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A review by surbhi_reads
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
5.0
More reviews at- https://bemusedb.blogspot.com/?m=1
“On December 8, 1921, when the Leopoldina set sail for Europe, we were on board. Our life together had finally begun. We held on to each other and looked out at the sea. It was impossibly large and full of beauty and danger in equal parts-- and we wanted it all.”
How do you ever describe the flutter of that first all-consuming love? How do you describe the blissful happiness of starting a new life together with the partner of your dreams? Moreover, how do you describe betrayal and that feeling when your heart is broken into a million pieces? Because this marvellous book takes us on the painful yet beautiful journey of love, marriage, heartbreak and everything that goes with it. Honestly, this novel left me wondering how will I ever describe a book, which was so pure and raw in emotions?
“THE PARIS WIFE” is based on the life of Ernest Hemmingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson. This book gives us a peek in their passionate and whirlwind romance. The early years of their marriage when Hemmingway was still a struggling writer and the various changes, that occurs in their relationship over the years. Hemmingway was 21, when he married Hadley, who was 28, at the time, in those early years they were only two people madly and irrevocably in love. Then life happened, their years in Paris’s colourful society among various artists and people with more contemporary ideas of life, sexuality and the never-ending parties changed both of them in many ways. Slowly they figured out how different they were and how they wanted and expected different things from life. A true and magnificent story of wavering fidelity, ambition and love that consumes you as well as shatters you.
“That’s how love is sometimes. I already loved him more than I’d ever loved anything or anyone. I knew he needed me absolutely, and I wanted him to go on needing me forever.”
McLain is such a prolific writer; her writing, description and language are like music itself so rhythmic and in harmony. Its extravagant and so absorbing. I cannot imagine a better portrayal of Post war Paris. A Paris of the 1920’s jazz age, where artist came to make a name for themselves and made the city their home and neither can I imagine anyone else bringing out this beautiful story of love and heartbreak with such incredible honesty. She beautifully portrayed the various constrains and struggles of marital life. Each emotion, whether that of Hadley or of Hemmingway himself, was brought out with sheer honesty and diligence, and reading it was so compelling and poignant.
The story is told by Hadley’s POV with an exception of few chapters, which were narrated by Hemmingway. However, this book belong to Hadley through and through. It is her journey. A young woman madly in love with the wrong person crossing continents so he can pursue his dreams. Hadley’s characterization is such that you will relate with her. She was vulnerable and a misfit in the Parisian society but still she was there for Hemmingway, when he needed her the most. McLain has given her a distinctive voice and brought her to life with words.
“That’s the way love tangles you up. I couldn’t stop loving him and I couldn’t shut off the feeling of wanting to care for him.”
I felt Hadley’s happiness, I felt her helplessness, I felt her pain, and even though I may not agree with some of the decisions that she took, I felt for her and cried for her. I cannot imagine everything she went through especially towards the end of her marriage; it was cruel and some of the parts left me recoiling with anger. My only solace was that after her divorce with Hemmingway, she found love for a second time and went on to live a happy, long and peaceful life.
As for Hemmingway, though the few chapters from his POV mellows down his image, he was confused soul and his experience from serving in the Great War has considerable effect on his personality. Most of the time he acted like a needy douche bag but still McLain manages to paint him in quite a sympathetic light. He has his own demons to fight and his own struggles to face. Hemmingway went on to achieve many great success in his career and married three more times before committing suicide but we know that he wrote in his memoire that he would have rather died but loved anyone else other than Hadley.
“We knew what we had and what it meant, and though so much had happened since for both of us, there was nothing like those years in Paris, after the war. Life was painfully pure and simple and good and I believe Ernest was his best self then. I got the very best of him. We got the best of each other.”
Overall, this book is deeply moving, enthralling and painstakingly heart wrenching. It broke my heart and crushed my soul. This book is not a love story. Yes, there is love and every single emotion that goes with it but this book is more about life just happening. A heart-stirring and gripping story for everyone who has loved and been betrayed by that love. Must read!
