You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the most real and relatable book I've read and, for that, it was a difficult read. And a difficult read that was worth it. I have plenty of my own worries and anxieties and to know that a brighter future, filled with unconditional love and understanding, is possible fills me with so much hope. This story was undoubtedly sad, but it gave me hope nonetheless and I will hold onto that even in the most difficult days. I hope that you, too, will find a story that is relatable and emotional and helps you in some way, as that is definitely what this book has been for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, War
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Car accident
Minor: Blood
sad
tense
fast-paced
Hodnocení: 4,5/5 ✩
Knih s touto tématikou je mnoho, a proto není snadné vybrat jen jedinou. V případě této, pro mě byla sázkou na jistotu sama autorka. Už před nějakou dobou jsem od ní četla knihu Skříň plná Diora, která mě nadchla, a dějově naprosto pohltila.
Když se pak Dům na Riviéře objevil ve společném čtení, neváhala jsem. A udělala jsem dobře. Děj mě vtáhl hned zpočátku, a já už pak jen obracela stránku za stránkou, a potřebovala vědět, jak to vše skončí. V případě knih, ve kterých se prolínají dvě časové osy, mívám tendence oblíbit si některou z nich víc. Avšak tentokrát, mě bavily a líbily se mi, snad stejně. Dalším překvapením pak bylo, že autorka, na rozdíl od mnoha jiných, neměla potřebu jednotlivé osy střídat co kapitolu, a i díky tomu pak má čtenář mnohem více prostoru, se do knihy začíst.
Co mě však na knize zklamalo, byla její obálka. Pominu-li, do nekonečna se opakující klišé, ženy stojící zády ke sledujícím, v tomto případě propojené ještě s kloboukem, přijde mi poněkud zavádějící a nevýrazná. Ta původní varianta, se mi zdá mnohem výstižnější a hezčí.
PS: Schválně, zkuste se někdy na tento typ obálky, u knih pro ženy zaměřit, budete překvapení.
Knih s touto tématikou je mnoho, a proto není snadné vybrat jen jedinou. V případě této, pro mě byla sázkou na jistotu sama autorka. Už před nějakou dobou jsem od ní četla knihu Skříň plná Diora, která mě nadchla, a dějově naprosto pohltila.
Když se pak Dům na Riviéře objevil ve společném čtení, neváhala jsem. A udělala jsem dobře. Děj mě vtáhl hned zpočátku, a já už pak jen obracela stránku za stránkou, a potřebovala vědět, jak to vše skončí. V případě knih, ve kterých se prolínají dvě časové osy, mívám tendence oblíbit si některou z nich víc. Avšak tentokrát, mě bavily a líbily se mi, snad stejně. Dalším překvapením pak bylo, že autorka, na rozdíl od mnoha jiných, neměla potřebu jednotlivé osy střídat co kapitolu, a i díky tomu pak má čtenář mnohem více prostoru, se do knihy začíst.
Co mě však na knize zklamalo, byla její obálka. Pominu-li, do nekonečna se opakující klišé, ženy stojící zády ke sledujícím, v tomto případě propojené ještě s kloboukem, přijde mi poněkud zavádějící a nevýrazná. Ta původní varianta, se mi zdá mnohem výstižnější a hezčí.
PS: Schválně, zkuste se někdy na tento typ obálky, u knih pro ženy zaměřit, budete překvapení.
Natasha Lester writes engaging historical fiction with a big heart and The Riviera House continues strongly in that tradition. Set mainly in France, the story covers dual timelines of strong women finding their way in the world.
