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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
After the all the rave reviews on Amazon I wanted to give this one a try. The Paris Wife just wasn't for me. The book is a fictional story based on Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley (love that name!). McLain did extensive research prior to writing the novel, but I am always left wondering if the details were non fiction or something the author created to make the story more dynamic. Ernest had me infuriated with his infatuation with himself. Hadley was equally maddening with her lack of backbone throughout their marriage. It could be those were two reasons why the book didn't resonate with me, although it was also the writing itself.
I don’t think I’ve cried this hard while reading a book in a long time. Ernest Hemingway is my favorite author, ever since I was 14. He’s the person who got me into reading and the joy of literature. This book just proves that everyone is human, everyone is imperfect. Through this book I learned a dark side of Hemingway and the horrible troubles and struggles that he and Hadley endured. It made me hate him, and if I wrote this review three hours ago, that would be my final verdict, I would never pick up another one of his books. But now, letting the steam roll off, I will read more, because he is human, and me or anyone else’s will never know the TRUE story of Ernest Hemingway, we will never know every detail. So I will continue to love Hemingway. Nonetheless this book is brilliant, and beautifully written. 5 out of 5 baby!
I love love LOVED this book! Anyone who is a complete 20s era/Jazz Age/literary lover/Francophile like I am will thoroughly enjoy The Paris Wife. The author captured the language of Hemingway and Hadley perfectly. I found this book an utter joy to read and was a little teary when it was over! For Ernest Hemingway fans, this is great insight into his early career and the woman who helped him get his start. Highly recommend!
This is the fictional story of the first wife of Ernest Hemingway. Hadley Richardson met Ernest through mutual friends and fell immediately in love. Eventually marrying, the two struggled through their marriage and life in Paris, France. Ernest was an up and coming author who was trying to find his way in life. Hadley was very much in love but was troubled with Ernest's constant drinking and philandering.
This was a good story but I struggled at times with the drawn-out stories of bullfighting and day to day life in Paris, so the story dragged at times for me. I was a bit frustrated with Hadley as she came off a bit weak when I think she was stronger than she was portrayed. Not a bad book, but I wasn't engrossed. [b:Love and Ruin|36529552|Love and Ruin|Paula McLain|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515333912s/36529552.jpg|58253601] is much better, I think.
This was a good story but I struggled at times with the drawn-out stories of bullfighting and day to day life in Paris, so the story dragged at times for me. I was a bit frustrated with Hadley as she came off a bit weak when I think she was stronger than she was portrayed. Not a bad book, but I wasn't engrossed. [b:Love and Ruin|36529552|Love and Ruin|Paula McLain|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515333912s/36529552.jpg|58253601] is much better, I think.
This is not usually what I read, but I am so glad I did. It was wonderful.
Very good story. It makes me want to travel across Europe and see the places the characters went to.
I read this book because I really enjoyed Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald written by Therese Anne Fowler. I am not, let me repeat NOT, a fan of Ernest Hemingway. I do not like his style of writing and I find it hard to like him as a person given what I know about his character and demeanor. That is not what drew me to this book. What drew me was a fascination to know what the other side of the story might be. Hemingway is clearly a larger than life fellow; but he didn't go at life alone. This book is written with his first wife in mind, and I can't help but feel sorry for the lady.
McLain's writing style was adequate. I wouldn't say this offers an particularly groundbreaking work in terms of storytelling; however, the plot was engaging and the character development I desire was present. All in all a good book to read if you're looking for something that transports you back to the 1920's.
McLain's writing style was adequate. I wouldn't say this offers an particularly groundbreaking work in terms of storytelling; however, the plot was engaging and the character development I desire was present. All in all a good book to read if you're looking for something that transports you back to the 1920's.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
I'm surprised - I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm generally not huge on historic novels but I found this interesting and very well written. I felt what Hadley felt - the love, the need, the pain, the agony, the awkwardness of another woman in your marriage bed. I'm not entirely sure what would have made this a 5-star read for me... maybe the fact that I think part of the reason I enjoyed it so much had largely to do with the celebrity of Hemingway and knowing how it all ends and that isn't reason enough for me to give it an A+.
“The Paris Wife” is the story of Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway’s first wife (of four), and their years together in Paris. It starts with their romance back in Chicago and paints a scene of youths full of life and striving to make big dreams actuality. Their decision to move to Paris is all part of Hemingway’s desire to make it as a writer, and Hadley’s belief in him. From the beginning she accepts and even seems to relish her role as his supporter. She often says that Hemingway needs her to be the stability in his life, to be the place he can go when he is not working. For those first years, it works for them.
