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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A heartbreaking but beautiful work of historical fiction, I really enjoyed this book about love, forgiveness and perseverance. It's hard to believe that some of these things actually happened and that people lived to tell their stories. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a galley of this book for review.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
After getting hit by a truck while riding her bike, Caroline wakes up in a Paris hospital with no memory of who she is. The life she is trying to piece together seems to indicate that she led a sad, lonely existence. A friendship with the owner of Cafe Jeanty makes her think she might like her new life better than her old. Caroline also discovers a bundle of letters in the third bedroom of her apartment, written by a woman named Celine in 1943, and Caroline wonders what Celine's story was. Written as a dual timeline book, we learn that Celine was a young widow in Nazi-occupied Paris, living with her father and 8-year-old daughter, Cosi. When their Jewish ancestry is discovered, Celine's father and daughter are taken to a work camp. Cosi, however, escapes the German soldiers and reunites with her mom, hidden in a terrible German officer's apartment.
The writing in this story is beautiful. Both story lines are intriguing and keep you wanting to find out what happens next. My only complaints would be that some of the surprises were easy to guess and that a paragraph supposedly written by 8 year old Cosi does not sound at all the way an 8 year old would talk. Readers who enjoy women's fiction and World War II fiction will love this novel.
After getting hit by a truck while riding her bike, Caroline wakes up in a Paris hospital with no memory of who she is. The life she is trying to piece together seems to indicate that she led a sad, lonely existence. A friendship with the owner of Cafe Jeanty makes her think she might like her new life better than her old. Caroline also discovers a bundle of letters in the third bedroom of her apartment, written by a woman named Celine in 1943, and Caroline wonders what Celine's story was. Written as a dual timeline book, we learn that Celine was a young widow in Nazi-occupied Paris, living with her father and 8-year-old daughter, Cosi. When their Jewish ancestry is discovered, Celine's father and daughter are taken to a work camp. Cosi, however, escapes the German soldiers and reunites with her mom, hidden in a terrible German officer's apartment.
The writing in this story is beautiful. Both story lines are intriguing and keep you wanting to find out what happens next. My only complaints would be that some of the surprises were easy to guess and that a paragraph supposedly written by 8 year old Cosi does not sound at all the way an 8 year old would talk. Readers who enjoy women's fiction and World War II fiction will love this novel.
This book started off strong for me but fell flat. I enjoy her books because they are shorter and a quick read but I wanted more from this. More depth from the characters and their story lines. It was a good story and great characters but rushed from middle to end.
A book that took my comfortable little life and all the things I take for granted and ripped them all up and made me realize the actual horrors people suffered (and continue to suffer daily) in times of war and conflict. Couldn’t get this one out of my head for a long time.
medium-paced
I love visiting old cities and towns because there is so much history! It's amazing to imagine who might've once lived there, walked the same streets that are around today, and visited the same shops. This book really delves into that fascination, creating a backstory to the modern character's (Caroline) apartment on the rue Cler in Paris. I love the setting and the time period for the backstory (German-occupied France).
Definitely a page-turner...mainly because the book alternates each chapter between Caroline (the modern-day character) and Celine (the 1940s one), leaving a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. The cliffhangers and back-and-forth got a little annoying because I just wanted to know what would happen next lol.
The book has a very feminine touch, which I appreciate. There are beautiful gardens, villas, flowers, pretty dresses, desserts, and quaint cafes. Overall, it was a memorable and well-written book.
Definitely a page-turner...mainly because the book alternates each chapter between Caroline (the modern-day character) and Celine (the 1940s one), leaving a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. The cliffhangers and back-and-forth got a little annoying because I just wanted to know what would happen next lol.
The book has a very feminine touch, which I appreciate. There are beautiful gardens, villas, flowers, pretty dresses, desserts, and quaint cafes. Overall, it was a memorable and well-written book.
In another excellent book by Sarah Jio, All the Flowers in Paris weaves together 2 timelines, one in 1943 and one in 2009.
In 1943, Celine and her father are running a flower shop in a fashionable part of Paris. Then, when the Nazis occupy Paris, they face horrific acts and abuses because of their Jewish heritage.
In 2009 Paris, Caroline is in a bicycle accident and loses her memory. When her memory finally returns, she forced to face her past heartache and relationships.
Throughout the novel, these two timelines slowly come together and the connections between Celine and Caroline are made known.
I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.
In 1943, Celine and her father are running a flower shop in a fashionable part of Paris. Then, when the Nazis occupy Paris, they face horrific acts and abuses because of their Jewish heritage.
In 2009 Paris, Caroline is in a bicycle accident and loses her memory. When her memory finally returns, she forced to face her past heartache and relationships.
Throughout the novel, these two timelines slowly come together and the connections between Celine and Caroline are made known.
I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.