On My Bookshelf – Paris vs New York
With a somewhat jam-packed travel schedule this month, I knew my literary companion needed to be easy-to-read and compact.
So what better style of book to turn to than a delightfully pocket-sized picture book? I chose ‘Paris vs New York’ by graphic designer Vahram Muratyan as my travel escort this month, and it has been a delight to read. From airport lounges to metro rides, I’ve loved flipping through its illustrative musings on the similarities and differences between two of the world’s most influential cities.
Vahram’s graphic illustrations provide spot-on insights into some of the clichés, habits, symbols, food and fashion associated with these two iconic cities. You may be familiar with the 'Paris vs New York' blog, which is dotted with Vahram’s colourful creations. This little book is an extension of the success blog, and successfully manages to capture the very essence of the two metropolises in a simple and artistic manner.
Comparing anything and everything from King Kong (Empire State Building) vs Quasimodo (Notre Dame), Cartier vs Tiffany and Parisian apartments vs New York lofts, Vahram’s deft designs hit the spot. My two favourite comparisons featured in the book are of course cuisine related – Baguette vs Bagel and Espresso vs Americano coffee. If you get the chance, I hope you enjoy this tale of two marvellously contrasting cities!
On a side note – how adorable is this box-set of ‘Paris vs New York’ postcards?
(Images courtesy of Vahram Muratyan)
