Scan barcode
cmcclure9's review against another edition
5.0
4.5; I loved this book. The setting, the diverse characters, and how all their stories tied together in the end. And since I can't get to Paris anytime soon, this was the next best thing.
whitneymouse's review against another edition
4.0
I had a hard time with the star rating on this one. It was so squarely a 3.5 for me that it was hard to decide if I should round up or down. I decided to round up purely because the issues I had with it were a "me" thing and not a writing thing.
The Paris Hours is written from the POV of four different people living in Paris in 1927. Their lives intertwine over the course of the book. They each meet someone famous who shapes their lives in some way.
I could see this making a very intriguing and artistic movie, but as a book, I was upset about the ending. The writing across the book was well done, but George sets up some really high stakes situations and then leaves all four stories open-ended. That really bothered me. I'm not a fan of open endings, but to have four open endings was so unnecessary that I just was irritated by the end. I wanted more closure for the characters.
The only other thing that bothered me was a character saying at one point he understood why Black celebrities like Josephine Baker would come to Europe because France had "liberated them" from racism like they would have faced had they stayed in the States. While it's objectively true that Europe was an easier place to be for Black people during this time period, I wouldn't have gone as far to say that they were "liberated" from racism, especially when another character is discussing how they're watched for the color of their skin (This character is Middle Eastern).
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Paris Hours is written from the POV of four different people living in Paris in 1927. Their lives intertwine over the course of the book. They each meet someone famous who shapes their lives in some way.
I could see this making a very intriguing and artistic movie, but as a book, I was upset about the ending. The writing across the book was well done, but George sets up some really high stakes situations and then leaves all four stories open-ended. That really bothered me. I'm not a fan of open endings, but to have four open endings was so unnecessary that I just was irritated by the end. I wanted more closure for the characters.
The only other thing that bothered me was a character saying at one point he understood why Black celebrities like Josephine Baker would come to Europe because France had "liberated them" from racism like they would have faced had they stayed in the States. While it's objectively true that Europe was an easier place to be for Black people during this time period, I wouldn't have gone as far to say that they were "liberated" from racism, especially when another character is discussing how they're watched for the color of their skin (This character is Middle Eastern).
⭐️⭐️⭐️
glendagrbac's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Told through a vast array of points of view (maybe too many) and in short chapters. In Paris in one day, these people will go through some interesting circumstances that will eventually lead them to all interact in one location and the outcome after the culmination is interesting.
This book was good, but not great for me. Out of all of the characters there were only three that I really enjoyed reading about and the rest were just ok for me. I felt as though with the short chapters just as I was getting into one character's story, the chapter would end and it would hop to another. I wanted longer chapters and fewer characters to follow. I think with these two changes I would have loved this one so much more.
Told through a vast array of points of view (maybe too many) and in short chapters. In Paris in one day, these people will go through some interesting circumstances that will eventually lead them to all interact in one location and the outcome after the culmination is interesting.
This book was good, but not great for me. Out of all of the characters there were only three that I really enjoyed reading about and the rest were just ok for me. I felt as though with the short chapters just as I was getting into one character's story, the chapter would end and it would hop to another. I wanted longer chapters and fewer characters to follow. I think with these two changes I would have loved this one so much more.
kaitburesh's review against another edition
4.0
I found it hard to keep all the narratives straight - but definitely loved getting immersed in this world.
kriswilli's review against another edition
3.0
I am a lover of historical fiction and read so many positive reviews of this book that I was convinced I'd love it. I liked it but did not love it. The author's descriptions are beautiful with so many tantilizing details about the streets of Paris that I was hooked into reading it. Even though it started out slowly for me, I was determined to finish it and I'm glad that I did.
The four main characters confused me from the beginning so much that I had to refer to the book jacket's description of each throughout my reading. Each chapter was written from a different character's viewpoint and with their own story line, especially for the first half of the novel. This seems to be the way most of the new releases I've read are written. I'm still getting accustomed to this style.
I don't speak French so didn't understand some of the phrases used throughout without looking them up. The characters were believable yet I didn't really relate to any of them in an emotional way. My feelings were evoked mainly with Souren and the graphic violence his character experienced. I didn't like the final resolution for his character, though.
I'm happy I read this to learn a bit about post-WWI Europe and experience the style of writing. I enjoyed the way the book was tied up at the end with a fairly "clean" ending. There were definitely no loose ends left to consider.
I really wanted to love this book.
The four main characters confused me from the beginning so much that I had to refer to the book jacket's description of each throughout my reading. Each chapter was written from a different character's viewpoint and with their own story line, especially for the first half of the novel. This seems to be the way most of the new releases I've read are written. I'm still getting accustomed to this style.
I don't speak French so didn't understand some of the phrases used throughout without looking them up. The characters were believable yet I didn't really relate to any of them in an emotional way. My feelings were evoked mainly with Souren and the graphic violence his character experienced. I didn't like the final resolution for his character, though.
I'm happy I read this to learn a bit about post-WWI Europe and experience the style of writing. I enjoyed the way the book was tied up at the end with a fairly "clean" ending. There were definitely no loose ends left to consider.
I really wanted to love this book.
tay_abs1's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! This story telling was great. I loved trying to figure out who all the lines were going to cross and was still so surprised!! This was a great Book of the Month pick!
emilymreads's review against another edition
3.0
I love early 20th century Paris, so I knew I had to pick this as my Book of the Month. George focuses not on the “celebrities” of the time but rather the lives of four ordinary people through the course of a day. The non-linear format wasn’t executed as well as it could have been, but overall I think the story was really compelling. The way each character interacts with these well-known artists and writers is very realistic and gives a different narrative than one’s we’ve already seen. This is a super quick read and definitely made me want to go back to Paris!