Scan barcode
strawberrymivvy's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
In occupied Paris during WWII Charlotte is working in a bookstore and just trying to keep herself and her young daughter alive.
Post war she is in New York, working in a publishing house and experiencing a very different life of abundance and optimism.
A story of survivor's guilt, resilience, what a mother will do for her child. The ending took me by surprise, but for all that I was glad the author didn't take the stereotypical, easy way out, and it was interesting to read the story of a "normal" person's experience of war, rather than someone heavily involved in the resistance, hiding Jews or flying planes!
Post war she is in New York, working in a publishing house and experiencing a very different life of abundance and optimism.
A story of survivor's guilt, resilience, what a mother will do for her child. The ending took me by surprise, but for all that I was glad the author didn't take the stereotypical, easy way out, and it was interesting to read the story of a "normal" person's experience of war, rather than someone heavily involved in the resistance, hiding Jews or flying planes!
pam2375's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book! It is a book about surviving WWII and feeling quite guilty about surviving WWII! We begin the story in 1944 Paris and then we travel to 1954 New York.
There is a lot in between, of course, and I encourage you to read this if you are a fan of WWII with a bit of romance added in for good measure.
My thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in June 2020.
There is a lot in between, of course, and I encourage you to read this if you are a fan of WWII with a bit of romance added in for good measure.
My thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in June 2020.
lizziepagereads's review against another edition
4.0
Charlotte Foret bears tremendous self hatred. She is a French woman who escaped the occupation of Paris with her toddler daughter, Vivi, and made it to New York City, emotionally traumatized but otherwise unscathed. The story shifts between her life in occupied Paris and 1950’s New York, flitting between narratives as seamlessly as our thoughts drift into daydreams. Throughout both timelines, Charlotte struggles with shame and self hatred for the actions she takes to get through the war alive.
Charlotte finds comfort in two men over the course of the story, first Julian in Paris, then Horace in New York. Like Charlotte, both Julian and Horace carry burdens of guilt and self hatred for their actions during the war. Each of the men ultimately take different paths to deal with their inner turmoil. One responds with self forgiveness and the other with utter despair. Their story arcs symbolize the two tracks for Charlotte’s fate - she either accepts what she did and moves forward, or she lives a life full of hate.
While the story itself centers around Charlotte, Horace, and Julian, the cities of Paris and New York are central characters as well. Paris is dark. It’s scary. We get a taste of what it’s really like to live in occupied Paris as an ordinary citizen - not one that’s organizing a rebellion or leading the charge. It’s frightening, and you can’t help but support Charlotte for doing whatever it takes to survive. In contrast, post-war New York is light and airy, people are happy and carefree, and the sound of sirens signals that help, not trouble, is on the way. It is the opposite of Paris in every way. Dichotomies like this always lead me to comparison with my own life, and from this one I find myself unfathomably lucky to live where I do, when I do, enjoying the freedoms I do.
Thank you to Ellen Feldman, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.
Charlotte finds comfort in two men over the course of the story, first Julian in Paris, then Horace in New York. Like Charlotte, both Julian and Horace carry burdens of guilt and self hatred for their actions during the war. Each of the men ultimately take different paths to deal with their inner turmoil. One responds with self forgiveness and the other with utter despair. Their story arcs symbolize the two tracks for Charlotte’s fate - she either accepts what she did and moves forward, or she lives a life full of hate.
While the story itself centers around Charlotte, Horace, and Julian, the cities of Paris and New York are central characters as well. Paris is dark. It’s scary. We get a taste of what it’s really like to live in occupied Paris as an ordinary citizen - not one that’s organizing a rebellion or leading the charge. It’s frightening, and you can’t help but support Charlotte for doing whatever it takes to survive. In contrast, post-war New York is light and airy, people are happy and carefree, and the sound of sirens signals that help, not trouble, is on the way. It is the opposite of Paris in every way. Dichotomies like this always lead me to comparison with my own life, and from this one I find myself unfathomably lucky to live where I do, when I do, enjoying the freedoms I do.
Thank you to Ellen Feldman, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.
coffeedragon's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book on Libro but it got really interesting and I didn't want to wait so I picked up the physical book at my job, then BAM, I devoured it
It was an interesting read. I liked the back and forth narration of the present where Charlotte is working at a publishing house and the past where we learn of the haunting things she did to survive the Paris occupation that still affect her life (and her daughter's).
