This book was ........really.....different.
I liked it.
It's written by one of my very fave authors (she wrote Sarah's Key which has been made into an excellent movie, and The Secret Kept both of which I totally loved!)
The House I Loved is historical fiction. It is also the 5th book I've finished since starting the Spring Thing Reading Challenge. I am doing alot of reading these days because I just don't like television and I bring a book to work to read during my lunch hour although I usually end up chatting with other teachers. I also get reading time in while waiting for Claire to come out of a rehearsal or dance class! I just LOVE to read........
Historical fiction is one of my fave genres and this has a lot of history with a definite fiction twist.
It is set in Paris (of course!) in the 1860's.
Hundreds of houses are being destroyed, along with several businesses. Entire neighborhoods are disappearing and all because Emperor Napolean III and and Baron Hausamann the new Prefect desire a more modern Paris. Some of the changes have been good.....but...most of the changes are erasing entire generations of history.
One woman decides to take a stand. Rose Bazelot refuses to move away from her family home. She is a widow and throughout the story she is writing in a journal, in first person voice, to her dead husband, Armand. Armand lived his entire life, from childbirth until his death, on rue Childebert. Rose goes into a ritual of remembering and must come to terms with a secret that has been buried deep in her heart for 30 years.
What is Rose's secret?? And will she leave the house she so loves when the workers come to destroy it?? What about her daughter Violette and her young friend, the flower girl, Alexandrine? What significance do they play in her life??
This novel is a powerful story of a woman's strength, bravery, and an ode to Paris..."where houses harbor the joys and sorrows of their inhabitants and secrets endure in the very walls."
My Thoughts
I liked the book because it was different and I had to find out what happened with Rose and her friends.
It was also a fast read as it isn't very thick....it only has 222 pages.
However....it isn't one of my faves from this author....it felt like it took forever to get to the actual secret that you knew was lurking in Rose's mind on every page.......
If you like the author, read the book and see for your self if you like it.....the author is definitely one talented woman and I do like her style. This story just didn't hold my attention and make me want to know more after the book was done....like her others.
This book is appropriate for ages 14 and older.
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 7.
Does this sound like a story you might like??
4 comments:
It sounds different. I haven't read anything by the author but do have "Sarah's Key" on my spring reading list.
Susanne! Sarah's Key was EXCELLENT! and so sad...but so good!! really makes you stop and consider just how awful that holocaust truly was....have you seen the movie? it was good but I much preferred the book. I didn't let our 13 yr old watch the movie....too graphic in spots....not bad but war.....you know?
I didn't even know they'd made a movie of it. I hope I can handle the book. Holocaust stuff really affects me hard.
It's such a beautiful story...read the book and then you can decide if you wanna bother with the movie...the movie is graphic but the book doesn't read like that...they added a lot of ick to the movie...probably to depict with pictures how horrid it was in France (paris) for the Jews...the story itself is just fascinating. it goes from the past to the present and back....i don't wanna ruin it for you..but i am guessing you are gonna love the main character who is NOT sarah. Sarah is the little girl. that's all i'll say.
Post a Comment