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robinlovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
UNFORGETTABLE QUOTES:
Every word I write is as difficult as tears wrung from stone.
She’d tried letting her photographs speak for her and it wasn’t working. Time to unleash a different weapon.
The war was marching on without them. Their male counterparts were the only ones reporting anything worth reading.
she knew the moment she caught it that it was the image that would show America what war had become. Not a gallant and heroic jousting for glory but a savage and bestial destruction of humankind.
I implore you to believe this is true.
I’ve Got a Pistol and There Ain’t Nobody Going to Stop Me Having Her
Fiction is all about what is possible and both of these examples made me believe that it was possible for Victorine to have been accommodated in a field hospital for a few months.
MY THOUGHTS:
Female photojournalists during World War II were treated unfairly, and that is an understatement. Jessica May has just lost a contract with Vogue magazine. Jess may have lost her livelihood, but not her drive. Actually, she has had another desire all along. Having spent years learning about photography while her parents were alive, along with a yearning to write, she strives to become a woman taken seriously in the world of photojournalism.
First Italy. Then Paris, with many places in between. Jess not only sees the very worst war has become, she must fight another battle. This is one of becoming worthy of being taken seriously, despite the fact that she is a woman. Jess, along with a few other women, fight tooth and nail to get access to the important stories. They want to report on the travesties of war, just like their male counterparts.
Not only does Jess have to fight to be in a place that counts, she fights one man in particular, Warren Stone. Stone would rather Jess fail on many levels. However, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Hallworth opens many doors for Jess, keeping her as safe as possible so that she can prove her incredible value. Meanwhile, Dan casts a protective net around a little girl named Victorine, keeping her as safe from the horrors of war as possible.
The story begins a back-and-forth shift from the war to 2005. We then meet D'Arcy Hallworth, an art handler and curator hired to protectively package countless photos from an unnamed artists. The scope of the job is a bit out of the ordinary for her, but it is a once and a lifetime opportunity for her, so she travels to Paris. When D'Arcy arrives, she meets people who will change her life forever. This will also affect the relationship she has with her mother, Victorine.
What an emotionally charged story! Having read dozens of historical fiction novels still left me woefully unprepared for what I was about to read in The Paris Orphan. The realities of war, dark, brutal and devastating, left me in tears more than once. I was drawn into the characters as much as I was drawn into the effects of the war. Those named, and those unnamed. For starters, There are Jess, Dan, Victorine, Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller, D'Arcy, Josh and Jennings. Then there were the victims of the war.
Although fiction, Natasha Lester did a tremendous amount of research (as revealed in the words at the end of the book), that allowed her to include historical facts, characters and places in the affecting story. This book gets the highest rating I can give. Can I say I loved it? In some ways, no. I was heartbroken. However, it is history that contained an incredible amount of realism and that allows me to highly respect it and find the tremendous value it offers tor lovers of anything historical related to war.
I usually read my books straight through, but this book took a few sessions. I had to think about it, dry more than a few tears, and realize how thankful I am to live in a land unaffected by war. It saddens me, however, that there are yet entire populations still suffering the unimaginable in today's times.
Thank you, Ms. Lester, for writing such an impressive book. I also want to thank the author for writing Jessica May's story that was actually based on the life of Lee Miller. I encourage readers to discover for themselves why this book wasn't about Lee (although she was a secondary character) and why Ms. Lester chose to create the character of Jess.
Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
Every word I write is as difficult as tears wrung from stone.
She’d tried letting her photographs speak for her and it wasn’t working. Time to unleash a different weapon.
The war was marching on without them. Their male counterparts were the only ones reporting anything worth reading.
she knew the moment she caught it that it was the image that would show America what war had become. Not a gallant and heroic jousting for glory but a savage and bestial destruction of humankind.
I implore you to believe this is true.
I’ve Got a Pistol and There Ain’t Nobody Going to Stop Me Having Her
Fiction is all about what is possible and both of these examples made me believe that it was possible for Victorine to have been accommodated in a field hospital for a few months.
MY THOUGHTS:
Female photojournalists during World War II were treated unfairly, and that is an understatement. Jessica May has just lost a contract with Vogue magazine. Jess may have lost her livelihood, but not her drive. Actually, she has had another desire all along. Having spent years learning about photography while her parents were alive, along with a yearning to write, she strives to become a woman taken seriously in the world of photojournalism.
First Italy. Then Paris, with many places in between. Jess not only sees the very worst war has become, she must fight another battle. This is one of becoming worthy of being taken seriously, despite the fact that she is a woman. Jess, along with a few other women, fight tooth and nail to get access to the important stories. They want to report on the travesties of war, just like their male counterparts.
Not only does Jess have to fight to be in a place that counts, she fights one man in particular, Warren Stone. Stone would rather Jess fail on many levels. However, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Hallworth opens many doors for Jess, keeping her as safe as possible so that she can prove her incredible value. Meanwhile, Dan casts a protective net around a little girl named Victorine, keeping her as safe from the horrors of war as possible.
