This should've been a slam dunk since it takes place in France. But there was just not enough story there for me. It's a collection of vignettes of smThis should've been a slam dunk since it takes place in France. But there was just not enough story there for me. It's a collection of vignettes of small town French life and the awakening of one hairdresser who reads a left behind edition of Proust. This novel also does not urge me to take on Proust - he sounds just as meandering....more
I loved the setting of this book, which is reminiscent of Chocolat. Like Chocolat, however, the story didn't work as well as the setting.
Like many boI loved the setting of this book, which is reminiscent of Chocolat. Like Chocolat, however, the story didn't work as well as the setting.
Like many books today, the story is told in two different timelines: present day-ish and the sixteenth century. The present-day story centers around Ella and her move to France with her architect husband. She spends much of the book complaining, focusing far too much on herself, and meandering about with little purpose. She seems young and immature.
This is the third book in a row that I've read that demonstrates how secrets destroy trust and feature main characters making bad decisions that I really can't sympathize with.
The historical storyline is about Isabella, an ancestor of Ella's, who was brought up Catholic with a very strong connection to the Virgin Mary, but outwardly became a follower of the Truth as Calvinism spread across France.
Ella researches her family history as a way to feel like she belongs in France, and slowly learns about the Tourniers that came before her. But there is a huge gap between what she learns and what she seemingly knows at the end of the book. Did all of that come to her in a dream? Did she pick it up somewhere off the page? (view spoiler)[And how did she know where Marie was buried? (hide spoiler)]
It gets very messy at the end. A lot happens. People don't seem to act the way I think they would. (view spoiler)[For instance, why does Lucien help her vandalize an old building when he barely knows her, even if he does have a crush on her? (hide spoiler)]
Overall, I was underwhelmed. I almost gave up early in and I should have. ...more
I may have read this before. Or maybe I'm conflating it with the movie based on the book? I'm not sure. I know I want to love it. It has so many elemeI may have read this before. Or maybe I'm conflating it with the movie based on the book? I'm not sure. I know I want to love it. It has so many elements I love. For starters, it takes place in a French village, which has me written all over it. A strong female protagonist. And an undercurrent of social commentary.
I do like all of that. I like the set-up which is a cousin to magical realism (although I'm not a big fan of magical realism). Vianne vs. Reynaud is a compelling plot. The side characters - Armande, Josephine - are good. Some of the writing is beautiful - lyrical and alluring.
But there's almost too much in here and too much unexplained. Josephine escapes her abusive husband, and voilà, she's a changed woman. Reynaud set a fire years ago (but I cannot for the life of me figure out how many years) and is back now...why? Is the pére he writes about his real father or a priest? Are Vianne and Anouk staying or leaving?
Some of the writing missed the mark, too, especially with mis-matched tenses.
Ultimately the chocolate was a tad bitter and left me wanting something else. ...more
Early on I was afraid my comment here was going to be Almost Good. The story is irresistible to me with the author moving to Paris, but it took a littEarly on I was afraid my comment here was going to be Almost Good. The story is irresistible to me with the author moving to Paris, but it took a little while to feel like you were in the author's story. Her observations are good and really unlike similar stories I've read. You feel like you are getting the real take of a foreigner moving to France.
Unfortunately I felt like her stories went on a little too long. A good editor could have helped shape that a bit more. I also found the story flipped from present to past quite often - when we know all of it is in the past.
I have no doubt that I would enjoy hanging out with the author. I felt a definite kinship, even though she is from Australia and I'm American. I wonder how this story would be written (and maybe will be written) with more time and distance. ...more
I have so many mixed emotions about this book. I have to completely and utterly applaud the author, Nina George, for writing a book about a 60-year olI have so many mixed emotions about this book. I have to completely and utterly applaud the author, Nina George, for writing a book about a 60-year old woman who is not matronly, nor crotchety, nor a kindly grandmother. She also doesn’t solve a cozy mystery. This is practically unheard of. Kudos for George in creating a protagonist who is not 30, and yet is still trying to figure life out. For that alone, she has created something extremely worthwhile.
As much as I love that fact, the protagonist Marianne is not without challenges. We meet her as she is about to commit suicide. She’s been married for a long time to Lothar. I think this book was originally in German, and I wish for the English-language edition they could have chosen a different name, for Lothar is no Lothario, despite the fact that his name kept making me think of that.
Life with Lothar in Germany has been no bed of roses. He’s a cheating cheapskate who has kept Marianne from realizing her true potential. He hasn’t let her work, or play the accordion, or sing, or do any of a hundred things where her interests lie. He’s methodically ruined her self-esteem, leading to her desire to do herself in by drowning off the bridge at the Pont Neuf in Paris while they are on a vacation tour.
Through a series of twists and turns, she ends up in Kerdruc, in Brittany, where she (finally) begins to live. We meet a multitude of characters, which is partially where the story goes astray. George is ambitious. She wants to go beyond Marianne’s story and wants to make a bigger point about love winning against all odds, often after large expanses of time. Literally everyone in Kerdruc has a mutual love interest and occasionally there is a bit of a love triangle. By the end of the book, beginning with an annual celebration, we have love (finally) being realized for many of inhabitants.
It’s all very cosmic…but it’s all also a bit too much and too many. It’s hard to keep track of so many characters and so may liaisons.
George would have done so much better to narrow her story and really focus in on Marianne and maybe two (or at the very most) three realized romances.
She also struggles with timelines and with points of view. For instance, there is a scene with Simon and Paul the day after Simon finds Marianne naked on his boat. The next scene occurs the same day Marianne was on the boat, when she gets her job at the restaurant.
