Lindsey Tramuta is a natural storyteller with an energetic and fluid writing style. Extremely enjoyable to read. Actually, I listened to this as an audiobook. Tramuta herself was the narrator and spoke with genuine enthusiasm and heart about each one of these impressive women. To start with Tramuta offers a succinct and illuminating cultural primer, that was helpful if you aren't French (she explains concepts like laïcité for example). She faults the media for perpetuating the (various) myths of Paris, talks about stereotypes of the thin white Parisienne and about how often we conflate Paris and France. Her book challenges these archetypes and presents a more realistic and honest representation of what Parisiennes are really like today. She talks a little about societal shifts and how Paris is evolving but then she steps aside and listens, (and writes) about these 35 or 40 women in Paris and what their stories are. I found them all incredibly impressive and compelling.
There were a few high profile women are known internationally, especially if you have any ties to France. Rokhaya Diallo the dynamic journalist, filmmaker and anti-racist activist; Lauren Bastide another well-known and provocative journalist who has a popular podcaste; and the first female mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. I was really interested in learning a little more about them-in their own words. But, honestly, I found all the bios really compelling. I can't really imagine anyone reading this and not being riveted by the stories of all these women with such different experiences and all taking charge of their lives. It was inspiring and eye opening.
I ended up buying the book because I was curious to see photos of all the places they talk about and the women themselves. The photography was beautiful incidentally (Joann Pai). I also liked how each interviewee mentioned which arrondissement was their favorite. It added to my understanding of how Paris is layed out-even though I'm pretty familiar with it. It was just a nice touch. Tramuta must have spent so much time researching each of these women and asking the kinds of questions that would draw out their passions and their stories. She seemed to be equally interested in each person she was talking to and painted a full picture of them in relatively few words. This book is a good reminder for us to listen to each other, and to do the emotional work to open up your own mind (even if that can be uncomfortable).
Sensitive topics are addressed with kindness and candor. One in particular that I remember was her interview with the lawyer and disability-rights activist Elisa Rojas. I have always noticed a definite lack of access to buildings in France, but that was just the first layer of what she talked about. More frustrating to Rojas was how condescending people can be when talking about handicapped people..."despite their handicap" kind of writing that she found irritating and insulting. That was something that made a lot of sense but I hadn't really noticed before. Sarah Zouak was another really fascinating bio as she talks about the experiences of Muslim women and the feminist movement in France. The fact is, if we don't listen to different people's experiences in life we walk around in ignorance-like fools. This book was a look into all these different people's lives, really inspiring people who are sharing themselves in hopes that they are seen and heard. I don't want this review to sound sappy, but there is no other way to really explain it.
One thing that was a tiny bit problematic for me was the decision to include the shout-outs to businesses. That is how I will phrase it. I guess it is travel advice (and on some level it is cool to know where everyone gets their food or reads) but it sat a little funny with me when reading about serious issues of racism or homophobia and about the culture of consumption and evils of capitalism but then each bio has essentially an advertisement. HOWEVER, people need to make money, the businesses that are mentioned are all female-owned and this is just how our economy functions. She wants to highlight these women and help them publicize what they are doing, whether it is making jewelry, running a family justice center, or just making a living in a conscientious way. Point is, we should support the people who live their lives in an ethical way whatever they happen to be doing. The only person who really talked about ethics and consumerism was Mihaela Iordache, a coffee roaster. And she only really alluded to it. I liked the way Moko Hirayama (a baker) was able to raise her kids while running her family business. I liked how she mixed her family and her livelihood. So, yeah, these are places I would like to support even if I do think as a global society we are too consumerist. I liked how a lot of the women interviewed had a favorite place that was a library or a park where they would walk or read. That is one thing I hope never changes about Parisiennes.
Other interesting bios that stood out to me were Heidi Evans who created a Paris tour about famous women in Paris-just a cool idea; Sarah Sauquet who created an app that encourages reading. I was also inspired to read Leïla Slimani's novel Adèle (I was mesmerized). But honestly every single woman is pretty amazing, I just remember the ones whose focus happens to fall more in line with my world of reading or French history. But I think the takeaway from this is actually to get AWAY from that habit of living in your own world and listen to other people-many of whom are marginalized, discriminated against and just flat out misunderstood.
So, it looks like a pretty coffee table book but is full of these really controversial and urgent topics sort of hidden in plain sight. It is a really well put together book and I'm very grateful that Tramuta put so much energy into pulling it off and that these women took time to share what they are about. I hope it inspires everyone or at least encourages them to look around at people with more interest, empathy and respect.
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About the author
Parisiennes I know and want to know!
Now these are the Parisiennes I know and want to know! I’m so thankful that Lindsey is helping to redefine the dated stereotypes of both Paris (in her first book) and now Parisiennes.
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Top reviews from other countries
- Lindy KellyReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2021
Thought provoking and beautifully presented
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