Buying A Piece of Paris
Ellie Nielsen
Australian Women's Weekly Great Read
2008 French Flair Award
'An Australian's passionate, slightly harebrained pursuit of an apartment in Paris makes for a hugely enjoyable story. It has atmosphere, interesting duels with French and copious quantities of champagne-popping joy as a crackpot idea turns into an inspired one.'
Carol George (The Australian Women's Weekly)'It's as light as souffle, and just as delicious.'
Nina Valentine (Ballarat Courier)' ... the story will have you caught up in the charm of Paris, laughing at the narrator's outrageous thoughts and cringing at Parisian clichés.'
Holly Ranson (Launceston Examiner)Paris has seduced many admirers, but for visiting Australian Ellie Nielsen it’s true love. So deep is her infatuation that, if she can’t have it all to herself, she’ll only be satisfied with buying her own little piece of Paris.
The object of her desire seems so simple: the sort of apartment she’s seen a thousand times in magazines and books. Something effortlessly charming, and old, and quirky — and expertly decorated. Something exuding character and Parisian chic. Something quintessentially French.
The trouble is, she has only two short weeks in which to realise her fantasy — and she must somehow negotiate a deal in a foreign language without offending French real-estate etiquette. Is this even vaguely possible, or just a ridiculous folly?
With her trusty French phrasebook in hand, and plucking up her reserves of savoir faire, Ellie embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Beauty is everywhere even if, like all true romances, there are many obstacles to be overcome. But then, c’est toujours comme ça à Paris.
Buying a Piece of Paris is a charming and witty love-song to the most beautiful city in the world. Written with great verve and a superb ear for language, it is a joy to read and a pleasure to dream about.
'Nielsen's often amusing descriptions of trying to decipher Paris (the chequebook saga is particularly wry) advance the story as effectively as her hunt for her perfect chez-moi.'
Alexandra James (Weekend Australian)'This book is charming — a witty love affair with the most beautiful city in the world.'
(Sydney Star Observer)'Buying a Piece of Paris is a delightful and inspiring book, full of Ellie's enthusiasm and containing plenty of humour.'
Kerry Hennigan (Travelbeat)Ellie Nielsen
Author photo
Ellie Nielsen studied acting at the Victorian College of the Arts, where she played a tap-dancing Sir John Kerr in the musical The Golden Years of Gough, and Olive in Ray Lawler’s Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, before graduating to a very small role in the television series Prisoner. In the 1990s she worked at the Playbox Theatre Company as a publicist, curator, and script assessor. After the birth of her son she started writing and dreaming. Buying a Piece of Paris is the result.
Extent: 256pp
Size: 210mm x 135mm
ISBN (13): 9781921215513
RRP: $29.95
Pub date: August 2007
World
Rights sold:UK and Cwlth excl. ANZ, Canada, and South Africa (Atlantic Books) ; North America (St Martin's Press); World audio excl. BC but incl. ANZ, Canada, South Africa (Bolinda)
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