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A review by coffeedragon
Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman
4.0
I started this book on Libro but it got really interesting and I didn't want to wait so I picked up the physical book at my job, then BAM, I devoured it
It was an interesting read. I liked the back and forth narration of the present where Charlotte is working at a publishing house and the past where we learn of the haunting things she did to survive the Paris occupation that still affect her life (and her daughter's).
Actually, out of the two times, I preferred the setting in the past. Part of it is that I like reading stories in the past where we're experiencing those intense emotions (even when it gets really sad) - plus, I really liked the character that helps her out, in fact, I would LOVE a book about THEIR story! - but also, one of the people that helped her out when she came to America was too pushy.
In fact, I really disliked the whole "romance" that happened towards the end. I think that the two DO have a really good connection but I just didn't really feel like Charlotte loved him while he kept pressuring her to be with him, saying they are more than friends and pretty much defining their whole relationship. Not to mention he was her boss, the person who helped her establish herself in the states, her neighbor, was married and was close enough to Charlotte's daughter to the point he'd been dubbed uncle (but they're not related)
...sounds like a very unbalanced equation if you ask me
If anything, I think Charlotte had just been alone for too long and needed some companionship and he, as someone who also had a traumatic past experience, understood her. I think they'd be good as friends with benefits but it was made out to be as love
One thing I did like (aside from the whole historical part of the story) was the relationship that we saw between Charlotte and her daughter Vivi. As someone who has grown up with the hardships of my parents in mind, I always find it interesting when parents hide things like this from their kids. Especially if it's about who you are. I liked how the two worked around this problem and its eventual solution. Unfortunately, once things were resolved the daughter was no longer a central point in the story
Anyway. I did enjoy the story. Probably won't make my top reads of the year list but I did like some of the relationships and it brought up an interesting topic that I wish was better developed. In the story, there is a German soldier that Charlotte meets and she always considers him an enemy, even when she's already in the states. But then we learn of the horrifying things that Horace (was that his name? Oops, I forgot) did during the war (to the Japanese), she justifies his actions as something he *had* to do. I mean, what the German soldier did were also things he had to do but because (I imagine) they were directed at her and people she knew, the actions were considered even worse
It was an interesting read. I liked the back and forth narration of the present where Charlotte is working at a publishing house and the past where we learn of the haunting things she did to survive the Paris occupation that still affect her life (and her daughter's).
Actually, out of the two times, I preferred the setting in the past. Part of it is that I like reading stories in the past where we're experiencing those intense emotions (even when it gets really sad) - plus, I really liked the character that helps her out, in fact, I would LOVE a book about THEIR story! - but also, one of the people that helped her out when she came to America was too pushy.
In fact, I really disliked the whole "romance" that happened towards the end. I think that the two DO have a really good connection but I just didn't really feel like Charlotte loved him while he kept pressuring her to be with him, saying they are more than friends and pretty much defining their whole relationship. Not to mention he was her boss, the person who helped her establish herself in the states, her neighbor, was married and was close enough to Charlotte's daughter to the point he'd been dubbed uncle (but they're not related)
...sounds like a very unbalanced equation if you ask me
If anything, I think Charlotte had just been alone for too long and needed some companionship and he, as someone who also had a traumatic past experience, understood her. I think they'd be good as friends with benefits but it was made out to be as love
One thing I did like (aside from the whole historical part of the story) was the relationship that we saw between Charlotte and her daughter Vivi. As someone who has grown up with the hardships of my parents in mind, I always find it interesting when parents hide things like this from their kids. Especially if it's about who you are. I liked how the two worked around this problem and its eventual solution. Unfortunately, once things were resolved the daughter was no longer a central point in the story
Anyway. I did enjoy the story. Probably won't make my top reads of the year list but I did like some of the relationships and it brought up an interesting topic that I wish was better developed. In the story, there is a German soldier that Charlotte meets and she always considers him an enemy, even when she's already in the states. But then we learn of the horrifying things that Horace (was that his name? Oops, I forgot) did during the war (to the Japanese), she justifies his actions as something he *had* to do. I mean, what the German soldier did were also things he had to do but because (I imagine) they were directed at her and people she knew, the actions were considered even worse