by: Paula McLain
Goodreads Synopsis:
The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time.
1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette’s efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated. But within its grim walls, she discovers a small group of brave allies, and the possibility of a life bigger than she ever imagined.
1939: Kristof Larson is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized.
A spellbinding and transportive look at a side of Paris known to very few—the underground city that is a mirror reflection of the glories above—Paula McLain’s unforgettable new novel chronicles two parallel journeys of defiance and rescue that connect in ways both surprising and deeply moving.
Helen says: 🤓🤓🤓 3/4
We read some really serious books this month. If you are in the mood to brood, this may be the book for you. I really had to pay attention in the first few chapters to identify people, places and things. I love a parallel storyline, but I REALLY had to concentrate in the first few chapters. Around Chapter 10, I got into the groove…so don’t give up too soon. I switched from reading to audible about halfway through. It was terrific book to listen to! cinematic.
Holly says: 🤓🤓🤓3/4
My second favorite book of the month. There are quite a few characters, and the book has parallel story lines, both in Paris, but in very different time periods, so pay attention early on. Easily readable, entertaining and somewhat fascinating. Read it!
Helen and Holly Hit the Books 