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tammyhai 's review for:
The Paris Novel
by Ruth Reichl
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