A fellow blogger and fellow Meg (good name!) created a feature I’m thrilled to run with: Literary Locales, which focuses on the settings of the books we’re currently reading. Visit her site to join in the fun.
As I’m currently thick in the middle of the Indie Lit Award’s Fiction shortlist for judging in March, you might have noticed a dearth of book reviews around here — but I promise my reading life is alive and well! I’m just having to stay focused. Nose to the grindstone and all that.
My latest read is Lynn Sheene’s The Last Time I Saw Paris, set in Nazi-occupied Paris during the 1940s. It’s a dangerous and unsteady time for the French when a young, beautiful American socialite arrives to make a fresh start. She’s swept into the Resistance movement and eventually falls in love, though fate drags her into endless turmoil before the book’s smash of a conclusion. I was up early to finish it before work Wednesday, determined to learn Claire’s fate before I was back at my desk.
Though I enjoyed the story (and will have a review coming after the Indie Lit Awards’ Fiction winner is announced in March), the character I actually loved best in The Last Time I Saw Paris was Paris itself. Described as steadfast, loyal and lovely — even in the darkest of times — the novel only made my desire to visit the City of Light more powerful. The descriptions of Parisian cafes and blossoms in the spring were tantalizing, and I could clearly picture the awful juxtaposition of Hitler’s forces and the tender blooms of new trees come April.
When Claire arrives in Paris, she accepts temporary work at a flower shop — La Vie En Fleurs, or “Life In Bloom” — and studies the art under the stoic eye of Madame Palain. As the story progresses, La Vie En Fleurs’ role becomes increasingly important — and I could almost smell the fragrant blooms Claire assembled as she passed through dangerous Nazi-occupied zones. It was intoxicating, and now I’m determined to visit a Parisian flower shop myself.
{Having never been to Paris (sadly!),
the lovely photos above are copyright their respective owners.
Click each image for the original file and additional information.}
write meg! 
I absolutely LOVE it when the location of a book comes alive! I remember when I first read Anne Rice’s vampire books, I’d been to New Orleans long before I actually stepped foot on their soil. And I’ve never been to Paris either…it is on the list!
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Now I want to read that book. I adore Paris and would gladly live there.
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I’ve never been to Paris either but every single time I read a book about Paris, I find myself wanting to jump on a plane right away. Someday!
So glad you’re participating in Literary Locale!
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o what a fun idea. I need to do this feature sometime.
Now I’m ready for Pari!
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I love books where the setting is like a character! Especially if I have plans to travel to that city soon.
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Jason and I went to France to visit friends when I was pregnant (knowing that chances of it happening after that were slim) and we were both surprised at how much we loved Paris. It really is a great city and one I’d happily visit again.
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I’ve been reading a lot of books set in Venice for the Venice in February challenge. My favorite was one called The Four Seasons, a historical novel by Laurel Corona, about two sisters in the early 18th century and their relationship with Antonio Vivaldi.
I’ve never been to Paris either -missed out on two trips in the past five years, and regret it deeply. Sigh.
Someday.
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