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3rd out of 10 books
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7 voters
The Siren of Paris
by
David LeRoy (Goodreads Author)
In German occupied Paris, a group of unlikely people join in collaboration to smuggle Allied airman south to Spain. One of those intrepid heroes happens to be American. The Siren of Paris, the debut work of historical fiction by David LeRoy, tells a searing story of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and war that brings to vivid life the shimmering City of Lights during its dark...more
Kindle Edition
Published
June 1st 2012
(first published January 1st 2012)
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This book is such a meticulously crafted travel back in time, and certainly will not be a book that is forgotten. This is one you will want an actual copy of, so you can come back to it, and read again and again, it is detailed and researched so well, I got lost so many times in this story, and honestly, didn't want to come back some of the time.
I am kind of at a loss of words for this review, I am more then impressed with David LeRoy's debut novel, and I am more then anxious to read any news of...more
I am kind of at a loss of words for this review, I am more then impressed with David LeRoy's debut novel, and I am more then anxious to read any news of...more
Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I have very mixed feelings regarding David LeRoy's The Siren of Paris. I think the premise is great, but as I reader I found it a challenging piece to complete.
I'm gonna be upfront here, I had to reread several pages. I kept feeling as if I was missing something. I'm willing to admit I am somewhat distracted by the holiday season, the hustle and bustle of the festivities, but this was more than that....more
I have very mixed feelings regarding David LeRoy's The Siren of Paris. I think the premise is great, but as I reader I found it a challenging piece to complete.
I'm gonna be upfront here, I had to reread several pages. I kept feeling as if I was missing something. I'm willing to admit I am somewhat distracted by the holiday season, the hustle and bustle of the festivities, but this was more than that....more
David LeRoy’s The Siren of Paris, was a surprising read. I started it with no expectation other than an interest in the time period in which it was written and the geography, WWII Germany Nazi Regime, a historical dark stain , that stands out among a societal evil ranked high up. On this backdrop comes the story, of Marc an American, born in Paris, who returns to his birthplace to study and falls in love with a model, Marie, from one of this art classes. The story flips around between
viewpoints,...more
viewpoints,...more
How do you find yourself when your whole world has been turned upside down?
This story follows a young French-American man as he lives through the nightmare that is World War II, struggling to find an answer to this question. Suffering through the dangers of powerful friendships, double-edged love, and even ultimate betrayal, Marc has looked into the depths of human nature and learned lessons few or us have ever experienced and would ever survive.
The beginning was slightly slow for me, but I star...more
This story follows a young French-American man as he lives through the nightmare that is World War II, struggling to find an answer to this question. Suffering through the dangers of powerful friendships, double-edged love, and even ultimate betrayal, Marc has looked into the depths of human nature and learned lessons few or us have ever experienced and would ever survive.
The beginning was slightly slow for me, but I star...more
What makes a great book? How does an author know he did it right? I'll explain with David LeRoy's The Siren of Paris.
A French born American finds himself losing his girl and just not satisfied being a premed student. The allure of Paris calls to his artistic side. What better place to be than in Paris to study art? The only problem is the pesky rumors of Germany advancing. There is no way Hitler would go that far. To prove it, Marc dives into French life finding new friends, new love, and new st...more
A French born American finds himself losing his girl and just not satisfied being a premed student. The allure of Paris calls to his artistic side. What better place to be than in Paris to study art? The only problem is the pesky rumors of Germany advancing. There is no way Hitler would go that far. To prove it, Marc dives into French life finding new friends, new love, and new st...more
Bought prior to offer to review..
“regardless, we become our choices we make over time”
Ultimately, this book is a wonderfully crafted dramatic saga told from the perspective of Marc Tolbert, Parisian born American who responds to the Siren call of Paris to study art in 1939. We are introduced to the litany of stories that will follow in the book by the count of souls that attend his funeral: souls that he has adopted as his cross to bear from the war.
From that viewpoint, we start to see who Mar...more
“regardless, we become our choices we make over time”
Ultimately, this book is a wonderfully crafted dramatic saga told from the perspective of Marc Tolbert, Parisian born American who responds to the Siren call of Paris to study art in 1939. We are introduced to the litany of stories that will follow in the book by the count of souls that attend his funeral: souls that he has adopted as his cross to bear from the war.
From that viewpoint, we start to see who Mar...more
In this tale we meet young Marc, an American born in Paris who is leaving America behind to study art. He was pursuing a medical degree but that was for the love of a woman not because he was passionate about becoming a doctor. He wants to be an artist but while in Paris he ends up in the diplomatic service. While escaping the German occupation his ship is torpedoed and Marc ends up back in France now helping the resistance. He finds himself betrayed by the one person he thought he could trust t...more
The Siren of Paris is a historical fiction novel inspired by the events of occupied France during World War II. David LeRoy’s research of the German invasion and occupation in France is impressive and lucid throughout the book. The story revolves around the life and experiences of an American; opening with his days as a student in the USA and France to his internment as a political prisoner of war.
Marc’s journey began before the outbreak of war in 1939. A broken relationship spurs him to leave t...more
Marc’s journey began before the outbreak of war in 1939. A broken relationship spurs him to leave t...more
I received this book from the author from an honest review. I was interested in this book because it is historical fiction about war times, and I love the books I have read in the past about WWI and WWII. They are some of my favorite, even though they can be very gut wrenching and emotional.
The Siren of Paris starts off in 1967 at a funeral for Marc, where he is there experiencing it. Then it goes back in time to June 18, 1939, where Marc realizes he will have to watch his life during the war an...more
The Siren of Paris starts off in 1967 at a funeral for Marc, where he is there experiencing it. Then it goes back in time to June 18, 1939, where Marc realizes he will have to watch his life during the war an...more
Marc Tolbert has decided to take a break from medical school in the U.S. and cross the Atlantic to Paris to find his Muse and study art.
He will find his Muse… The only problem is that the German Army is about to march on Paris and take it over.
Among others on the luxury ocean liner that’s taking him to Europe, Marc meets Dora -- a wealthy, older socialite who lives in Paris.
Once in Paris, Marc falls for the woman who is the model for his art classes.
READ MY ENTIRE REVIEW ON GATHER.COM AT: http:...more
He will find his Muse… The only problem is that the German Army is about to march on Paris and take it over.
Among others on the luxury ocean liner that’s taking him to Europe, Marc meets Dora -- a wealthy, older socialite who lives in Paris.
Once in Paris, Marc falls for the woman who is the model for his art classes.
READ MY ENTIRE REVIEW ON GATHER.COM AT: http:...more
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In The Siren of Paris by David LeRoy, Marc is tempted by the siren call of Paris to return to the place of his birth, a place he does not remember but has the enticements of all he desires: love and art. Set in the time before Paris is invaded by Germans during WWII, LeRoy does well in depicting by turns the fear and the indifference Parisians and expats felt when Germany began to advance across Europe. Once France begins to realize that negotiations with Germany will amount to nothing and Germa...more
I have a knot in my stomach as I’m writing this review because I have so many mixed feelings about this book. I feel it is my duty to reflect the strengths and flaws of this book accurately, so I’ll try my best.
For starters, the premise was decent: French-born American Marc returns to Paris in 1939 to study art and subsequently gets stuck there during the German occupation. But his unique status as dual citizen allows him certain diplomatic perks, so he sticks it out for a while. When he finally...more
For starters, the premise was decent: French-born American Marc returns to Paris in 1939 to study art and subsequently gets stuck there during the German occupation. But his unique status as dual citizen allows him certain diplomatic perks, so he sticks it out for a while. When he finally...more
I accepted this book without realizing it was self-published. I have mixed feelings about self-pubbed books: unless it's got great bones and wonderful story, I find I miss the polish that comes from a traditional publisher. (I will say, however, my top ten reads of 2011 and 2010 both included a self-published novel, so I'm not a total snob, I swear!)
In this case, LeRoy's historical novel set during the Nazi occupation of Paris certainly brought it in terms of plot and research. There was non-st...more
In this case, LeRoy's historical novel set during the Nazi occupation of Paris certainly brought it in terms of plot and research. There was non-st...more
A few weeks ago, I posted an excerpt of this very good historical novel. Time to review it and give you even more the desire to read it, as it is really worth it.
I have to say I was rather confused by the first chapter, and wondered what I had got myself into, but as I had promised to be part of this Tour, I persevered and read chapter 2, and I’m so glad I did!
In Chapter 1, Marc appears as a ghost, as a priest remembers all the dead of WWII in a prayer service at a cemetery, with weird stuff, ”...more
I have to say I was rather confused by the first chapter, and wondered what I had got myself into, but as I had promised to be part of this Tour, I persevered and read chapter 2, and I’m so glad I did!
In Chapter 1, Marc appears as a ghost, as a priest remembers all the dead of WWII in a prayer service at a cemetery, with weird stuff, ”...more
I received a copy free for an honest review.
Holy intense and confusing. The main guts of the book are set in France during WWII. It is a story about Americans that become stranded in France after German occupation. I loved all this historical parts of the book. It was cool for the author to show that it was not just Jewish people sent to thw concentration camps, but anyone deemed impure by the Germans.
I was confused by the jumping from 1940 to another year i.e 1942 or 1945, etc. This made it ha...more
Holy intense and confusing. The main guts of the book are set in France during WWII. It is a story about Americans that become stranded in France after German occupation. I loved all this historical parts of the book. It was cool for the author to show that it was not just Jewish people sent to thw concentration camps, but anyone deemed impure by the Germans.
I was confused by the jumping from 1940 to another year i.e 1942 or 1945, etc. This made it ha...more
What I liked most about this book was the "augmented reality" of the story. What I mean is this. While it is a novel, The Siren of Paris, mixes fictional characters with the actual backdrop of World War II-era in Europe(France),including Mussolini and Hitler.
LeRoy further enhances this authenticity by including many actual historical figures and events.
The central character,Marc sees first hand the atrocities of WWII, from the occupation of France by the Nazis, from being part of the Resistance,...more
LeRoy further enhances this authenticity by including many actual historical figures and events.
The central character,Marc sees first hand the atrocities of WWII, from the occupation of France by the Nazis, from being part of the Resistance,...more
The Siren of Paris by David LeRoy is the first explicitly self-published ebook I have read. I've come to see this approach as a new paradigm for distributing books to the reading public. I'll have to read a few more such books before I leap on the bandwagon, but it seems as if the panic among publishers regarding e-publishing is warranted. This is a carefully thought out novel of pain, loss, courage, and commitment set during WWII in the French resistance. It follows Marc Tolbert from his return...more
Novel begins early summer 1939.
Marc Tolbert was born in France, but raised in America. As a young man in his early twenties he left his parents, sister, and the American life for Paris, France. His family had hoped he'd become a medical doctor. Marc wanted to be an artist. He attended art schools in Paris. He met Marie, a model-poser for art classes. Their relationship developed. Later Marc went to work at a government office in Paris. While Marc is living out his dream in Paris, Nazi Germany is...more
Marc Tolbert was born in France, but raised in America. As a young man in his early twenties he left his parents, sister, and the American life for Paris, France. His family had hoped he'd become a medical doctor. Marc wanted to be an artist. He attended art schools in Paris. He met Marie, a model-poser for art classes. Their relationship developed. Later Marc went to work at a government office in Paris. While Marc is living out his dream in Paris, Nazi Germany is...more
The Siren of Paris is a great book that was written about a WWII veteran who passes only to find himself in spiritual limbo with ghosts who transport him back to his 20's. Wonderfully written and researched, this book transports you back to that time and introduces you to many actual historical figures. This is a great book with a great story and believable and likeable characters. The author does a great job of describing the time period and events that occurred. I thoroughly enjoyed this book...more
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I enjoy reading about the WWII time period, especially in Europe. The premise of the story sounded like an interesting take on a familiar theme.
However, I struggled to finish it. The shifting time periods and dream sequences made it difficult to follow. I found myself having to review passages over and over. At times I felt like I was reading a rough draft rather than a finished product. I could tell that there was a good story in there, but that more wo...more
However, I struggled to finish it. The shifting time periods and dream sequences made it difficult to follow. I found myself having to review passages over and over. At times I felt like I was reading a rough draft rather than a finished product. I could tell that there was a good story in there, but that more wo...more
Marc Tolbert, a French Born American, journeys to Paris in 1939, escaping heartbreak and looking for his place in the world. Marc starts art school, falls in love with a fellow student and enjoys the company of the Parisians around him. Like other ex-pats, Marc believed that war with Germany will never occur, until he becomes involved with the US Embassy as a diplomat. Marc watches as Paris is abandoned, and waits to flee aboard the doomed Lancastria. Marc returns to Paris, hoping to help downed...more
I am shocked that this is the author's first novel. David LeRoy captivates with symbolism and imagery I've only read from the literary greats. Historical buffs will be impressed with the authenticity in this journey through the fall of France during WWII; while literary buffs will be enthralled with the genuine characters, including the vulnerable protagonist, from his gallant heroics to the conflicted repercussions of such. This is a very real read and a very good one too.
I was lost thru parts of the book. Some of the scenes going back were very confusing. I understand that he needed to review his life so he could forgive himself. The part that totally lost me was the end where a file was found 100 years later. I must have really got lost because I didn't understand the significance of this point. If someone could tell me what I missed , I would realy appreciate it.
1 like · like · see review
I couldn't wait to read this one, since Paris is a siren to me. I also have been fascinated my entire life with the years leading up to and during the Second World War. This was a difficult book to read in some ways: the torture, the deprivation, and the terror were terribly well described. It was a disjointed telling of a sad story, hard at times to follow. But - I couldn't stop reading.
Great book! The narrator really throws you around in this one, its kind of a trip, but definitely worth the ride. Pay attention to details! He also has a section, almost a dream sequence, that is similar to Holden Caufield's breakdown in Catcher in the Rye. I do recommend this book to anybody who loves historical fiction.
Interesting WWII tale of an American trapped in Paris during the German occupation. An American who becomes involved in the resistance and who ultimately is caught and sent to a concentration camp. Use of flashbacks made following the plot somewhat confusing at times as things jumped around a bit.
This novel was well researched, and it has a good plot with excellent suspense and tension. I would have given it four stars, but I felt it sadly in need of a good professional editing. The dialogue was stiff, wording was awkward through much of the first half, the pacing was difficult to follow, especially the elapsed time element, and it just needed a good overall tightening up.
Liked this a lot. Different viewpoint to WW2 timeframe.
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“We become our decisions over time. We choose to love, or we can choose to hate. We can choose to forgive, or we can choose to take revenge; to have hope, or we can choose to fall into despair. But, regardless, we become our choices we make over time." p. 318”
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