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lrawlings's review against another edition
1.0
The story, with many twists and turns, was good. The characters were difficult to like at first, but I eventually came to love them. I experienced the same from Lester’s other book I read. The women are all very ambitious, unscrupulously so initially.
iwanttoreadallthebooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester, but not as much as I loved her previous book The Paris Seamstress. Compelling characters, two well-told storylines that fit seamlessly together in the end, and I loved the little references to The Paris Seamstress. However, I worry that if Lester continues to write similar books that she will be at risk of being formulaic, as The Paris Orphan and The Paris Seamstress seemed to follow the same pattern in terms of plot and going back and forth between two characters in two different time periods that end up connecting in the end. But overall, a well-crafted historical fiction novel and I definitely look forward to whatever Natasha Lester writes next.
4 stars.
4 stars.
atticusmammy's review against another edition
1.0
I just couldn’t get in to this book. I didn’t care about any of the characters and found it all quite boring.
_jamaicangirlreads85's review against another edition
5.0
Being a complete Natasha Lester fan, The Paris Orphan did not disappoint. All the feelings of an emotional roller coaster in one brilliantly written story. I absolutely loved this book!
jessiquie's review against another edition
5.0
Hands down The French Photographer by Natasha Lester is perhaps my favourite book that I've read this year to date... and that's not a comment I make lightly.
Right from the very first page, I was effortlessly transported to the world of 1942; first in New York City then to Italy, London and later France. Lester's world building was fascinating, and she contrasted war torn Europe and that of 2005 France exceptionally well. So well in fact, that I found myself racing through the book's 448 pages eager for more of Jessica May's exceptional tale, and the world where men like Dan Hallworth existed.
Jessica May's character was mesmerising, while the book tells me how her natural model-worthy appearance was jaw-dropping, it was her mind and quick whit that held me captive and kept me wanting more of her story. While I appreciated the back and forth between 1942 Europe and D'Arcy Hollworth's 2005 art-history based France, and found both women interesting and their tales inexplicitly linked, I found myself increasingly desperate to get back to the story of Jessica May and how she became who she was. A point further heightened by the knowledge that May's story was inspired and is based upon the true story of Lee Miller, a woman I desperately want to read more up on now.
It's no secret that I love history and historical fiction, with this in mind I knew The French Photographer was going to be my kind of book, what I didn't expect however was to be so blown away by it. I could not put the book down. At. All. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the characters, the situations they found themselves in and injustices of war. I was desperate for our characters to get some good news, and their own happy endings, all the while knowing that for the majority of people in their situation, happy endings were not a reality. I guess you could say I was completely and utterly hooked on Lester's characters and her brilliant storytelling, so much so that I became obsessed with the book... and you know what? I regret nothing. I already have plans to dive right back into the story in the hopefully not too distant future to experience it all over again!
In all honesty, The French Photographer is a book of many emotions. I laughed while reading it, and had my heart broken more times than I am willing to admit. A smile was plastered across my features and tears lined by face as some of the best and worst elements of humanity and history were brought out in all too real settings and events. Goosebumps rattled my skin as anxiety for the characters and their emotional upheaval scattered my rational thoughts. These people felt like long lost friends and family members and I just wanted to give them all a massive hug and keep them all from harm. Especially our heroines and heroes, and injury prone Jennings!
The French Photographer is a book that made me think, that expressed another side of war in all it's glory and haunting nightmarish elements. It's a book that rattles the reader, while comforting them and giving them hope, a sense of love and place in a world that is really sometimes just too foreign for us to describe adequately. It was beautiful and breathtaking and a story that everyone needs to read.
Natasha Lester's writing is second to none, and with this book alone she has firmly cemented herself as one of my favourite Australian Authors and a must-buy author from here on out. Her writing is as exquisite as it is emotional heartbreaking and up-lifting, and she has crafter a page turning experience like no other. I dare you to read The French Photographer and not be held captivated and hostage by the haunting tale of war, family and love.
I highly recommend this book for fans of historical fiction; it is ideal for fans of Pamela Hart.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 2nd April 2019 and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-1FR
Right from the very first page, I was effortlessly transported to the world of 1942; first in New York City then to Italy, London and later France. Lester's world building was fascinating, and she contrasted war torn Europe and that of 2005 France exceptionally well. So well in fact, that I found myself racing through the book's 448 pages eager for more of Jessica May's exceptional tale, and the world where men like Dan Hallworth existed.
