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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
None of the characters are particularly likable, but you pity all of them. I love a happy ending wrapped in tragedy, so the last few chapters were just my style. This was a very quick read with some twists but a generally predictable WWII historical fiction. The addition of so much region-related (and wine-specific) history was fun, though.
The story was interesting and again added dimension to my understanding of life during World War II. I was frustrated with how one of the main characters was presented. I think I would have enjoyed the book more had the grandmother's background and motives been less obtuse. My book club is scheduled to read it and I'm waiting to see how the discussion goes.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Violence, War
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War
I have read a lot of novels about the Resistance in France but they have always been set in Paris or in southern France. This story is set in the Reims area, an area particularly damaged in WWI and now rebuilding the champagne industry. The chalk caves used to store the wine offer a convenient location for activities related to resisting the Nazi invasion of their country. Two couples, with one spouse of each couple involved in the resistance without the awareness of the other spouse, work closely together in the wine business. There are secrets and betrayals that carry down to the 3rd generation.