This
book was a revelation. The bookstores seem full-to-bursting with “Paris” titled
books. My preconceived notion was that most were somewhat light and must sell
quickly and well, judging by the profusion of them. It’s the “kitsch” of the
moment. Kind of like beach reads. Not to judge, because all have their place.
My taste just often leads elsewhere.
When
I saw this title, The Light of Paris,
I passed it over, in spite of it being by Eleanor Brown, the gifted writer of The Weird Sisters. That book had not
been a particular favorite, but I had admired her unique storyline and writing
style. A few weeks later, a friend recommended TLOP so I decided give it a try and grabbed a copy from the library
rather than invest.
I
love this book! I love being surprised. The storyline was not completely
unique: a woman loses track of herself and struggles to find herself again.
Anyway, someone very wise once said, and I paraphrase, there are no truly
unique stories, just different characters and different authors. The difference
here is, two women take the same
journey more than seventy years apart with two different outcomes. I have read
several books lately in which the narrative jumps back and forth through
time. This is the first one that I feel does it successfully.
The
descriptions of Paris are so full and rich you feel as if you are walking its
streets, sitting in its cafes, drinking wine and watching its changing light
over the rooftops. The Light of Paris
is truly lovely and full of unexpected insight about the wisdom of being true
to your calling.
Recommend.
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