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袩邪褉懈卸泻懈褟褌 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌
袙写褗褏薪芯胁械薪 芯褌 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟
袣芯谐邪褌芯 褕械褎褗褌 薪邪 袝泄锌褉懈谢 袙芯褍褌 泄 褋褗芯斜褖邪胁邪 蟹邪 薪邪褏芯写泻懈褌械 胁 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁械薪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 械泻褋锌械褉褌泻邪褌邪 芯褌 鈥炐⌒狙傂毙秆佲€� 薪械 褔褍胁邪 鈥炐垦€邪褏鈥�, 鈥炐啃谎娧呅拘残碘€� 懈 鈥炐残笛呇傂狙€懈懈 芯褌 XIX 胁械泻鈥�. 效褍胁邪 袩邪褉懈卸. 效褍胁邪 斜褟谐褋褌胁芯.
袙褗胁 肖褉邪薪褑懈褟 袝泄锌褉懈谢 斜褗褉蟹芯 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪, 褔械 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌褗褌 薪械 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褋泻谢邪写 褋 邪薪褌懈泻懈. 袩芯写 锌谢邪褋褌芯胁械褌械 锌邪褟卸懈薪懈, 胁 蟹邪褋褌芯褟谢懈褟 胁褗蟹写褍褏 褋 写褗褏 薪邪 褋褌邪褉 锌邪褉褎褞屑 褋械 泻褉懈械 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪 褋褗泻褉芯胁懈褖薪懈褑邪, 胁 泻芯褟褌芯 薪邪泄-褑械薪薪芯褌芯 薪械 械 芯褌 蟹谢邪褌芯.
袩褗褉胁芯, 胁械谢懈泻芯谢械锌械薪 锌芯褉褌褉械褌 芯褌 械写懈薪 芯褌 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉懈褌械 薪邪 斜械谢 械锌芯泻. 袙褌芯褉芯, 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈, 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪懈 芯褌 卸械薪邪褌邪, 懈蟹芯斜褉邪蟹械薪邪 薪邪 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪褌邪 鈥� 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪邪 泻褍褉褌懈蟹邪薪泻邪, 褔懈褟褌芯 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 褋械 芯泻邪蟹胁邪 写邪谢械褔 锌芯-胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖邪 芯褌 锌懈褖薪芯褌芯 泄 写械泻芯谢褌械.
袙械褔械 薪械 褋褌邪胁邪 胁褗锌褉芯褋 蟹邪 泻褉械褋谢邪 胁 褋褌懈谢 袥褍懈 XVI 懈 蟹邪 懈蟹褟褖薪懈 褋械褉胁懈蟹懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褖械 写芯薪械褋邪褌 屑懈谢懈芯薪懈 薪邪 褌褗褉谐.
小褌邪胁邪 胁褗锌褉芯褋 蟹邪 卸懈胁芯褌. 袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 蟹邪 写胁邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪.
小 锌芯屑芯褖褌邪 薪邪 写褉邪蟹薪械褖芯 褋械泻褋邪锌懈谢械薪 锌邪褉懈卸泻懈 邪写胁芯泻邪褌 懈 褉褗泻芯锌懈褋懈褌械 薪邪 泻褍褉褌懈蟹邪薪泻邪褌邪 袝泄锌褉懈谢 褋械 芯锌懈褌胁邪 写邪 褉邪蟹泻褉懈械 褌邪泄薪懈褌械, 锌芯谐褉械斜邪薪懈 胁 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪. 袠 写芯泻邪褌芯 褋械 褉芯胁懈 胁 卸懈胁芯褌邪 薪邪 写褉褍谐邪褌邪 卸械薪邪, 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 胁褋械 锌芯-褔械褋褌芯 写邪 邪薪邪谢懈蟹懈褉邪 褋胁芯褟. 袨褌胁褗写 O泻械邪薪邪 褟 芯褔邪泻胁邪褌 薪械胁械褉械薪 褋褗锌褉褍谐 懈 泻褍锌 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈. 袛邪谢懈 胁 褔褍卸写芯褌芯 屑懈薪邪谢芯 褋械 泻褉懈械 锌褗褌 泻褗屑 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪芯褌芯 泄 斜褗写械褖械?
袙写褗褏薪芯胁械薪 芯褌 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 薪邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 芯褌泻褉懈褌 薪械写芯泻芯褋胁邪薪 胁 锌褉芯写褗谢卸械薪懈械 薪邪 写械褋械褌懈谢械褌懈褟, 褉芯屑邪薪褗褌 薪邪 袦懈褕械谢 袚械泄斜褗谢 褍屑械谢芯 锌褉械锌谢懈褌邪 褉械邪谢薪懈 褎邪泻褌懈 懈 懈屑械薪邪 泻邪褌芯 褌械蟹懈 薪邪 袩褉褍褋褌 懈 挟谐芯 褋 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹 蟹邪 写胁械 薪械芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈 卸械薪懈, 胁褋褟泻邪 芯褌 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 褍褔懈 写邪 斜褗写械 褖邪褋褌谢懈胁邪. 袩褉械泻褉邪褋械薪 写械斜褞褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 褉懈褋褍胁邪 袩邪褉懈卸 芯褌 斜械谢 械锌芯泻 懈 胁 薪邪褕懈 写薪懈 懈 褍褏邪械 薪邪 褕邪屑锌邪薪褋泻芯 懈 褎褉械薪褋泻懈 褋谢邪写泻懈褕懈.
袣芯谐邪褌芯 褕械褎褗褌 薪邪 袝泄锌褉懈谢 袙芯褍褌 泄 褋褗芯斜褖邪胁邪 蟹邪 薪邪褏芯写泻懈褌械 胁 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁械薪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 械泻褋锌械褉褌泻邪褌邪 芯褌 鈥炐⌒狙傂毙秆佲€� 薪械 褔褍胁邪 鈥炐垦€邪褏鈥�, 鈥炐啃谎娧呅拘残碘€� 懈 鈥炐残笛呇傂狙€懈懈 芯褌 XIX 胁械泻鈥�. 效褍胁邪 袩邪褉懈卸. 效褍胁邪 斜褟谐褋褌胁芯.
袙褗胁 肖褉邪薪褑懈褟 袝泄锌褉懈谢 斜褗褉蟹芯 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪, 褔械 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌褗褌 薪械 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褋泻谢邪写 褋 邪薪褌懈泻懈. 袩芯写 锌谢邪褋褌芯胁械褌械 锌邪褟卸懈薪懈, 胁 蟹邪褋褌芯褟谢懈褟 胁褗蟹写褍褏 褋 写褗褏 薪邪 褋褌邪褉 锌邪褉褎褞屑 褋械 泻褉懈械 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪 褋褗泻褉芯胁懈褖薪懈褑邪, 胁 泻芯褟褌芯 薪邪泄-褑械薪薪芯褌芯 薪械 械 芯褌 蟹谢邪褌芯.
袩褗褉胁芯, 胁械谢懈泻芯谢械锌械薪 锌芯褉褌褉械褌 芯褌 械写懈薪 芯褌 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉懈褌械 薪邪 斜械谢 械锌芯泻. 袙褌芯褉芯, 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈, 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪懈 芯褌 卸械薪邪褌邪, 懈蟹芯斜褉邪蟹械薪邪 薪邪 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪褌邪 鈥� 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪邪 泻褍褉褌懈蟹邪薪泻邪, 褔懈褟褌芯 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 褋械 芯泻邪蟹胁邪 写邪谢械褔 锌芯-胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖邪 芯褌 锌懈褖薪芯褌芯 泄 写械泻芯谢褌械.
袙械褔械 薪械 褋褌邪胁邪 胁褗锌褉芯褋 蟹邪 泻褉械褋谢邪 胁 褋褌懈谢 袥褍懈 XVI 懈 蟹邪 懈蟹褟褖薪懈 褋械褉胁懈蟹懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褖械 写芯薪械褋邪褌 屑懈谢懈芯薪懈 薪邪 褌褗褉谐.
小褌邪胁邪 胁褗锌褉芯褋 蟹邪 卸懈胁芯褌. 袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 蟹邪 写胁邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪.
小 锌芯屑芯褖褌邪 薪邪 写褉邪蟹薪械褖芯 褋械泻褋邪锌懈谢械薪 锌邪褉懈卸泻懈 邪写胁芯泻邪褌 懈 褉褗泻芯锌懈褋懈褌械 薪邪 泻褍褉褌懈蟹邪薪泻邪褌邪 袝泄锌褉懈谢 褋械 芯锌懈褌胁邪 写邪 褉邪蟹泻褉懈械 褌邪泄薪懈褌械, 锌芯谐褉械斜邪薪懈 胁 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪. 袠 写芯泻邪褌芯 褋械 褉芯胁懈 胁 卸懈胁芯褌邪 薪邪 写褉褍谐邪褌邪 卸械薪邪, 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 胁褋械 锌芯-褔械褋褌芯 写邪 邪薪邪谢懈蟹懈褉邪 褋胁芯褟. 袨褌胁褗写 O泻械邪薪邪 褟 芯褔邪泻胁邪褌 薪械胁械褉械薪 褋褗锌褉褍谐 懈 泻褍锌 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈. 袛邪谢懈 胁 褔褍卸写芯褌芯 屑懈薪邪谢芯 褋械 泻褉懈械 锌褗褌 泻褗屑 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪芯褌芯 泄 斜褗写械褖械?
袙写褗褏薪芯胁械薪 芯褌 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 薪邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 芯褌泻褉懈褌 薪械写芯泻芯褋胁邪薪 胁 锌褉芯写褗谢卸械薪懈械 薪邪 写械褋械褌懈谢械褌懈褟, 褉芯屑邪薪褗褌 薪邪 袦懈褕械谢 袚械泄斜褗谢 褍屑械谢芯 锌褉械锌谢懈褌邪 褉械邪谢薪懈 褎邪泻褌懈 懈 懈屑械薪邪 泻邪褌芯 褌械蟹懈 薪邪 袩褉褍褋褌 懈 挟谐芯 褋 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹 蟹邪 写胁械 薪械芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈 卸械薪懈, 胁褋褟泻邪 芯褌 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 褍褔懈 写邪 斜褗写械 褖邪褋褌谢懈胁邪. 袩褉械泻褉邪褋械薪 写械斜褞褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 褉懈褋褍胁邪 袩邪褉懈卸 芯褌 斜械谢 械锌芯泻 懈 胁 薪邪褕懈 写薪懈 懈 褍褏邪械 薪邪 褕邪屑锌邪薪褋泻芯 懈 褎褉械薪褋泻懈 褋谢邪写泻懈褕懈.
440 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2014
1,336 people are currently reading
17.3k people want to read
About the author
Michelle Gable
13听books1,508听followersMichelle Gable is the New York Times Bestselling author of A PARIS APARTMENT, I'LL SEE YOU IN PARIS, THE BOOK OF SUMMER, and THE SUMMER I MET JACK.
Michelle grew up in San Diego and attended The College of William & Mary, where she majored in accounting, as most aspiring writers do. After a twenty-year career in finance, Michelle now writes full-time. She lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, with her husband, two daughters, and what is quickly becoming a menagerie: one cat, one bunny, and a lab/jindo mix recently rescued from the dog meat trade in Thailand.
Michelle can be reached at or on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest at @MGableWriter.
Michelle grew up in San Diego and attended The College of William & Mary, where she majored in accounting, as most aspiring writers do. After a twenty-year career in finance, Michelle now writes full-time. She lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, with her husband, two daughters, and what is quickly becoming a menagerie: one cat, one bunny, and a lab/jindo mix recently rescued from the dog meat trade in Thailand.
Michelle can be reached at or on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest at @MGableWriter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,677 reviews
November 29, 2013
I guess you have to rate your own book 5-stars, sort of like you have to think your kids are cute.
May 13, 2014
Well, I'm obviously in the minority here, but the only reason I stayed with this book was the Paris setting. I was intrigued by a story about an appraiser of furniture for an auction house and a mysterious Paris apartment, but April Vogt did not appeal to me as a character at all. I found her too self- absorbed for my taste and her obsession with Marthe Florian seemed contrived. The flashback sections provided by Marthe's journal entries held the same flatness for me. I just couldn't work up the emotional involvement I would need to enjoy a book.
September 1, 2016
Just really didn't like the characters, which kept me from liking or caring about what happened to them. Loved the premise and looked up Marthe de Florian after reading this book. Such an interesting life she would have lived. I hadn't known about her apartment being locked for 70 years, which I can only imagine what that apartment must have held. Unfortunately, this book just didn't hold my interest. The word provenance was used entirely way too much, very quickly became annoying. April was also very annoying, well, all the characters just didn't do a thing for me.
May 2, 2024
When a great premise runs amuck鈥� c鈥檈st ne pas jolie!!
I was looking for another novel of a similar title when I stumbled across this on Overdrive. One look at the blurb and I was hooked!!
Forgive the bad high school French but I hung in with this book so much longer than I should have because the dual timeline fascinated me. (I remember the article about a similar real-life apartment that must have inspired this novel.)
Unfortunately the modern timeline was nothing but a mess鈥� kind of like our heroine鈥� and our Belle Epoch heroine devolved as well!
But that apartment, the City of Love and a certain French gentlemen gave me hope!
Ugh鈥擨 should have just left this apartment door closed!! 鈥淔ermez la fenetre鈥� or is that the window? Lol鈥�
(Reviewed 5/15/22)
I was looking for another novel of a similar title when I stumbled across this on Overdrive. One look at the blurb and I was hooked!!
Forgive the bad high school French but I hung in with this book so much longer than I should have because the dual timeline fascinated me. (I remember the article about a similar real-life apartment that must have inspired this novel.)
Unfortunately the modern timeline was nothing but a mess鈥� kind of like our heroine鈥� and our Belle Epoch heroine devolved as well!
But that apartment, the City of Love and a certain French gentlemen gave me hope!
Ugh鈥擨 should have just left this apartment door closed!! 鈥淔ermez la fenetre鈥� or is that the window? Lol鈥�
(Reviewed 5/15/22)
June 29, 2014
This book had a lot of potential. Then it didn't.
What Went Wrong:
-April: As usual, a shitty protagonist with non-existent character depth; selfish in 900 different ways and bitchy about it. April is supposed to evaluate the furniture for this abandoned apartment in Paris for it to be auctioned and all she does is get hung up on the original apartment owner's private diaries. This would be okay if she actually did her job, but nooo, April only does 3 things: Read the diary, burp champagne and cheese (seriously why the fucking CONSTANT mention of her burping??? EXPLAIN)and pursue the only viable male around; Luc. She talks about herself nonstop, does little to confront her one-time cheating husband, encourages the advances of someone she's known(and instantly disliked) for like 2 days and then gets everything she's wanted done for her automatically + receives praise for a job she hardly did. I hated April. I hated her sick obsession with saying French words; she just sounded like a person who can't wait to get out of her skin. I couldn't believe and had to reread the part where she explains that she had to change her clothes into something more acceptable to French society and how she read an article on how to 'look French'.I find that horrible. Is she so insecure about her origins? Are there actually articles that explain how to look French? Do people read them? Do people proudly explain that they are trying to look less like their cultures? Do people in the states wear anything conspicuously American? ALL of them? I know this is an insignificant point but really why? This is almost as irritating a slip as all those mentions of burping. There are more scenes in this book describing her restaurant visits, her trying to look and sound French moments and her diary-reading rituals than there are of her handling anything professional which just kills me.
The drama of April's mom's Alzheimer's:
Oh dear God. This is by far the WORST portrayal of Alzheimer's in a book. April abandons her family because her mom is sick and whenever anyone in the book mentions her mother she changes the subject in a way that makes it seem like her mother had died. What kind of daughter walks out on her mother when she's that vulnerable? What kind of daughter blames her father for caring about her mother? The kind that runs off to Paris, tries to 'look french', doesn't do her job, cares more about dead prostitutes than about her family, gets back at her cheating husband in kind and STILL gets praise.The only use of mentioning Alzheimer's in this book is so April could get sympathy whimpers from sleazy Luc for like 10 seconds.
There's no winning in modern literature; April hates that her husband has cheated on her and told her about it directly. Had her husband not directly come clean about the affair, she would have hated him forever and claimed that he had lied by omission, had he cheated again, she would have killed him and wailed about it in 200 or more pages;but what do we get? blame AND deliberate romance/ one-night stand with Luc WITHOUT coming clean to her husband- what is this book trying to tell its readers?
April lives half her life secretly (and probably openly if her behavior is any indication) blaming her father for 'abandoning' her by caring for her sick mother; had he abandoned them/ died/gone off with another woman/ drunk his pain away/ dumped the mother in a caring home alone, we would have never heard the end of it.I'm just starting to get tired of literature (if that's what this is).
The thing is, the diary of Marthe is well-written and even endearing at times, certainly her tragic existence is a lot more fun (sorry not sorry) to read about than April's half-hearted attempts at living a life. I just don't understand why the author interjects this absolutely superfluous romance of April and Luc, and April and Troy, and April and April. I just didn't care if April lived or died. Really.
What Went Wrong:
-April: As usual, a shitty protagonist with non-existent character depth; selfish in 900 different ways and bitchy about it. April is supposed to evaluate the furniture for this abandoned apartment in Paris for it to be auctioned and all she does is get hung up on the original apartment owner's private diaries. This would be okay if she actually did her job, but nooo, April only does 3 things: Read the diary, burp champagne and cheese (seriously why the fucking CONSTANT mention of her burping??? EXPLAIN)and pursue the only viable male around; Luc. She talks about herself nonstop, does little to confront her one-time cheating husband, encourages the advances of someone she's known(and instantly disliked) for like 2 days and then gets everything she's wanted done for her automatically + receives praise for a job she hardly did. I hated April. I hated her sick obsession with saying French words; she just sounded like a person who can't wait to get out of her skin. I couldn't believe and had to reread the part where she explains that she had to change her clothes into something more acceptable to French society and how she read an article on how to 'look French'.I find that horrible. Is she so insecure about her origins? Are there actually articles that explain how to look French? Do people read them? Do people proudly explain that they are trying to look less like their cultures? Do people in the states wear anything conspicuously American? ALL of them? I know this is an insignificant point but really why? This is almost as irritating a slip as all those mentions of burping. There are more scenes in this book describing her restaurant visits, her trying to look and sound French moments and her diary-reading rituals than there are of her handling anything professional which just kills me.
The drama of April's mom's Alzheimer's:
Oh dear God. This is by far the WORST portrayal of Alzheimer's in a book. April abandons her family because her mom is sick and whenever anyone in the book mentions her mother she changes the subject in a way that makes it seem like her mother had died. What kind of daughter walks out on her mother when she's that vulnerable? What kind of daughter blames her father for caring about her mother? The kind that runs off to Paris, tries to 'look french', doesn't do her job, cares more about dead prostitutes than about her family, gets back at her cheating husband in kind and STILL gets praise.The only use of mentioning Alzheimer's in this book is so April could get sympathy whimpers from sleazy Luc for like 10 seconds.
There's no winning in modern literature; April hates that her husband has cheated on her and told her about it directly. Had her husband not directly come clean about the affair, she would have hated him forever and claimed that he had lied by omission, had he cheated again, she would have killed him and wailed about it in 200 or more pages;but what do we get? blame AND deliberate romance/ one-night stand with Luc WITHOUT coming clean to her husband- what is this book trying to tell its readers?
April lives half her life secretly (and probably openly if her behavior is any indication) blaming her father for 'abandoning' her by caring for her sick mother; had he abandoned them/ died/gone off with another woman/ drunk his pain away/ dumped the mother in a caring home alone, we would have never heard the end of it.I'm just starting to get tired of literature (if that's what this is).
The thing is, the diary of Marthe is well-written and even endearing at times, certainly her tragic existence is a lot more fun (sorry not sorry) to read about than April's half-hearted attempts at living a life. I just don't understand why the author interjects this absolutely superfluous romance of April and Luc, and April and Troy, and April and April. I just didn't care if April lived or died. Really.
November 11, 2014
I'm so disappointed in this book. It sounded great, the reviews seemed good and I love to read anything (almost) about Paris.
What went wrong? It's an intriguing idea - the closed apartment full of treasures, the two story lines, the parrallels and mysteries between the mother stories, even the marriage angst. It could have, should have, been a great read.
But no. It made me reflect on how some writers can find the exact correct word or phrase to make a story come alive, how sometimes a sentence is written so well it almost hurts. It's also painful when the opposite happens; when the words and phrases are clunky, unsuited, forced. The writing in this novel seems to be that of someone whose second and very new language is English.
It started early. A character "smirked" constantly even though it didn't suit the personality the writer seemed to be trying to create. Then other characters started to smirk and the word rapidly became a signature. Characters "thumped" down stairs, collapsed against building and used language, salty and otherwise, that just didn't suit them or the situation (Dude! Buddy!)
And the last few pages - so pat and trite, they were unreadable. Why did I? Read it that is? I'll never know.
What went wrong? It's an intriguing idea - the closed apartment full of treasures, the two story lines, the parrallels and mysteries between the mother stories, even the marriage angst. It could have, should have, been a great read.
But no. It made me reflect on how some writers can find the exact correct word or phrase to make a story come alive, how sometimes a sentence is written so well it almost hurts. It's also painful when the opposite happens; when the words and phrases are clunky, unsuited, forced. The writing in this novel seems to be that of someone whose second and very new language is English.
It started early. A character "smirked" constantly even though it didn't suit the personality the writer seemed to be trying to create. Then other characters started to smirk and the word rapidly became a signature. Characters "thumped" down stairs, collapsed against building and used language, salty and otherwise, that just didn't suit them or the situation (Dude! Buddy!)
And the last few pages - so pat and trite, they were unreadable. Why did I? Read it that is? I'll never know.
May 13, 2014
A bit of truth mixed with the imagination of a gifted author spotlights Paris past and present in this exceptional debut novel. Sure to be a bestseller, A PARIS APARTMENT captivated me from the first page. Every character and setting is crafted with the precision of a master artist.
The intriguing element of brilliantly composed 1890s Paris journal entries (written by a most fascinating female character) adds a layer of intrigue as the story weaves leading lady April Vogt鈥檚 contemporary journey as a Sotheby鈥檚 furniture specialist seamlessly with the escapades of a renowned courtesan who became the subject of Belle Epoque master, Giovanni Boldini鈥檚 recently discovered masterpiece.
It wouldn鈥檛 be fair to pin down an overall genre for this fresh and inventive piece of literature, however the gamut ranges from literary to historical to mystery. Ms. Gable鈥檚 writing style is bright, fresh, original鈥攁 talent I look forward to putting at the top of my list for future releases.
The intriguing element of brilliantly composed 1890s Paris journal entries (written by a most fascinating female character) adds a layer of intrigue as the story weaves leading lady April Vogt鈥檚 contemporary journey as a Sotheby鈥檚 furniture specialist seamlessly with the escapades of a renowned courtesan who became the subject of Belle Epoque master, Giovanni Boldini鈥檚 recently discovered masterpiece.
It wouldn鈥檛 be fair to pin down an overall genre for this fresh and inventive piece of literature, however the gamut ranges from literary to historical to mystery. Ms. Gable鈥檚 writing style is bright, fresh, original鈥攁 talent I look forward to putting at the top of my list for future releases.
April 9, 2024
Paris in the late 1800's鈥� during the Belle Epoque鈥�, antique furniture and paintings, and journals from an apartment's original inhabitant. All of these things made A PARIS APARTMENT a book that will keep you glued to the pages.
Who wouldn't want to go to Paris? April was an art history major and an auctioneer. When her boss told her she would be going to Paris to put value on an apartment's contents that had been closed up for 70 years, she couldn't pass up the chance even though her marriage was a bit rocky.
When April found the journals of Marthe de Florian, they made the apartment鈥檚 contents even more valuable and the book quite enticing. The journals told about Marthe de Florian's life and her connection and relationships with artists and other famous people.
Famous people such as Victor Hugo and Giovanni Boldini were part of the book's intrigue. Marthe de Florian had quite a colorful life.
A PARIS APARTMENT was a bit rough getting started, but once the journals were found, they and the Parisian atmosphere 鈥媎rew you into the era and its living style.
鈥婣 PARIS APARTMENT is based on a real apartment and a real person. Ms. Gable did a great deal of research and weaves the story so masterfully that you don't even know it is history, but it definitely revealed a wonderful hidden part of Paris.
For a debut novel, the writing 鈥媋nd storyline were marvelous. A PARIS APARTMENT has beautiful, descriptive writing, and the journals made it oh so good.
April鈥檚 rocky marriage seemed to be a side story, but the apartment, its contents, and the journals are historical aspects that I thoroughly enjoyed and what kept me reading.
The ending was marvelous as April met an eighty-seven-year-old family member of Marthe de Florian who fills in the gaps of Marthe鈥檚 life.
ENJOY, and don't give up too early. :) 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Who wouldn't want to go to Paris? April was an art history major and an auctioneer. When her boss told her she would be going to Paris to put value on an apartment's contents that had been closed up for 70 years, she couldn't pass up the chance even though her marriage was a bit rocky.
When April found the journals of Marthe de Florian, they made the apartment鈥檚 contents even more valuable and the book quite enticing. The journals told about Marthe de Florian's life and her connection and relationships with artists and other famous people.
Famous people such as Victor Hugo and Giovanni Boldini were part of the book's intrigue. Marthe de Florian had quite a colorful life.
A PARIS APARTMENT was a bit rough getting started, but once the journals were found, they and the Parisian atmosphere 鈥媎rew you into the era and its living style.
鈥婣 PARIS APARTMENT is based on a real apartment and a real person. Ms. Gable did a great deal of research and weaves the story so masterfully that you don't even know it is history, but it definitely revealed a wonderful hidden part of Paris.
For a debut novel, the writing 鈥媋nd storyline were marvelous. A PARIS APARTMENT has beautiful, descriptive writing, and the journals made it oh so good.
April鈥檚 rocky marriage seemed to be a side story, but the apartment, its contents, and the journals are historical aspects that I thoroughly enjoyed and what kept me reading.
The ending was marvelous as April met an eighty-seven-year-old family member of Marthe de Florian who fills in the gaps of Marthe鈥檚 life.
ENJOY, and don't give up too early. :) 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 10, 2023
I went to the library looking for the author's newest book, which they did not have in stock, and saw this one and thought I'd give it a try. What a delight! It's so nice to have no expectations for or knowledge of a book and come away completely surprised and happy.
I enjoyed this book so much. It's not a deep novel but completely pleasant. It delves hundreds of years into Paris's past and surrounds you with detailed descriptions by way of journal entries. I enjoy historical fiction and like when I'm intrigued enough about the events or people to hit up Wikipedia, which is exactly what I did with this novel. I was pleasantly surprised to find the majority of the information true. It's such a surreal story that it seemed more likely to be creative liberty than true history! This fact made me like it even more. This story NEEDED to be told and I'm so happy to have discovered it, all by accident.
The tone and story are light and fun - reminiscent of a romantic comedy movie. It was a breeze to read and I enjoyed both parts of the story - the present day and the past. Loved the way that the stories intertwined in the end. I know this is a story that will stay with me. Reminded me that it doesn't always have to be a deep or serious story to make a lasting impression.
Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
I enjoyed this book so much. It's not a deep novel but completely pleasant. It delves hundreds of years into Paris's past and surrounds you with detailed descriptions by way of journal entries. I enjoy historical fiction and like when I'm intrigued enough about the events or people to hit up Wikipedia, which is exactly what I did with this novel. I was pleasantly surprised to find the majority of the information true. It's such a surreal story that it seemed more likely to be creative liberty than true history! This fact made me like it even more. This story NEEDED to be told and I'm so happy to have discovered it, all by accident.
The tone and story are light and fun - reminiscent of a romantic comedy movie. It was a breeze to read and I enjoyed both parts of the story - the present day and the past. Loved the way that the stories intertwined in the end. I know this is a story that will stay with me. Reminded me that it doesn't always have to be a deep or serious story to make a lasting impression.
Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
March 31, 2015
I admire any first time author who has the courage and fortitude to keep writing and get a novel (any novel) published, so it is with mixed feelings that I must tell you I tried to look at this debut from several different viewpoints, but there is no getting around my disappointment.
Perhaps I had unrealistically high expectations - what a great story could be told -- the unopened apartment, the story behind the painting, Marthe and the time of the Belle Epoque. Then contrast that with the modern-day story of the antiques experts who must have been agog at the opportunity to research the priceless antiques and delve into Marthe's journals.
The actual Marthe started out as a bartender at the famous Les Folies Berg猫res, became an elegant courtesan known for having famous lovers, including a few prime ministers, a French president and the artist Boldini. Marthe left the apartment to her granddaughter, Madame de Florian, who shuttered the apartment and fled Paris at the start of WWII.
So,I was seriously excited to open this book and settle in for a good read.
The chapters alternate between Marthe de Florian's story told through fictionalized diary entries and April Vogt, a current-day American furniture expert from Sotheby鈥檚 who is called to Paris to help prepare the contents of the apartment for auction.
Marthe's storyline was at times fascinating and the author (thankfully) took much from her actual life -- how she created her name, her elegant persona and how she dug herself out of a brothel into the high class society during the Bell Epoque. In contrast, the modern day story of April Vogt reads like poorly written chic-lit. I found my self slogging through April's chapters and only somewhat enjoying Marthe's.
There is some magical writing - the description of the famous chandelier at Les Folies Berg猫res is wonderful. The Paris setting(s) are beautifully and deliciously described. However, Ms. Gable stumbles in re-telling Marthe's story, her diary entries seemed staged and she lets modern day language creep in. Sadly April is completely one-dimensional, so much so that this reader ended up disliking her character and her storyline was so predictable that I found myself imagining other outcomes. The novel borders on the raunchy and is written with such tactlessness that I cringed for the real Marthe de Florian. I found the ending almost ridiculous and in need of major editing - or perhaps, even completely deleted
Sigh -- The Paris Apartment gets many 4 and 5 star reviews on both 欧宝娱乐 and Amazon, so I am in the minority here. (Perhaps you'll like this novel - go and seek it out if it interests you.)
Unfortunately, I wanted more -- more richness, more depth, better writing - not this breezy and shallow version of what in reality must have been a fascinating story. The discovery of the forgotten apartment and its contents, the true life story of Marthe de Florian -- they deserve a more intelligent telling
** SEE ALL MY REVIEWS at
Perhaps I had unrealistically high expectations - what a great story could be told -- the unopened apartment, the story behind the painting, Marthe and the time of the Belle Epoque. Then contrast that with the modern-day story of the antiques experts who must have been agog at the opportunity to research the priceless antiques and delve into Marthe's journals.
The actual Marthe started out as a bartender at the famous Les Folies Berg猫res, became an elegant courtesan known for having famous lovers, including a few prime ministers, a French president and the artist Boldini. Marthe left the apartment to her granddaughter, Madame de Florian, who shuttered the apartment and fled Paris at the start of WWII.
So,I was seriously excited to open this book and settle in for a good read.
The chapters alternate between Marthe de Florian's story told through fictionalized diary entries and April Vogt, a current-day American furniture expert from Sotheby鈥檚 who is called to Paris to help prepare the contents of the apartment for auction.
Marthe's storyline was at times fascinating and the author (thankfully) took much from her actual life -- how she created her name, her elegant persona and how she dug herself out of a brothel into the high class society during the Bell Epoque. In contrast, the modern day story of April Vogt reads like poorly written chic-lit. I found my self slogging through April's chapters and only somewhat enjoying Marthe's.
There is some magical writing - the description of the famous chandelier at Les Folies Berg猫res is wonderful. The Paris setting(s) are beautifully and deliciously described. However, Ms. Gable stumbles in re-telling Marthe's story, her diary entries seemed staged and she lets modern day language creep in. Sadly April is completely one-dimensional, so much so that this reader ended up disliking her character and her storyline was so predictable that I found myself imagining other outcomes. The novel borders on the raunchy and is written with such tactlessness that I cringed for the real Marthe de Florian. I found the ending almost ridiculous and in need of major editing - or perhaps, even completely deleted
Sigh -- The Paris Apartment gets many 4 and 5 star reviews on both 欧宝娱乐 and Amazon, so I am in the minority here. (Perhaps you'll like this novel - go and seek it out if it interests you.)
Unfortunately, I wanted more -- more richness, more depth, better writing - not this breezy and shallow version of what in reality must have been a fascinating story. The discovery of the forgotten apartment and its contents, the true life story of Marthe de Florian -- they deserve a more intelligent telling
** SEE ALL MY REVIEWS at
January 8, 2025
The basic premise: When April Vogt's boss tells her about an apartment in the ninth arrondissement that has been discovered after being shuttered for the past seventy years, the Sotheby's continental furniture specialist does not hear the words 鈥渄ust鈥� or 鈥渞ats鈥� or 鈥渄ecrepit.鈥�
She hears Paris.
She hears escape.
The chapters alternate between Marthe de Florian's story told through fictionalized diary entries and April Vogt, a current-day American furniture expert from Sotheby鈥檚 who is called to Paris to help prepare the contents of the apartment for auction.
Perhaps I had unrealistically high expectations - what a great story could be told -- the unopened apartment, the story behind the painting, Marthe and the time of the Belle Epoque.
Then contrast that with the modern-day story of the antiques experts who must have been eager for the opportunity to research the priceless antiques and delve into Marthe's journals.
And the painting 鈥� which, as it turns out is real!
Of course, you have to read the story to know what I am talking about.
Unfortunately, I wanted more -- more richness, more depth, better writing - not this breezy and shallow version of what in reality must have been a fascinating story.
The discovery of the forgotten apartment and its contents, the true life story of Marthe de Florian 鈥� I felt she deserved better.
But, if you want a cozy read, this might work just fine.
She hears Paris.
She hears escape.
The chapters alternate between Marthe de Florian's story told through fictionalized diary entries and April Vogt, a current-day American furniture expert from Sotheby鈥檚 who is called to Paris to help prepare the contents of the apartment for auction.
Perhaps I had unrealistically high expectations - what a great story could be told -- the unopened apartment, the story behind the painting, Marthe and the time of the Belle Epoque.
Then contrast that with the modern-day story of the antiques experts who must have been eager for the opportunity to research the priceless antiques and delve into Marthe's journals.
And the painting 鈥� which, as it turns out is real!
Of course, you have to read the story to know what I am talking about.
Unfortunately, I wanted more -- more richness, more depth, better writing - not this breezy and shallow version of what in reality must have been a fascinating story.
The discovery of the forgotten apartment and its contents, the true life story of Marthe de Florian 鈥� I felt she deserved better.
But, if you want a cozy read, this might work just fine.
July 7, 2016
What do you do when you are reading a dual timeline story, and you love one of them and are bored to tears by the other one? How do you rate the book?
The author took what could have been a fascinating true story and blew it. Not only did she play fast and loose with historical facts, but she fleshed out the present day story with an onslaught of unrelenting angst from the main character. Will she, won鈥檛 she鈥� can she, can鈥檛 she鈥� should she, shouldn鈥檛 she鈥� could she, couldn鈥檛 she鈥� blah, blah, blah. Wow, what a drama queen April was. For the love of God, get over yourself!
I came here to read the story behind the apartment, not about some annoying woman鈥檚 marital woes. I ended up doing quite a bit of online research and enjoyed that quite a bit. Here's just some of it:
Portrait of Marthe de Florian
A thick layer of dust covers everything.
A time capsule of the Belle Epoque, with damask on the walls, Louis-style painted furniture and Oriental rugs
The formal dining room was still fully stocked with glassware and pots and pans
A beautiful vanity under a thick layer of dust
A stuffed ostrich, Mickey Mouse and Porky Pig
The author took what could have been a fascinating true story and blew it. Not only did she play fast and loose with historical facts, but she fleshed out the present day story with an onslaught of unrelenting angst from the main character. Will she, won鈥檛 she鈥� can she, can鈥檛 she鈥� should she, shouldn鈥檛 she鈥� could she, couldn鈥檛 she鈥� blah, blah, blah. Wow, what a drama queen April was. For the love of God, get over yourself!
I came here to read the story behind the apartment, not about some annoying woman鈥檚 marital woes. I ended up doing quite a bit of online research and enjoyed that quite a bit. Here's just some of it:
Portrait of Marthe de Florian
A thick layer of dust covers everything.
A time capsule of the Belle Epoque, with damask on the walls, Louis-style painted furniture and Oriental rugs
The formal dining room was still fully stocked with glassware and pots and pans
A beautiful vanity under a thick layer of dust
A stuffed ostrich, Mickey Mouse and Porky Pig
July 12, 2014
This book was a disappointment to me. I adored the concept--an apartment is found in Paris that hasn't been opened for 70 years, and a furniture curator from New York gets to go spend a month there, going through it, working with Sotheby's to put together an auction for the heirs. Journals are discovered in the apartment, written by the former occupant, and the book is told from two points of view--the owner of the things and the cataloger of the things. And, oh, set in Paris of the late 1800s and 2014.
But. I found the writing repetitive and convoluted. The main character is irritating in most aspects, and I also disliked many of the other characters. The story has an arc, and then kind of peters out with a soft resolution. I loved all the details about Paris; but setting alone just can't make a book. I gave it three stars for effort, but really it's probably 2.5.
But. I found the writing repetitive and convoluted. The main character is irritating in most aspects, and I also disliked many of the other characters. The story has an arc, and then kind of peters out with a soft resolution. I loved all the details about Paris; but setting alone just can't make a book. I gave it three stars for effort, but really it's probably 2.5.
June 29, 2021
3.6 猸�
袠屑邪屑 褌邪蟹懈 泻薪懈谐邪 芯褌 谐芯写懈薪懈, 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 写褗谢谐芯, 褔械 斜褟褏 蟹邪斜褉邪胁懈谢邪 蟹邪 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪薪械褌芯 泄. 袩褉械薪邪褉械卸写邪泄泻懈 斜懈斜谢懈芯褌械泻邪褌邪 褋懈, 褍褋褌邪薪芯胁懈褏, 褔械 械 芯褋褌邪薪邪谢邪 薪械锌褉芯褔械褌械薪邪. 袧械褖芯, 泻芯械褌芯 褉褟写泻芯 屑懈 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪. 袠 械褌芯, 薪邪泄- 薪邪泻褉邪褟, 写芯泄写械 懈 薪械泄薪懈褟 褉械写...
袧械 褋械 褍褔褍写胁邪屑 蟹邪褖芯 褋褗屑 泻褍锌懈谢邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 薪邪胁褉械屑械褌芯. 袗 懈屑械薪薪芯, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 褌褟 褋褗写褗褉卸邪 芯薪械蟹懈 械谢械屑械薪褌懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 屑械 锌褉懈褌械谐谢褟褌 泻褗屑 芯锌褉械写械谢械薪芯 褔械褌懈胁芯- 褉械邪谢薪芯 褋褗斜懈褌懈械, 胁 褋褗褔械褌邪薪懈械 褋 褌邪泄薪褋褌胁械薪芯褋褌 芯泻芯谢芯 薪械谐芯.
袧械 屑芯谐邪 写邪 泻邪卸邪, 褔械 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 斜谢械褋褌懈 褋 写褗谢斜芯褔懈薪邪 懈 锌褉懈褌械谐邪褌械谢薪邪 褋褌懈谢懈褋褌懈泻邪, 薪芯 懈 薪械 屑芯谐邪 写邪 芯褌褉械泻邪, 褔械 斜械褕械 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪邪.
小褞卸械褌褗褌 薪懈 胁褉褗褖邪 薪邪蟹邪写 胁褗胁 胁褉械屑械褌芯, 胁 薪邪胁械褔械褉懈械褌芯 薪邪 袙褌芯褉邪褌邪 褋胁械褌芯胁薪邪 胁芯泄薪邪. 袦谢邪写邪 卸械薪邪( 袥懈蟹械褌, 胁薪褍褔泻邪 薪邪 泻褍褉褌懈蟹邪薪泻邪褌邪 袦邪褉褌 写褜芯/写械 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪) 薪邪斜褗褉蟹芯 薪邪锌褍褋泻邪 袩邪褉懈卸, 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁褟泄泻懈 薪邪褋谢械写褋褌胁械薪 懈屑芯褌 胁 芯锌懈褌 写邪 懈蟹斜褟谐邪 芯褌 芯锌邪褋薪芯褋褌褌邪. 袚芯写懈薪懈褌械 褋械 薪懈卸邪褌, 邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌褗褌 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪胁邪 写邪 锌褍褋褌械械. 小谢械写 褋屑褗褉褌褌邪 薪邪 薪邪褋谢械写薪懈褑邪褌邪, 卸懈谢懈褖械褌芯 械 芯褌胁芯褉械薪芯 懈 蟹邪械写薪芯 褋 薪械谐芯 褋械 芯褌胁邪褉褟 褌邪泄薪褋褌胁械薪邪褌邪 胁褉邪褌邪 泻褗屑 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪懈 薪邪褏芯写泻懈.
袝泄锌褉懈谢 械 芯褌 袧褞 袡芯褉泻 懈 械 械泻褋锌械褉褌 锌芯 褋褌邪褉懈薪薪懈 屑械斜械谢懈. 袞懈胁芯褌褗褌 泄 械 锌芯写褉械写械薪, 锌芯薪械 褌邪泻邪 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪 薪邪 锌褉褗胁 锌芯谐谢械写. 袠屑邪 胁褋懈褔泻芯, 蟹邪 泻芯械褌芯 械 屑械褔褌邪谢邪. 小邪屑芯 泻芯锌薪械卸褗褌 泄 写邪 锌芯褋械褌懈 袩邪褉懈卸 芯褖械 褌谢械械 胁 褋褗褉褑械褌芯 泄. 袛芯 械写懈薪 屑芯屑械薪褌, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 薪械泄薪芯褌芯 械泻褋锌械褉褌薪芯 屑薪械薪懈械 褟 懈蟹锌褉邪褖邪 懈屑械薪薪芯 褌邪屑, 胁 芯薪蟹懈 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁械薪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 胁 袩邪褉懈卸, 泻褗写械褌芯 褌褟 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪 褑械薪薪懈 褉械谢懈泻胁懈, 邪 锌芯泻褉邪泄 褌褟褏 懈 芯褋褗蟹薪邪胁邪薪械褌芯, 褔械 胁褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 泄 械 锌褗谢械薪 褏邪芯褋. 孝褟 械 蟹邪锌谢械薪械薪邪 芯褌 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪褌邪 胁 卸懈谢懈褖械褌芯, 芯褌 褋褌邪褉懈薪薪懈褌械 泻褉邪褋懈胁懈 屑械斜械谢懈, 薪芯 械写懈薪 锌褉械写屑械褌 褟 锌褉懈褌械谐谢褟 褋 谐芯谢褟屑邪 褋懈谢邪- 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪 薪邪 屑谢邪写邪 卸械薪邪 胁 褉芯蟹芯胁邪 褉芯泻谢褟. 袨泻邪蟹胁邪 褋械, 褔械 褌芯胁邪 械 薪械芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪芯 锌谢邪褌薪芯, 薪邪褉懈褋褍胁邪薪芯 芯褌 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪懈褟褌 褏褍写芯卸薪懈泻 袛卸芯胁邪薪懈 袘芯谢写懈薪懈, 泻芯械褌芯 械 胁写褗褏薪芯胁械薪芯 懈 锌芯褋胁械褌械薪芯 薪邪 屑械写屑芯邪蟹械谢 袦邪褉褌 袛褜芯( 写械) 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪( 褉械邪谢薪芯 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪褌邪 械 芯褌泻褉懈褌邪 锌褉械蟹 2010谐. 懈 胁锌芯褋谢械写褋褌胁懈械 锌褉芯写邪写械薪邪 蟹邪 胁薪褍褕懈褌械谢薪邪褌邪 褋褍屑邪 芯褌 斜谢懈蟹芯 3 屑谢薪 械胁褉芯).
袪芯胁械泄泻懈 褋械 懈蟹 胁械褖懈褌械 胁 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪, 袝泄锌褉懈谢 褋械 薪邪褌褗泻胁邪 薪邪 写薪械胁薪懈泻, 薪邪 褋邪屑邪褌邪 袦邪褉褌, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 蟹邪 械谢懈褌邪 薪邪 袩邪褉懈卸 锌褉械蟹 90-褌械 谐芯写懈薪懈 薪邪 19胁. 袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 写褜芯 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪 械 褋胁褗褉蟹邪薪邪 锌芯 屑薪芯谐芯 懈薪褌械褉械褋械薪 薪邪褔懈薪 褋 袙懈泻褌芯褉 挟谐芯 懈 胁 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 褋械 褉邪蟹薪懈褖胁邪 褋褗褖芯 褌邪泻邪 懈 褌邪蟹懈 胁蟹邪懈屑芯胁褉褗蟹泻邪. 袛邪写械薪邪 械 褋褏械屑邪 (褉芯写芯褋谢芯胁薪芯 写褗褉胁芯), 泻芯褟褌芯 械 屑薪芯谐芯 锌芯谢械蟹薪邪 懈 谢褞斜芯锌懈褌薪邪.
袣邪泻褌芯 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪芯, 褔械褌械泄泻懈 泻薪懈谐懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 芯褋薪芯胁邪胁邪褌 薪邪 褉械邪谢薪芯 褋褗斜懈褌懈械, 褋懈 薪邪斜邪胁褟屑 写芯锌褗谢薪懈褌械谢薪芯 懈薪褎芯褉屑邪褑懈褟. 袩芯泻褉邪泄 褌芯胁邪 褋械 蟹邪锌芯蟹薪邪褏 褋 卸懈胁芯褌邪 懈 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袛卸芯胁邪薪懈 袘芯谢写懈薪懈, 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 锌褉芯褔械褌芯褏 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 薪邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪, 褉邪蟹褏芯写懈褏 褋械 胁懈褉褌褍邪谢薪芯 懈蟹 薪械谐芯.
袨褌 褌邪蟹懈 谐谢械写薪邪 褌芯褔泻邪, " 袩邪褉懈卸泻懈褟褌 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌" 械 薪械 褋邪屑芯 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪芯 褔械褌懈胁芯, 薪芯 懈 屑薪芯谐芯 芯斜芯谐邪褌褟胁邪褖芯.
袠屑邪屑 褌邪蟹懈 泻薪懈谐邪 芯褌 谐芯写懈薪懈, 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 写褗谢谐芯, 褔械 斜褟褏 蟹邪斜褉邪胁懈谢邪 蟹邪 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪薪械褌芯 泄. 袩褉械薪邪褉械卸写邪泄泻懈 斜懈斜谢懈芯褌械泻邪褌邪 褋懈, 褍褋褌邪薪芯胁懈褏, 褔械 械 芯褋褌邪薪邪谢邪 薪械锌褉芯褔械褌械薪邪. 袧械褖芯, 泻芯械褌芯 褉褟写泻芯 屑懈 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪. 袠 械褌芯, 薪邪泄- 薪邪泻褉邪褟, 写芯泄写械 懈 薪械泄薪懈褟 褉械写...
袧械 褋械 褍褔褍写胁邪屑 蟹邪褖芯 褋褗屑 泻褍锌懈谢邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 薪邪胁褉械屑械褌芯. 袗 懈屑械薪薪芯, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 褌褟 褋褗写褗褉卸邪 芯薪械蟹懈 械谢械屑械薪褌懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 屑械 锌褉懈褌械谐谢褟褌 泻褗屑 芯锌褉械写械谢械薪芯 褔械褌懈胁芯- 褉械邪谢薪芯 褋褗斜懈褌懈械, 胁 褋褗褔械褌邪薪懈械 褋 褌邪泄薪褋褌胁械薪芯褋褌 芯泻芯谢芯 薪械谐芯.
袧械 屑芯谐邪 写邪 泻邪卸邪, 褔械 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 斜谢械褋褌懈 褋 写褗谢斜芯褔懈薪邪 懈 锌褉懈褌械谐邪褌械谢薪邪 褋褌懈谢懈褋褌懈泻邪, 薪芯 懈 薪械 屑芯谐邪 写邪 芯褌褉械泻邪, 褔械 斜械褕械 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪邪.
小褞卸械褌褗褌 薪懈 胁褉褗褖邪 薪邪蟹邪写 胁褗胁 胁褉械屑械褌芯, 胁 薪邪胁械褔械褉懈械褌芯 薪邪 袙褌芯褉邪褌邪 褋胁械褌芯胁薪邪 胁芯泄薪邪. 袦谢邪写邪 卸械薪邪( 袥懈蟹械褌, 胁薪褍褔泻邪 薪邪 泻褍褉褌懈蟹邪薪泻邪褌邪 袦邪褉褌 写褜芯/写械 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪) 薪邪斜褗褉蟹芯 薪邪锌褍褋泻邪 袩邪褉懈卸, 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁褟泄泻懈 薪邪褋谢械写褋褌胁械薪 懈屑芯褌 胁 芯锌懈褌 写邪 懈蟹斜褟谐邪 芯褌 芯锌邪褋薪芯褋褌褌邪. 袚芯写懈薪懈褌械 褋械 薪懈卸邪褌, 邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌褗褌 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪胁邪 写邪 锌褍褋褌械械. 小谢械写 褋屑褗褉褌褌邪 薪邪 薪邪褋谢械写薪懈褑邪褌邪, 卸懈谢懈褖械褌芯 械 芯褌胁芯褉械薪芯 懈 蟹邪械写薪芯 褋 薪械谐芯 褋械 芯褌胁邪褉褟 褌邪泄薪褋褌胁械薪邪褌邪 胁褉邪褌邪 泻褗屑 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪懈 薪邪褏芯写泻懈.
袝泄锌褉懈谢 械 芯褌 袧褞 袡芯褉泻 懈 械 械泻褋锌械褉褌 锌芯 褋褌邪褉懈薪薪懈 屑械斜械谢懈. 袞懈胁芯褌褗褌 泄 械 锌芯写褉械写械薪, 锌芯薪械 褌邪泻邪 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪 薪邪 锌褉褗胁 锌芯谐谢械写. 袠屑邪 胁褋懈褔泻芯, 蟹邪 泻芯械褌芯 械 屑械褔褌邪谢邪. 小邪屑芯 泻芯锌薪械卸褗褌 泄 写邪 锌芯褋械褌懈 袩邪褉懈卸 芯褖械 褌谢械械 胁 褋褗褉褑械褌芯 泄. 袛芯 械写懈薪 屑芯屑械薪褌, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 薪械泄薪芯褌芯 械泻褋锌械褉褌薪芯 屑薪械薪懈械 褟 懈蟹锌褉邪褖邪 懈屑械薪薪芯 褌邪屑, 胁 芯薪蟹懈 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁械薪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 胁 袩邪褉懈卸, 泻褗写械褌芯 褌褟 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪 褑械薪薪懈 褉械谢懈泻胁懈, 邪 锌芯泻褉邪泄 褌褟褏 懈 芯褋褗蟹薪邪胁邪薪械褌芯, 褔械 胁褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 泄 械 锌褗谢械薪 褏邪芯褋. 孝褟 械 蟹邪锌谢械薪械薪邪 芯褌 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪褌邪 胁 卸懈谢懈褖械褌芯, 芯褌 褋褌邪褉懈薪薪懈褌械 泻褉邪褋懈胁懈 屑械斜械谢懈, 薪芯 械写懈薪 锌褉械写屑械褌 褟 锌褉懈褌械谐谢褟 褋 谐芯谢褟屑邪 褋懈谢邪- 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪 薪邪 屑谢邪写邪 卸械薪邪 胁 褉芯蟹芯胁邪 褉芯泻谢褟. 袨泻邪蟹胁邪 褋械, 褔械 褌芯胁邪 械 薪械芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪芯 锌谢邪褌薪芯, 薪邪褉懈褋褍胁邪薪芯 芯褌 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪懈褟褌 褏褍写芯卸薪懈泻 袛卸芯胁邪薪懈 袘芯谢写懈薪懈, 泻芯械褌芯 械 胁写褗褏薪芯胁械薪芯 懈 锌芯褋胁械褌械薪芯 薪邪 屑械写屑芯邪蟹械谢 袦邪褉褌 袛褜芯( 写械) 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪( 褉械邪谢薪芯 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪褌邪 械 芯褌泻褉懈褌邪 锌褉械蟹 2010谐. 懈 胁锌芯褋谢械写褋褌胁懈械 锌褉芯写邪写械薪邪 蟹邪 胁薪褍褕懈褌械谢薪邪褌邪 褋褍屑邪 芯褌 斜谢懈蟹芯 3 屑谢薪 械胁褉芯).
袪芯胁械泄泻懈 褋械 懈蟹 胁械褖懈褌械 胁 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪, 袝泄锌褉懈谢 褋械 薪邪褌褗泻胁邪 薪邪 写薪械胁薪懈泻, 薪邪 褋邪屑邪褌邪 袦邪褉褌, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 蟹邪 械谢懈褌邪 薪邪 袩邪褉懈卸 锌褉械蟹 90-褌械 谐芯写懈薪懈 薪邪 19胁. 袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 写褜芯 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪 械 褋胁褗褉蟹邪薪邪 锌芯 屑薪芯谐芯 懈薪褌械褉械褋械薪 薪邪褔懈薪 褋 袙懈泻褌芯褉 挟谐芯 懈 胁 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 褋械 褉邪蟹薪懈褖胁邪 褋褗褖芯 褌邪泻邪 懈 褌邪蟹懈 胁蟹邪懈屑芯胁褉褗蟹泻邪. 袛邪写械薪邪 械 褋褏械屑邪 (褉芯写芯褋谢芯胁薪芯 写褗褉胁芯), 泻芯褟褌芯 械 屑薪芯谐芯 锌芯谢械蟹薪邪 懈 谢褞斜芯锌懈褌薪邪.
袣邪泻褌芯 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪芯, 褔械褌械泄泻懈 泻薪懈谐懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 芯褋薪芯胁邪胁邪褌 薪邪 褉械邪谢薪芯 褋褗斜懈褌懈械, 褋懈 薪邪斜邪胁褟屑 写芯锌褗谢薪懈褌械谢薪芯 懈薪褎芯褉屑邪褑懈褟. 袩芯泻褉邪泄 褌芯胁邪 褋械 蟹邪锌芯蟹薪邪褏 褋 卸懈胁芯褌邪 懈 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袛卸芯胁邪薪懈 袘芯谢写懈薪懈, 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 锌褉芯褔械褌芯褏 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 薪邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪, 褉邪蟹褏芯写懈褏 褋械 胁懈褉褌褍邪谢薪芯 懈蟹 薪械谐芯.
袨褌 褌邪蟹懈 谐谢械写薪邪 褌芯褔泻邪, " 袩邪褉懈卸泻懈褟褌 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌" 械 薪械 褋邪屑芯 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪芯 褔械褌懈胁芯, 薪芯 懈 屑薪芯谐芯 芯斜芯谐邪褌褟胁邪褖芯.
April 28, 2014
This book hooked me from page one -- and I ended up staying up almost all night in order to finish it. I loved the story line and the clever imagining of how that apartment in Paris came to be locked away, seemingly forgotten. It was so clever and well done. I was quickly taken in by April's story and her own personal pains, only to have Marthe's layered on top of that. And this is a first-timer? I look forward to seeing what Gable comes up with next!
May 10, 2017
A PARIS APARTMENT by Michelle Gable, a fantastic debut novel, making you yearn to return to beautiful Paris, and all the French has to offer. From the inviting front cover to its escape within the journals of the former owner, Marthe de Florian in the 1900s, and the engrossing mystery 鈥� A winner!
April, works for the auction house Sotheby鈥檚, as a continental furniture specialist, and travels to Paris to evaluate the contents of an apartment which have been vacant for over seventy years. She also wants to escape her own life and her marriage, which is in shambles (like the apartment).
Instead of concentrating on the furnishings, she is obsessed with the discovery of this charismatic woman, and the secrets she held. However, as April learns more about Marthe鈥檚 life, she has to take inventory of her own life and control.
With the help of a somewhat appealing solicitor, April begins to uncover the truth about the owner of the apartment, and why it has been kept locked for so many years. Alternating between Belle Epoch and modern-day Paris, the novel is quite engaging for both readers of historical and contemporary fiction.
You have to love dual narratives which cross time and generations. With April in the present, suffering from her husband鈥檚 infidelity and a bad marriage, and Marthe de Florian (1800s), orphaned with determination to rise above her status 鈥� both these women鈥檚 stories connect with complex relationships.
What is not to love about alluring Parisian life . . . Paris? From the beautiful setting, French bakeries, croissants, fine wine, cheeses, coffees, crepes, champagne, art, history, antiques, culture, romance, and architecture . . . Inspired by true events, a delectable and engaging debut novel about two unforgettable and extraordinary (past and present) women, their struggles, and successes.
Having been a fan of Michelle Gable on 欧宝娱乐 with her insightful reviews 鈥� her writing style is captivating, as reflective in the charming, A PARIS APARTMENT --an author you most definitely will want to follow!
Michelle, LOVE, LOVE, your website, and front cover . . . STUNNING!
Look for Michelle's upcoming I'll See You in Paris Coming Feb 9, 2016!
April, works for the auction house Sotheby鈥檚, as a continental furniture specialist, and travels to Paris to evaluate the contents of an apartment which have been vacant for over seventy years. She also wants to escape her own life and her marriage, which is in shambles (like the apartment).
Instead of concentrating on the furnishings, she is obsessed with the discovery of this charismatic woman, and the secrets she held. However, as April learns more about Marthe鈥檚 life, she has to take inventory of her own life and control.
With the help of a somewhat appealing solicitor, April begins to uncover the truth about the owner of the apartment, and why it has been kept locked for so many years. Alternating between Belle Epoch and modern-day Paris, the novel is quite engaging for both readers of historical and contemporary fiction.
You have to love dual narratives which cross time and generations. With April in the present, suffering from her husband鈥檚 infidelity and a bad marriage, and Marthe de Florian (1800s), orphaned with determination to rise above her status 鈥� both these women鈥檚 stories connect with complex relationships.
What is not to love about alluring Parisian life . . . Paris? From the beautiful setting, French bakeries, croissants, fine wine, cheeses, coffees, crepes, champagne, art, history, antiques, culture, romance, and architecture . . . Inspired by true events, a delectable and engaging debut novel about two unforgettable and extraordinary (past and present) women, their struggles, and successes.
Having been a fan of Michelle Gable on 欧宝娱乐 with her insightful reviews 鈥� her writing style is captivating, as reflective in the charming, A PARIS APARTMENT --an author you most definitely will want to follow!
Michelle, LOVE, LOVE, your website, and front cover . . . STUNNING!
Look for Michelle's upcoming I'll See You in Paris Coming Feb 9, 2016!
November 24, 2021
Having heard the fascinating story about the Paris apartment found untouched since 1942 I could not have been more eager to read this book.
Told in two parts: (1) the apartment, its contents and its owner and (2) the expert furniture appraiser from New York, April Vogt, sent to see to the cataloguing of the items for auction.
The sections dealing with the apartment and Madame de Florian are for the most part taken from history. Her story unfolds through journals found in the apartment, and are made to be intriguing and entertaining. Even knowing the author was writing fiction, I liked what she did with the facts. Despite some writing gaffes with the use of unfortunate words and phrases here and there, this being a debut novel I can certainly let it pass.
Paris itself is depicted beautifully and for one who has never been I truly enjoyed the descriptions.
The problem arises with April's present-day section of the book. I could not warm to April. In these sections the writing changed to what I would consider silly chick-lit. For a VERY well-educated woman, April Vogt, French and Continental Furniture expert, she simply whines her way through her marriage, family relationships, her job, and a fling that absolutely everyone who got to page 24 would have seen coming.
*Read book & wrote review in 2014*
Told in two parts: (1) the apartment, its contents and its owner and (2) the expert furniture appraiser from New York, April Vogt, sent to see to the cataloguing of the items for auction.
The sections dealing with the apartment and Madame de Florian are for the most part taken from history. Her story unfolds through journals found in the apartment, and are made to be intriguing and entertaining. Even knowing the author was writing fiction, I liked what she did with the facts. Despite some writing gaffes with the use of unfortunate words and phrases here and there, this being a debut novel I can certainly let it pass.
Paris itself is depicted beautifully and for one who has never been I truly enjoyed the descriptions.
The problem arises with April's present-day section of the book. I could not warm to April. In these sections the writing changed to what I would consider silly chick-lit. For a VERY well-educated woman, April Vogt, French and Continental Furniture expert, she simply whines her way through her marriage, family relationships, her job, and a fling that absolutely everyone who got to page 24 would have seen coming.
*Read book & wrote review in 2014*
November 28, 2015
When I started to read this book, I did not first look at the author's page - how silly I was! The story is based on a real apartment, real people, real struggles, and life in the Belle Epoque.
The novel takes an auction investigation into the past lives of a demimondaine, Marte de Florian, whose friends and loves included the artist Giovani Boldini, Marcel Proust, and others whom the reader will recognize. April Vogt, sent to Paris by Sotheby's to assess the contents of a long-sealed apartment, finds Marte's detailed diaries, which are both scandalous and heartbreaking. As she reads them and uncovers more of Marte's life, her own struggles become more complex, and yet more authentic, since both women had absent mothers who left tangled questions behind for their daughters.
I loved this book - the descriptions of Paris, with its ever-changing light, excellent food, and love of its own history, make me want to go there even more, with this book guiding at least some of my steps.
This is one book I will re-read, slower next time, to properly savor it all. Before you read it, check out the author's Pinterest pages - I promise that they will make your time even more enjoyable.
The novel takes an auction investigation into the past lives of a demimondaine, Marte de Florian, whose friends and loves included the artist Giovani Boldini, Marcel Proust, and others whom the reader will recognize. April Vogt, sent to Paris by Sotheby's to assess the contents of a long-sealed apartment, finds Marte's detailed diaries, which are both scandalous and heartbreaking. As she reads them and uncovers more of Marte's life, her own struggles become more complex, and yet more authentic, since both women had absent mothers who left tangled questions behind for their daughters.
I loved this book - the descriptions of Paris, with its ever-changing light, excellent food, and love of its own history, make me want to go there even more, with this book guiding at least some of my steps.
This is one book I will re-read, slower next time, to properly savor it all. Before you read it, check out the author's Pinterest pages - I promise that they will make your time even more enjoyable.
February 27, 2015
The true story 鈥�
In 1942, just before the onset of WWII, Madame De Florian closed and locked the door to her apartment in Paris and fled to the south of France. Although all expenses and upkeep were paid, the apartment was never rented and Madame De Florian never returned to it. Almost seventy years later Madame died at the ripe old age of 91 and the existence of the apartment was discovered. As the auctioneer tasked with taking inventory of the contents opened the door he realized that he had just opened the door to a time capsule. Covered in dust and untouched for 70 years were priceless antiques, untold treasures and some items of pure whimsy.
From a newspaper account of the discovery 鈥� 鈥淯nder a thick film of grime, investigators found themselves transported to early 1900s Paris during the height of the Belle Epoque, when the city was celebrating its cultural renaissance and de Florian's grandmother was the talk of the town. Books and newspapers lined the shelves, gold curtains draped the windows, and a luxurious dressing table held hairbrushes, perfumes, and candle stubs that seemed to await the return of a very glamorous noblewoman. Against floral wallpaper and wainscoting, a stuffed ostrich draped with a shawl stood above two pre-war stuffed animals鈥攁 very retro-looking Mickey Mouse and Porky the Pig. The formal dining room, with a low-hanging chandelier over the table, wood stove, and stone sink, was still fully stocked with glassware and pots and pans.
It was, one of the inventorying experts said, like 鈥渟tumbling into the castle of Sleeping Beauty.鈥�
By far the most extraordinary find was an unknown painting by Giovanni Boldini, which through letters and correspondence, was proven to be a portrait of Madame De Florian鈥檚 grandmother, a prominent Parisian les demimondaines.
The actual location of the apartment was never made public and more information has not been forthcoming.
The book 鈥�
This is the taking off point for Ms. Gable鈥檚 novel. April Vogt works as a continental furniture specialist and because she speaks French is dispatched, on behalf of Sotheby鈥檚, to catalogue the contents of the apartment. She has no idea what she is about to step into. To everyone else it looks like an episode of Hoarders covered in dust and while workers drag items out to be sold as a lot at auction April discovers a hidden cache of letters and diaries. She is quickly immersed in the life of the enigmatic les demimondaines who once inhabited this apartment and takes the reader with her to late 19th Century Paris. As April learns more and more about the apartment鈥檚 former inhabitant she comes to realize that every piece in the apartment has a story and a history that make it unique 鈥� and very valuable.
I found the original story about the apartment fascinating and would most definitely read a non-fiction account of this discovery; Ms. Gable鈥檚 novel serves as the next best thing. She obviously did her research and has written an interesting work of fiction based on actual fact. It was the apartment that captivated me. I was less enthralled with April鈥檚 struggling marriage and possible love affair, or as a matter of fact with most of the characters, but they were the white bread that carried the caviar, so I had to take the good with the bad.
In 1942, just before the onset of WWII, Madame De Florian closed and locked the door to her apartment in Paris and fled to the south of France. Although all expenses and upkeep were paid, the apartment was never rented and Madame De Florian never returned to it. Almost seventy years later Madame died at the ripe old age of 91 and the existence of the apartment was discovered. As the auctioneer tasked with taking inventory of the contents opened the door he realized that he had just opened the door to a time capsule. Covered in dust and untouched for 70 years were priceless antiques, untold treasures and some items of pure whimsy.
From a newspaper account of the discovery 鈥� 鈥淯nder a thick film of grime, investigators found themselves transported to early 1900s Paris during the height of the Belle Epoque, when the city was celebrating its cultural renaissance and de Florian's grandmother was the talk of the town. Books and newspapers lined the shelves, gold curtains draped the windows, and a luxurious dressing table held hairbrushes, perfumes, and candle stubs that seemed to await the return of a very glamorous noblewoman. Against floral wallpaper and wainscoting, a stuffed ostrich draped with a shawl stood above two pre-war stuffed animals鈥攁 very retro-looking Mickey Mouse and Porky the Pig. The formal dining room, with a low-hanging chandelier over the table, wood stove, and stone sink, was still fully stocked with glassware and pots and pans.
It was, one of the inventorying experts said, like 鈥渟tumbling into the castle of Sleeping Beauty.鈥�
By far the most extraordinary find was an unknown painting by Giovanni Boldini, which through letters and correspondence, was proven to be a portrait of Madame De Florian鈥檚 grandmother, a prominent Parisian les demimondaines.
The actual location of the apartment was never made public and more information has not been forthcoming.
The book 鈥�
This is the taking off point for Ms. Gable鈥檚 novel. April Vogt works as a continental furniture specialist and because she speaks French is dispatched, on behalf of Sotheby鈥檚, to catalogue the contents of the apartment. She has no idea what she is about to step into. To everyone else it looks like an episode of Hoarders covered in dust and while workers drag items out to be sold as a lot at auction April discovers a hidden cache of letters and diaries. She is quickly immersed in the life of the enigmatic les demimondaines who once inhabited this apartment and takes the reader with her to late 19th Century Paris. As April learns more and more about the apartment鈥檚 former inhabitant she comes to realize that every piece in the apartment has a story and a history that make it unique 鈥� and very valuable.
I found the original story about the apartment fascinating and would most definitely read a non-fiction account of this discovery; Ms. Gable鈥檚 novel serves as the next best thing. She obviously did her research and has written an interesting work of fiction based on actual fact. It was the apartment that captivated me. I was less enthralled with April鈥檚 struggling marriage and possible love affair, or as a matter of fact with most of the characters, but they were the white bread that carried the caviar, so I had to take the good with the bad.
March 8, 2023
And it gets worse. Boldini is suddenly off my charms. He won't even acknowledge me! I've knocked on his door. No answer. I've left notes asking him to call on me, at home or at the Folies. No response. I've waited in the alley behind his studio, which resulted in him tracking down a gendarme to accuse me of assault. (PG 212)
The story was told in the present with the past being a diary. I didn't love the present story of April. I wanted to know more about 19th century Paris and Marthe de Florian. The abandoned apartment with so many expensive historical pieces was fascinating! I loved the name dropping of the Belle Epoque era. I had to stay up googling these people and learned a lot. It seems many of these were the original millennials. Lol. When I looked up Boldini, never hearing of him, I immediately loved his art. It is a rather beautiful style he had.
Michelle Gable did a great job doing the historical story telling. I only downgraded the stars because April's story didn't work for me very well. I found her annoying and constantly wanting her chapters to hurry up and end. Marthe de Florian is an interesting study case as a courtesan and I wish this book was solely about her.
Overall, good book.
The story was told in the present with the past being a diary. I didn't love the present story of April. I wanted to know more about 19th century Paris and Marthe de Florian. The abandoned apartment with so many expensive historical pieces was fascinating! I loved the name dropping of the Belle Epoque era. I had to stay up googling these people and learned a lot. It seems many of these were the original millennials. Lol. When I looked up Boldini, never hearing of him, I immediately loved his art. It is a rather beautiful style he had.
Michelle Gable did a great job doing the historical story telling. I only downgraded the stars because April's story didn't work for me very well. I found her annoying and constantly wanting her chapters to hurry up and end. Marthe de Florian is an interesting study case as a courtesan and I wish this book was solely about her.
Overall, good book.
May 19, 2014
Loved this book by my talented friend Michelle Gable! AMAZING that this smart, finance executive is such a gifted novelist too.
You have probably heard about the real Paris apartment on which this book was based, which was closed up for over 70 years and stuffed with valuable art and antiques. This book is a fictionalized tale of how that apartment came to be. The strengths of this book are the character development (April & Marthe in particular), the full immersion in both modern day and 19th/early 20th century Paris, the dialogue (awesome!), and the plot development. The last quarter in particular was spectacular - Michelle managed to wrap up all of the various character storylines in a compelling, believable and unpredictable manner.
My only minor critiques were questioning why April was so taken with Marthe's journals early on (to the point of obsession) and the overuse of the term "provenance" throughout (although the author also pokes fun of this in the novel).
A great read for anyone looking to be swept away to Paris (and who among us isn't?) and in particular, I think this would make an ideal beach/pool read. Highly recommend!
You have probably heard about the real Paris apartment on which this book was based, which was closed up for over 70 years and stuffed with valuable art and antiques. This book is a fictionalized tale of how that apartment came to be. The strengths of this book are the character development (April & Marthe in particular), the full immersion in both modern day and 19th/early 20th century Paris, the dialogue (awesome!), and the plot development. The last quarter in particular was spectacular - Michelle managed to wrap up all of the various character storylines in a compelling, believable and unpredictable manner.
My only minor critiques were questioning why April was so taken with Marthe's journals early on (to the point of obsession) and the overuse of the term "provenance" throughout (although the author also pokes fun of this in the novel).
A great read for anyone looking to be swept away to Paris (and who among us isn't?) and in particular, I think this would make an ideal beach/pool read. Highly recommend!
June 8, 2014
Only made it about halfway through, with effort, and tonight I stumbled into some pretty clumsy writing and refused to spend more time on it. How is this book's average rating almost a 4? The premise of the story has appeal, but I feel like it's already been done, and much more skillfully.
May 4, 2014
A melodramatic piece of fluff!!!
May 17, 2014
It was 4.5 for but loved the whole last third/half so much that I round up. It didn't grab me in the beginning, not to say I didn't like it but it wasn't until mid way that I needed to know more. It is a very real book. I really love reading a book and feeling that I learned something; a new point of view, an empathy for someone I wouldn't normally empathize and an understanding of a perspective different from what I may initially think or feel. Refreshing in many ways. Great read.
April 12, 2016
The premise of this book was absolutely fascinating. I love that this place truly existed. Great storytelling, and I am looking forward to the author's next book, I'll See You in Paris.
February 16, 2021
袟邪锌芯褔胁邪泄泻懈 褌邪蟹懈 泻薪懈谐邪 薪褟屑邪褕械 泻邪泻 写邪 懈蟹斜褟谐邪屑 芯褌 褋褉邪胁薪械薪懈械褌芯 褋 袩邪褉懈卸泻邪 褌邪泄薪邪 (袣邪褉褗薪 小褍芯薪) - 懈 写胁械褌械 胁写褗褏薪芯胁械薪懈 芯褌 褉械邪谢薪芯 褋褗斜懈褌懈械 - 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌 胁 褑械薪褌褗褉邪 薪邪 袩邪褉懈卸 褋褌芯褟谢 蟹邪泻谢褞褔械薪 70 谐芯写懈薪懈 懈 锌褗谢械薪 褋 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈褟 薪邪 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯 (懈 械写懈薪 锌褉械锌邪褉懈褉邪薪 褖褉邪褍褋). 小褉邪胁薪褟胁邪薪械褌芯 斜械褕械 褋邪屑芯 锌褗褉胁芯薪邪褔邪谢薪芯 - 懈 胁 写胁械褌械 泻薪懈谐懈 懈屑邪褕械 械泻褋锌械褉褌 锌芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈褟 薪邪 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈蟹锌褉邪褌械薪懈 胁械写薪邪谐邪 薪邪 屑褟褋褌芯, 蟹邪 写邪 锌褉芯褍褔邪褌 薪邪屑械褉械薪懈褌械 胁械褖懈. 袠 胁 写胁械褌械 懈屑邪褕械 薪械锌褉械泻褗褋薪邪褌芯 褉械写褍胁邪薪械 薪邪 屑懈薪邪谢芯 懈 薪邪褋褌芯褟褖械 懈 胁 写胁械褌械 泻褍褉邪褌芯褉泻懈褌械 懈屑邪褏邪 褋械褉懈芯蟹薪懈 写褉邪屑懈 胁 谢懈褔薪懈褟 褋懈 卸懈胁芯褌. 小邪屑芯, 褔械 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟褌邪 懈 芯褌泻褉懈褌懈褟褌邪 胁 袩邪褉懈卸泻邪 褌邪泄薪邪 褋邪 懈蟹褑褟谢芯 锌谢芯写 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉褋泻芯褌芯 胁褗芯斜褉邪卸械薪懈械, 邪 褌褍泻 懈屑邪 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪邪 写芯蟹邪 锌褉懈写褗褉卸邪薪械 泻褗屑 褎邪泻褌懈褌械 蟹邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪 (薪芯 褋邪屑芯 写芯薪褟泻褗写械). 袦芯卸械 斜懈 褌芯胁邪 泻芯泄 泻芯褟 泻薪懈谐邪 褖械 褏邪褉械褋邪 锌芯胁械褔械 蟹邪胁懈褋懈 芯褌 褌芯胁邪, 泻芯褟 械 锌褉芯褔械褌械薪邪 锌褗褉胁邪 胁褗胁 胁褉械屑械褌芯. 袧芯 蟹邪 屑械薪 小褍芯薪 械 屑薪芯谐芯 锌芯-写芯斜褗褉 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪褔, 邪 薪械泄薪邪褌邪 "胁械褉褋懈褟" 屑薪芯谐芯 锌芯-胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖邪. 袩邪褉懈卸泻懈褟褌 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌 褋褗褖芯 褋懈 懈屑邪 褋胁芯懈褌械 写芯褋褌芯泄薪褋褌胁邪, 薪芯 薪邪 屑芯屑械薪褌懈 屑懈 写芯褋泻褍褔邪胁邪褕械, 邪 褋 薪褟泻芯懈 屑芯屑械薪褌懈 芯褌 褋褗胁褉械屑械薪薪邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 薪械 斜褟褏 褋褗谐谢邪褋薪邪 (褌械屑邪褌邪 蟹邪 懈蟹薪械锟斤拷褟褉邪褌邪). 袝泄锌褉懈谢 蟹邪屑懈薪邪胁邪 蟹邪 袩邪褉懈卸 泻邪褌芯 械泻褋锌械褉褌-芯褑械薪懈褌械谢 薪邪 褋褌邪褉懈薪薪懈 屑械斜械谢懈 屑邪谢泻芯 褋谢械写 泻邪褌芯 械 褉邪蟹斜褉邪谢邪, 褔械 褋褗锌褉褍谐褗褌 泄 泄 械 懈蟹薪械胁械褉懈谢 懈 薪械 褋械 蟹薪邪械 写邪谢懈 斜褉邪泻褗褌 泄 褖械 芯褑械谢械械. 袩芯锌邪写邪泄泻懈 胁 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪 褋 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 屑薪芯谐芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈褟 薪邪 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯, 褌褟 械 蟹邪锌谢械薪械薪邪 薪邪泄-胁械褔械 芯褌 械写薪邪 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪. (孝芯胁邪 褉邪蟹屑懈薪邪胁邪薪械 屑邪谢泻芯 屑械 写褉邪蟹薪械褕械, 褔械 械泻褋锌械褉褌褗褌 械 锌芯 屑械斜械谢懈褌械, 邪 褟 懈薪褌械褉械褋褍胁邪 褋邪屑芯 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪褌邪, 褋锌芯泻芯泄薪芯 屑芯卸械褕械 写邪 械 械泻褋锌械褉褌 锌芯 懈蟹芯斜褉邪蟹懈褌械谢薪芯 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯.) 袣邪褉褌懈薪邪褌邪 械 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪 懈 泻芯谐邪褌芯 胁 褉械邪谢薪芯褋褌褌邪 械 芯褌泻谢褞褔械薪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪, 褌褟 械 褕芯泻懈褉邪谢邪 褋胁械褌邪, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 械 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪 薪邪 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪懈褟褌 锌芯褉褌褉械褌懈褋褌 芯褌 袘械谢 械锌芯泻 - 袛卸芯胁邪薪懈 袘芯谢写懈薪懈, 邪 薪懈泻芯泄 写芯褉懈 薪械 械 锌褉械写锌芯谢邪谐邪谢 蟹邪 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪薪械褌芯 泄. 袠蟹芯斜褉邪蟹褟胁邪谢邪 屑谢邪写邪 卸械薪邪, 蟹邪 泻芯褟褌芯 褋械 褉邪蟹斜褉邪谢芯, 褔械 械 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪邪褌邪 泻褍褉褌懈蟹邪薪褌泻邪 芯褌 褋褗褖懈褟 锌械褉懈芯写 袦邪褉褌 写褜芯 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪, 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪邪 褋 屑薪芯卸械褋褌胁芯褌芯 褋懈 谢褞斜芯胁薪懈褑懈 褋褉械写 胁懈褋芯泻懈褌械 械褌邪卸懈 薪邪 锌芯谢懈褌懈泻邪褌邪 懈谢懈 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯, 胁泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 袘芯谢写懈薪懈. 孝褍泻 胁械褔械 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪褌邪 械 褉邪蟹胁懈褏褉懈谢邪 胁褗芯斜褉邪卸械薪懈械褌芯 褋懈 胁屑褗泻胁邪泄泻懈 胁 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌 褋 锌懈泻邪薪褌薪懈 锌芯写褉芯斜薪芯褋褌懈 芯褌 褋胁械褌褋泻懈褟 懈 谢褞斜芯胁薪懈褟 泄 卸懈胁芯褌. (薪懈泻褗写械 薪械 芯褌泻褉懈褏 锌芯褌胁褗褉卸写械薪懈械 薪邪 芯锌懈褋邪薪芯褌芯, 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 泄 械 斜懈谢 屑邪谢泻芯 锌芯-褉邪蟹谢懈褔械薪) 小屑褟褌邪屑 芯斜邪褔械, 褔械 泻芯谐邪褌芯 褋械 薪邪屑械褋胁邪褌 懈屑械薪邪 薪邪 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪懈 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌懈 (写芯褉懈 褌邪泻懈胁邪 卸懈胁械谢懈 锌褉械写懈 褋褌芯 谐芯写懈薪懈) 械 屑邪谢泻芯 薪械褍屑械褋褌薪芯 褉芯谢褟褌邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 懈屑 褋械 芯褌褉械卸写邪 写邪 械 褋胁褗褉蟹邪薪邪 褋 薪械褖芯 褋泻邪薪写邪谢薪芯. 袙褋械泻懈, 泻芯泄褌芯 锌褉芯褔械褌械 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 褖械 锌褉械褑械薪懈 蟹邪 褋械斜械 褋懈, 薪芯 邪蟹 谢懈褔薪芯 褋懈 屑懈褋谢械褏, 褔械 褋谢褍褔懈谢芯褌芯 褋械 械 斜懈谢芯 写芯 谐芯谢褟屑邪 褋褌械锌械薪 褌邪泻邪 泻邪泻褌芯 械 芯锌懈褋邪薪芯 胁 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 (泻芯懈褌芯 写芯褉懈 薪械 褋邪 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪谢懈 胁 写械泄褋褌胁懈褌械谢薪芯褋褌) 懈 泻芯谐邪褌芯 褋谢械写 褉芯胁械薪械 胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 薪械褖邪褌邪 薪械 褋械 锌芯褌胁褗褉写懈褏邪, 写芯薪褟泻褗写械 斜褟褏 褉邪蟹芯褔邪褉芯胁邪薪邪. 袨褋胁械薪 褌芯胁邪 薪褟屑邪 袘械谢械卸泻懈 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪, 泻褗写械褌芯 写邪 械 芯斜褟褋薪械薪芯 泻芯械 泻邪泻 械 胁褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 懈 写芯 泻褗写械 械 褉械邪谢薪芯褋褌褌邪 懈 芯褌 泻褗写械 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 懈蟹屑懈褋谢懈褑邪褌邪. 袠薪邪褔械 褋邪屑懈褌械 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈 写芯薪褟泻褗写械 斜褟褏邪 褋泻褍褔薪懈, 写褗谢谐懈 锌邪褋邪卸懈 芯褌 褌褟褏 屑懈 斜褟褏邪 懈蟹谢懈褕薪懈. 袩邪褉邪谢械谢薪邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 胁 薪邪褋褌芯褟褖械褌芯 薪邪 屑械褋褌邪 斜械褕械 锌芯-懈薪褌械褉械褋薪邪, 薪邪 屑械褋褌邪 锌芯-写褉邪屑邪褌懈褔薪邪, 薪芯 泻邪褌芯 褑褟谢芯 懈 褌褟 薪械 褋械 褉邪蟹胁懈 锌芯 屑芯泄 胁泻褍褋 懈 胁褋懈褔泻芯 屑懈 褋褌芯械褕械 薪械写芯胁褗褉褕械薪芯. 袣邪褌芯 褑褟谢芯 褋褗屑 写芯胁芯谢薪邪 芯褌 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪 薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪, 蟹邪褉邪写懈 芯褌写械谢薪懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻懈 邪褋锌械泻褌懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 屑懈 斜褟褏邪 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪懈, 薪芯 薪械 屑芯谐邪 写邪 写邪屑 锌芯胁械褔械 芯褌 3-3,5*
March 26, 2017
La inceput titlul nu m-a atras, sincer arta nu imi place pentru ca nu o inteleg, insa m-a atras coperta si cuvantul Paris din titlu. Am fost fermecata si cucerita iremediabile de lumea Marthei de Florian, de Parisul din la Belle Epoque, de demi-mondaine, de arta, de cafenele , de strazile Parisului. Mi-a placut si April cu toata framantarea ei interioara, si cele doua plauri temporale curg foarte frumos, nici nu iti dai seama cand se face trecerea de la unul la celalalt. E o carte care te transporta in alte vremuri, si desi incepututul e putin greoi care nu promite prea multe, daca ai rabdare, descoperi ca are tot ce ii trebuie pentru o lectura surprinzatoare: mister, secrete, legaturi de familie, iubire si tradare. Nu stiu de ce persoanele care tin un jurnal, mi s-au parut intotdeauna misterioase, sincere, mereu am vrut sa le descopar secretele cele mai intime asternute pe hartie, fara perdea, asa ca jurnalele Marthei mi-au placut nespus. O recomand.
July 7, 2020
Interesanta gr膩mata. S膩kum膩 nek膩di nevar膿ju "ielas墨ties" un viet膩m trauc膿ja liekv膩rd墨ba, protams, ar墨 da啪as si啪eta l墨nijas jau aizvilka uz lab膩kajiem lubu rom膩niem, BET! Kas man patika, un 募oti, un k膩p膿c iesaku 拧o gr膩matu izlas墨t - pirmk膩rt, ticams skat墨jums uz (vai - no) Belle Epoque Par墨z膿, demimondas, uzdz墨ve, m墨lest墨ba utt. Otrk膩rt - nedaudz Belle Epoque noska艈as m奴sdien膩s - dz墨ve ir j膩dz墨vo, j膩p膩rst膩j baid墨ties, neesam perfekti utt. Un v膿l - interesanti, ko n膩kotn膿s cilv膿ki - nu p膿c gadiem 100, teiksim - dom膩s par m奴su ieradumiem, sadz墨vi utt. M膿s tagad 拧ausm膩s sa姆eram galvu, zinot, kas bija k膩dreiz kosm膿tik膩 - kaut vai tas pats slavenais svina kr膿ms - bet iesp膿jams, n膩kotnes cilv膿ki 拧asmin膩sies par kaut ko, kas 拧obr墨d 拧姆iet piln墨gi norm膩li. Un papildu bonuss par norm膩lu galveno varoni, ar vi艈as 拧aub膩m, nezi艈u, 拧ampanieti :)) un to, ka var un vajag uz liet膩m un notikumiem paskat墨ties sav膩d膩k, un var izr膩d墨ties, ka velns nav tik melns, k膩 m膩l膿, jeb拧u - par to nav v膿rts p膩rdz墨vot! La vie est belle:)
February 20, 2017
袚芯褉械-写芯谢褍 芯褌泻邪泻褌芯 斜褟褏 薪邪 锌械褌薪邪写械褋械褌 褌胁褗褉写芯 胁褟褉胁邪屑, 褔械 胁褋褟泻芯 屑芯屑懈褔械 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 锌芯卸懈胁械械 胁 袩邪褉懈卸. 袝写胁邪 谢懈 懈屑邪 写褉褍谐 械胁褉芯锌械泄褋泻懈 谐褉邪写 (薪械 泻邪蟹胁邪屑 褋胁械褌芯胁械薪, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 锌芯 褋胁械褌邪 胁褋械 锌邪泻 懈屑邪 谐褉邪写芯胁械 泻邪褌芯 袧褞 袡芯褉泻, 袥芯褋 袗薪写卸械谢懈褋, 啸芯薪谐 袣芯薪谐, 孝芯泻懈芯 懈 小懈薪谐邪锌褍褉), 泻芯泄褌芯 写邪 械 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 褋胁褗褉蟹邪薪 褋褗褋 褋械斜械锌芯蟹薪邪胁邪薪械褌芯 懈 懈蟹褉邪褋褌胁邪薪械褌芯 胁 褔懈褋褌芯 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌械薪 锌谢邪薪. 袩邪褉懈卸 械 芯斜械褖邪薪懈械 鈥� 褌邪屑 薪懈泻芯泄 薪械 械 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪, 褋邪屑芯褌械薪 懈谢懈 薪械褖邪褋褌械薪. 袩邪褉懈卸 械 蟹邪泻谢懈薪邪薪懈械 鈥� 胁 屑芯屑械薪褌邪, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 褋械 芯蟹芯胁械褕 胁 屑邪谐懈褔械褋泻懈褌械 屑褍 芯褔械褉褌邪薪懈褟, 褌懈 褋械 锌褉械芯斜褉邪蟹褟胁邪褕. 小褌邪胁邪褕 锌芯-泻褉邪褋懈胁邪, 锌芯-懈蟹懈褋泻邪薪邪, 锌芯-蟹邪谐邪写褔薪邪. 袟邪 褋褗卸邪谢械薪懈械, 袩邪褉懈卸 胁褋械 芯褖械 械 褋泻褗锌芯 褍写芯胁芯谢褋褌胁懈械鈥� 袩褉械写锌芯谢邪谐邪屑, 褔械 胁褋械泻懈 泻芯屑锌械薪褋懈褉邪 谢懈锌褋邪褌邪 薪邪 写芯褋褌邪褌褗褔薪芯 褎褉械薪褋泻懈 褕懈泻 胁 卸懈胁芯褌邪 褋懈 锌芯 褉邪蟹谢懈褔械薪 薪邪褔懈薪 鈥� 薪褟泻芯懈 褍褔邪褌 褎褉械薪褋泻懈, 写褉褍谐懈 褋械 褍褔邪褌 写邪 锌褉邪胁褟褌 屑邪泻邪褉芯薪懈 (薪械 褋褗褋 褋懈褉械薪械, 谐芯胁芯褉褟 蟹邪 芯薪械蟹懈 屑邪谢泻懈, 褕邪褉械薪懈, 褋懈屑锌邪褌懈褔薪懈 褋谢邪写泻懈), 邪 邪蟹鈥� 邪蟹 褔械褌邪 泻薪懈谐懈 蟹邪 袩邪褉懈卸.
袧褟屑邪褕械 泻邪泻 写邪 锌褉芯锌褍褋薪邪 鈥炐熜把€懈卸泻懈褟褌 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌鈥� (懈蟹写. 鈥炐⌒狙勓傂垦€械褋鈥�). 袙 锌褗褉胁懈褟 屑芯屑械薪褌 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械褌芯 屑邪谢泻芯 屑械 锌芯写褉邪蟹薪懈, 薪懈屑邪 褋谢械写 谢褞斜懈屑懈褟褌 屑懈 鈥炐捫感敌窖佇盒� 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌鈥� 薪褟泻芯泄 褋屑械械 写邪 褋懈 锌芯蟹胁芯谢懈 写邪 薪邪锌懈褕械 泻薪懈谐邪, 懈蟹锌芯谢蟹胁邪泄泻懈 锌芯写芯斜薪芯 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械? 袣芯谐邪褌芯 芯褌胁褋褟泻褗写械 蟹邪锌芯褔薪邪褏邪 写邪 懈蟹褋泻邪褔邪褌 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈 蟹邪 薪邪屑械褉械薪懈褌械 胁 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪 褋褗泻褉芯胁懈褖邪, 蟹邪 褋褌褉邪薪薪邪褌邪 懈 褔褍写薪邪 褋褗写斜邪 薪邪 袦邪褉褌 写褜芯 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪, 谢褞斜芯锌懈褌褋褌胁芯褌芯 屑懈 薪邪写械谢褟 懈 胁 械写薪邪 屑褗褉蟹械谢懈胁邪 薪械写械谢褟 褋械 锌芯褌芯锌懈褏 褋褉械写 褋褌褉邪薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 写械斜褞褌薪懈褟 褉芯屑邪薪 薪邪 袦懈褕械谢 袚械泄斜褗谢.
袧械写械谢褟褌邪 锌褉械屑懈薪邪 胁 锌芯薪械写械谢薪懈泻 锌芯褔褌懈 薪械褍褋械褌薪芯 懈 屑械 蟹邪胁邪褉懈 薪械锌芯写谐芯褌胁械薪邪 蟹邪 褉邪斜芯褌薪邪褌邪 褋械写屑懈褑邪 鈥� 屑懈褋谢懈褌械 屑懈 褔械褋褌芯 斜褟谐邪褏邪 泻褗屑 袦邪褉褌, 袝屑懈谢懈 懈 锌褉械褌褗锌泻邪薪懈褟 褋褗褋 褋褗泻褉芯胁懈褖邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 芯褋褌邪薪邪谢 蟹邪褌胁芯褉械薪 斜谢懈蟹芯 褋械写械屑写械褋械褌 谐芯写懈薪懈. 效械褋褌薪芯 泻邪蟹邪薪芯, 胁 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 袦邪褉褌 械 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 胁褗蟹褏懈褌懈褌械谢薪邪, 邪 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 泄 鈥� 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖, 褔械 锌褉械泻褗褋胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 薪械泄薪懈褌械 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈 懈 蟹邪胁褉褗褖邪薪械褌芯 胁 写薪械褕薪邪褌邪 褉械邪谢薪芯褋褌 斜褟褏邪 薪邪锌褉邪胁芯 写褉邪蟹薪械褖懈. 袨褖械 锌芯胁械褔械, 褔械 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈褌械 薪邪 袝泄锌褉懈谢 屑懈 褋械 褋褌褉褍胁邪褏邪 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈, 褋泻褍褔薪懈 懈 械卸械写薪械胁薪懈 胁 褋褉邪胁薪械薪懈械 褋 褉邪蟹写懈褉邪薪芯褌芯 芯褌 写褉邪屑懈 斜懈褌懈械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌.
袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 薪械 械 褌邪泻邪. 袝泄锌褉懈谢 械 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 锌谢械薪械薪邪 芯褌 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌 懈屑械薪薪芯 蟹邪褉邪写懈 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪芯褌芯 褋懈 屑懈薪邪谢芯 懈 褌褉褍写薪懈褟褌 锌械褉懈芯写, 锌褉械蟹 泻芯泄褌芯 锌褉械屑懈薪邪胁邪 胁 斜褉邪泻邪 褋懈. 孝械 泄 芯褋懈谐褍褉褟胁邪褌 邪谢褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁邪, 斜褟谐褋褌胁芯 芯褌 褋胁械褌邪, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 褌褟 械 写谢褗卸薪邪 写邪 褋械 锌芯褋胁械褌懈 薪邪 褉邪斜芯褌邪褌邪 褋懈, 写邪 褟 懈蟹锌芯谢蟹胁邪 泻邪褌芯 谢械泻 蟹邪 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈褌械 褋懈. 袛薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 锌邪褉懈卸邪薪泻邪褌邪 芯褌 斜械谢 械锌芯泻 褋邪 泻褉邪褔泻邪 芯褌胁褗写 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪懈褟 褌懈 褋胁褟褌, 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌 写邪 锌芯谐谢械写薪械褕 胁 褔褍卸写懈褟 鈥� 泻褗写械褌芯 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈褌械 褋 谢褞斜芯胁褌邪, 褉邪斜芯褌邪褌邪 懈 懈蟹薪械胁械褉懈褌械 褋邪 锌芯褋褌邪胁械薪懈 胁 褋褗胁褋械屑 褉邪蟹谢懈褔薪邪 褋胁械褌谢懈薪邪.
袩褉械锌褗谢薪械薪懈褟褌 褋 胁械褖懈 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁械薪 胁 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 薪邪褑懈褋褌泻邪褌邪 芯泻褍锌邪褑懈褟, 泻褉懈械 屑薪芯谐芯 褌邪泄薪懈 鈥� 蟹邪褖芯 芯褌 胁褋懈褔泻懈 胁邪蟹懈, 褔械泻屑械写卸械褌邪 懈 褌邪泄薪懈褑懈 懈蟹褋泻邪褔邪褌 胁懈蟹懈褌泻懈褌械 薪邪 薪邪泄-蟹薪邪泻芯胁懈褌械 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌懈, 芯斜懈褌邪胁邪谢懈 袩邪褉懈卸 胁 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 啸啸 胁械泻? 袨褌泻褗写械 袦邪褉褌, 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪邪 斜邪褉屑邪薪泻邪 胁褗胁 鈥炐ば拘恍� 袘械褉卸械褉鈥�, 械 懈屑邪谢邪 褋褉械写褋褌胁邪褌邪 写邪 褋懈 锌芯蟹胁芯谢懈 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褋泻褗锌芯褑械薪薪懈 胁械褖懈 褌邪屑? 袟邪褖芯 薪械泄薪邪褌邪 胁薪褍褔泻邪 袥懈蟹械褌 械 蟹邪褌胁芯褉懈谢邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪, 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁褟泄泻懈 谐芯 蟹邪 褋械写械屑写械褋械褌 谐芯写懈薪懈?
袧褟泻芯泄 芯褌谐芯胁芯褉懈褌械 薪邪 褌械蟹懈 胁褗锌褉芯褋懈 袝泄锌褉懈谢 薪邪屑懈褉邪 胁 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌, 写褉褍谐懈 胁 褉邪蟹谐芯胁芯褉懈褌械 褋 褔邪褉芯胁薪懈褟 邪写胁芯泻邪褌 袥褞泻 孝械斜芯, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 褌芯褔薪芯 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 褎褉械薪褋泻懈 懈 褕邪褉屑邪褌械薪, 泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 锌芯写褋泻邪蟹胁邪 懈屑械褌芯 屑褍. 袛褉褍谐懈 薪褟屑邪 写邪 褉邪蟹斜械褉械屑 锌芯褔褌懈 写芯 泻褉邪褟 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪邪, 邪 泻芯谐邪褌芯 薪邪泄-褋械褌薪械 褋褌懈谐薪械屑 写芯 褌褟褏, 褌械 褋褗胁褋械屑 薪械 褋邪 褌芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 褋屑械 芯褔邪泻胁邪谢懈.
袩芯-胁邪卸薪芯 械 泻邪泻胁芯 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪 袝泄锌褉懈谢 蟹邪 褋械斜械 褋懈, 写芯泻邪褌芯 褔械褌械 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌, 褉芯胁懈 懈蟹 胁械褖懈褌械 泄 懈 写芯泻邪蟹胁邪 锌褉芯懈蟹褏芯写邪 懈屑. 袣邪泻胁芯 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪 蟹邪 胁褉褗蟹泻邪褌邪 褋懈 褋褗褋 褋褗锌褉褍谐邪 褋懈 孝褉芯泄, 褋 斜邪褖邪 褋懈 懈 褋 芯褌褋褗褋褌胁邪褖邪褌邪 褋懈 屑邪泄泻邪. 袨褌泻褉懈褌懈褟褌邪 泄 褋械 懈蟹薪械薪邪写胁邪褖懈, 芯褋芯斜械薪芯 泻芯谐邪褌芯 芯褋褗蟹薪邪胁邪, 褔械 褋邪屑邪褌邪 褌褟 薪芯褋懈 胁懈薪邪 蟹邪 械屑芯褑懈芯薪邪谢薪芯褌芯 褋懈 芯褌写褉褗锌胁邪薪械 芯褌 胁褋懈褔泻懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 芯锌懈褌胁邪褌 写邪 泄 斜褗写邪褌 斜谢懈蟹泻懈.
鈥炐熜把€懈卸泻懈褟褌 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌鈥� 械 芯褌 芯薪械蟹懈 泻薪懈谐懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 胁蟹懈屑邪褌 写械泄褋褌胁懈褌械谢薪邪 褋谢褍褔泻邪 鈥� 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 锌褗谢薪懈褟 褋褗褋 褋褗泻褉芯胁懈褖邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌 懈 锌芯褉褌褉械褌邪 薪邪 袘芯谢写懈薪懈 鈥� 懈 谐芯 锌褉械胁褉褗褖邪褌 胁褗胁 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖芯 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉薪芯 锌褗褌械褕械褋褌胁懈械. 袠蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 锌褉懈褟褌薪邪 蟹邪 褔械褌械薪械, 褌邪蟹懈 泻薪懈谐邪 褖械 胁懈 薪邪泻邪褉邪 写邪 锌芯谐谢械写薪械褌械 泻芯谢泻芯 褋褌褉褍胁邪 褋邪屑芯谢械褌薪懈褟褌 斜懈谢械褌 蟹邪 袩邪褉懈卸, 写邪 褋懈 褋懈锌械褌械 褔邪褕邪 褔械褉胁械薪芯 胁懈薪芯 懈 写邪 锌芯屑械褔褌邪械褌械.
袧褟屑邪褕械 泻邪泻 写邪 锌褉芯锌褍褋薪邪 鈥炐熜把€懈卸泻懈褟褌 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌鈥� (懈蟹写. 鈥炐⌒狙勓傂垦€械褋鈥�). 袙 锌褗褉胁懈褟 屑芯屑械薪褌 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械褌芯 屑邪谢泻芯 屑械 锌芯写褉邪蟹薪懈, 薪懈屑邪 褋谢械写 谢褞斜懈屑懈褟褌 屑懈 鈥炐捫感敌窖佇盒� 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌鈥� 薪褟泻芯泄 褋屑械械 写邪 褋懈 锌芯蟹胁芯谢懈 写邪 薪邪锌懈褕械 泻薪懈谐邪, 懈蟹锌芯谢蟹胁邪泄泻懈 锌芯写芯斜薪芯 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械? 袣芯谐邪褌芯 芯褌胁褋褟泻褗写械 蟹邪锌芯褔薪邪褏邪 写邪 懈蟹褋泻邪褔邪褌 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈 蟹邪 薪邪屑械褉械薪懈褌械 胁 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪 褋褗泻褉芯胁懈褖邪, 蟹邪 褋褌褉邪薪薪邪褌邪 懈 褔褍写薪邪 褋褗写斜邪 薪邪 袦邪褉褌 写褜芯 肖谢芯褉懈邪薪, 谢褞斜芯锌懈褌褋褌胁芯褌芯 屑懈 薪邪写械谢褟 懈 胁 械写薪邪 屑褗褉蟹械谢懈胁邪 薪械写械谢褟 褋械 锌芯褌芯锌懈褏 褋褉械写 褋褌褉邪薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 写械斜褞褌薪懈褟 褉芯屑邪薪 薪邪 袦懈褕械谢 袚械泄斜褗谢.
袧械写械谢褟褌邪 锌褉械屑懈薪邪 胁 锌芯薪械写械谢薪懈泻 锌芯褔褌懈 薪械褍褋械褌薪芯 懈 屑械 蟹邪胁邪褉懈 薪械锌芯写谐芯褌胁械薪邪 蟹邪 褉邪斜芯褌薪邪褌邪 褋械写屑懈褑邪 鈥� 屑懈褋谢懈褌械 屑懈 褔械褋褌芯 斜褟谐邪褏邪 泻褗屑 袦邪褉褌, 袝屑懈谢懈 懈 锌褉械褌褗锌泻邪薪懈褟 褋褗褋 褋褗泻褉芯胁懈褖邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 芯褋褌邪薪邪谢 蟹邪褌胁芯褉械薪 斜谢懈蟹芯 褋械写械屑写械褋械褌 谐芯写懈薪懈. 效械褋褌薪芯 泻邪蟹邪薪芯, 胁 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 袦邪褉褌 械 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 胁褗蟹褏懈褌懈褌械谢薪邪, 邪 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 泄 鈥� 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖, 褔械 锌褉械泻褗褋胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 薪械泄薪懈褌械 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈 懈 蟹邪胁褉褗褖邪薪械褌芯 胁 写薪械褕薪邪褌邪 褉械邪谢薪芯褋褌 斜褟褏邪 薪邪锌褉邪胁芯 写褉邪蟹薪械褖懈. 袨褖械 锌芯胁械褔械, 褔械 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈褌械 薪邪 袝泄锌褉懈谢 屑懈 褋械 褋褌褉褍胁邪褏邪 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈, 褋泻褍褔薪懈 懈 械卸械写薪械胁薪懈 胁 褋褉邪胁薪械薪懈械 褋 褉邪蟹写懈褉邪薪芯褌芯 芯褌 写褉邪屑懈 斜懈褌懈械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌.
袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 薪械 械 褌邪泻邪. 袝泄锌褉懈谢 械 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 锌谢械薪械薪邪 芯褌 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌 懈屑械薪薪芯 蟹邪褉邪写懈 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪芯褌芯 褋懈 屑懈薪邪谢芯 懈 褌褉褍写薪懈褟褌 锌械褉懈芯写, 锌褉械蟹 泻芯泄褌芯 锌褉械屑懈薪邪胁邪 胁 斜褉邪泻邪 褋懈. 孝械 泄 芯褋懈谐褍褉褟胁邪褌 邪谢褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁邪, 斜褟谐褋褌胁芯 芯褌 褋胁械褌邪, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 褌褟 械 写谢褗卸薪邪 写邪 褋械 锌芯褋胁械褌懈 薪邪 褉邪斜芯褌邪褌邪 褋懈, 写邪 褟 懈蟹锌芯谢蟹胁邪 泻邪褌芯 谢械泻 蟹邪 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈褌械 褋懈. 袛薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 锌邪褉懈卸邪薪泻邪褌邪 芯褌 斜械谢 械锌芯泻 褋邪 泻褉邪褔泻邪 芯褌胁褗写 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪懈褟 褌懈 褋胁褟褌, 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌 写邪 锌芯谐谢械写薪械褕 胁 褔褍卸写懈褟 鈥� 泻褗写械褌芯 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈褌械 褋 谢褞斜芯胁褌邪, 褉邪斜芯褌邪褌邪 懈 懈蟹薪械胁械褉懈褌械 褋邪 锌芯褋褌邪胁械薪懈 胁 褋褗胁褋械屑 褉邪蟹谢懈褔薪邪 褋胁械褌谢懈薪邪.
袩褉械锌褗谢薪械薪懈褟褌 褋 胁械褖懈 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌, 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁械薪 胁 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 薪邪褑懈褋褌泻邪褌邪 芯泻褍锌邪褑懈褟, 泻褉懈械 屑薪芯谐芯 褌邪泄薪懈 鈥� 蟹邪褖芯 芯褌 胁褋懈褔泻懈 胁邪蟹懈, 褔械泻屑械写卸械褌邪 懈 褌邪泄薪懈褑懈 懈蟹褋泻邪褔邪褌 胁懈蟹懈褌泻懈褌械 薪邪 薪邪泄-蟹薪邪泻芯胁懈褌械 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌懈, 芯斜懈褌邪胁邪谢懈 袩邪褉懈卸 胁 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 啸啸 胁械泻? 袨褌泻褗写械 袦邪褉褌, 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪邪 斜邪褉屑邪薪泻邪 胁褗胁 鈥炐ば拘恍� 袘械褉卸械褉鈥�, 械 懈屑邪谢邪 褋褉械写褋褌胁邪褌邪 写邪 褋懈 锌芯蟹胁芯谢懈 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褋泻褗锌芯褑械薪薪懈 胁械褖懈 褌邪屑? 袟邪褖芯 薪械泄薪邪褌邪 胁薪褍褔泻邪 袥懈蟹械褌 械 蟹邪褌胁芯褉懈谢邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌邪, 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁褟泄泻懈 谐芯 蟹邪 褋械写械屑写械褋械褌 谐芯写懈薪懈?
袧褟泻芯泄 芯褌谐芯胁芯褉懈褌械 薪邪 褌械蟹懈 胁褗锌褉芯褋懈 袝泄锌褉懈谢 薪邪屑懈褉邪 胁 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌, 写褉褍谐懈 胁 褉邪蟹谐芯胁芯褉懈褌械 褋 褔邪褉芯胁薪懈褟 邪写胁芯泻邪褌 袥褞泻 孝械斜芯, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 褌芯褔薪芯 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 褎褉械薪褋泻懈 懈 褕邪褉屑邪褌械薪, 泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 锌芯写褋泻邪蟹胁邪 懈屑械褌芯 屑褍. 袛褉褍谐懈 薪褟屑邪 写邪 褉邪蟹斜械褉械屑 锌芯褔褌懈 写芯 泻褉邪褟 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪邪, 邪 泻芯谐邪褌芯 薪邪泄-褋械褌薪械 褋褌懈谐薪械屑 写芯 褌褟褏, 褌械 褋褗胁褋械屑 薪械 褋邪 褌芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 褋屑械 芯褔邪泻胁邪谢懈.
袩芯-胁邪卸薪芯 械 泻邪泻胁芯 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪 袝泄锌褉懈谢 蟹邪 褋械斜械 褋懈, 写芯泻邪褌芯 褔械褌械 写薪械胁薪懈褑懈褌械 薪邪 袦邪褉褌, 褉芯胁懈 懈蟹 胁械褖懈褌械 泄 懈 写芯泻邪蟹胁邪 锌褉芯懈蟹褏芯写邪 懈屑. 袣邪泻胁芯 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪 蟹邪 胁褉褗蟹泻邪褌邪 褋懈 褋褗褋 褋褗锌褉褍谐邪 褋懈 孝褉芯泄, 褋 斜邪褖邪 褋懈 懈 褋 芯褌褋褗褋褌胁邪褖邪褌邪 褋懈 屑邪泄泻邪. 袨褌泻褉懈褌懈褟褌邪 泄 褋械 懈蟹薪械薪邪写胁邪褖懈, 芯褋芯斜械薪芯 泻芯谐邪褌芯 芯褋褗蟹薪邪胁邪, 褔械 褋邪屑邪褌邪 褌褟 薪芯褋懈 胁懈薪邪 蟹邪 械屑芯褑懈芯薪邪谢薪芯褌芯 褋懈 芯褌写褉褗锌胁邪薪械 芯褌 胁褋懈褔泻懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 芯锌懈褌胁邪褌 写邪 泄 斜褗写邪褌 斜谢懈蟹泻懈.
鈥炐熜把€懈卸泻懈褟褌 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌鈥� 械 芯褌 芯薪械蟹懈 泻薪懈谐懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 胁蟹懈屑邪褌 写械泄褋褌胁懈褌械谢薪邪 褋谢褍褔泻邪 鈥� 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 锌褗谢薪懈褟 褋褗褋 褋褗泻褉芯胁懈褖邪 邪锌邪褉褌邪屑械薪褌 懈 锌芯褉褌褉械褌邪 薪邪 袘芯谢写懈薪懈 鈥� 懈 谐芯 锌褉械胁褉褗褖邪褌 胁褗胁 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖芯 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉薪芯 锌褗褌械褕械褋褌胁懈械. 袠蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 锌褉懈褟褌薪邪 蟹邪 褔械褌械薪械, 褌邪蟹懈 泻薪懈谐邪 褖械 胁懈 薪邪泻邪褉邪 写邪 锌芯谐谢械写薪械褌械 泻芯谢泻芯 褋褌褉褍胁邪 褋邪屑芯谢械褌薪懈褟褌 斜懈谢械褌 蟹邪 袩邪褉懈卸, 写邪 褋懈 褋懈锌械褌械 褔邪褕邪 褔械褉胁械薪芯 胁懈薪芯 懈 写邪 锌芯屑械褔褌邪械褌械.
March 18, 2020
Michelle Gable's 2014 novel is for anyone willing to let a book show you where it will go. I settled at three stars but the sojourn was pleasant. "A Paris Apartment" popped up via Juliet Blackwell's "The Paris Key". Incredulously, an expensive suite closed for 70 years was discovered recently! This definitely would spark writers' imaginations! Until I indulge in facts, I don't know how many actual relatives Michelle presented, so I will describe this story fictionally.
A furniture expert examines this extraordinary time capsule; enthralled, as are we, with diaries from 1880s lady Marthe De Florian. It is unbelievable that her heiress did not use it. The latest heiress, herself elderly, is selling everything. Other than discussing marital uncertainty too frequently for this novel: the background of protagonist, April Vogt, failed to stick in any regard. She attributes her career to her father selling her mother's possessions for medical care and hoping to retrieve the dresser. The credulity of April "having nothing of her mother's" plummets the moment we meet her warm family. You sense that if she had admitted loving it, her father would not have sold it. After marrying Troy, her father need no longer be pressed for money; like borrowing a neighbour's car. Most importantly: you don't anguish for mementoes of a living person!
I loved the colourful Marthe, in her epoch and rooted for April's campaign, to introduce her as an important Parisienne meriting a solo historical auction. I felt we lacked stories about Marthe's acquisitions. Apart from the painting, we only read that she piled-up pieces. In difficult times, selling a mere few would have been lucrative. An opportunity was missed to create an exponentially more enchanting ambiance by weaving this story in a mystery-solving style. However, bravo to the heart in Michelle's treatise.
A furniture expert examines this extraordinary time capsule; enthralled, as are we, with diaries from 1880s lady Marthe De Florian. It is unbelievable that her heiress did not use it. The latest heiress, herself elderly, is selling everything. Other than discussing marital uncertainty too frequently for this novel: the background of protagonist, April Vogt, failed to stick in any regard. She attributes her career to her father selling her mother's possessions for medical care and hoping to retrieve the dresser. The credulity of April "having nothing of her mother's" plummets the moment we meet her warm family. You sense that if she had admitted loving it, her father would not have sold it. After marrying Troy, her father need no longer be pressed for money; like borrowing a neighbour's car. Most importantly: you don't anguish for mementoes of a living person!
I loved the colourful Marthe, in her epoch and rooted for April's campaign, to introduce her as an important Parisienne meriting a solo historical auction. I felt we lacked stories about Marthe's acquisitions. Apart from the painting, we only read that she piled-up pieces. In difficult times, selling a mere few would have been lucrative. An opportunity was missed to create an exponentially more enchanting ambiance by weaving this story in a mystery-solving style. However, bravo to the heart in Michelle's treatise.
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