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A Young Man in Paris
I had always believed that I would return home to empty rooms for the rest of my life, for who would I want, and be wanted by in return? It had been an impossible alchemy until Alexander Montrose, and the summer of 1923.
1923 was the summer I fell in love with Alexander Montrose. I suppose I could say it was the summer I met my soul mate, but I have little poetry in my soul. That which I do have, however, was spent upon Alex. Nearly sixty years have passed since that summer, and I am an old man and Alex is gone, but here at least is our story, set down for all time.
1923 was the summer I fell in love with Alexander Montrose. I suppose I could say it was the summer I met my soul mate, but I have little poetry in my soul. That which I do have, however, was spent upon Alex. Nearly sixty years have passed since that summer, and I am an old man and Alex is gone, but here at least is our story, set down for all time.
78 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2011
About the author
Sophia Deri-Bowen
7 books4 followersSophia Deri-Bowen is a proud native Philadelphian who packed up her life and moved to Wales not too very long ago. She's still not quite sure how she managed it, but she now lives and studies in a beloved new country. Time not spent digging out from under a pile of research goes to rugby union (both playing and watching), knitting, and rambling as far and wide as possible. She is perhaps slightly too obsessed with old boats, the Welsh language, and finding a place that has a decent Belgian beer on tap.
Visit Sophia's blog at http://sophiaderibowen.wordpress.com
Visit Sophia's blog at http://sophiaderibowen.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 3, 2012
A light, sweet story, but with some slightly annoying features in the writing
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- The early interactions between Michael and Alex are tentative and a little uneasy, and I found them utterly endearing.
- I’m not at all familiar with early 20th century Europe, so I don’t know how accurate the depictions of 1923 Paris are. But I certainly enjoyed reading about it…especially the scenes in which Alex and Michael attend parties full of people who live on the fringes of society.
- I like reading about characters who are poor and struggle to make a living, leaning on each other for support. I thought this story was doubly charming in that regard since the timeframe is historical and I got a taste of the hardships of 1920s France.
- I found the occasional description clever and amusing in a way that made me smile. Here’s one of my early favorites: “…with fishing boats leaning in the sand like old men who have not quite drunk themselves unconscious.”
CONS:
- The storytelling contains a lot of needless repetition, especially concerning descriptions of the narrator’s own preferences and personality. By halfway through the first chapter, for example, we’ve already been told, “I was never very sociable,” “I did not much like other people in those days,” “I did not speak much and had few friends, but that was all right in those first days,” AND “My personal life was as I wished it to be in those days: quiet, private.”
- There are a number of small inconsistencies in the writing. The one that irked me the most was the fact that Michael sprinkles present-tense comments throughout the story, as though he and Alex are still together as grown men, yet at the beginning of the story he says that he’s an old man and Alex is gone.
Overall comments: There’s not a lot here, so I’m not convinced that the story will stick with me for more than a couple of weeks. Still, it’s a fluffy little story with minimal angst and nothing particularly WRONG with it, either.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- The early interactions between Michael and Alex are tentative and a little uneasy, and I found them utterly endearing.
- I’m not at all familiar with early 20th century Europe, so I don’t know how accurate the depictions of 1923 Paris are. But I certainly enjoyed reading about it…especially the scenes in which Alex and Michael attend parties full of people who live on the fringes of society.
- I like reading about characters who are poor and struggle to make a living, leaning on each other for support. I thought this story was doubly charming in that regard since the timeframe is historical and I got a taste of the hardships of 1920s France.
- I found the occasional description clever and amusing in a way that made me smile. Here’s one of my early favorites: “…with fishing boats leaning in the sand like old men who have not quite drunk themselves unconscious.”
CONS:
- The storytelling contains a lot of needless repetition, especially concerning descriptions of the narrator’s own preferences and personality. By halfway through the first chapter, for example, we’ve already been told, “I was never very sociable,” “I did not much like other people in those days,” “I did not speak much and had few friends, but that was all right in those first days,” AND “My personal life was as I wished it to be in those days: quiet, private.”
- There are a number of small inconsistencies in the writing. The one that irked me the most was the fact that Michael sprinkles present-tense comments throughout the story, as though he and Alex are still together as grown men, yet at the beginning of the story he says that he’s an old man and Alex is gone.
Overall comments: There’s not a lot here, so I’m not convinced that the story will stick with me for more than a couple of weeks. Still, it’s a fluffy little story with minimal angst and nothing particularly WRONG with it, either.
April 18, 2011
This story is told in rather retrospective from Michael Clifton's point-of-view, as he remembers Paris in 1923, the first year when as 19-year-old British tutor meets 21-year-old aspiring writer Alexander Montrose. Both have issue of the past -- Michael running from a broken heart and a humiliating tell of his desire for men while Alex leaves England for a more complicated matter (which, as a first person narrator, Michael will bring us readers to find out about that secret of Alex together with him).
I love how the backdrop of Paris in 1923 is as strong as the voice of the two characters. It adds nuance to the historical story, a strong sense of place, the City of Love, where hope, dreams, and romance go hand in hand. Michael and Alex's story is romantic. With their young age (even with Alex's background), it doesn't feel jaded or (worse) exhausted. Since we already know that Michael and Alex spend the next years together (from the prologue, as Michael tells us), the story becomes a lovely retelling of falling in love with your beloved ...
I love how the backdrop of Paris in 1923 is as strong as the voice of the two characters. It adds nuance to the historical story, a strong sense of place, the City of Love, where hope, dreams, and romance go hand in hand. Michael and Alex's story is romantic. With their young age (even with Alex's background), it doesn't feel jaded or (worse) exhausted. Since we already know that Michael and Alex spend the next years together (from the prologue, as Michael tells us), the story becomes a lovely retelling of falling in love with your beloved ...
March 15, 2021
Originally read February 20, 2013 to February 21, 2013
I loved this novella! I loved the setting; I loved the tone; I loved the characters. There is a sweet innocence to characters of this timeframe that just melts my heart to a gooey mess and Ms. Deri-Bowen has written them oh, so well!
10/Apr/2014 (Re-read for the 2014 Re-Romancing Favorites Challenge) - A year later and I found this book to be just as charming. Beautifully written.
I loved this novella! I loved the setting; I loved the tone; I loved the characters. There is a sweet innocence to characters of this timeframe that just melts my heart to a gooey mess and Ms. Deri-Bowen has written them oh, so well!
10/Apr/2014 (Re-read for the 2014 Re-Romancing Favorites Challenge) - A year later and I found this book to be just as charming. Beautifully written.
May 10, 2011
What I like about this story is the way Sophia Deri Bowen woven her magic around these two main men. Even though it was written from a point of view in the present tense, she brings the lovers alive and vibrant in her plot. One of the better novella I read so far.
December 22, 2011
This book was so full of love, love of the author for her characters, her love towards the city, where the story took place, love of the characters towards each other and towards Paris, that it was really hard not to at least like this book.
A very enjoyable reading.
A very enjoyable reading.
April 20, 2011
Beautiful romantic story, I loved it.
May 20, 2011
What a warm and enjoyable novella. Really romantic and happy. Recommended story!
July 16, 2015
Good M/M love story. Hope the author tell more of this tale.
October 25, 2015
2011 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews