Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
Jojo Moyes' story collection contains two novellas and a selection of short stories focused on relationships, particularly wives and girlfriends dissatisfied with their other halves. They don't have the emotional punch of Jojo's novels and there would appear to be a lot of unfaithful partners in the short stories.
The title story, Paris for One, is a perfectly enjoyable novella, previously published as part of the Quick Reads initiative. It is a bit predictable but sometimes that's what you want in a light read. Nell is the opposite of impulsive but she takes a leap of faith when she books a short break for her and her boyfriend, a romantic weekend in Paris.
But her boyfriend makes excuses and Nell is left alone on a train to Paris. It’s not a story about how exploring a city by yourself isn’t so bad, instead Nell meets a man. For a character described as getting anxious about everything, her anxiety doesn't really come through in the writing. She makes lists but overall, she seems to cope fine with a crappy situation.
The other novella is a prequel to The Girl You Left Behind. This is worth reading if you've read the novel but loses some of its significance without knowing the circumstances. Liv's disappointing honeymoon is heart-breaking knowing David's life was so short. As in the novel, the perspectives switch between past and present, giving the story of how the painting came to be.
Despite numerous people having a rubbish time in Paris, these stories still romanticise the place. I'm not sure I see the appeal of such a busy city, which has its fair share of problems. Not all the stories are set in Paris but the shorter ones didn’t work so well for me. Jojo’s stories are best when you have time to really connect with her characters and care what happens with their relationships.
Review copy provided by publisher.
The title story, Paris for One, is a perfectly enjoyable novella, previously published as part of the Quick Reads initiative. It is a bit predictable but sometimes that's what you want in a light read. Nell is the opposite of impulsive but she takes a leap of faith when she books a short break for her and her boyfriend, a romantic weekend in Paris.
But her boyfriend makes excuses and Nell is left alone on a train to Paris. It’s not a story about how exploring a city by yourself isn’t so bad, instead Nell meets a man. For a character described as getting anxious about everything, her anxiety doesn't really come through in the writing. She makes lists but overall, she seems to cope fine with a crappy situation.
The other novella is a prequel to The Girl You Left Behind. This is worth reading if you've read the novel but loses some of its significance without knowing the circumstances. Liv's disappointing honeymoon is heart-breaking knowing David's life was so short. As in the novel, the perspectives switch between past and present, giving the story of how the painting came to be.
Despite numerous people having a rubbish time in Paris, these stories still romanticise the place. I'm not sure I see the appeal of such a busy city, which has its fair share of problems. Not all the stories are set in Paris but the shorter ones didn’t work so well for me. Jojo’s stories are best when you have time to really connect with her characters and care what happens with their relationships.
Review copy provided by publisher.
I dont know why I try, these books are not for me
Very predictable...but not altogether un-enjoyable. It's a cliched romance about a British girl, aged 27, who has never colored outside the lines her whole life. She bought her "boyfriend" a ticket for a weekend getaway in Paris, to find herself in Paris by herself. She finds herself, so to speak, and love ensues.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A lovely little collection of short stories. Will try to have a full review up on the blog soon!
1/11/19: Full review came be found here: https://findinglandblog.com/2019/01/09/book-review-paris-for-one-and-other-stories/
1/11/19: Full review came be found here: https://findinglandblog.com/2019/01/09/book-review-paris-for-one-and-other-stories/
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
inspiring
medium-paced
I am sad to report but I was not a huge fan of most of the stories in this collection. Although, the first three stories were not bad. The first one, Paris for One was more of a full length story. I really got into the story and Nell. She may not have planned to go to Paris alone but Nell really did discover herself and what she is capable of. Experiencing Paris through Nell's eyes was nice. A good happy ending.
Than there is Between the Tweets. Which at first I was not sure about this short story but as the storyline played out I was into it. The ending was a shocker. What I liked about Love in the Afternoon was that it showed you that love does not have to happen just at night or in the morning. A quickie in the afternoon is just fine. Also, the right pair of high heels does not hurt. The other stories while not bad just were not as memorable.
Than there is Between the Tweets. Which at first I was not sure about this short story but as the storyline played out I was into it. The ending was a shocker. What I liked about Love in the Afternoon was that it showed you that love does not have to happen just at night or in the morning. A quickie in the afternoon is just fine. Also, the right pair of high heels does not hurt. The other stories while not bad just were not as memorable.
Fazla kısaydı bu da güzel olabilecek bir romanın gidişatını etkilemiş. Daha uzun olsun isterdim. Jojo Moyes okuru etkisine almayı iyi başarıyor.