Scan barcode
emilydaniel's review against another edition
4.25
OH MY GOODNESS! I just finished this novel and I must say everyone must read it. It is a beautiful blend of historical fiction, drama, and suspense.
The story follows 4 strangers who do not actually know each other, but by the end, the reader discovers their lives are all intertwined.
The true beauty of The Paris Hours is the author’s literary techniques. The use of symbolism is quite phenomenal. The writing style is beautiful, and each chapter is perfectly laid out. The cliffhangers allowed me to finish this book in less than 24 hours. Furthermore, the author distinctly wrote each character so uniquely, and I became so attached to their individual plot lines.
This book takes place over the course of one day. I found that unique, and really displayed the talent of the author, to make one day seem so intriguing.
Each individual character was written so uniquely. Souren is an Armenian refugee, with a sad past and a meaningful career as a puppeteer (when you discover why, and the story behind the puppet characters, you’ll feel so deeply). Guillaume is an indebted artist, and you as the reader become so attached to his story, especially regarding his ex-lover and the chase to pay off his debts. Jean-Paul is a writer with a powerful story of a late wife and a lost child. And Camille is an ex-maid in search of protecting her secret.
There is also something so magical about a story that takes place in Paris, especially Paris from the past. The setting adds to the story, especially in regard to each of the character’s feeling about the city.
Overall, I am so glad I was able to find this magical book.
The story follows 4 strangers who do not actually know each other, but by the end, the reader discovers their lives are all intertwined.
The true beauty of The Paris Hours is the author’s literary techniques. The use of symbolism is quite phenomenal. The writing style is beautiful, and each chapter is perfectly laid out. The cliffhangers allowed me to finish this book in less than 24 hours. Furthermore, the author distinctly wrote each character so uniquely, and I became so attached to their individual plot lines.
This book takes place over the course of one day. I found that unique, and really displayed the talent of the author, to make one day seem so intriguing.
Each individual character was written so uniquely. Souren is an Armenian refugee, with a sad past and a meaningful career as a puppeteer (when you discover why, and the story behind the puppet characters, you’ll feel so deeply). Guillaume is an indebted artist, and you as the reader become so attached to his story, especially regarding his ex-lover and the chase to pay off his debts. Jean-Paul is a writer with a powerful story of a late wife and a lost child. And Camille is an ex-maid in search of protecting her secret.
There is also something so magical about a story that takes place in Paris, especially Paris from the past. The setting adds to the story, especially in regard to each of the character’s feeling about the city.
Overall, I am so glad I was able to find this magical book.
lindseysparks's review against another edition
3.0
This started off a bit slow, mainly because of the quick bouncing between characters, but one I settled in I really enjoyed it. I love Paris in the 20s and liked this focus on normal people of the time, with cameos from celebrities.
jademelody's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
This is a complicated book for me to review. Because while there were things about it that I absolutely loved, there was no crazy wow factor for me. I guessed the plot as soon as we were given the slighest hint, and while this in itself doesn't both me (it actually boosts my self-esteem that I was actually able to guess something correctly) it bothered me in the sense that if the reader did happen to guess this one wow factor detail, then there was nothing else, it just ends and you are left wanting more.
So part of me wants to give it 5 stars but another part of me is like 4.5 stars is more accurate because there was something that genuinely bothered me about the book.
I really hope that there is a sequel to this. I was left wanting more. There is another story that could be written after this one to satisfy the desires the reader has to have closed ends. However, I think this author knows what he is doing and will purposely not give the reader what they want, which (to me) shows a great amount of talent. We will be left wondering and thinking about this story until we are satisfied with the fact that we have read all we were given.
The aspect of this book that really took me by surprise was the writing. It was eloquent and beautifully crafted to show the reader, instead of tell them, the story. I felt attached to these characters because their backstories and feelings were written in a way where I had no choice but to love them and care about what happens to them. There wasn't a character whose story I wasn't invested in, which isn't common when I read books with multiple perspectives. The writing is what made me love the characters. They were developed and different, yet somehow they were connected in one way or another. So while I can say that I loved this characters and felt for them all deeply, it was (again) the writing that made me feel this way.
The connected plots were brilliant. You learn the stories and (overtime) backstories of the characters and you create this idea in your head how they are connected because it says in the synopsis that they are. It kept me wanting to know how and why, these peoples lives were intertwined and when they were, I wasn't exactly blown away which was disappointing, but that didn't ruin the journey.
Overall this was an amazing book and the writing alone, is why I would recommend it to everyone. And who knows, maybe you will not guess the plot. Maybe you will be left satisfied by the ending. Maybe you will have a completely different outlook on this book than I did, but I bet you'd still be glad you read it.
This is a complicated book for me to review. Because while there were things about it that I absolutely loved, there was no crazy wow factor for me. I guessed the plot as soon as we were given the slighest hint, and while this in itself doesn't both me (it actually boosts my self-esteem that I was actually able to guess something correctly) it bothered me in the sense that if the reader did happen to guess this one wow factor detail, then there was nothing else, it just ends and you are left wanting more.