Actually, out of the two times, I preferred the setting in the past. Part of it is that I like reading stories in the past where we're experiencing those intense emotions (even when it gets really sad) - plus, I really liked the character that helps her out, in fact, I would LOVE a book about THEIR story! - but also, one of the people that helped her out when she came to America was too pushy.
In fact, I really disliked the whole "romance" that happened towards the end. I think that the two DO have a really good connection but I just didn't really feel like Charlotte loved him while he kept pressuring her to be with him, saying they are more than friends and pretty much defining their whole relationship. Not to mention he was her boss, the person who helped her establish herself in the states, her neighbor, was married and was close enough to Charlotte's daughter to the point he'd been dubbed uncle (but they're not related)
...sounds like a very unbalanced equation if you ask me
If anything, I think Charlotte had just been alone for too long and needed some companionship and he, as someone who also had a traumatic past experience, understood her. I think they'd be good as friends with benefits but it was made out to be as love
One thing I did like (aside from the whole historical part of the story) was the relationship that we saw between Charlotte and her daughter Vivi. As someone who has grown up with the hardships of my parents in mind, I always find it interesting when parents hide things like this from their kids. Especially if it's about who you are. I liked how the two worked around this problem and its eventual solution. Unfortunately, once things were resolved the daughter was no longer a central point in the story
Anyway. I did enjoy the story. Probably won't make my top reads of the year list but I did like some of the relationships and it brought up an interesting topic that I wish was better developed. In the story, there is a German soldier that Charlotte meets and she always considers him an enemy, even when she's already in the states. But then we learn of the horrifying things that Horace (was that his name? Oops, I forgot) did during the war (to the Japanese), she justifies his actions as something he *had* to do. I mean, what the German soldier did were also things he had to do but because (I imagine) they were directed at her and people she knew, the actions were considered even worse
It was an interesting read. I liked the back and forth narration of the present where Charlotte is working at a publishing house and the past where we learn of the haunting things she did to survive the Paris occupation that still affect her life (and her daughter's).
Actually, out of the two times, I preferred the setting in the past. Part of it is that I like reading stories in the past where we're experiencing those intense emotions (even when it gets really sad) - plus, I really liked the character that helps her out, in fact, I would LOVE a book about THEIR story! - but also, one of the people that helped her out when she came to America was too pushy.
In fact, I really disliked the whole "romance" that happened towards the end. I think that the two DO have a really good connection but I just didn't really feel like Charlotte loved him while he kept pressuring her to be with him, saying they are more than friends and pretty much defining their whole relationship. Not to mention he was her boss, the person who helped her establish herself in the states, her neighbor, was married and was close enough to Charlotte's daughter to the point he'd been dubbed uncle (but they're not related)
...sounds like a very unbalanced equation if you ask me
If anything, I think Charlotte had just been alone for too long and needed some companionship and he, as someone who also had a traumatic past experience, understood her. I think they'd be good as friends with benefits but it was made out to be as love
One thing I did like (aside from the whole historical part of the story) was the relationship that we saw between Charlotte and her daughter Vivi. As someone who has grown up with the hardships of my parents in mind, I always find it interesting when parents hide things like this from their kids. Especially if it's about who you are. I liked how the two worked around this problem and its eventual solution. Unfortunately, once things were resolved the daughter was no longer a central point in the story
Anyway. I did enjoy the story. Probably won't make my top reads of the year list but I did like some of the relationships and it brought up an interesting topic that I wish was better developed. In the story, there is a German soldier that Charlotte meets and she always considers him an enemy, even when she's already in the states. But then we learn of the horrifying things that Horace (was that his name? Oops, I forgot) did during the war (to the Japanese), she justifies his actions as something he *had* to do. I mean, what the German soldier did were also things he had to do but because (I imagine) they were directed at her and people she knew, the actions were considered even worse
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
I was uncertain about this book going in. I loved Ellen Feldman's novel about the Scottsboro trial in the 1930s, but I've been burned before by books set in Paris during WWII and by books set in bookstores in Paris, so a book set in a Paris bookstore during WWII seems to have the highest possible chance of being terrible. Fortunately, this was not the case. Feldman has written a nuanced novel about surviving in an occupied city as a widow with a young child without romanticizing the choices she made.
