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dev921's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Deportation, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Told over the course of one day in Paris in 1927, The Paris Hours follows four characters as they each pursue something. Jean-Paul is an America-obsessed journalist searching for his long-lost daughter, Souren is an Armenian refugee who performs puppet shows for children in the park, Guillaume is a starving artist desperately trying to pay a debt, and Camille is Marcel Proust's former assistant with a dark secret.
This book reminded me a bit of a few others I have read recently, particularly All the Light We Cannot See and The Sun if Also a Star, because of the several-characters-eventually-brought-together-by-fate-and-circumstance trope (which I love). My favorite part was starting to make the connections between the four characters as more details and backstories were revealed. I also enjoyed the Midnight in Paris-esque setting and brushes with the famous artists of the time. On the other hand, I have to say that while I liked all the characters well enough, the only one I really loved was Souren(so this book definitely lost points for his ending) .
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just my judgement of how happy the ending is because I always wish someone would tell me this before I read books):The ending was bittersweet and a bit ambiguous (in a good way, in my opinion).
This book reminded me a bit of a few others I have read recently, particularly All the Light We Cannot See and The Sun if Also a Star, because of the several-characters-eventually-brought-together-by-fate-and-circumstance trope (which I love). My favorite part was starting to make the connections between the four characters as more details and backstories were revealed. I also enjoyed the Midnight in Paris-esque setting and brushes with the famous artists of the time. On the other hand, I have to say that while I liked all the characters well enough, the only one I really loved was Souren
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just my judgement of how happy the ending is because I always wish someone would tell me this before I read books):
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Blood, Genocide, and Sexual assault
The genocide mentioned is the Armenian genocide. Nothing is shown explicitly except for a forced march and one scene in which a child is burned to death. Sexual violence is also implied. Other deaths are mentioned from attacks during WWI and illness.
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