The story begins a back-and-forth shift from the war to 2005. We then meet D'Arcy Hallworth, an art handler and curator hired to protectively package countless photos from an unnamed artists. The scope of the job is a bit out of the ordinary for her, but it is a once and a lifetime opportunity for her, so she travels to Paris. When D'Arcy arrives, she meets people who will change her life forever. This will also affect the relationship she has with her mother, Victorine.
What an emotionally charged story! Having read dozens of historical fiction novels still left me woefully unprepared for what I was about to read in The Paris Orphan. The realities of war, dark, brutal and devastating, left me in tears more than once. I was drawn into the characters as much as I was drawn into the effects of the war. Those named, and those unnamed. For starters, There are Jess, Dan, Victorine, Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller, D'Arcy, Josh and Jennings. Then there were the victims of the war.
Although fiction, Natasha Lester did a tremendous amount of research (as revealed in the words at the end of the book), that allowed her to include historical facts, characters and places in the affecting story. This book gets the highest rating I can give. Can I say I loved it? In some ways, no. I was heartbroken. However, it is history that contained an incredible amount of realism and that allows me to highly respect it and find the tremendous value it offers tor lovers of anything historical related to war.
I usually read my books straight through, but this book took a few sessions. I had to think about it, dry more than a few tears, and realize how thankful I am to live in a land unaffected by war. It saddens me, however, that there are yet entire populations still suffering the unimaginable in today's times.
Thank you, Ms. Lester, for writing such an impressive book. I also want to thank the author for writing Jessica May's story that was actually based on the life of Lee Miller. I encourage readers to discover for themselves why this book wasn't about Lee (although she was a secondary character) and why Ms. Lester chose to create the character of Jess.
Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
ccastle's review against another edition
5.0
“One day, when your heart is mended, and you think of me, raise a glass for me, won’t you? We’re worth remembering.”
My grandmother lent me this book and usually when she lends me books, she’s ok with me keeping them, but this one she made a point of wanting back. Now, I understand why. I fell in love with this book. I fell in love with the characters, their stories and my heart leaped for their joy and broke for their sorrow.
The Paris Orphan is mostly set in France during the 1940's as well as in France in 2005. It is loosely inspired by the story of Lee Miller (forgotten WWII female correspondent) and the story is told by her character, Jessica May, and then a woman named D'Arcy Hallworth, an Australian art dealer. This book had the perfect combination of drama, mystery, emotion, and of course, history. It highlighted the perseverance and bravery especially of women like Jessica May (Lee Miller), Martha Gellhorn, Iris Carpenter, Lee Carson, and Catherine Coyne all of which I cannot wait to read more about now. It was also a tribute to the types of love that exist in the world, motherly/fatherly love, friendship, family, and of course, romance.
Additionally, I learned even more about the WWII. My grandmother used to tell me about how her dad would scream in his sleep when he came home with PTSD from WWII. He was the oldest man in his unit and all the young boys (as young as 18) would call him “Pop” and it was his job to drop the marines on the shores of the Pacific and watched those young men go down one by one as they stormed the beaches. While this book didn’t take place in the Pacific, it reminded me of just how young these men serving were as well as the men and women reporting on it. The camaraderie they had did exist and the experiences they shared is what would forever bind them together for the duration of their lives. Everyone came home with a story from that war and just in general, this book served as a reminder that we all have a story, and some parts of it we do not share. WWII touched so many lives in so many ways, and the romantic European cities we have the privilege of seeing this day in age were once not what they are, and I just hope we never forget those days and take for granted what we have now, no matter how unstable and scary, there has always been something, and we will carry it with us for the duration of our lives and one day, even read about it. It’s worth remembering.
My grandmother lent me this book and usually when she lends me books, she’s ok with me keeping them, but this one she made a point of wanting back. Now, I understand why. I fell in love with this book. I fell in love with the characters, their stories and my heart leaped for their joy and broke for their sorrow.
The Paris Orphan is mostly set in France during the 1940's as well as in France in 2005. It is loosely inspired by the story of Lee Miller (forgotten WWII female correspondent) and the story is told by her character, Jessica May, and then a woman named D'Arcy Hallworth, an Australian art dealer. This book had the perfect combination of drama, mystery, emotion, and of course, history. It highlighted the perseverance and bravery especially of women like Jessica May (Lee Miller), Martha Gellhorn, Iris Carpenter, Lee Carson, and Catherine Coyne all of which I cannot wait to read more about now. It was also a tribute to the types of love that exist in the world, motherly/fatherly love, friendship, family, and of course, romance.
