The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
Published by Random House
Publication date: April 23, 2024
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Vacation Reading
Bookshop
Sometimes when you need the right book or you can’t find the right book, it finds you. It’s one of my favorite kinds of serendipity (right up there with finding a dress you love that fits at 50% off). It’s also another testament to the power of libraries. I’ve never been browsing an online book store and happened upon a book that sounded perfect. No. It’s a tactile experience and the fact that the lovely little gem I discovered at my library is all about the senses is even better. It’s Ruth Reichl’s The Paris Novel, a charming novel of one woman’s journey to falling in love.
When Stella’s estranged mother dies no one is more surprised than she is to be left a one-way ticket to Paris and a note to go there. Not only haven’t they spoken in years, but even as a child Stella was an afterthought in her mother’s pursuit of wealth and passion. This neglect and disinterest in her daughter led to childhood trauma that’s manifested itself in the 33-year-old’s obsessive desire for order, routine, and structure. She functions well in her career as a copy editor but has no personal life to speak of and is fine with that. A trip to Paris with no plan or agenda might as well be a trip to Mars for the terror it inspires in her. So, she plans only to arrive and find her agenda and her old life thrown aside.
The Paris Novel is set in the 1980s giving it an even greater sense of adventure as there are no translators or Google maps. Which is why on her first day Stella ends up in a tiny consignment shop where an elderly woman insists she try on a stunning Dior original dress (at which point I swoon). This is the first in a series of coincidences and strange twists of fate that give the novel a fairy tale feeling, so readers who need their fiction firmly grounded in the plausible will have difficulty not rolling their eyes. I’m usually one of these people, but was enjoying the story enough to not be bothered.
What made this novel so delectable was Reichl’s prose. Her descriptions of Stella’s blossoming love of fine food and wine are a sensory delight. Not surprising, Reichl is a renowned food critic. What was unexpected was her descriptive prowess in so many other areas. The city of Paris came alive thanks to her, as did the art and fashion aspects. All of that paled in comparison to what I loved most about The Paris Novel. It’s a lovely, whimsical, a little bit magical story of a woman finally falling in love. With herself. And that is the happiest of endings.
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I usually agree with your reviews, Catherine, and have founds many little gems from your recs. But on this one, we are not aligned. I found the story line, a little too neat and obvious. I thought the writing felt hurried and not cohesive. I have enjoyed several of Ruth’s books, but if not for wanting to know how this one wrapped up, I probably would have DNF’d. On gave it 3 stars. Whether we agree or not, I always appreciate your insights both here and on Sarah’s Bookshelves. Thank you.
I’m an outlier on this one as everyone I know agrees with you. I found it a bit much at times, but was able to just go with it. Somehow the positives outweighed the negatives and it just made me happy.