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A review by devansbooklife
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
3.0
3.5 stars
Mild spoilers ahead......
I am sucker for WWII tales. Non-fiction, memoirs, historical fiction, biographies, and even historical books that read like textbooks. Take that and the plot of this tale by Pam Jenoff and it seemed to be a no brainer for me. The audiobook was performed well and did not disappoint. I am certain the book would have only gotten 3 stars out of me if I had only read the book.
The story is delivered in alternating tinelines and from alternating perspectives. You are introduced to Eleanor, the leader of the SOE, Marie, a secret agent of the SOE, and Grace, a secretary in New York who accidentally steals herself into a secret part of history. Grace finds an abandoned suitcase in Grand Central. She ends up taking photos out of it and finds out afterward they belonged to a women killed that day in an pedestrian verses automobile accident. Her interests in the photos lead her to be investigate the woman, Eleanor, and her life.
The SOE dropped women in occupied France to act as spies working with the Frencg resistance. It is based on true events. It provides details of incredible acts of heroism, bravery, and courage.
But..... this fell flat.
I usually love these types of stories. I usually love Pam Jenoff. However, I disliked Marie very much. I found her immature and naive. Too naive for a woman living in the world in the 1930s. There was a small romance in the field that really killed the story for me. Marie didn't behave like a spy or a mother. She felt unreal. Her behavior forced. I understand that many people did things in the war they never would have in other circumstances, but it felt too fictitious. I loved Josie a supporting character and would have liked a book about her. Meanwhile I found Marie slightly insufferable. If there had been less Marie and more about Josie or the gritty, brave actions the SOE agents did I would have likely loved it.
Mild spoilers ahead......
I am sucker for WWII tales. Non-fiction, memoirs, historical fiction, biographies, and even historical books that read like textbooks. Take that and the plot of this tale by Pam Jenoff and it seemed to be a no brainer for me. The audiobook was performed well and did not disappoint. I am certain the book would have only gotten 3 stars out of me if I had only read the book.
The story is delivered in alternating tinelines and from alternating perspectives. You are introduced to Eleanor, the leader of the SOE, Marie, a secret agent of the SOE, and Grace, a secretary in New York who accidentally steals herself into a secret part of history. Grace finds an abandoned suitcase in Grand Central. She ends up taking photos out of it and finds out afterward they belonged to a women killed that day in an pedestrian verses automobile accident. Her interests in the photos lead her to be investigate the woman, Eleanor, and her life.
The SOE dropped women in occupied France to act as spies working with the Frencg resistance. It is based on true events. It provides details of incredible acts of heroism, bravery, and courage.
But..... this fell flat.
I usually love these types of stories. I usually love Pam Jenoff. However, I disliked Marie very much. I found her immature and naive. Too naive for a woman living in the world in the 1930s. There was a small romance in the field that really killed the story for me. Marie didn't behave like a spy or a mother. She felt unreal. Her behavior forced. I understand that many people did things in the war they never would have in other circumstances, but it felt too fictitious. I loved Josie a supporting character and would have liked a book about her. Meanwhile I found Marie slightly insufferable. If there had been less Marie and more about Josie or the gritty, brave actions the SOE agents did I would have likely loved it.