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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
‘Civilisation was more than a mass of people; it was also the beautiful things that came from minds and hands and that touched hearts.’
Paris 1939. Éliane Dufort lives in Paris with her parents and siblings. The family has a small brasserie. Éliane works part time at the Louvre, and as a waitress in the family brasserie. But when Paris falls under Nazi control, lives are changed forever. The Nazis are stealing artworks, and they do not realise that Éliane understands German. Éliane is able to share information about the artworks with members of the Resistance. But this is both courageous and dangerous. And who can she trust? There are spies everywhere.
In the present day, following the tragic loss of her husband and daughter, Remy Lang retreats to a home she has inherited on the Riviera. Remy has a vintage fashion business, and in a catalogue of artworks stolen during World War II she discovers in her Riviera house, she is shocked to discover a painting that hung on her bedroom wall as a child. Who owns the painting?
The story shifts between past and present, between the heroic activities of Éliane and others during World War II and the puzzles and issues confronting Remy in the present day.
Rose Valland was the hero used by Ms Lester as the inspiration for this novel, which took me into a part of World War II history dealing with Nazi art theft and its far-reaching repercussions. Ms Lester brings the two storylines together brilliantly: I was left guessing about some connections until near the end. Both sets of characters came to life for me in this deeply moving story, and I became caught up in both timelines.
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Paris 1939. Éliane Dufort lives in Paris with her parents and siblings. The family has a small brasserie. Éliane works part time at the Louvre, and as a waitress in the family brasserie. But when Paris falls under Nazi control, lives are changed forever. The Nazis are stealing artworks, and they do not realise that Éliane understands German. Éliane is able to share information about the artworks with members of the Resistance. But this is both courageous and dangerous. And who can she trust? There are spies everywhere.
In the present day, following the tragic loss of her husband and daughter, Remy Lang retreats to a home she has inherited on the Riviera. Remy has a vintage fashion business, and in a catalogue of artworks stolen during World War II she discovers in her Riviera house, she is shocked to discover a painting that hung on her bedroom wall as a child. Who owns the painting?
The story shifts between past and present, between the heroic activities of Éliane and others during World War II and the puzzles and issues confronting Remy in the present day.
Rose Valland was the hero used by Ms Lester as the inspiration for this novel, which took me into a part of World War II history dealing with Nazi art theft and its far-reaching repercussions. Ms Lester brings the two storylines together brilliantly: I was left guessing about some connections until near the end. Both sets of characters came to life for me in this deeply moving story, and I became caught up in both timelines.
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
I love Natasha's other books but this one just didn't capture my interest. It's hard to say why, but it generally just felt boring to me.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Great historical fiction from an experienced author. The art aspect was interesting for me. There's lots of literature out there on WWII but with the addition of the art, I felt like I was looking at it through a new lens. The writing details of when Eliane was working with the Germans felt real, and wasn't something that i've felt has been explored before. Love the spy aspect and the tension that brought. Found myself drifting in and out while reading the the present day timeline. Didn't quite connect there. But overall, great historical fiction!
1939 Paris--Eliane watches as items are removed from the Louvre to protect them in case of Nazi invasion while also falling in love with Xavier, an artist friend of her brother Luc. When the anticipated horror occurs, Eliane faces betrayal by Xavier and is moved to another museum where she and her colleague, Rose, work to track items stolen from Jewish families while Luc acts as a messenger.
Present day French Riviera-Facing the incredible loss of her husband and daughter, Remy seeks isolation in a home she inherited from her birth family whom she has little information on. The man reading on her patio the first morning leads not only to professional support but also potential love and information on her past.
The historical part was very well written and engaging; I found the modern day storyline a bit more uneven and less engaging.
Present day French Riviera-Facing the incredible loss of her husband and daughter, Remy seeks isolation in a home she inherited from her birth family whom she has little information on. The man reading on her patio the first morning leads not only to professional support but also potential love and information on her past.
The historical part was very well written and engaging; I found the modern day storyline a bit more uneven and less engaging.
This book is right up my alley, but I only read about half of it. I lost interest in the Remy (modern) plot line and characters almost immediately, and just skipped them. The structure doesn't work as well as other dual-timeline books I've read where the chapters are interspersed. Instead, there are long, multi-chapter parts dedicated to one, then the other, so it completely takes you out of the story you were in, rather than intertwining parallel stories. But I also just wasn't engaging with the characters and I could predict from the first chapter what the story arc was going to be - it just felt like a distraction from French occupation storyline.
