’t yet diagnosed my serious illness.
It’s not often that I come across someone who can be as completely irrational about the state of her health as I am so I felt an instant connection! Those of you who don’t suffer from health anxiety will still find Jennifer to be a compelling storyteller and will enjoy the heart-felt and humorous anecdotes from both her travels and her past.
In each section of the book, the reader is transported along to a different European city and swept up in Jennifer and Katie’s adventures and mishaps. I have spent time in London, Paris and Rome with my children and enjoyed the trip down memory lane while reading about their experiences. The descriptions of time spent in the rest of Italy, Spain and Amsterdam left me longing to plan a visit with my own two girls.
I especially loved Katie’s observations that provide insight into the way that kids view the world with enthusiasm and optimism. At one point in Rome she explains to her mother that the piazzas are what she loves best about Italy and asks “Who do we talk to about getting some piazzas in San Diego?” I can imagine my younger daughter asking the exact same sort of question.
As a mom who loves to travel, I thought it was wonderful to watch Jennifer and Katie evolve over several years and trips and become more at ease with travel. The overwhelmed mother who arrived in Paris with an 8 year-old was afraid to leave the hotel for fear of getting lost but several years later we see her navigate European trains like a pro in Spain. Katie is an easygoing girl from the beginning but we also witness her becoming a young woman who is comfortable exploring without plans and confidant in her own ability to manage in a foreign city.
This is more than a travelogue though and the author weaves memories of her father into the narrative of her European experiences in such a compelling way that it helps the reader understand her past and demonstrates how her travels helped her to address her loss and finally move forward. By the time that mother and daughter return home after their 2013 Parisian adventure, “we’ll always have Paris” has taken on a whole new meaning and, as readers, we are thrilled for both of them.
We’ll Always Have Paris is a thoroughly enjoyable read for both those who love travel and those who enjoy a good mother/daughter story. Be forewarned though that before you have closed the book on the final page, you will be planning a European adventure of your own.
I received a copy of We’ll Always Have Paris for review purposes.
You can learn more about Jennifer on her website and can follow her on Facebook.
Related Links
Paris with Kids? Mais, Bien Sûr!
London with Kids: 14 Favourite Attractions and Activities
Exploring Rome with Kids in 2.5 Days
Book Review: Have Mother, Will Travel
Marcia
I love the title too. I can’t imagine what it must be like to live in fear that you’ll leave your loved ones but I can relate – a bit. My aunt died at 39 and one of her daughters whose life closely mirrors hers — among other things, they both married at the same age, had 3 children, the last one coming less than a year after the second one — lived in fear until she passed 39. It can seem irrational but it’s quite real for them. Anyway, I like that in taking matters in hand, she learned how to live. Beautiful.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
I like that this isn’t just a travelogue but a personal memoir as well about her internal journey. Reading is one of my passions, and this sounds like an excellent book.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
To answer your question about what European city would I most like to travel to… I have no idea! I actually need to pick one in the next week so that I can start booking our June travels when we fly through Europe. It’s like I’m at an incredible dessert buffet but am told I can only have 1 thing. I can’t choose! I told the kids to give me some suggestions. My teens wants Salzburg or Athens so he can learn their accents. My daughter wants to go to Paris (again). My middle kid just keeps saying Egypt because he knows it’s not in Europe.
Keryn from Walking On Travels
Once again you have added a book to my travel list lady! I can’t wait to pick this up (or hopefully win it!) I have been dying to go to Prague and the country of Malta for years. Hubby and I were supposed to go on our honeymoon to Prague. Long story short we went to Rome and Venice 3+ years after our wedding on our belated honeymoon… not Prague.
Marlys
Who doesn’t love Paris? (Only the cranky ones who’ll complain about anything anyway.) We’ve lived there for more than 20 years and we loved it all and would go back again, for sure.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
I’m not usually a non-fiction reader too but now you’ve got my attention with this book. I want to read this if I don’t win it. I’ve always wanted to do a mother-daugher trip more for the reason of cherished memories than being one obsessed with dying. Although, it has crossed my mind. I would love to visit Budapest.
Carolyn @ Holidays to Europe
This sounds like a great read. I’m an avid reader of any Europe-related book, whether it be fiction or non-fiction. I live in Australia so unfortunately I’m ineligible for the competition but I’ll definitely be looking out for the book in bookstores.
Andrea Jones
I would love to visit Paris! Maybe for an anniversary.
Leigh
What a delightful sounding book. And what a way to document the trip for her daughter. Even though my kids are that much older I think I’d also enjoy the book and her sense of humour.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Marcia – I loved that she was able to get over her fear by the end of the book as well – I know from experience that it’s hard to live that way!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I vote Salzburg – or Paris! Isn’t it lovely to have so many choices!
Lisa Goodmurphy
One day you will get to Prague – and so will I!! You will love this book – it’s such a good read!
Muza-chan
interesting…
ben
This is so cute 🙂
Cathy Sweeney
Sounds like a totally enjoyable story. I know this is a different twist on it, but I often think how I would have loved to take my mother to Paris. Reading this just made me think of that again. I don’t have children, but I can imagine taking my niece and her little kids on a trip to Europe — something they could always remember about me.
Julie Mautner
Bonjour,
This looks like a lovely book…I never get tired of reading about my adopted home, France!
BTW your readers might be interested in a giveaway I’m doing right now on my blog ProvencePost.com. This one is for a new cookbook, based on a recipe ledger the author found in her grandfathers attic 50 years ago. The book is set it Provence and I have three to give away. You can see the contest here:
I’m pleased to have found your site and look forward to reading more.
All the Best!
Julie
Christine
This sounds like a great book!!
Lisa Wood
What a great book – so going to have to see if I can get a copy of it from the Library 🙂