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A review by efirer
The French Gift: A Novel of World War II Paris by Kirsty Manning
5.0
A very different approach, I enjoyed this story, and the character development. The book was told in two timelines. On the Côte d’Azur, Edie and her son Hugo inherit the house that Hugo’s great aunt left to them. Evie is still mourning her husband, who died suddenly, when she receives a message from an archivist who is establishing an exhibition about the great aunt, Josephine.
The storyline of Josephine and Margot takes place in France during the war. Josephine is part of the Resistance, a flamboyant, brave and cultured Frenchwoman who meets Margot when they are both imprisoned in Fresnes. Margot’s story is important, as she is convicted of a murder she didn’t commit. After Fresnes, they are sent to be forced labor at the Phrix Rayon Factory, a place where many women were injured, scarred and died from the chemicals used to make rayon for Nazi uniforms.
There were some of the horrors of the Nazis detailed, but the book centered on the friendship of the two women, the mystery surrounding the murder, and their aim to make sure their stories were told. An absorbing and worthwhile book, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
The storyline of Josephine and Margot takes place in France during the war. Josephine is part of the Resistance, a flamboyant, brave and cultured Frenchwoman who meets Margot when they are both imprisoned in Fresnes. Margot’s story is important, as she is convicted of a murder she didn’t commit. After Fresnes, they are sent to be forced labor at the Phrix Rayon Factory, a place where many women were injured, scarred and died from the chemicals used to make rayon for Nazi uniforms.
There were some of the horrors of the Nazis detailed, but the book centered on the friendship of the two women, the mystery surrounding the murder, and their aim to make sure their stories were told. An absorbing and worthwhile book, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.