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kayspurlock's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book but it also made me really upset. It’s a love/hate relationship.
chantelspeaks's review against another edition
4.0
For more reviews, head to my blog Chantel Speaks
“Forgiving someone is the bravest thing you can ever do”
The French Photographer is an emotive journey set between wartime Europe and Jessica May, a female photojournalists who captured the turmoil, and Paris decades later, D’Arcy Hallworth who is come to Paris to manage the works of an enigmatic wartime photographer. Along the way, both protagonists both learn the overwhelming repercussions of secrets and the damage they can cause.
From Manhattan to Paris to travelling across war-torn Europe, Jessica May, a successful model come photojournalist, determined to make a difference documenting the war. She meets Dan Hallworth, a paratrooper and an orphan named Victorine in one of the field hospitals. Jessica finds herself impossibly drawn to Dan and Victorine as the war rages on. While her success as a photographer grows, so too those that would wish women were not doing men’s work and her determination to document the difficult truths of war.
A world and lifetime away, D’Arcy Hallworth arrives in a chateau in Paris to manage a collection of photographs. As she peruses the collection, she is drawn into the world of the mysterious photographer behind the photos, and by so doing, dredges up a long forgotten past that might be connected to D’Arcy herself.
“Mosquito bites didn’t itch like the devil”
I have to admit I’m not someone who takes particular interest in fashion, and so, I was a bit nervous about how I would go in reading Lester’s work for the first time, knowing fashion is a pointed interest in her writing. It took me some time to warm to the style of writing that went into the complexity of particular clothes and fashions. I definitely had a stronger appreciation for the wartime era’s fashion by the end of the book, but its not an aspect of Lester’s style that I am particularly drawn to.
What I was drawn to in Lester’s writing was the dual narrative featuring two women with seemingly different lives who, as the story progresses, we see their worlds gradually intertwining. Lester writes with a high level of skill weaving an interesting and moving plot through multiple time periods.
Jessica May is an endearing and memorable heroine, historically inspired by female war photojournalist, Lee Miller. By the end, I was somewhat torn about saying goodbye to this character. I particularly enjoyed the focus on women throughout the book and the reality of what happens to women in war, as well as the struggle for recognition and equity in their careers and broader lives.
“The only person who can change your future is yourself”
I was honestly moved by this story by its end, in ways I wasn’t expecting. Lester weaves an enthralling story in wartime Europe while keeping the present day in play and brings these two timelines together beautifully, before ultimately drawing to the novel’s climax.
“Forgiving someone is the bravest thing you can ever do”
The French Photographer is an emotive journey set between wartime Europe and Jessica May, a female photojournalists who captured the turmoil, and Paris decades later, D’Arcy Hallworth who is come to Paris to manage the works of an enigmatic wartime photographer. Along the way, both protagonists both learn the overwhelming repercussions of secrets and the damage they can cause.
From Manhattan to Paris to travelling across war-torn Europe, Jessica May, a successful model come photojournalist, determined to make a difference documenting the war. She meets Dan Hallworth, a paratrooper and an orphan named Victorine in one of the field hospitals. Jessica finds herself impossibly drawn to Dan and Victorine as the war rages on. While her success as a photographer grows, so too those that would wish women were not doing men’s work and her determination to document the difficult truths of war.
A world and lifetime away, D’Arcy Hallworth arrives in a chateau in Paris to manage a collection of photographs. As she peruses the collection, she is drawn into the world of the mysterious photographer behind the photos, and by so doing, dredges up a long forgotten past that might be connected to D’Arcy herself.
“Mosquito bites didn’t itch like the devil”
I have to admit I’m not someone who takes particular interest in fashion, and so, I was a bit nervous about how I would go in reading Lester’s work for the first time, knowing fashion is a pointed interest in her writing. It took me some time to warm to the style of writing that went into the complexity of particular clothes and fashions. I definitely had a stronger appreciation for the wartime era’s fashion by the end of the book, but its not an aspect of Lester’s style that I am particularly drawn to.
What I was drawn to in Lester’s writing was the dual narrative featuring two women with seemingly different lives who, as the story progresses, we see their worlds gradually intertwining. Lester writes with a high level of skill weaving an interesting and moving plot through multiple time periods.
Jessica May is an endearing and memorable heroine, historically inspired by female war photojournalist, Lee Miller. By the end, I was somewhat torn about saying goodbye to this character. I particularly enjoyed the focus on women throughout the book and the reality of what happens to women in war, as well as the struggle for recognition and equity in their careers and broader lives.
“The only person who can change your future is yourself”
I was honestly moved by this story by its end, in ways I wasn’t expecting. Lester weaves an enthralling story in wartime Europe while keeping the present day in play and brings these two timelines together beautifully, before ultimately drawing to the novel’s climax.
mollycharlie_18's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kirjapinoni's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
caelyn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? No
4.0
samstillreading's review against another edition
5.0
The ending of The French Photographer had me at a standstill. It is that powerful. My emotions were in a tangle. I didn’t know whether the cry my heart out with sadness, smile at the happiness for some characters or just collapse in a heap. It is simply a marvellous novel that combines the horrors of war with the dramas of life wrapped up in a beautiful setting (and with quite a few examples of delicious food).
