Thursday, June 14, 2012

The Paris Wife

Title:  The Paris Wife
Author:  Paula McLain
Publication Information:  Ballatine Books, Random House Inc. 2011. 433 pages.

Book Source:  I read this book as this month's selection for my local book club.

Favorite Quote:  "To marry was to say you believed in the future and in the past, too - that history and tradition and hope could stay knit together to hold you up."

The Paris Wife is historical fiction. It is a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway's first marriage to Elizabeth Hadley Richardson. So, with one search, you could know what the story of this book is.

I was hesitant to read this book because Ernest Hemingway is such an iconic figure in American literature. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize. A winner of the Nobel Prize. I knew the story of his life and his suicide, but I did not know if I wanted to read the details that a book like this one would bring. I sometimes prefer to keep icons as icons and not deal with their reality as human beings.

However, because the book was my book club selection, I persevered. I am glad I did. I still don't like the characters or the story itself any better. However, I really appreciated the storytelling. Even though I knew what was coming, I got involved with the characters and their emotions. The book is well written, and the story well told. I am looking forward to hearing what the rest of the my book club thought!

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