Reviews

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron

allydolman's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

english_lady03's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this book. I think it might be the best Kristy Cambron novel I have listened to yet (OK I might only have read one other to compare it to). The duel timeline story about two women caught up in WW2 in Paris was fascinating and exciting both get caught up in the French resistance for very different reasons.

The details about how the Resistance network took in people from every area of society, even those who were ostensibly collaborating with the Nazis, were fascinating. I also learned about how art and even fashion were used for the purposes of propaganda.

The everyday lives of the people "left behind", i.e. not on the front lines of the war were bought vividly to life in this novel in a sympathetic and realistic way. It is too easy for us, and a safe distance of 70 years to judge the actions and choices of people living at that time, but if we were fighting for our very survival and that of our families, one wonders what we would do, what compromises we would make.

I enjoyed Barrie Krienek's narration, and would listen to more books read by her. Aside from the few of the usual issues in regards to Americanisms being used by European characters in the 1930s, this book was almost perfect.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to listen to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own and freely given,

bookdreamer24's review against another edition

5.0

A page turning historical fiction book. Wow women did a lot in wwll!

bclozano's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense

4.75

pelargonia's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

debs4jc's review against another edition

4.0

Lila de Laurent once worked for Chanel. Now she must do whatever she can to survive as the Germans threaten to occupy Paris. Saundrine Pauqet has already felt the sting of the war, as her husband has left to fight and she bears the burden of caring for her son and Mother-in-Law. These two brave women gradually become members of La Resistance - using their skills and their cunning to secretly keep records of the thousands of artistic works that the Germans loot from the Jews as they occupy Paris. They are live constantly in fear of being discovered, but along the way they find allies - new comrades and old friends - who band together with them to resist the Germans. As the story flits back and forth between the two women, and between the early and later days of the war, the reader gradually learns how their two stories are related, and how the bravery of women like them allowed the world to know just what the Germans did while Paris was occupied.
I greatly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. It does jump around quite a bit, so readers who have trouble tracking stories like this might prefer the print version. But the audiobook does have wonderful narration with the French words and accents giving the story just the right feel. Fans of WWII historicals will love this take on the occupation of Paris - especially if they enjoy fashion and art.

jgorkaya15's review

challenging emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

annag77's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

nancyt's review

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is set in 1939-1945 and is written around 2 main characters, Lila Du Laurent and Sandrine Paquet.  Lila makes couture dresses for the mistresses of the Nazi officers living at the Ritz, gleaning information from their idle chatter, passing it on to those who can benefit from the knowledge. Lila de Laurent Sandrine, determined to keep her young son safe, is conscripted into cataloging the artwork stolen from Jewish families. Her neighbors believe she has betrayed her country, but Sandrine is secretly keeping records of the art and where it is sent in hopes of it being returned to the rightful owner. 

While I enjoyed the premise (and love that it is based on the lives of real heroines) the double timeline/double character storyline was confusing and sometimes I had trouble remembering who was who, and where the particular story had left off. As a result I had difficulty being fully invested in both the storyline, as well as the relationships of the characters.

melissasprettybookshelf's review

4.0

This story is based on a true story about on two very courageous women. I enjoyed the different point of view of WWII. It’s not very common to read about stories from occupied countries other than Germany itself as well as a woman’s point of view. This story is about bravery and courage. The perfect book to cheer on women.