Which brings up another challenge with the book: the title. At no point is the restaurant at Ar Mor called a bistro. While much happens in and around the restaurant, it seems that a better title could have been found. On the Coast of Brittany, while trite, would have been better. Something that ties it to this beautiful region, which is easily another character unto itself. Something George does exceedingly well is interest the reader in the myths and mores of Brittany.
Finally, I became very frustrated with how much Marianne dithered. First once, then again, she doubted she “deserved” love or happiness. Once was hard enough – after having her eyes opened it should’ve been obvious – but I can see why, for tension’s sake, she would dither. But the second time it happened, after she had already returned to Yann once, well, that was just annoying.
And still…a part of me felt bad for Lothar. No, I would not want to be married to him. But after leaving Kerdruc with him, I felt like he deserved more than to have her jump out of cab and leave him again. Some heartfelt conversation, discussion. Something he could go on with and maybe figure out his life’s true passions. He’s a clueless skinflint, but at the very least by the end he had some recognition of what he had missed all those years.
The novel is problematic, but not (entirely) not worth my time. I enjoyed parts of it very much. I was just very frustrated with other parts of it. ...more
I'm late to this book and probably still wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been the topic of the By the Book podcast.
The book makes some good pointsI'm late to this book and probably still wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been the topic of the By the Book podcast.
The book makes some good points and has some good ideas. Too bad they are buried. If the author really wanted to help women, she would conclude her chapters with some takeaways. Sometimes it's hard to really figure out what she's suggesting among tales of visits to the relatives in Provence or her dinner parties in New York City.
While everything she suggests is doable and helpful, the suggestions are also vague as can be. And unique from person to person. It would be hard for any person who really did need to lose weight to really do so by following this book.
Despite living in the U.S., the author is also so dismissive of Americans and stereotypes Americans as much as Americans stereotype the French. And some of her ideas are just plain wrong. Apparently we Americans never drink water and without her to help the water coolers would never be replaced. I guess she's never been to my office where the big cooler bottle is changed out almost daily. There's such an above it all, better than you are attitude it's really hard to see the message. Toning it down would help so much.
Considering Veuve Cliquot is suggested several times, and she is the American COO for the company, it's hard not to wonder if this is a giant marketing ploy. All that said, I didn't hate the book and took away some good things from it. I just wish I could rewrite/reorganize it.
Full disclosure: I didn't completely finish it. I got more than 75% of the way and I'd had enough. So much of it was repetitive that I think I get it. Eat less, eat fresh. Walk more, but don't forget wine. Tiny portions. And summer in Provence....more
This book was almost a 5-star. Part 1 of the book is awesome, although I have to admit to being automatically drawn to books about occupied France. ItThis book was almost a 5-star. Part 1 of the book is awesome, although I have to admit to being automatically drawn to books about occupied France. It's a time and place burgeoning with stories to tell. I loved reading about young Amelie before the war reached France, how she was mostly interested in boys and having fun. Of course, war does reach France and it's horrible. There was a lot of heartbreak in her life and in the lives around her. The story was compelling and I didn't want it to end.
Part 2 was less successful. It became more of a standard romance story once Amelie lands in America. Much of that part of the story seemed a bit contrived and I had a hard time really understanding Amelie as she lied and lied and lied, even with "good" reasons. It seemed as though there were better alternatives.
I enjoyed the set up of the story, of two old women meeting to lay bare the past and learning about one another, even as that was a bit contrives as well. Kat does not grow much in the experience and I'm sure I would not have liked her in person.
A beautifully written book with a well-thought out story. There are a few minor inconsistencies, but they do not detract from the brilliance of this bA beautifully written book with a well-thought out story. There are a few minor inconsistencies, but they do not detract from the brilliance of this book. A wonderful and surprisingly fast read....more
A charming book! I'm a sucker for anything set in Paris. This story veers off into the French countryside as it brings together an odd array of peopleA charming book! I'm a sucker for anything set in Paris. This story veers off into the French countryside as it brings together an odd array of people, all who have issues related to their past that they must overcome. The central character, Jean Perdu, must face the loss of his lover who walked out 20 years ago. Her leaving was not at all what he imagined and the story flows along his attempt to deal with and atone for what happened. In the process, he learns to forgive himself, open himself up to people beyond the bookseller relationship he's limited himself to, and accept new love. ...more
Part if this book takes place in Paris so I really wanted to like it. But just about the time the characters get there, the story becomes less about aPart if this book takes place in Paris so I really wanted to like it. But just about the time the characters get there, the story becomes less about a rekindled romance and more a Christian testimonial. The characters are also largely not believable or even likable. A mother has never given any details of her background to her daughter? Not realistic. And the read husband was an abuser but is never called out in the story - like he gets away with it and his spineless wife compensates for him. Finally, everything and everyone act way too goody goody .one last thing - the writer (who is not bad) failed to keep any kind of consistent POV. 1st person, 3rd person, character to character w/in even a chapter. Sloppy and not necessary ....more
I really wanted to give this book a lower rating. When I started it, I was disappointed, honestly, since it was told more in a series of long social mI really wanted to give this book a lower rating. When I started it, I was disappointed, honestly, since it was told more in a series of long social media posts. More individual thoughts and images than any kind of narrative. But by the time I finished the book, I was crushed that I was at the end of it. I didn't want the family to leave Paris and I didn't want to leave the family. I wouldn't want every book written this way, but it sucked me right in! At night, I would dream lovely dreams about being in Paris. It was a beautiful story and even in the way it's told, it's about so much more than their time in Paris. There's death, grief, health concerns, marriage. So much. Lovely, lovely book....more
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