So good!! I think these sorts of books done well are my ultimate comfort read. A bit of history, romance and mystery told in two timelines, good characters and a story told in a believable way, almost impossible to put down.
This book is divided into parts alternating between Paris 1939-45 and a modern storyline. The history is based on fact and the theft of art by the Nazis. A fictional character Eliane works at the Louvre then is part of the cataloguing of the art taken from Jewish owners like the Rothschilds. I was so involved in this story from the start that when it switches to the modern timeline in part 2 I was annoyed but then I got hooked on the modern storyline too. Remy is a widow who also lost her daughter in a car accident 18months earlier. The wrench back and forward between the time periods made me read it faster! I really needed to know what happened and how the stories were connected. The emotional ending is satisfying and perhaps a bit melodramatic but after such a great read I was willing to forgive this.
I think I will have to read more [a:Natasha Lester|4078079|Natasha Lester|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615013888p2/4078079.jpg]!
This book is divided into parts alternating between Paris 1939-45 and a modern storyline. The history is based on fact and the theft of art by the Nazis. A fictional character Eliane works at the Louvre then is part of the cataloguing of the art taken from Jewish owners like the Rothschilds. I was so involved in this story from the start that when it switches to the modern timeline in part 2 I was annoyed but then I got hooked on the modern storyline too. Remy is a widow who also lost her daughter in a car accident 18months earlier. The wrench back and forward between the time periods made me read it faster! I really needed to know what happened and how the stories were connected. The emotional ending is satisfying and perhaps a bit melodramatic
Spoiler
did Remy really need to nearly die after giving birth?I think I will have to read more [a:Natasha Lester|4078079|Natasha Lester|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615013888p2/4078079.jpg]!
I have been a fan of Natasha Lester's for some time now and thoroughly enjoyed The Riviera House.
Eliane is cataloguing art in a museum, and to all appearances does not understand German. As is usually the case, especially in historical fiction, appearances are not at all what they seem. Eliane understands everything being spoken around her by the Nazis and she not only remembers it, but she is cataloguing what he can of the art as it is shipped off and using all of the information she is exposed to for the aid of the resistance.
The man she was once in love with is working with the Nazis and at any time could reveal that Eliane can in fact understand German and that her brother is involved with the resistance which would lead the Nazis to discovering Eliane's involvement with the resistance. Can she trust him or is he playing both sides to expose whoever he can and protect himself above everyone else?
In the present day timeline of this story, Remy Lang has mysteriously inherited a home on the Riviera. In an attempt to put her life back together, she escapes to this house. While working on her fashion business and finding places to have photographs taken of these outfits in the house, she comes across a book of sorts. The book is a catalog of the artwork stolen during WWII, with a surprising connection to a piece of art in Remy's home in Australia.
What is the story of this catalog and how does it connect to WWII and the artwork stolen by the Nazis?
Natasha Lester weaves a great dual-timeline story between WWII and present day showing how things often connect us across decades and historical events. As the story progresses, we learn Remy's connection to Eliane's story and the lingering effects of those ties.
I loved this story and now consider Natasha Lester an auto-read author for me. Her stories always teach me something and leave me with hope for the future.
Eliane is cataloguing art in a museum, and to all appearances does not understand German. As is usually the case, especially in historical fiction, appearances are not at all what they seem. Eliane understands everything being spoken around her by the Nazis and she not only remembers it, but she is cataloguing what he can of the art as it is shipped off and using all of the information she is exposed to for the aid of the resistance.
The man she was once in love with is working with the Nazis and at any time could reveal that Eliane can in fact understand German and that her brother is involved with the resistance which would lead the Nazis to discovering Eliane's involvement with the resistance. Can she trust him or is he playing both sides to expose whoever he can and protect himself above everyone else?
In the present day timeline of this story, Remy Lang has mysteriously inherited a home on the Riviera. In an attempt to put her life back together, she escapes to this house. While working on her fashion business and finding places to have photographs taken of these outfits in the house, she comes across a book of sorts. The book is a catalog of the artwork stolen during WWII, with a surprising connection to a piece of art in Remy's home in Australia.
What is the story of this catalog and how does it connect to WWII and the artwork stolen by the Nazis?
Natasha Lester weaves a great dual-timeline story between WWII and present day showing how things often connect us across decades and historical events. As the story progresses, we learn Remy's connection to Eliane's story and the lingering effects of those ties.
I loved this story and now consider Natasha Lester an auto-read author for me. Her stories always teach me something and leave me with hope for the future.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated