Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
351st out of 913 books
—
577 voters
The Way I Found Her
by
Rose Tremain
This is the summer that Lewis Little, precocious thirteen-year-old, is spending in Paris with his beautiful mother, Alice, who is translating the latest medieval romance by Valentina Gavrilovich, the bestselling and exotic Russian émigré. This is the summer that the bewitching Valentina beckons from her sofa, and Lewis discovers an exquisite new world filled with passion a...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
May 1st 1999
by Washington Square Press
(first published 1997)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
779)
I was drawn to this book when I heard it was about a English boy, Lewis Little, who goes to France with his mother, a translator, and becomes interested in the book Le Grand Meaulnes, which is one of my favorite French novels. However, the parts about Lewis's fascination with Le Grand Meaulnes are quick and disappointing, and the plot deteriorates into Lewis's larger, hormonal fascination with Valentine, a neighbor, who mysterioiusly disappears about halfway through the book. The plot deterior...more
A precocious 13-year-old boy narrates this story, set in and evocative of Paris. It’s a fabric of exotic and interesting characters and ideas, involving a Russian woman writer of medieval romance novels--written in French--that the boy's mother is translating into English. There is some Existentialism, a suspicion of plagiarism, and a kidnapping. Of course the boy is obsessed with the woman writer(a standard middle-aged woman author fantasy?). Some of it borders on implausible, though it's mostl...more
As stated, this is about a precocious 13 year old boy living in Paris with his mother, a translator, and the writer she works with. Let's just say I did not buy the concept from the start. Felt false. I understand you must give a writer some latitude, but she used all my suspension of disbelief in the first 10 pages. This was not a 13 year old boy in that book--it was an adult woman wanting to endow a boy with traits almost never seen in a child then just call him precocious to say it is possibl...more
Dec 05, 2008
Kym
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Poets, Dreamers & Lovers
Set in Paris, it is a beautiful kind of reverse Lolita tale of a young boy falling in love with an older woman. He spends his summer in an attic of a gorgeous apartment in Paris, learning the language by reading Dostoyevsky's Crime & Punishment in French, and walking around the city on his own as his mother translates books for their host, Valentina. Dramatic, touching, and full of beautiful sorrow, this is a book to remember. Like the literary equivalent to 'Some Velvet Morning' by Nancy Si...more
Jun 14, 2013
Silvia
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary,
fiction
I’m very, very torn on this novel. It is a coming-of-age story told by Lewis, a thirteen-year-old boy from Devon who spends a summer in Paris with his mother Alice, a translator for Valentina, a Russian-born French writer of medieval romance novels. For the first half, the book is a sweet and atmospheric tale that follows Lewis through the streets of Paris, the people he meets, his thoughts, emotions and sexuality of a boy becoming a teenager, as he almost immediately develops a crush for attrac...more
The most enjoyable part of this novel for me was the trip through Paris; the sweetness of the pasteries in the cafes on Rue Rembrandt, shopping at the colorful outdoor markets, and the trips to Parc Monceau with Sergi the dog.
Additionally, I liked the characters, especially Lewis, Didier and Valentina. They were so well defined and depicted so well, I could almost paint their portraits. This is the second Rose Tremain book I have read and her character definition is very appealing to me.
On anot...more
Additionally, I liked the characters, especially Lewis, Didier and Valentina. They were so well defined and depicted so well, I could almost paint their portraits. This is the second Rose Tremain book I have read and her character definition is very appealing to me.
On anot...more
Rose Tremain always delivers a cracking good yarn - and "The Way I Found her" doesn't fail to please, as usual.
OK, the premise of an extremely sexually aware 13-year old boy may be a little far fetched - but if you want reality, watch soap operas. If you want a damn good story with strong characterizations, insights onto the human nature and an allround entertaining read - then you'll probably enjoy this book.
No two Rose Tremain books are the same - the settings (both geographically and historic...more
OK, the premise of an extremely sexually aware 13-year old boy may be a little far fetched - but if you want reality, watch soap operas. If you want a damn good story with strong characterizations, insights onto the human nature and an allround entertaining read - then you'll probably enjoy this book.
No two Rose Tremain books are the same - the settings (both geographically and historic...more
A precocious thirteen-year old boy, Lewis, spends the summer in Paris, where his mother is working as translator for Valentina, a woman novelist. At first, this seems to be merely a coming of age story, with Lewis' observations on the adult world which surrounds him making for some wonderfully witty passages. But there is a mystery or two, and adventure, and in the end a conclusion of integrity, making this a very satisfying and clever novel indeed. Recommended.
This was a re-read for me and just as enjoyable as the first time. The Paris that the author evokes is so clear - the food, the smells, colours and clothes just are so well described. The thoughts of Lewis are too well observed (if much too channelled and educated - I really don't think 13 year old boys think like Lewis) so that they can move the plot along - would it have worked without a 1st person narrator? Poignant and well-plotted - a very good read.
This book is beautifully written from the POV of a thirteen year old boy whose life has been altered by his mother's vocation. The character's are so carefully written that the reader feels as if you know them. A big fan of Tremain already, I was recommended this book by Carolyn See, a critic whose opinion I greatly respect. I love the setting of this book and Tremain does an exceptional job of getting into the head of this young boy. Bravo!
This is a classic example of "don't judge a book by its cover". It looks like a trashy piece of fluff, but it is so NOT. It is the deeply moving (and painful) story of a pivotal summer in the life of an adolescent boy. If you want light reading, don't choose this; but if you want something unique and memorable, this is a book for you.
I think perhaps the only other book that made me feel a profound sadness upon finishing was The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The ending is so emotionally fraught it's almost unbearable, yet the book goes through many transitions to get to this point. It is poignant, and funny, and mysterious, and compelling, and most definitely one of my favourite books by a woman who was born to inspire.
This book made me so sad. It was a little disturbing as well, given that I have children in Louis' age range. He was such an orphan, even though he had 2 parents! It seems that all of Louis' attempts to find parental relationships, were doomed in some way. The Russian metaphor ran strongly throughout the book.
I picked this one up having loved my first Rose Tremain "The colour". However after 50 or so pages, I'm giving up. This book moves far too slow and I'm not really interested in continuing.
I will however try some more of her work based on how much I liked my first book by her, this one just wasn't for me.
I will however try some more of her work based on how much I liked my first book by her, this one just wasn't for me.
This was a re-read. Loved it then and loved it this time too. Tremain is noted for plot and literary writing. This is the story of a boy who goes to Paris with his mother to translate for a Russian writer. At 14, he falls in love with her but she is kidnapped. He goes to find her ...
Mar 20, 2012
sisterimapoet
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to sisterimapoet by:
Mew
Shelves:
fiction-2012
Rose has done it again - a story a whole lot darker and more twisted than her name or the cover suggests. Lewis irritated me a bit, but I think he was meant to. I like the way he was on the cusp of a simpler child's life and the complexities of adulthood - and perhaps he jumped in at the deep end too soon. Suspenseful in the right way - concluded elegantly.
I liked this book, but found the ending disappointing... Tremain's characters are so wonderfully drawn. This book is told from the point of view of a 13-year old boy, and she captures his youth, angst, etc. so well. She does the same with the other main characters.
This one left me in tears. Literally. The last 75 pages just got to me. The plot is fairly simple, Lewis Little, 13, spends the summer in Paris with his mother, who is translating the latest medieval romance novel from Valentina Gavril as she writes it. The summer is hot and Lewis is becoming a teenager with a giant crush on Valentina. He reads, takes walks with Valentina's dog Sergueï. And one day, Valentina vanishes. No one can find her. No ransom demand. Nothing. Lewis decides he will find he...more
My mom recommended this book to me. After reading it, I have no idea why she did, but it was still a good book.
The first half moves incredibly slow, allowing the reader to get to know the main character - a young boy of 13 spending the summer in France while his mom translates the book of a famous medieval romance author. An entertaining premise, but what ultimately delivers in this book is Tremain's ability to successfully portray the inner thoughts of a young teenage boy.
By the time you get to...more
The first half moves incredibly slow, allowing the reader to get to know the main character - a young boy of 13 spending the summer in France while his mom translates the book of a famous medieval romance author. An entertaining premise, but what ultimately delivers in this book is Tremain's ability to successfully portray the inner thoughts of a young teenage boy.
By the time you get to...more
Enjoyed this inexplicably 'much' even though it has one of those annoyingly precocious 'child' narrators who thinks and articulates like a very educated adult. But seriously won me over - and even had a cry at the end.
I read this a few weeks ago but much of the atmosphere of the book has stayed with me. I have read most of her books and although I don't think that it is her best. It is still good. In truth I would give it 3 3/4 stars
Aug 14, 2009
Sue
added it
A lot of not-much happens in the story, but still a really good read. I would say the 13 year old boy who is the I of the story is fairly precocious - WAY "older" than any i know - but still it's a good read.
I was rather disappointed by the book. It just did not ring true. The story does hold one's attention, but the characters do not feel real. There are just too many loose ends.
Not my favorite book. The main character--a 13 year old boy--annoyed me. It gets better in the second two-thirds of the book when there's a bit of a mystery to solve.
Good tight plot, grand finish, a pleasure to read Rose prose. Especially recommended for those who like young boys in love, doggies, and nasty Russian boyfriends.
This was a real disappointment, I loved her more recent books and am very glad I didn't read this first as I am not sure I would have read her later ones.
This is one of my all time favourite reads. I was completely captivated by the narrator, Lewis, and his coming of age drama. I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to spoil anything, but having just felt quite disappointed with The Road Home because it seemed to me the characters were too cosseted, and that Tremain was running ahead and smoothing their way the whole time, I'd have to say that The Way I Found Her was a much, much braver book.
I finished reading it at five in the mo...more
I finished reading it at five in the mo...more
Written from the point of view of a teenage boy, the book is fascinating, suspenseful, and sensitive. There's plenty here for discussion:)
Lewis is a thirteen year old British boy on holiday with his mother, Alice. Alice is a translator for Valentina, a Russian woman who writes French romance novels. When Valentina suddenly disappears after a hotel visit with a former lover, Lewis takes it upon himself to try to crack the case; he gets sucked into a maelstrom of seedy characters. I'm not too keen on just mystery stories, but this had more than that to it - coming of age, Lewis' parents and their relationship, etc. I think the only...more
A mystery and a story about first love (a precocious 13-year-old boy's for his mother's best friend and client).
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Rose Tremain is the author of fifteen works of fiction, including The Road Home, winner of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, and Restoration, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. She lives in Norfolk and north London.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Tre...
More about Rose Tremain...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Tre...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Nov 03, 2012 08:49am