This novel moves back and forth between Charlotte's experiences during and immediately after the war, and her life in New York in the 1950's where she found refuge with a former colleague of her father's. He and his wife provide her with housing and a job in publishing. Her daughter remembers little before their life in New York, where she is entering adolescence and wondering both about her father and her Jewish faith. Her daughter's questions bring back memories Charlotte is working to bury, as does a letter she receives from South America.
Feldman never romanticizes the decisions Charlotte made during the war, and she also makes each character, regardless of who they were or what they did, someone who is also making difficult and sometimes impossible choices. There are no clean consciences and no one emerges without scars. Feldman's writing is clear and she's scrupulous in both her plots and her research. While this one does not supplant Scottsboro as my favorite novel by this author, Paris Never Leaves You comes a close second.
This novel moves back and forth between Charlotte's experiences during and immediately after the war, and her life in New York in the 1950's where she found refuge with a former colleague of her father's. He and his wife provide her with housing and a job in publishing. Her daughter remembers little before their life in New York, where she is entering adolescence and wondering both about her father and her Jewish faith. Her daughter's questions bring back memories Charlotte is working to bury, as does a letter she receives from South America.
Feldman never romanticizes the decisions Charlotte made during the war, and she also makes each character, regardless of who they were or what they did, someone who is also making difficult and sometimes impossible choices. There are no clean consciences and no one emerges without scars. Feldman's writing is clear and she's scrupulous in both her plots and her research. While this one does not supplant Scottsboro as my favorite novel by this author, Paris Never Leaves You comes a close second.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Two time periods alternating in this story, but the years aren't that far apart. Charlotte has lived through the unspeakable and in the current storyline is living in New York, working in publishing, and trying to raise her child without revealing secrets from her past. In the past storyline, we are in the middle of the war and Charlotte is trying to do anything to stay alive in a bookstore where the enemy comes way to close for her comfort.
This was one of those books that I liked, but didn't love. The thing that I loved most about the book was that the two storylines took place so close together, so you almost got a what happened after while also reading the story that took place during the war. There are many times while reading stories, especially that take place during a war that end and I want to know more than what the book presents. This book had the chance to answer the questions of what happens to a person after war interrupts their life.
Two time periods alternating in this story, but the years aren't that far apart. Charlotte has lived through the unspeakable and in the current storyline is living in New York, working in publishing, and trying to raise her child without revealing secrets from her past. In the past storyline, we are in the middle of the war and Charlotte is trying to do anything to stay alive in a bookstore where the enemy comes way to close for her comfort.
This was one of those books that I liked, but didn't love. The thing that I loved most about the book was that the two storylines took place so close together, so you almost got a what happened after while also reading the story that took place during the war. There are many times while reading stories, especially that take place during a war that end and I want to know more than what the book presents. This book had the chance to answer the questions of what happens to a person after war interrupts their life.
quiche12's review against another edition
4.0
This is a different take on WW II fiction. I enjoyed the exploration of occupation and survival guilt. It also asked questions about identity and collaboration.
bridget_h's review against another edition
2.0
Two stars because as the hover over says, this was "ok". This was an interesting take on the WWII historical fiction books - while it did go back and forth through two timelines, it was more done via memoir/memories than ta true two-timeline book. For some reason, this story just didn't connect with me that much, but it was an ok book for sure, and I am glad I was introduced to some of the lovely characters.
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy reading books in this time-frame, the time of WWII. This era fascinates me—the struggles and hardships that the people had to endure are unbelievable. And the fact that people were able to go on and make a life for themselves after is commendable.
Charlotte did what she had to do to survive and to keep her daughter safe in Paris during the war. The story was heartbreaking to read at points but those scenes only reinforced Charlotte's strength and the power of the love of a mother for her child.
Paris Never Leaves You is a memorable look at life in Paris when the world was falling down around our feet. The characters feel real, the drama feels scary, and the descriptive paragraphs transported me there. This is a must read if you love historical fiction stories set in this time period.
Charlotte did what she had to do to survive and to keep her daughter safe in Paris during the war. The story was heartbreaking to read at points but those scenes only reinforced Charlotte's strength and the power of the love of a mother for her child.
Paris Never Leaves You is a memorable look at life in Paris when the world was falling down around our feet. The characters feel real, the drama feels scary, and the descriptive paragraphs transported me there. This is a must read if you love historical fiction stories set in this time period.
jugglingpup's review against another edition
4.0
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
I have been working on this book for the last few days, which is no fault of the author or the book. It is just hard to read right now. So I am glad I managed to read this one on time to be part of the blog tour and because the book was fascinating.