Eliane is a young woman in World War II France. Forced to work at the Louvre rather than study art due to the family finances, she falls in love with Xavier. But as the Nazis enter France, her family is divided and she is forced to work for the Germans cataloguing the art they have stolen from Jewish families and museums. It is here that Eliane becomes part of the Resistance working against the Nazis – she pretends she doesn’t understand German and she and colleague Rose start their own secret catalogue of art stolen. But it’s so much more complicated than that after Xavier appears alongside the Nazis and one of the German officers takes a shine to Eliane. She is forced to play a difficult game, not knowing who has her back – and who is ready to sell her out. Meanwhile, in present day Remy has escaped to her house on the Riviera after the death of her husband and daughter. She’s there to try to heal and work on her vintage fashion business (which is stunning!). She didn’t intend to run into an acquaintance, Adam, who becomes a friend with possibilities. When they find a copy of the painting Remy has had since childhood in a book of stolen paintings, both are determined to find out how this links to Remy and the family she’s never known.
I must admit that I’m not the biggest fan of art, so while I knew most of the names of the artists mentioned, I wasn’t familiar with the works. This didn’t really matter in the overall plot though, as the focus turns more to the effort by Eliane and her friends to work against the Nazis. The stakes get higher, and the drama is real edge of your seat sort of stuff! Remy’s mystery of how she got the painting (and her lavish house) did engage me instantly, but by the halfway mark of the novel I was fully invested in both the women’s stories. Eliane’s is one of courage and determination while Remy’s story is that of loss and learning to live and trust again. Both are strong women (no moping around for what is lost) and although they both have been broken, they get up to fight another day. Eliane’s descriptions of the casual cruelty of the Nazis are stark (and made more sombre by recent events in Ukraine). Her story is also based on a true story of stolen art during World War II which made everything feel that bit more serious – this really happened. I did enjoy Remy’s story, particularly the mystery and her gorgeous clothes, but it was a tone lighter which was a nice break from the horrors of war.
Overall, The Riviera House is compulsively readable and the characters and events stay in your mind while you aren’t reading about them. It’s a story of love, loss, war and mystery which is highly satisfying,
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Eliane is a young woman in World War II France. Forced to work at the Louvre rather than study art due to the family finances, she falls in love with Xavier. But as the Nazis enter France, her family is divided and she is forced to work for the Germans cataloguing the art they have stolen from Jewish families and museums. It is here that Eliane becomes part of the Resistance working against the Nazis – she pretends she doesn’t understand German and she and colleague Rose start their own secret catalogue of art stolen. But it’s so much more complicated than that after Xavier appears alongside the Nazis and one of the German officers takes a shine to Eliane. She is forced to play a difficult game, not knowing who has her back – and who is ready to sell her out. Meanwhile, in present day Remy has escaped to her house on the Riviera after the death of her husband and daughter. She’s there to try to heal and work on her vintage fashion business (which is stunning!). She didn’t intend to run into an acquaintance, Adam, who becomes a friend with possibilities. When they find a copy of the painting Remy has had since childhood in a book of stolen paintings, both are determined to find out how this links to Remy and the family she’s never known.
I must admit that I’m not the biggest fan of art, so while I knew most of the names of the artists mentioned, I wasn’t familiar with the works. This didn’t really matter in the overall plot though, as the focus turns more to the effort by Eliane and her friends to work against the Nazis. The stakes get higher, and the drama is real edge of your seat sort of stuff! Remy’s mystery of how she got the painting (and her lavish house) did engage me instantly, but by the halfway mark of the novel I was fully invested in both the women’s stories. Eliane’s is one of courage and determination while Remy’s story is that of loss and learning to live and trust again. Both are strong women (no moping around for what is lost) and although they both have been broken, they get up to fight another day. Eliane’s descriptions of the casual cruelty of the Nazis are stark (and made more sombre by recent events in Ukraine). Her story is also based on a true story of stolen art during World War II which made everything feel that bit more serious – this really happened. I did enjoy Remy’s story, particularly the mystery and her gorgeous clothes, but it was a tone lighter which was a nice break from the horrors of war.
Overall, The Riviera House is compulsively readable and the characters and events stay in your mind while you aren’t reading about them. It’s a story of love, loss, war and mystery which is highly satisfying,
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
tense
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced