Voyeur

Author

Francesca Reece

Back Cover

“Leah, a young woman who has found herself ‘ambitioned’ out of London, is now aimlessly adrift in Paris. Tired of odd jobs in cafés and teaching English to unresponsive social media influencers, her heart skips a beat when she spots an advert for a writer seeking an assistant.

Michael was once the bright young star of the London literary scene, now a washed-up author with writer’s block. He doesn’t place much hope in the advert, but after meeting Leah is filled with an inspiration he hasn’t felt in years.

When Michael offers Leah the opportunity to join him and his family in their rambling but glorious property in the south of France for the summer, she finally feels her luck is turning. But as she begins to transcribe the diaries from his debauched life in 1960s Soho, something begins to nag at Leah’s sense of fulfilment; that there might be more to Michael than meets the eye.”

Our Thoughts

A sultry read about British expats in Paris which throws you simultaneously into the heat of August in the south of France, 1960s London, a military junta in Greece and a bit of the true gritty Paris. I went back and forth with this read. There were aspects that I very much enjoyed – the descriptive writing that made me feel like I was back walking the streets of London as well as the hot stickiness of summer in the south of France – and there were aspects that made me cringe like the set of interesting characters you meet. I’m a believer in not always relating or liking characters in books so it didn’t bother me too much. I also saw so many nods to French literature and women authors (very implicit but there) and of course the more explicit references to Brexit and the #MeToo movement.

Overall, I found this book to be a good summer read especially since I read it by the sea in the south of France – really felt the vibe. I really enjoyed talking about this book in a book club setting because we got really dive into the good and the bad. In the end, it may have been a bit long for what it wanted to accomplish and definitely doesn’t resolve some of the plot lines. In a way, that’s the reality of life. I’m so happy I was able to meet Reece and her more about her writing process and her thoughts behind the characters and narrative. This is only her first novel, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future.

Genre:

Fiction

Page Count: 384

When in French: Love in a Second Language

Author

Lauren Collins

Back Cover

“A language barrier is no match for love. Lauren Collins discovered this firsthand when, in her early thirties, she moved to London and fell for a Frenchman named Olivier—a surprising turn of events for someone who didn’t have a passport until she was in college. But what does it mean to love someone in a second language? Collins wonders, as her relationship with Olivier continues to grow entirely in English. Are there things she doesn’t understand about Olivier, having never spoken to him in his native tongue? Does “I love you” even mean the same thing as “Je t’aime”? When the couple, newly married, relocates to Francophone Geneva, Collins—fearful of one day becoming “a Borat of a mother” who doesn’t understand her own kids—decides to answer her questions for herself by learning French.”

Our Thoughts

I’ve seen this book for years so I was excited to finally pick it up. While it is described as a memoir (which it is in a way), it didn’t read quite as I expected. Collins uses her personal life and her relationship as a launching pad to describe the process of learning new languages and exploring different cultures. It all begins when Collins, an American living in London, meets her now husband, a Frenchman, and they eventually move to Switzerland. I did enjoy learning more about francophone Switzerland as my only personal experiences have been in the Germany-speaking areas. I found it interesting to hear various tidbits and how different the towns and villages near the France-Switzerland border are. However, it would be wrong to say this book only discusses French culture and language because Collins digs much deeper into the word of linguistics. There was so much information on language itself, words, meanings, cultural significance and how we use language differently around the world. To be honest, I found the title a bit misleading because this book is much more than an expat figuring out how to communicate in a new language and fit in a new environment. This is deep dive into language, culture and the sometimes frustrating realities of a bi-cultural relationship.

Genre:

Memoir, nonfiction, expat literature

Page Count: 256

The Paris Library

Author

Janet Skeslien Charles

Back Cover

“Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

Based on the true Second World War story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable novel of romance, friendship, family, and of heroism found in the quietest of places.”

Our Thoughts

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres so I had a sneaking suspicion that I would enjoy this book! I really enjoyed the presentation of war time Paris through a dual storyline. It was such an interesting way to have the story unfold piece by piece. I quickly became attached to both protagonists Odile and Lily through their love of France, French language, books and of course a good American library. The book balances historical facts with very personal stories which makes for a people-centered reading experience while still learning more about the realities of wartime, occupied Paris. While there are so many historical fiction novels about WWII in France, this one really brought something extra. It focused on a story that I had never heard and made me reflect on what occupied France was like on a daily basis. I really enjoyed this read and loved all the nuances that clearly came from a lot of research and attention to detail (Dewey Decimal System cataloguing Odile’s feelings to books!!!)

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Page Count: 351