“On December 8, 1921, when the Leopoldina set sail for Europe, we were on board. Our life together had finally begun. We held on to each other and looked out at the sea. It was impossibly large and full of beauty and danger in equal parts-- and we wanted it all.”
How do you ever describe the flutter of that first all-consuming love? How do you describe the blissful happiness of starting a new life together with the partner of your dreams? Moreover, how do you describe betrayal and that feeling when your heart is broken into a million pieces? Because this marvellous book takes us on the painful yet beautiful journey of love, marriage, heartbreak and everything that goes with it. Honestly, this novel left me wondering how will I ever describe a book, which was so pure and raw in emotions?
“THE PARIS WIFE” is based on the life of Ernest Hemmingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson. This book gives us a peek in their passionate and whirlwind romance. The early years of their marriage when Hemmingway was still a struggling writer and the various changes, that occurs in their relationship over the years. Hemmingway was 21, when he married Hadley, who was 28, at the time, in those early years they were only two people madly and irrevocably in love. Then life happened, their years in Paris’s colourful society among various artists and people with more contemporary ideas of life, sexuality and the never-ending parties changed both of them in many ways. Slowly they figured out how different they were and how they wanted and expected different things from life. A true and magnificent story of wavering fidelity, ambition and love that consumes you as well as shatters you.
“That’s how love is sometimes. I already loved him more than I’d ever loved anything or anyone. I knew he needed me absolutely, and I wanted him to go on needing me forever.”
McLain is such a prolific writer; her writing, description and language are like music itself so rhythmic and in harmony. Its extravagant and so absorbing. I cannot imagine a better portrayal of Post war Paris. A Paris of the 1920’s jazz age, where artist came to make a name for themselves and made the city their home and neither can I imagine anyone else bringing out this beautiful story of love and heartbreak with such incredible honesty. She beautifully portrayed the various constrains and struggles of marital life. Each emotion, whether that of Hadley or of Hemmingway himself, was brought out with sheer honesty and diligence, and reading it was so compelling and poignant.
The story is told by Hadley’s POV with an exception of few chapters, which were narrated by Hemmingway. However, this book belong to Hadley through and through. It is her journey. A young woman madly in love with the wrong person crossing continents so he can pursue his dreams. Hadley’s characterization is such that you will relate with her. She was vulnerable and a misfit in the Parisian society but still she was there for Hemmingway, when he needed her the most. McLain has given her a distinctive voice and brought her to life with words.
“That’s the way love tangles you up. I couldn’t stop loving him and I couldn’t shut off the feeling of wanting to care for him.”
I felt Hadley’s happiness, I felt her helplessness, I felt her pain, and even though I may not agree with some of the decisions that she took, I felt for her and cried for her. I cannot imagine everything she went through especially towards the end of her marriage; it was cruel and some of the parts left me recoiling with anger. My only solace was that after her divorce with Hemmingway, she found love for a second time and went on to live a happy, long and peaceful life.
As for Hemmingway, though the few chapters from his POV mellows down his image, he was confused soul and his experience from serving in the Great War has considerable effect on his personality. Most of the time he acted like a needy douche bag but still McLain manages to paint him in quite a sympathetic light. He has his own demons to fight and his own struggles to face. Hemmingway went on to achieve many great success in his career and married three more times before committing suicide but we know that he wrote in his memoire that he would have rather died but loved anyone else other than Hadley.
“We knew what we had and what it meant, and though so much had happened since for both of us, there was nothing like those years in Paris, after the war. Life was painfully pure and simple and good and I believe Ernest was his best self then. I got the very best of him. We got the best of each other.”
Overall, this book is deeply moving, enthralling and painstakingly heart wrenching. It broke my heart and crushed my soul. This book is not a love story. Yes, there is love and every single emotion that goes with it but this book is more about life just happening. A heart-stirring and gripping story for everyone who has loved and been betrayed by that love. Must read!