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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Jo Jo Moye’s latest book seems reminiscent of a Jodi Picoult “ripped from the headlines” novel. In this case, the subject is a battle over art allegedly looted during wartime. The novel opens in 1916 in the provincial French town of St. Peronn. Two sisters, Sophie and Helene, maintain their family’s hotel and restaurant, Le Coq Rouge, while their husbands are at the front. Their town occupied by German troops, the residents of St. Peronn live “amid a great sea of uncertainty, deprivation and fear.” The German Kommandant demands that the sisters feed and house his soldiers causing the townspeople to assume that the sisters are receiving “German largesse.” Despite the public censure, Sophie strikes up a wary friendship with the Kommandant, a cultured man who appreciates art and admires a portrait of Sophie, “the glowing girl willful in her confidence,” painted by her husband Edourd Lefevre. When Sophie learns that Edourd may be among the men sent to a notoriously brutal reprisal camp, her love for Edourd and her “desperation for their life together to continue,” leads her to make a fateful decision.
After Sophie is arrested by German soldiers and escorted from the town in front of her censorious, jeering neighbors to a fate unknown, the novel abruptly moves forward to 2006 London where a beautiful (of course) young widow, Olivia Halston, is sitting in her austere Glass House, a house designed by her late husband, staring at Sophie’s portrait (the titular “The Girl You Left Behind”) that her late husband had purchased in Barcelona. Awash in debt and grief, she meets cute the handsome Paul McCafferty and is surprised by her attraction to this kind and gentle stranger. Paul, naturally, is in the business of recovering stolen artwork, and his latest commission is to recover works of art by Edourd Lefevre, including “The Girl You Left Behind.” Despite mounting public sentiment that she should return the painting to the rightful heirs, Liv contests the case.
During the ensuing trial, Moye masterfully uncovers the clues to Sophie’s fate as well as the fate of “The Girl You left Behind.” Despite some unfortunate and unnecessary plot manipulations, and some stock characters (Liv’s Goth sidekick), Moye has written a compulsively readable novel that raises thought-provoking moral questions.
After Sophie is arrested by German soldiers and escorted from the town in front of her censorious, jeering neighbors to a fate unknown, the novel abruptly moves forward to 2006 London where a beautiful (of course) young widow, Olivia Halston, is sitting in her austere Glass House, a house designed by her late husband, staring at Sophie’s portrait (the titular “The Girl You Left Behind”) that her late husband had purchased in Barcelona. Awash in debt and grief, she meets cute the handsome Paul McCafferty and is surprised by her attraction to this kind and gentle stranger. Paul, naturally, is in the business of recovering stolen artwork, and his latest commission is to recover works of art by Edourd Lefevre, including “The Girl You Left Behind.” Despite mounting public sentiment that she should return the painting to the rightful heirs, Liv contests the case.
During the ensuing trial, Moye masterfully uncovers the clues to Sophie’s fate as well as the fate of “The Girl You left Behind.” Despite some unfortunate and unnecessary plot manipulations, and some stock characters (Liv’s Goth sidekick), Moye has written a compulsively readable novel that raises thought-provoking moral questions.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Yet another great book by Moyes. Love love love her depictions (yes, plural!) of female relationships and the love and support they can provide. Also appreciated how the romantic relationships developed and grew.
I think my fave part of this book was how you got drawn into making assumptions and forgetting small details, only to have them return to the story in the most heartfelt and genuine ways!
I think my fave part of this book was how you got drawn into making assumptions and forgetting small details, only to have them return to the story in the most heartfelt and genuine ways!
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is equal parts devastation and triumph. I enjoyed the back and forth tremendously. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is I felt the end was a bit rushed.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Words cannot describe how this book has made me feel. I was crying both happy and sad tears. I loved the way the author set up both point of views from the different time periods & how symbolic the painting was to so many things in the book (& in life). I do wish there was more about Sophie & her life but I think there’s also beauty in the mystery of it all. This book will stay with me forever.
Probably the main reason I did not give this book 5 stars is that I loved Me Before You so, so much and I kept wanting to repeat the experience with this book. The first section with Sophie did not grab me, but it got better and better as the book progressed.
If you enjoy historical fiction, this one is worth picking up. The reason I only gave it three stars (which is the standard rating for a decent read from me - I am harsh critic to get up to four or five stars) is because I felt it took too long to get back to the back story once we jumped to the modern time. This book did have a great balance or history/war story, mystery/intrigue, and historical/contemporary romance. Much like the contemporary works I have read from Ms. Moyes she carries the story completely through. She grabs you on page one and you are get a nice full story but are somewhat sad to see it end on the last page.
This is the second book I've ready by Jojo Moyes - and I really like her writing style. This book is broken down into two parts, both of which follow the history of a painting called The Girl You Left Behind. I have always been intrigued by stories set in different time periods, and especially in Europe during WWI and WWII - so I found the first half of the book quite interesting and I kept wanting to know more of what was going to happen to Sophie, the painting's subject, and her family. The second half of this book was just okay for me. I wish it could have revolved a little more around the painting and it's current owner, Olivia, versus becoming a story of romance and the discord created in her private life. I would have loved to have the central theme of the second half be less about romantic discord and more about Liv's relationship with the painting and going on a journey to find out what really happened to Sophie. I love the idea of this book, and I would certainly recommend it, but I feel that this book had so much more potential.
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Amazing book, couldn't put it down! Just wish it was two books instead of one. Sophie's story was so rich and interesting I could totally read a full book just focused on it!! I was so intere ted in her narrative than when Liv's came it was quite an abrupt change but overall good book.