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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.
bibliophile90's review against another edition
3.0
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Paris Never Leaves You is a fast-paced, straight to the point historical fiction and is alternating between wartime Paris and 1950s New York. It is focusing on the same character in both time periods. Charlotte and her daughter Vivi have left after the war and are now living in New York City. Charlotte is an editor at a publishing house and doesn't like to talk about her past. As her daughter gets older and more curious, she wants to know where they came from and who her family is.Charlotte hasn't been completely truthful, honestly she just let people assume things. But when her daughter gets closer and closer to finding out the truth, she will have to be the one to come clean to her.
I enjoyed this book but I had a couple of issues with it. First of all I just couldn't fully connect to Charlotte. I just didn't know enough of her life, and that is because she is very secretive, especially in present time. I just needed more depth and details of what was going on. Also the transition from present to past and vice versa was a bit chaotic. There were a couple of times I was confused in which time period the scenes were taking place. The book was too short and rushed for it to have a big impact on me. Instead of a fully realized story I was getting snippets, and it just didn't feel complete. I just didn't have enough time to grow closer to the characters. Also the ending was a bit abrupt and left me unsatisfied.
Paris Never Leaves You is a fast-paced, straight to the point historical fiction and is alternating between wartime Paris and 1950s New York. It is focusing on the same character in both time periods. Charlotte and her daughter Vivi have left after the war and are now living in New York City. Charlotte is an editor at a publishing house and doesn't like to talk about her past. As her daughter gets older and more curious, she wants to know where they came from and who her family is.Charlotte hasn't been completely truthful, honestly she just let people assume things. But when her daughter gets closer and closer to finding out the truth, she will have to be the one to come clean to her.
I enjoyed this book but I had a couple of issues with it. First of all I just couldn't fully connect to Charlotte. I just didn't know enough of her life, and that is because she is very secretive, especially in present time. I just needed more depth and details of what was going on. Also the transition from present to past and vice versa was a bit chaotic. There were a couple of times I was confused in which time period the scenes were taking place. The book was too short and rushed for it to have a big impact on me. Instead of a fully realized story I was getting snippets, and it just didn't feel complete. I just didn't have enough time to grow closer to the characters. Also the ending was a bit abrupt and left me unsatisfied.
agustinap's review against another edition
4.0
I wish we could give half stars...not quite 4 but more than 3.
I really enjoyed the storyline. It goes back and forth between the occupation and 10 years later. I was just as hooked in the past as in the present. There's a nice twist from the past that explains the character's reactions in the present time. The last 15% of the book is very heart felt. I really enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley, Ellen Feldman, and St Martin's Griffin for the ARC.
I really enjoyed the storyline. It goes back and forth between the occupation and 10 years later. I was just as hooked in the past as in the present. There's a nice twist from the past that explains the character's reactions in the present time. The last 15% of the book is very heart felt. I really enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley, Ellen Feldman, and St Martin's Griffin for the ARC.
booksintheirnaturalhabitat's review against another edition
4.0
Paris Never Leaves you is a compelling book of the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. Charlotte is working in a bookstore during the height of WWII and is doing everything she can to take care of her daughter Vivi. She hates what is happening to her city and the people who running things, but perhaps one of them might have some redeeming qualities that could save them. Then again, Charlotte may let her pride get the best of her instead.
As the book alternates between Charlotte’s present and past, the truth about Charlotte and Vivi comes out. Will it completely turn their world upside down or will they survive this too?
I really enjoyed this book – first, for the obvious reason that I too love books and bookstores. Secondly, the inner battles Charlotte has with herself constantly really felt true to the time period; does one do what they have to to survive, or do they stick to their ethics and take whatever comes?
If you are a WWII historical fiction buff like me, like alternating timelines and tense moments, this is a book you’ll want to grab a copy of.
As the book alternates between Charlotte’s present and past, the truth about Charlotte and Vivi comes out. Will it completely turn their world upside down or will they survive this too?
I really enjoyed this book – first, for the obvious reason that I too love books and bookstores. Secondly, the inner battles Charlotte has with herself constantly really felt true to the time period; does one do what they have to to survive, or do they stick to their ethics and take whatever comes?
If you are a WWII historical fiction buff like me, like alternating timelines and tense moments, this is a book you’ll want to grab a copy of.
joli_folie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
southernbellebooks's review against another edition
5.0
This is easily one of my new favorite books. I couldn’t put it down. Ellen Feldman has such beautiful writing and a wonderful sense of storytelling. I came to love every character for who they were and where they were even when the unlikable traits reared their heads. The way Feldman ended the book only had me wanting more. I can’t wait to buy this in physical form when it comes out!
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
2.0
** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
WW II Historical fiction has become one of my favorite subgenres.. Throw in a bookstore and a woman trying to keep her and her baby alive in occupied France and I'm all in.
I wanted so much to love this book. However, I was unable to connect to these characters. They were flat and i often felt the story was told at me not to me. The idea of survivors guilt is such a ripe emotional landscape from this time period. So many people died.
This story was just not what I'd hoped it would be.
WW II Historical fiction has become one of my favorite subgenres.. Throw in a bookstore and a woman trying to keep her and her baby alive in occupied France and I'm all in.
I wanted so much to love this book. However, I was unable to connect to these characters. They were flat and i often felt the story was told at me not to me. The idea of survivors guilt is such a ripe emotional landscape from this time period. So many people died.
This story was just not what I'd hoped it would be.
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
Alternating between WWII Paris and the publishing world of the 1950's, Feldman examines the painful consequences of pretending to be something you are not in order to survive.
For readers who loved All the Light You Cannot See.
For readers who loved All the Light You Cannot See.
bkish's review against another edition
1.0
I dont agree with what the author did with this story which appeared to be about a young woman jewish in Paris during the Nazi takeover. Something about the turn this story took is actually disturbing not normal disturbing rather something about the author that avoids the evils in Life and in people...
The more i think about book the more it outrages me as a Jewish woman
A final comment for those who would be reading this book is it is a tale of a woman who will do anything to survive...
Judy g
The more i think about book the more it outrages me as a Jewish woman
A final comment for those who would be reading this book is it is a tale of a woman who will do anything to survive...
Judy g
emery_ann's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
I loved everything but the ending