The book starts a bit slow and is written in a way that took some getting used to. The first chapter is so riveting that I shocked. I wasn’t expecting something so raw and so intense to be the opening, but Feldman really drew me in from the very first word. Then things slowed down. My main issue with the book is that is often hard to tell where the story is in the timeline. The narration jumps between past and present a lot without any distinguishing them. So it is incredibly easy to get lost in those jumps. Once I got used to them, it fleshed out the story in a really fun way. I just missed a ton in the first three or so chapters while I adjusted.
The characters felt alive and three dimensional. I really cared about what happened to them and what their stories were. I didn’t want to befriend any of them despite how real they felt. There were so many flaws and so many feelings of guilt. Guilt and angst were pretty much the main draws of this story for me. I loved seeing the characters evolve and start to handle their guilt and their grief.
There were a few times in the book I was starting to doubt what Feldman was doing. It is not a Jewish woman/Nazi officer romance. Trust me. This is not in any way a book that romanticizes the horrors of the Holocaust or WWII. This was a totally new view of things. This was not a memoir (or a memoir that was written for fiction badly) or a badly placed romance novel. There is some romance, some you wouldn’t expect and some that may even be a bit on the ill advised side of things. The romance serves a purpose and it makes the book stronger, which is so often not the case. Leave the knee jerk reactions to me and give this a shot.
The ending was a bit of a let down, but it also really fit the story. I can’t be mad about it and I have nothing to add that would make it better. So I am just sitting her going “well, I guess it ended”. The ending is smooth and it fits the pacing, the characters, and the story. It just didn’t feel conclusive enough, which I have no doubt is the point. The story is not done. There is so much more for the characters to figure out and handle in their lives before they can settle. Just because it works and I couldn’t do better, doesn’t mean I won’t pout about it. I wanted something big to happen for Vivi in particular. I think that is the only reason I don’t like the ending, because honestly it is one of the better fitting endings I have read.
Overall, the book was fascinating. I often had issues putting it down and would fall asleep on my kindle trying to fit just another few pages in before I went to bed for the night. It is one of the best Holocaust/WWII books I have read in years.
I got an ARC of this book.
I have been working on this book for the last few days, which is no fault of the author or the book. It is just hard to read right now. So I am glad I managed to read this one on time to be part of the blog tour and because the book was fascinating.
The book starts a bit slow and is written in a way that took some getting used to. The first chapter is so riveting that I shocked. I wasn’t expecting something so raw and so intense to be the opening, but Feldman really drew me in from the very first word. Then things slowed down. My main issue with the book is that is often hard to tell where the story is in the timeline. The narration jumps between past and present a lot without any distinguishing them. So it is incredibly easy to get lost in those jumps. Once I got used to them, it fleshed out the story in a really fun way. I just missed a ton in the first three or so chapters while I adjusted.
The characters felt alive and three dimensional. I really cared about what happened to them and what their stories were. I didn’t want to befriend any of them despite how real they felt. There were so many flaws and so many feelings of guilt. Guilt and angst were pretty much the main draws of this story for me. I loved seeing the characters evolve and start to handle their guilt and their grief.
There were a few times in the book I was starting to doubt what Feldman was doing. It is not a Jewish woman/Nazi officer romance. Trust me. This is not in any way a book that romanticizes the horrors of the Holocaust or WWII. This was a totally new view of things. This was not a memoir (or a memoir that was written for fiction badly) or a badly placed romance novel. There is some romance, some you wouldn’t expect and some that may even be a bit on the ill advised side of things. The romance serves a purpose and it makes the book stronger, which is so often not the case. Leave the knee jerk reactions to me and give this a shot.
The ending was a bit of a let down, but it also really fit the story. I can’t be mad about it and I have nothing to add that would make it better. So I am just sitting her going “well, I guess it ended”. The ending is smooth and it fits the pacing, the characters, and the story. It just didn’t feel conclusive enough, which I have no doubt is the point. The story is not done. There is so much more for the characters to figure out and handle in their lives before they can settle. Just because it works and I couldn’t do better, doesn’t mean I won’t pout about it. I wanted something big to happen for Vivi in particular. I think that is the only reason I don’t like the ending, because honestly it is one of the better fitting endings I have read.
Overall, the book was fascinating. I often had issues putting it down and would fall asleep on my kindle trying to fit just another few pages in before I went to bed for the night. It is one of the best Holocaust/WWII books I have read in years.