Like Natasha’s past historical novels, The French Photographer has a dual timeline. This time it’s between the early 2000s and 1940s, with D’Arcy and Jess the main characters. Jess is a model who suddenly finds herself out of work when her image is used in a scandalous sanitary product advertisement. Rather than be heartbroken, Jess decides now is the time to do what she’s wanted to do – become a war photojournalist. After numerous hurdles, Jess finds herself ready to go in Europe but the bureaucracy and sexism is just as rampant. Nobody believes that a woman can be a journalist in war conditions and the PR men are out to ensure the female journalists fail. Jess is determined not to, and a meeting with Dan Hallworth and his ward Victorine turns into the best of friendships. As the war continues, Jess learns that nobody is as truthful as they might seem…
Victorine’s daughter, D’Arcy, is an Australian curator who has come to France to package a number of images by an anonymous photographer for exhibition. She’s drifted through life until now, but the beautiful chateau and the mysterious artist’s agent Josh has D’Arcy thinking ahead into the future for the first time. Will the discovery of a family secret ruin everything and cause her to run away?
I’ve deliberately kept my description of the plot very general as not to ruin any of the surprises in store for the reader. As the story progresses, the twists and turns of the plot become as convoluted as the small trees at the chateau that conjure up ghostly shapes. It’s brilliantly plotted, with all the seemingly unrelated threads coming together for a grand finale that will move even the stoniest temperament. The plot and setting also give the modern reader insight into lesser known aspects of the war. I can’t say I knew a lot about female war journalists before reading The French Photographer (nor much about the handling and packing of art)! Since finishing the book, I’ve been reading online about the inspiration for Jess, Lee Miller.
Jess is an impressive character. She’s not perfect by any means as she says what she thinks, often very bluntly. She’s fiercely loyal, yet has a vulnerability that she doesn’t like to show. Jess is the kind of character you want to lead a novel as there will be never a dull moment. D’Arcy was a bit flightier to me, at times I felt she hides herself from the reader to avoid scrutiny. Her growth during the novel was pleasing to see though. As for Dan – well, he’s A Good Man. Solid, dependable and with a sense of humour. What more could you want?
I loved very aspect of The French Photographer. It combines history with a blockbuster of a story. I couldn’t ask for anything more!
Thank you to Hachette for the ARC. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Like Natasha’s past historical novels, The French Photographer has a dual timeline. This time it’s between the early 2000s and 1940s, with D’Arcy and Jess the main characters. Jess is a model who suddenly finds herself out of work when her image is used in a scandalous sanitary product advertisement. Rather than be heartbroken, Jess decides now is the time to do what she’s wanted to do – become a war photojournalist. After numerous hurdles, Jess finds herself ready to go in Europe but the bureaucracy and sexism is just as rampant. Nobody believes that a woman can be a journalist in war conditions and the PR men are out to ensure the female journalists fail. Jess is determined not to, and a meeting with Dan Hallworth and his ward Victorine turns into the best of friendships. As the war continues, Jess learns that nobody is as truthful as they might seem…
Victorine’s daughter, D’Arcy, is an Australian curator who has come to France to package a number of images by an anonymous photographer for exhibition. She’s drifted through life until now, but the beautiful chateau and the mysterious artist’s agent Josh has D’Arcy thinking ahead into the future for the first time. Will the discovery of a family secret ruin everything and cause her to run away?
I’ve deliberately kept my description of the plot very general as not to ruin any of the surprises in store for the reader. As the story progresses, the twists and turns of the plot become as convoluted as the small trees at the chateau that conjure up ghostly shapes. It’s brilliantly plotted, with all the seemingly unrelated threads coming together for a grand finale that will move even the stoniest temperament. The plot and setting also give the modern reader insight into lesser known aspects of the war. I can’t say I knew a lot about female war journalists before reading The French Photographer (nor much about the handling and packing of art)! Since finishing the book, I’ve been reading online about the inspiration for Jess, Lee Miller.
Jess is an impressive character. She’s not perfect by any means as she says what she thinks, often very bluntly. She’s fiercely loyal, yet has a vulnerability that she doesn’t like to show. Jess is the kind of character you want to lead a novel as there will be never a dull moment. D’Arcy was a bit flightier to me, at times I felt she hides herself from the reader to avoid scrutiny. Her growth during the novel was pleasing to see though. As for Dan – well, he’s A Good Man. Solid, dependable and with a sense of humour. What more could you want?
I loved very aspect of The French Photographer. It combines history with a blockbuster of a story. I couldn’t ask for anything more!
Thank you to Hachette for the ARC. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
julieb118's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 rounded up to 5. And I need a light read after this.
This was raw and brutally honest and hard and beautiful. It may take me a while to get over certain parts of it including the last several chapters. But I loved it. This one will stay with me a long time.
This was raw and brutally honest and hard and beautiful. It may take me a while to get over certain parts of it including the last several chapters. But I loved it. This one will stay with me a long time.
hillgoodharv's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Overall really liked this book; it had everything I look for in historical fiction. Minus .25 points because the ending felt too rushed after such a great buildup
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Rape and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicide, and Infertility
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
5.0
Fans of Kate Morton will enjoy Natasha Lester's books just as much. Two equally talented Australian writers. Also really great historical fiction with twisty family secrets and dual timelines.