Additionally, I learned even more about the WWII. My grandmother used to tell me about how her dad would scream in his sleep when he came home with PTSD from WWII. He was the oldest man in his unit and all the young boys (as young as 18) would call him “Pop” and it was his job to drop the marines on the shores of the Pacific and watched those young men go down one by one as they stormed the beaches. While this book didn’t take place in the Pacific, it reminded me of just how young these men serving were as well as the men and women reporting on it. The camaraderie they had did exist and the experiences they shared is what would forever bind them together for the duration of their lives. Everyone came home with a story from that war and just in general, this book served as a reminder that we all have a story, and some parts of it we do not share. WWII touched so many lives in so many ways, and the romantic European cities we have the privilege of seeing this day in age were once not what they are, and I just hope we never forget those days and take for granted what we have now, no matter how unstable and scary, there has always been something, and we will carry it with us for the duration of our lives and one day, even read about it. It’s worth remembering.
lcas2613's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
izabellasantner's review
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
kirjoihinkadonnut's review against another edition
3.0
Todella kiinnostava historiallinen romaani naisreportterin työstä toisen maailman sodan aikana, kun naisten asemassa ei vielä liiemmin ollut kehumista. Historialliselle viihteelle tyypillisesti tarina kulki kahdessa aikatasossa ja useampi henkilöhahmo pääsi kertomaan oman näkökulmansa, pääkertojina toimivat kuitenkin Jess, jonka henkilöhahmon inspiraationa on toiminut todellinen henkilö, Lee Miller, sekä D'arcy. Aikatasot punoutuvat yhteen melkoisen sotkuisessa ihmissuhdedraamassa, joka oli varsin viihdyttävä, mutta koetteli omia uskottavuuden rajojani. Olihan tässä tietenkin myös romantiikkaa. Jessin ja Danin rakkaustarina hurmasi, mutta D'arcyn ja Joshin taas tuntui liian helpolta ja päälleliimatulta. Kirjan loppuratkaisu sai minut suuttumaan! Ei voi kirja näin loppua! Toivoin ihan muuta.
Sisältävän kirjan parasta antia oli ehdottomasti monipuoliset henkilöhahmot. Kirjalle ei myöskään pieni typistys olisi ollut pahitteeksi.
Sisältävän kirjan parasta antia oli ehdottomasti monipuoliset henkilöhahmot. Kirjalle ei myöskään pieni typistys olisi ollut pahitteeksi.
starswallowingsea's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
My biggest gripe with the book was the lack of anything indicating the passage of time, especially in two scenes back to back that ended up being weeks or even months apart that you just kind of had to figure out.
laurennmiller's review against another edition
2.0
I just couldn't with this book. Everything felt so contrived, and the modern storyline followed a corny Hallmark movie script (or at least that's what I assumed, didn't make it to the end to find out).
emjen16's review against another edition
3.0
This had all the things I love about a Natasha Lester historical fiction novel: a little romance, two timelines, believable characters. She excels at writing real, tangible characters that I have a tendency to fall in love with.
However, I found so much of the plot to be BORING. I love her writing style, but this one was way slower than I needed it to be and I felt the plot stalling as I read. The last few chapters wrapped up so quickly and suddenly I wasn't quite sure it was over when I read the last page.
Nonetheless, this book covers important and often overlooked pieces of history. I love reading historical fiction for just that reason and I enjoy authors who actively work to tell a hidden, time-forgotten story.
However, I found so much of the plot to be BORING. I love her writing style, but this one was way slower than I needed it to be and I felt the plot stalling as I read. The last few chapters wrapped up so quickly and suddenly I wasn't quite sure it was over when I read the last page.
Nonetheless, this book covers important and often overlooked pieces of history. I love reading historical fiction for just that reason and I enjoy authors who actively work to tell a hidden, time-forgotten story.
paddlefoot55's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my, Natasha Lester knows how to write amazing stories.
Before you start reading, google Lee Miller Hitler bathtub for a bit of an idea of what kind of woman our leading lady, Jess May is inspired by.
I just started singing Pop Musik by M as I was writing this, as our story takes us from New York and all across Europe during the last couple of years of WW2.
I was drawn right into this story, and swept away with Jess and the other female war correspondents, who tackled not only war, but misogyny and sexism every day.
She caught the beauty of war, along with the pain and suffering and horrors - I found myself googling people and places as I was reading, as I needed to get more of a visual of the places she was writing about.
Told both in the 2000s and during the war, it was wonderful to see the links form and get uncovered between The Photographer of today and of the amazing people surviving the atrocities.
I couldn't help but turn each page to find out where she was next, what she was capturing, what emotion I was going to feel next.
This story has also made me interested about reading more of the ladies like Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller and their ilk.
Thank you Ms Lester for another amazing story.
Before you start reading, google Lee Miller Hitler bathtub for a bit of an idea of what kind of woman our leading lady, Jess May is inspired by.
I just started singing Pop Musik by M as I was writing this, as our story takes us from New York and all across Europe during the last couple of years of WW2.
I was drawn right into this story, and swept away with Jess and the other female war correspondents, who tackled not only war, but misogyny and sexism every day.
She caught the beauty of war, along with the pain and suffering and horrors - I found myself googling people and places as I was reading, as I needed to get more of a visual of the places she was writing about.
Told both in the 2000s and during the war, it was wonderful to see the links form and get uncovered between The Photographer of today and of the amazing people surviving the atrocities.
I couldn't help but turn each page to find out where she was next, what she was capturing, what emotion I was going to feel next.
This story has also made me interested about reading more of the ladies like Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller and their ilk.
Thank you Ms Lester for another amazing story.
mackeylime's review against another edition
3.0
Strong characters, but the way the ending sorts itself out is a bit much