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The Paris Novel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A "mouthwatering" (The New York Times) adventure through the food, art, and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris--from the bestselling author of Save Me the Plums and Delicious! "An enchanting and irresistible feast . . . As with a perfect meal in the world's most magical city, I never wanted this sublime novel to end."--Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of Good Company Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head, and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean. Oysters, she thought. Where have they been all my life? When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading "Go to Paris." Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a traumatic childhood has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. But when her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother's last wishes. Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store, where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that this dress was meant for Stella and for the first time in her life Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress--and embarks on an adventure. Her first stop: the iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots, where Stella tastes her first oysters and then meets an octogenarian art collector who decides to take her under his wing. As Jules introduces Stella to a veritable who's who of the Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds, she begins to understand what it might mean to live a larger life. As weeks--and many decadent meals--go by, Stella ends up living as a "tumbleweed" at famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting, and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.
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Community Reviews
A lovely story of a woman who comes out of her very ordinary life to discover living for the day, friends, food, and love.
Most of the bad reviews of the book that I've read key in on the sexual abuse that happens over two pages in the second chapter. It's not that explicit, but it is something that causes Stella to become guarded, to put up walls between herself and other people.
Because the bad reviews key in on this, here is a link to an interview with the author: https://youtu.be/SUUOB2pcY2E?si=GF1Ii1-gn-CFBTTT. She starts talking about this aspect at about 9:25. Part of the author's point is that she believes that many, many women have had similar experiences, and that it is actually her life experience, and that you can move beyond traumatizing life experiences.
Now, to put that aside, the book is much like a Celestine Prophecy type book in that it's a bit stilted in it's writing styles, and it feels like the story has been built around the moral... like wanting to tell people that they have to trust, and they have to live each day, each opportunity and carpe diem, and the story has been built as a vehicle to convey that message.
Still, it's a feel good book, even though you can see the ending come a mile away. It's defiantly worth the two days that it'll take to read the book. (Oh, and all the food descriptions come honestly - the author is primarily known for cookbooks and as a food and restaurant critic.
Most of the bad reviews of the book that I've read key in on the sexual abuse that happens over two pages in the second chapter. It's not that explicit, but it is something that causes Stella to become guarded, to put up walls between herself and other people.
Because the bad reviews key in on this, here is a link to an interview with the author: https://youtu.be/SUUOB2pcY2E?si=GF1Ii1-gn-CFBTTT. She starts talking about this aspect at about 9:25. Part of the author's point is that she believes that many, many women have had similar experiences, and that it is actually her life experience, and that you can move beyond traumatizing life experiences.
Now, to put that aside, the book is much like a Celestine Prophecy type book in that it's a bit stilted in it's writing styles, and it feels like the story has been built around the moral... like wanting to tell people that they have to trust, and they have to live each day, each opportunity and carpe diem, and the story has been built as a vehicle to convey that message.
Still, it's a feel good book, even though you can see the ending come a mile away. It's defiantly worth the two days that it'll take to read the book. (Oh, and all the food descriptions come honestly - the author is primarily known for cookbooks and as a food and restaurant critic.
I absolutely adored this gem of a book. I think it's a niche read, as it checks some very specific marks for me.
-I am a francophile who constantly seeks a good book set in Paris.
-I am a bibliophile with an obsessions with books that have a bookstore setting.
-I am obsessed with Shakespeare & Company which is more or less an intersection of the above two bullet points.
-I love vivid, sensual and borderline poetic descriptions of food. I love to eat and I love fancy stuff, what can I say?
-I love a good "protagonist gains personal growth and find their true self" story. ESPECIALLY when that protagonist is an adult woman (read sub-plot: an "it's never too late story").
Was the climax and ultimate conclusion absolutely improbable, unlikely, and unrealistic? Absolutely. But within certain means, I love that, too.
A lot of reviewers are freaking out by the description of sexual trauma that occurs to the protagonist at a young age. Trigger warnings should definitely be heeded. I did not find it that hard to read but this is where my one issue with this book lies: IF AN AUTHOR IS GOING TO INCLUDE SUCH A DISTINCT PLOT POINT, PLEASE PUT IT IN THER FOR A REASON. I honestly did not see why it was included at all, as it seems like nothing really resulted from it? I was hoping she would get to avenge that situation, or maybe have at his major breakthrough "I am more than my trauma" moment. But...c'est la vie. I still really loved this book and it is quite possibly my favorite read of the year (see niche bulletpoints above).
-I am a francophile who constantly seeks a good book set in Paris.
-I am a bibliophile with an obsessions with books that have a bookstore setting.
-I am obsessed with Shakespeare & Company which is more or less an intersection of the above two bullet points.
-I love vivid, sensual and borderline poetic descriptions of food. I love to eat and I love fancy stuff, what can I say?
-I love a good "protagonist gains personal growth and find their true self" story. ESPECIALLY when that protagonist is an adult woman (read sub-plot: an "it's never too late story").
Was the climax and ultimate conclusion absolutely improbable, unlikely, and unrealistic? Absolutely. But within certain means, I love that, too.
A lot of reviewers are freaking out by the description of sexual trauma that occurs to the protagonist at a young age. Trigger warnings should definitely be heeded. I did not find it that hard to read but this is where my one issue with this book lies: IF AN AUTHOR IS GOING TO INCLUDE SUCH A DISTINCT PLOT POINT, PLEASE PUT IT IN THER FOR A REASON. I honestly did not see why it was included at all, as it seems like nothing really resulted from it? I was hoping she would get to avenge that situation, or maybe have at his major breakthrough "I am more than my trauma" moment. But...c'est la vie. I still really loved this book and it is quite possibly my favorite read of the year (see niche bulletpoints above).
Very middle of the road read for me, left me feeling indifferent... ?
When Stella’s estranged mother dies, she’s left with a one-way ticket to Paris and a note saying, “Go to Paris.” Though hesitant, Stella decides to fulfill her mother’s wish. In Paris, she cautiously explores until she buys a stunning Dior dress from a vintage shop, which sparks her first impulsive decision. This leads her on an adventure, starting with a visit to the famous Les Deux Magots and a friendship with an elderly art collector, Jules. As Stella delves into Parisian art, literature, and cuisine, she uncovers a century-old mystery AND a passion for food connected to her past. This novel is about embracing new experiences, savoring life, and finding one’s true self.
Read this for book club - for me, there were too many different plot points with a lot of people to keep straight, and that combo took me out of the story. If you love reading lengthy (and multiple) descriptions about fine food, you may like this - I think I realized that that is something that doesn't work for me either.
Relax and enjoy the delicious ride this book offers! Beautifully written and a happy antidote for a worrisome world.
An interesting book although it is a bit far fetched that she never noticed this great ability to taste food and notice things before she arrived in Paris. Nice reference to late Canadian writer David Rakoff.
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