So part of me wants to give it 5 stars but another part of me is like 4.5 stars is more accurate because there was something that genuinely bothered me about the book.
I really hope that there is a sequel to this. I was left wanting more. There is another story that could be written after this one to satisfy the desires the reader has to have closed ends. However, I think this author knows what he is doing and will purposely not give the reader what they want, which (to me) shows a great amount of talent. We will be left wondering and thinking about this story until we are satisfied with the fact that we have read all we were given.
The aspect of this book that really took me by surprise was the writing. It was eloquent and beautifully crafted to show the reader, instead of tell them, the story. I felt attached to these characters because their backstories and feelings were written in a way where I had no choice but to love them and care about what happens to them. There wasn't a character whose story I wasn't invested in, which isn't common when I read books with multiple perspectives. The writing is what made me love the characters. They were developed and different, yet somehow they were connected in one way or another. So while I can say that I loved this characters and felt for them all deeply, it was (again) the writing that made me feel this way.
The connected plots were brilliant. You learn the stories and (overtime) backstories of the characters and you create this idea in your head how they are connected because it says in the synopsis that they are. It kept me wanting to know how and why, these peoples lives were intertwined and when they were, I wasn't exactly blown away which was disappointing, but that didn't ruin the journey.
Overall this was an amazing book and the writing alone, is why I would recommend it to everyone. And who knows, maybe you will not guess the plot. Maybe you will be left satisfied by the ending. Maybe you will have a completely different outlook on this book than I did, but I bet you'd still be glad you read it.
thebookeasy_tori's review against another edition
4.0
Set in one of my favorite time periods, in one of my favorite cities, I was set up to enjoy this novel. With sneaky cameos of well known authors, artists, and notables, the story unfolds in a particularly Parisian way. I particularly love the multiple perspectives and story lines. Ordinarily multiple perspectives intersect in obvious ways, but this story introduced such different characters that it was hard to map out how their lives would intertwine. Grab this book and a croissant; you’ll devour both.
joeydragonfly's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written. Alex George is such a wonderful storyteller. I would read anything he writes.
ascott_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could give this book a million stars! That ending! Ugh!!!!! So so so so good!!
dragonofbooks's review against another edition
1.0
Writing was decent and I didn't mind the multiple povs, but the pacing, ending, and structure of the book didn't work for me. Especially the ending! It wasn't resolved well and everyone suedo- meeting at the end felt coincidental at best (Spoilers below). The structure and pacing made the book more boring and drawn out than necessary, while the story was also not deep enough for me to really care about the characters because it's 3 chapters before they really show up again until the end of the book (when we get multiple povs in the same chapter, instead of 1 per chapter). I got bored enough that I ended up skipping a good part of the book without feeling like I didn't miss out on anything.
Everyone went thru a fire at the end at the same place and 3 out of the 4 characters went, basically, on their merry way with them being either a) facing the same problem at the beginning 2) thinking they're slightly better off (when they're not) or 3) slightly worse off at the end. The other one had it significantly worse off without a good reason or much of an effort to get out of the fire before it got as bad as it did.
Everyone went thru a fire at the end at the same place and 3 out of the 4 characters went, basically, on their merry way with them being either a) facing the same problem at the beginning 2) thinking they're slightly better off (when they're not) or 3) slightly worse off at the end. The other one had it significantly worse off without a good reason or much of an effort to get out of the fire before it got as bad as it did.
egould1's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I wanted to like this more than I did - post-war Paris, American literary expats, interesting characters usually work for me. However, I think there were too many characters and the timeline went back & forth enough that I didn’t even realize the main storyline took place during one long day! I also didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d hoped because of this. I think I would have enjoyed the novel more if it had been structured differently.
missthomsenreads's review against another edition
“Never underestimate your memories, monsieur… They can be ferocious if left unguarded.”
Overall, I truly loved this novel. The Paris Hours dives into such raw, real human emotion that it made me feel as though I was a part of each characters’ story. I would say, it was kind of a hard one to get into at first. I found myself putting it down after only a few chapters… and picking it up every few days (which is unlike my normal reading routine). However, I would argue this novel is meant to be read slowly, carefully. I enjoyed savoring it, instead of rushing through it.
The chapters are short, which I really liked + it made me want to find out “what happens next!?” Such a beautifully written book, and the end truly blew me away!
Overall, I truly loved this novel. The Paris Hours dives into such raw, real human emotion that it made me feel as though I was a part of each characters’ story. I would say, it was kind of a hard one to get into at first. I found myself putting it down after only a few chapters… and picking it up every few days (which is unlike my normal reading routine). However, I would argue this novel is meant to be read slowly, carefully. I enjoyed savoring it, instead of rushing through it.
The chapters are short, which I really liked + it made me want to find out “what happens next!?” Such a beautifully written book, and the end truly blew me away!