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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ruth Reichl started her story off in the most surprising, jarring, and traumatic way. I honestly struggled with whether or not I wanted to continue since our main character's trauma was triggered again and again in the first third of the book, which was totally understandable but not a story I had been expecting or wanting to read. But I have a personal rule to never DNF a book so I pressed on!
Oddly, the last two thirds of the book stopped mentioning her traumatic past almost completely. Stella was still timid, seeking structure and safety, and distrusting of men but we watched her slowly heal from that past and grow into a stronger woman comfortable in her own skin. Yet she does this without really confronting her past, which I found a little too convenient.
The book itself struggles with its own identity. Is it a mystery? An ode to French food? An odyssey of sorts for a young woman suffering from wounds of the past? The book was overreaching, too ambitious in what it wanted to be, it didn't feel cohesive and smooth.
Yet it also felt too neat. Every little mystery was wrapped up in tidy little bows, every obstacle and every villain dealt with cleanly. How very unrealistic. But it was a sweet book that would have been a light hearted read save for the first 50 pages. I still enjoyed the journey despite my complaints and the book had reinvigorated my desire to someday visit Paris.
Oddly, the last two thirds of the book stopped mentioning her traumatic past almost completely. Stella was still timid, seeking structure and safety, and distrusting of men but we watched her slowly heal from that past and grow into a stronger woman comfortable in her own skin. Yet she does this without really confronting her past, which I found a little too convenient.
The book itself struggles with its own identity. Is it a mystery? An ode to French food? An odyssey of sorts for a young woman suffering from wounds of the past? The book was overreaching, too ambitious in what it wanted to be, it didn't feel cohesive and smooth.
Yet it also felt too neat. Every little mystery was wrapped up in tidy little bows, every obstacle and every villain dealt with cleanly. How very unrealistic. But it was a sweet book that would have been a light hearted read save for the first 50 pages. I still enjoyed the journey despite my complaints and the book had reinvigorated my desire to someday visit Paris.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
To be frank, the plot was nothing special; at any point I could have not found out what happened next and have been perfectly content. Where this book shines is Reichl’s vivid descriptions of the five senses, especially relating to food. It’s clear she has decades of experience in food journalism because you can almost taste the dishes leaping off the page. One of the finest pieces of culinary writing, hidden in the mien of a novel. Made me want to eat Fr*nch food.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An easy beach read for foodies. The attempt at a last-minute romance at the end pissed me off though, and so did the fact that Stella never learned to trust Jules no matter how many times he proved himself a trustworthy kindred spirit.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes