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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Paris Never Leaves You is a dual timeline set in Paris during WW2 and New York City after the war. Charlotte is a young mother of a toddler during the war and struggles to survive. It felt unbelievable to me that Charlotte and her friend, Simone, would be running a bookstore of a Jew who had been taken into custody. This was just one of the issues that I had with this book.
The story of Charlotte and Julian in Paris was a beautiful story that I think could have carried the entire book if it had been elaborated and extended. Where I felt the story of Charlotte and Horace was not needed and added nothing but distraction to the book.
In addition, the format of the story was atrocious. It was confusing when Charlotte would be in one time period thinking about the other time period and there would be no transition or hint that this change was coming. Many times I found this confusing. It felt like parts of the story were missing.
The story in Paris was a 4 star read and the NYC part was only 2 stars for an average of 3.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
The story of Charlotte and Julian in Paris was a beautiful story that I think could have carried the entire book if it had been elaborated and extended. Where I felt the story of Charlotte and Horace was not needed and added nothing but distraction to the book.
In addition, the format of the story was atrocious. It was confusing when Charlotte would be in one time period thinking about the other time period and there would be no transition or hint that this change was coming. Many times I found this confusing. It felt like parts of the story were missing.
The story in Paris was a 4 star read and the NYC part was only 2 stars for an average of 3.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
2.5 stars
I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from St. Martin's Griffin through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Ellen Feldman, St. Martin's Press Griffin, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I really wanted to like this book - I really did. But, I truly believe that I am burned out on WWII books, and this book just not stand up to the great books of the time period. The plot just didn't do it for me in many parts of the book - I am sure that it all really did happen in real life, but it just didn't work for me.
The two timelines are not clearly identified so it is confusing to read a paragraph and then to realize that the time period had shifted. I just couldn't get into the book at all.
I cannot recommend this book - I wish that I could, but I cannot.
I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from St. Martin's Griffin through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Ellen Feldman, St. Martin's Press Griffin, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I really wanted to like this book - I really did. But, I truly believe that I am burned out on WWII books, and this book just not stand up to the great books of the time period. The plot just didn't do it for me in many parts of the book - I am sure that it all really did happen in real life, but it just didn't work for me.
The two timelines are not clearly identified so it is confusing to read a paragraph and then to realize that the time period had shifted. I just couldn't get into the book at all.
I cannot recommend this book - I wish that I could, but I cannot.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.
With an abundance of WWII novels about women filling my feed/inbox/recommendations, I wasn't sure about this one, but I'm so glad I chose to read it. As the author herself explains, much has been written about the occupation of France, the plight of Jews and others in Paris, and the resistance, but not much has been written about the others, the people who were not resistance fighters, those just trying to survive.
Two alternate points in time and location, naturally. The characters were well-rounded, sympathetic, and thoughtful.
With an abundance of WWII novels about women filling my feed/inbox/recommendations, I wasn't sure about this one, but I'm so glad I chose to read it. As the author herself explains, much has been written about the occupation of France, the plight of Jews and others in Paris, and the resistance, but not much has been written about the others, the people who were not resistance fighters, those just trying to survive.
Two alternate points in time and location, naturally. The characters were well-rounded, sympathetic, and thoughtful.
I am not really sure what it was about Paris Never Leaves You, but unfortunately, I fail to connect with the characters or the story. The circumstances and some of the events that occur are dire but fail to elicit an emotional reaction. In fact, the characters come off as somewhat self-centered and unlikable. I feel like the premise and the story is one that should have resonated, but unfortunately, it just does not for me.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/01/paris-never-leaves-you.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/01/paris-never-leaves-you.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
NetGalley ARC: WW2 fiction and bookshops always draw me in. While this one of my most anticipated books of 2020, Paris Never Leaves You left me a little disappointed. While the story picks up midway through, the alternating storylines just didn't flow. Feldman touches upon heavier subjects and feelings, but I just wish this one was better written.
You can see my full review along with other August 2020 book releases on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/august-2020-book-releases/
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
You can see my full review along with other August 2020 book releases on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/august-2020-book-releases/
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you St. Martin's and Net Galley for the chance to read this book and provide an unbiased review. A little less than 4 for me, but not enough to round down. In all honesty, I did not feel truly engaged until a little before I was a third of the way done, but it was smooth sailing from there on. I read a LOT of WWII stories and I keep getting a sense that maybe I have burned out on them, and then I let my shield down and one gets in and I am not at all disappointed. I think maybe I have been more selective about adding them to my TBR. Not surprisingly, what impresses me now is the ability for an author to present a slightly (or largely!) different experience of the war, and I found that here. It might have been interesting if more of Simone's character had been developed, but this perhaps presents a sequel opportunity. Knowing more about Laurent might have been enjoyable also, but for Charlotte and Vivi and Julian and Horace your heart will hurt at the burdens that were carried. Ultimately, one is so resilient, another unable to recover, and two willing to take a chance at opening the door again to happiness.
