Lucy Kinsley has hit the ball out of the park on this one. This is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. Its essentially a journal of the author's time in Paris with her Mother. The two rented an apartment for a month and saw the sites, ate the food, and watched Arrested Development in bed.

The pictures are charmingly whimsical, and I love the candid nature of the Journal, it's really quite personal. In addition to chronicling their sightseeing adventures, the author writes about her internal struggle with graduating college and having to make her way in the world.

I love the way the author writes not only about what she has seen, but she comments on her impression of what she sees as well. As she walks through the gardens of Versailles, she comments on how she likes to imagine ladies in their wigs and dresses scampering about. She talks about the decadent nature of the castle and paints a clear picture of what it may have been like to be there during that time.

The novel also mentions a lot of places in Paris that she would recommend. This would actually make a nice travel guide, places that she has gone are described and drawn giving a great idea of what to expect.

The novel is also peppered with photos from the trip. Its such an excellent balance of comic drawings and photos. The combination really gives the feel of being inside a private journal.

I highly recommend this read. It took me about 2 hours from start to finish, coming in at about 200 pages it is a breeze to read. Why not try something new? Comics are fun, and this is an easy way to introduce yourself to the world of graphic novels.

Here are some pages taken from the book to give you an idea of what to expect.