Jessica May's character was mesmerising, while the book tells me how her natural model-worthy appearance was jaw-dropping, it was her mind and quick whit that held me captive and kept me wanting more of her story. While I appreciated the back and forth between 1942 Europe and D'Arcy Hollworth's 2005 art-history based France, and found both women interesting and their tales inexplicitly linked, I found myself increasingly desperate to get back to the story of Jessica May and how she became who she was. A point further heightened by the knowledge that May's story was inspired and is based upon the true story of Lee Miller, a woman I desperately want to read more up on now.
It's no secret that I love history and historical fiction, with this in mind I knew The French Photographer was going to be my kind of book, what I didn't expect however was to be so blown away by it. I could not put the book down. At. All. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the characters, the situations they found themselves in and injustices of war. I was desperate for our characters to get some good news, and their own happy endings, all the while knowing that for the majority of people in their situation, happy endings were not a reality. I guess you could say I was completely and utterly hooked on Lester's characters and her brilliant storytelling, so much so that I became obsessed with the book... and you know what? I regret nothing. I already have plans to dive right back into the story in the hopefully not too distant future to experience it all over again!
In all honesty, The French Photographer is a book of many emotions. I laughed while reading it, and had my heart broken more times than I am willing to admit. A smile was plastered across my features and tears lined by face as some of the best and worst elements of humanity and history were brought out in all too real settings and events. Goosebumps rattled my skin as anxiety for the characters and their emotional upheaval scattered my rational thoughts. These people felt like long lost friends and family members and I just wanted to give them all a massive hug and keep them all from harm. Especially our heroines and heroes, and injury prone Jennings!
The French Photographer is a book that made me think, that expressed another side of war in all it's glory and haunting nightmarish elements. It's a book that rattles the reader, while comforting them and giving them hope, a sense of love and place in a world that is really sometimes just too foreign for us to describe adequately. It was beautiful and breathtaking and a story that everyone needs to read.
Natasha Lester's writing is second to none, and with this book alone she has firmly cemented herself as one of my favourite Australian Authors and a must-buy author from here on out. Her writing is as exquisite as it is emotional heartbreaking and up-lifting, and she has crafter a page turning experience like no other. I dare you to read The French Photographer and not be held captivated and hostage by the haunting tale of war, family and love.
I highly recommend this book for fans of historical fiction; it is ideal for fans of Pamela Hart.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 2nd April 2019 and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-1FR
jojosbooknook's review against another edition
5.0
This one did not disappoint! I was equally intrigued by both Jessica and D'Arcys stories. Lester weaved history in to the fictional story so well and had me hooked until the end.
ccasavec's review against another edition
4.0
The ending straight up devastated me. I actually shouted “WHAT?!” out loud, in the middle of the night.
lec289's review against another edition
3.0
The French Photographer is the first book of Natasha Lester’s that I’ve read and for me, there were parts of the book that I struggled to read.
This is NOT a reflection of Lester’s writing, but rather parts that mirrored my own personal experience of being a recent serving member of the military.
The book had the perfect mix of everything I love: historical fiction; photographs (that were so well described that I could see them!) and fashion. I found the characters were either loved and adored, or loathed, by me. And they were all memorable, whether for the right or wrong reasons.
My only criticism of the book is that I felt the last chapter was too rushed.
While I’ve gone with ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am very excited to read more of Lester’s books
This is NOT a reflection of Lester’s writing, but rather parts that mirrored my own personal experience of being a recent serving member of the military.
The book had the perfect mix of everything I love: historical fiction; photographs (that were so well described that I could see them!) and fashion. I found the characters were either loved and adored, or loathed, by me. And they were all memorable, whether for the right or wrong reasons.
My only criticism of the book is that I felt the last chapter was too rushed.
While I’ve gone with ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am very excited to read more of Lester’s books
mpevans0517's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty positive I finished this book over a week ago and just forgot to mark it "read". Oops. It was super good! I enjoy Natasha Lester a lot!