Paris Never Leaves You is one of those books that leaves you feeling both happy and sad, fulfilled but equally unfulfilled. It is a beautifully written novel with prose that I just wanted to swim in, and one that has left its mark on me. I have read many, many books set during WW2, both fiction and non-fiction, and a lot of those books were set in France, the country I grew up in, and the one that will always be home to me. What sets Paris Never Leaves You apart from many of the WW2-based fiction I have read is that the main characters are not your typical war heroes, Résistance fighters, or camp survivors. They are flawed (but likeable) every-day characters who tried to survive in any way they could.
The story takes place in NYC in the 1950’s (“now”), and in Paris in the 1940’s. Charlotte and her daughter Vivi live in NYC, in an apartment above Charlotte’s boss and his wife’s home. She works as an editor for Horace’s publishing house, and Horace and his wife Hannah sponsored Charlotte and Vivi’s visas to the US after Paris was liberated. Between the NYC present and Charlotte’s Parisian past we slowly learn what happened to Charlotte during the war, how she survived, and why she is reluctant to tell Vivi about her background, the war, and why she refuses to revisit the past.
I love how accurate the descriptions of wartime Paris are. I also loved how the author weaves the intrigue through the storyline, leaving crumbs for the reader to pick up along the way, guessing parts of the story, but not getting the entire truth until closer to the end. I also enjoyed the double romance storylines too, “now” and then, and how both of Charlotte’s choices are guilt ridden but also true to life - love is so often messy and never perfect. And as much as I pride myself on being super knowledgeable on all areas of Europe-related WW2 information, I have rarely read about Jewish men hiding in plain sight as Wehrmacht officers. It was a great addition to the novel, and I think the author really deals well with the topic of survivor’s guilt, as well as the judgment of others.
How would I have survived the war? I have no idea. Would I have made the same choices as Charlotte? As Horace? As Julian? As Simone? I don’t know. None of us know. Paris Never Leaves You leaves you with the lingering question which asks you “What would you have done?”
This is a strong 4.5 stars for me, and I’m looking forward to reading more of Ellen Feldman’s work as her writing style really is gorgeous.
The story takes place in NYC in the 1950’s (“now”), and in Paris in the 1940’s. Charlotte and her daughter Vivi live in NYC, in an apartment above Charlotte’s boss and his wife’s home. She works as an editor for Horace’s publishing house, and Horace and his wife Hannah sponsored Charlotte and Vivi’s visas to the US after Paris was liberated. Between the NYC present and Charlotte’s Parisian past we slowly learn what happened to Charlotte during the war, how she survived, and why she is reluctant to tell Vivi about her background, the war, and why she refuses to revisit the past.
I love how accurate the descriptions of wartime Paris are. I also loved how the author weaves the intrigue through the storyline, leaving crumbs for the reader to pick up along the way, guessing parts of the story, but not getting the entire truth until closer to the end. I also enjoyed the double romance storylines too, “now” and then, and how both of Charlotte’s choices are guilt ridden but also true to life - love is so often messy and never perfect. And as much as I pride myself on being super knowledgeable on all areas of Europe-related WW2 information, I have rarely read about Jewish men hiding in plain sight as Wehrmacht officers. It was a great addition to the novel, and I think the author really deals well with the topic of survivor’s guilt, as well as the judgment of others.
How would I have survived the war? I have no idea. Would I have made the same choices as Charlotte? As Horace? As Julian? As Simone? I don’t know. None of us know. Paris Never Leaves You leaves you with the lingering question which asks you “What would you have done?”
This is a strong 4.5 stars for me, and I’m looking forward to reading more of Ellen Feldman’s work as her writing style really is gorgeous.
The setting of WII Paris and ten years later in NYC are the two world that we move into. There are a lot of secrets throughout the book so this will be short, it's a different style of book for WII- which was a nice change for me. You get a story you don't hear about- parts I had no clue. We learn just how far a mother will go. The power of love and relationships are big in this one.
We also get bookstore and publishing house for backdrops.
Loved the writing and style for this book.
Overall, 4 stars and 2 steam
We also get bookstore and publishing house for backdrops.
Loved the writing and style for this book.
Overall, 4 stars and 2 steam
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was almost perfect. Almost...
The story is told in dual timeline: Paris, during the Nazi occupation and ten years later, in New York.
Our main character, Charlotte (Charlie) is a young widow and in labor as the Nazis are marching into Paris. She is trying her best to survive during the occupation and to provide food for her small daughter. One day a German officer walked into her bookshop and Charlotte's life changed...
Ten years later, Charlotte is living in New York City, working in a publishing house and is raising her teenage daughter. One day Charlie receives a letter she never expected to see and her daughter starts asking questions Charlotte is not yet ready to answer...
I loved this book,up until the end...Actually, it felt like there was no end. I wish there was an epilogue because I needed some closure.
The story is told in dual timeline: Paris, during the Nazi occupation and ten years later, in New York.
Our main character, Charlotte (Charlie) is a young widow and in labor as the Nazis are marching into Paris. She is trying her best to survive during the occupation and to provide food for her small daughter. One day a German officer walked into her bookshop and Charlotte's life changed...
Ten years later, Charlotte is living in New York City, working in a publishing house and is raising her teenage daughter. One day Charlie receives a letter she never expected to see and her daughter starts asking questions Charlotte is not yet ready to answer...
I loved this book,up until the end...Actually, it felt like there was no end. I wish there was an epilogue because I needed some closure.