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Book Review of Letters from Paris

Letters from Paris
dollycas avatar reviewed on + 648 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Note there are mentions of suicides in this story.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Claire/Chance Broussard goes home to Louisiana to be with her grandmother as she lives out her last days. When she finds a broken piece of artwork in the attic. Her grandmother tells her to go to Paris. There is a story that goes with the artwork she found but she will only hear it in Paris. Soon after her grandmother passes Claire heads to Paris and the trip changes her life forever.

the unknown woman
www.smh.com.au
As soon as Claire found the broken mask I was on the internet so I had the right picture of the mask in my head. But this story was about so much more that a mask. Ms. Blackwell takes us back in time where we meet Sabine, a young woman working as an artist's model. It was not the life she had imagined. Then we alternate and come to present day and Claire's experiences in Paris. The author entwines these stories together to give us a wonderful story. One I had a hard time putting down.

The characters from past and present feel so alive and real. I found myself immersed both of their stories at times not wanting to switch back and forth, but the author's way of doing this made each of the stories even more powerful. These characters are unique but in certain ways the same. The were both searching for something and what they found was so unexpected. There is a twist toward the end the totally just floored me. I just didn't see it coming at all.

I enjoyed the description of the setting in both time periods and how over the years many of the places are virtually the same. I was so moved by Blackwell's book The Paris Key that I ended my review of that book hoping to someday travel there. This book has me wishing even harder. I want to see with my own eyes and feel with my own hands these magnificent places.

I enjoyed learning the story of "The Unknown Woman of the Seine" even though yet again there was that suicide element. Learning about death masks was very interesting too. Somehow I feel as my son is nearby as I read these passages and he helps me know I can handle it and to just keep reading. The story overrides my moments of pain.

Letters from Paris is a story of discovery and strength, heartwarming and heartbreaking. A story that will resonate with everyone who reads it.