If you’ve been hanging around here for a while, you’ve probably guessed that I like to read. When I was a kid, I always had my nose in a book. And it turns out that, when I have the luxury of time, things aren’t that different today.
I’ve actually surprised myself with how much I’ve been reading on this trip. Yes, the patchy internet we encountered a week or so ago has probably helped my personal read-a-thon stats. Browsing the internet was definitely limited until we moved up to the Loire Valley.
But even if we’d had perfect internet I think I’d still be reading more than my fair share. Coaching and personal development related titles, as well as anything to do with France seem to be my topics of choice at the moment.
While I feel like I’ve been powering through my reading list, there’s been one book so far that I simply couldn’t put down.
I discovered A Letter from Paris completely by accident when I listened to an interview with the author Louisa Deasey. I’d never heard of Louisa or her latest book but the interview piqued my curiosity and I bought A Letter from Paris that particular afternoon. And I was lucky that the internet worked well enough for me to download it on the same evening. By the time Scott woke up the next morning, I’d already finished the whole thing.
It’s safe to say that I loved every page of it. I almost couldn’t believe that the book had been out in the wild for over a year before I discovered it.
But it turns out that my late and accidental find means that this review is perfectly timed for all of our friends in the United States. A Letter from Paris happened to be released in the US just the other day.
Title: A Letter from Paris – a true story of hidden art, lost romance and family reclaimed.
Author: Louisa Deasey
Published In Australia: 2018 by Scribe. E-Book, 336 pages.
What I Liked A Letter From Paris:
- This book is a page turner. For a while there, I wasn’t sure if I was reading a memoir or a suspense thriller. Every chapter ended with a reason to keep reading. And the beautiful portrayals of the main characters and their families mean that you actually want to find out what happens to them next.
- This book bridges the gap between the current day to the past with a huge amount of grace. Part historical romance, part mystery, Australians will relate to the famous creative names that litter this book. But readers the world over will find themselves drawn into a story about post-war France and a daughter’s quest to discover the story of her father. There really is something for everyone here. And due to this fact, I can honestly say it is the first book I’ve reviewed on DF that I’ve encouraged Scotty to read.
- A Letter from Paris is a memoir about France written by an Australian woman. I love memoirs about France. But it seems that I simply adore them when they are written by Australians. I first noticed it when I read Katrina Lawrence’s books and Louisa Deasey’s work confirmed it for me. I’m not sure whether it is the tone or the way the language is used but I find these particular memoirs incredibly relatable.
- It made me cry. Yep, I got so emotionally involved with the story of these families and Louisa’s journey, I found myself in tears more than once. And I’m not much of a crier. So I consider any book that can evoke that sort of emotional response a winner.
- The cover art. I only need three words to describe it. Gorgeous and perfect.
What I Wasn’t So Sure About:
- I was left wondering what happened to a whole lot of people and relationships I’d become very interested in. Now I can’t blame Louisa Deasey for this. At the close of the story – which is only a couple of years ago – these particular people were still alive and their stories were unfolding. But I was still left wanting to what happened next.
Have you read A Letter from Paris? Did you fall in love with the story as much as I did? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. And if you have any other reading recommendations for me, please list them too. I’m absolutely on a reading roll at the moment.
Until next time – au revoir.
Please note: This is an unsolicited post and no compensation of any kind has been received from the author or the publisher.
