jglo 's review for:

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

3.0

challenging emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is well written. It flows well and the facts are accurate.   I found it painful, however, because Hemingway was self absorbed and self centered.   I was angry through much of the book.     The other real life characters were similar and talented and brilliant and I wonder if there isn’t a lesson in there about how the gifted dip into lives that are very different from the conventional.     I was also amazed at how Hadley could be so generous to Hemingway despite how much he hurt her. I imagine that is true love but a character trait I do not possess.  It makes me want to read his books to see how life I influenced art yet also not so as not to support his bad behavior to those who gave him their all.