Written in the first person, almost as if a diary by Hadley, the book can be boring. Part of the trouble may be that most fans of Hemingway tend to be males and this book is written in the first person from woman’s point of view. As a woman, it can be hard to relate to Hemingway’s greatness and Hadley’s willingness to support his work. As a man, it can be hard to believe in the romance of this first marriage. Especially when the reader knows the romance is doomed to fail. It is a bit like watching a car race and waiting for the crash.
Much has already been written about The Lost Generation in Paris as well so there isn’t anything terribly shocking that happens. Unlike many current best sellers, nothing horrendous happens to the protagonists. Hadley and Ernest were poor and struggled with awkward public facilities, social drunkenness, missed meals, lost manuscripts, and shabby clothes but no children were abducted, neither parent succumbed to alcoholism, and no friends died in freak accidents. There is a sense of incredulity at some points, when Hadley and Ernest leave their son for weeks at a time for instance, but these serve as good book club fodder if nothing else.
McLain does do a good job of entertaining without all the doom and gloom. Paris in the 20s was enough excitement on its own. Hadley herself may not have been an artist in Paris but she is dead center to all of them and able to tell their stories through her encounters with them. Readers meet other literary greats like Stein, Joyce, and Scott through Hadley’s experiences. They also share the excitement of skiing the Alps and bull fighting in Spain.
Key to this novel’s success, and the reason the boredom doesn’t win out, is that the reader doesn’t feel sorry for Hadley at the end. She dedicates her life to this man, has a child with him, suffers through his pride, and endures humiliation because of his lustfulness, but she still comes across as a strong and remarkable woman. Hadley loved a man who was great, who dreamed big dreams and lived life. In the end she walked away strong enough to live her own life. McLain never portrays her as a poor romantic who lived only for her husband, nor does she allow Hadley to whine about her circumstances when things go wrong,
For further reading, “A Moveable Feast” by the great Tatie himself is recommended. It’s an interesting companion piece to McLain’s book. To truly get a glimpse of what Hadley supported and struggled for though, readers should pick up a copy of “The Sun Also Rises.” Nor can one go wrong with a collection of Hemingway’s short stories.
Written in the first person, almost as if a diary by Hadley, the book can be boring. Part of the trouble may be that most fans of Hemingway tend to be males and this book is written in the first person from woman’s point of view. As a woman, it can be hard to relate to Hemingway’s greatness and Hadley’s willingness to support his work. As a man, it can be hard to believe in the romance of this first marriage. Especially when the reader knows the romance is doomed to fail. It is a bit like watching a car race and waiting for the crash.
Much has already been written about The Lost Generation in Paris as well so there isn’t anything terribly shocking that happens. Unlike many current best sellers, nothing horrendous happens to the protagonists. Hadley and Ernest were poor and struggled with awkward public facilities, social drunkenness, missed meals, lost manuscripts, and shabby clothes but no children were abducted, neither parent succumbed to alcoholism, and no friends died in freak accidents. There is a sense of incredulity at some points, when Hadley and Ernest leave their son for weeks at a time for instance, but these serve as good book club fodder if nothing else.
McLain does do a good job of entertaining without all the doom and gloom. Paris in the 20s was enough excitement on its own. Hadley herself may not have been an artist in Paris but she is dead center to all of them and able to tell their stories through her encounters with them. Readers meet other literary greats like Stein, Joyce, and Scott through Hadley’s experiences. They also share the excitement of skiing the Alps and bull fighting in Spain.
Key to this novel’s success, and the reason the boredom doesn’t win out, is that the reader doesn’t feel sorry for Hadley at the end. She dedicates her life to this man, has a child with him, suffers through his pride, and endures humiliation because of his lustfulness, but she still comes across as a strong and remarkable woman. Hadley loved a man who was great, who dreamed big dreams and lived life. In the end she walked away strong enough to live her own life. McLain never portrays her as a poor romantic who lived only for her husband, nor does she allow Hadley to whine about her circumstances when things go wrong,
For further reading, “A Moveable Feast” by the great Tatie himself is recommended. It’s an interesting companion piece to McLain’s book. To truly get a glimpse of what Hadley supported and struggled for though, readers should pick up a copy of “The Sun Also Rises.” Nor can one go wrong with a collection of Hemingway’s short stories.