Rutherfurd, Edward; Paris ; Informal Buddy Read Start Date 1 December 2015

[Kristen Benevides]

Just started chapter 10

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Up to chapter 22

(view spoiler)[
So we are really getting a lot of cross over in the storylines now. And although I get Marc and Luc mixed up here and there I seem to have my head around everyone!
I kind of knew where the story was going with Louise and was hoping Rutherfurd wasn't going to do it...eww... thankfully she worked it out before anything happened!
(hide spoiler)]
I think the book has really hit it's stride as the chapters are following a linear timeline for a while (only one back to 17th century in the last 10 chapters) and I think that really helps considering the number of characters involved

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapters 22 and 23
(view spoiler)[
Well didn't Marie almost make a fool of herself!! I'm so glad that Hadley Snr refused her. Made him higher in my estimation.
I still find it sad where the story has gone with Louise. I hope that Luc doesn't make good on his threat (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapter 24
(view spoiler)[
I love how this turned out. And especially the connection between the Blanchard and de Cynge families. Clever way to fit in "The Terror" to the story ,without having it as completely tragic, and linking those 2 families (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25
Louise just fascinates me. (view spoiler)[ "she had her own plan for the relationship" ; I'm guessing that means she got pregnant on purpose (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapter 26
Halfway through this chapter, and almost at the end of the book!

(view spoiler)[ Oh I really detest Luc. I'm finding this chapter hard to listen to because he is just such a bastard (hide spoiler)]

[Kristen Benevides]

Karen just read Amelie story so sad, and this book clearly portrays how women had no rights at all! We were only used to strengthen family fortune and name..... How unfortunate is how long it's been going on, well into the 20th century...smh. I really love Luc, hope he didn't murder that woman he buried with Thomas.....

[Powder River Rose]

Oh I wish I had seen this earlier in the month as it's been in my audio queue for months and I've been waiting for the right time since it's rather lengthy. I absolutely love his books ..... The Princes of Ireland, The Rebels of Ireland, New York are the books I've listened to so far. Fabulous. Grover Gardner is the King of narration (imho), and I imagine the narrator for Paris will be equally so. Maybe while I'm working on the evening gown for NY's Eve I will be able to listen and since my gown is the newest in fashion from Paris it's only fitting......newest in 1875 ;).

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I'm resuming reading this now and up to Chapter 6. I wonder why Rutherfurd jumps back and forward between the 13th and 19th centuries? The stories don't seem overly connected except the common ancestors I suppose but I'm finding it a bit disjointed. Just when you are following one story it switches time periods. I can't remember him doing that in other books of his I've read.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Powder River Rose wrote: "Oh I wish I had seen this earlier in the month as it's been in my audio queue for months and I've been waiting for the right time since it's rather lengthy. I absolutely love his books ..... The Pr..."

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I enjoyed the audio narration for this, but I did need to listen to it in chunks as the time flipping can get a bit confusing otherwise to try and keep the characters straight

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I'm resuming reading this now and up to Chapter 6. I wonder why Rutherfurd jumps back and forward between the 13th and 19th centuries? The stories don't seem overly connected except the common ance..."

I'm not sure either, and to be honest, by the end of the book I still wasn't sure that it was a good idea. I would have preferred him to just start in the 13th century and make his way forward

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Up to Chapter 9 now. I'm definitely not a fan of the timeline switching but the individual stories are engaging. The building of the Eiffel Tower section was interesting.

[Powder River Rose]

Yes, the time flipping in audio is confusing, has been in every book but once you get the feel then it seems to flow rather smoothly.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I've read quite a few of his, the most recent being Russka this year and that one didn't have the switching between time periods. And I don't remember it in New York either. I think also there is not much family connection between the characters in the time periods so it means the stories seem disconnected. I am going to try and finish this over the next week so maybe continued reading will make it flow better.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Another chapter read and a few character's stories are starting to converge. Much more enjoyable. I read with interest the sections about the deCynge Chateau in the Loire Valley, a couple of years ago I toured that area and was lucky enough to stay a couple of nights in one like this.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Chapter 13 - Probably my favourite chapter so far.(view spoiler)[ I loved the anecdotes about the Palace of Versailles , Henri IV (who knew he stank, LOL) and Monet's garden. And the story about who won Marie Blanchard's hand in marriage was well told. I also thought the connection between the last chapter (Simon Renard marrying the Protestant Constance) and their descendent James Fox was cleverly done. Vintage Rutherfurd. (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Up to Chapter 18.

Love the way Rutherfurd is now drawing all those family connections together (view spoiler)[ Especially the twist with the Le Sourd and the de Cynges ie Amelie's secret father (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Up to Chapter 24 and will finish tonight. Once I got into it and the different family connections started coming together I have been really enjoying this book. It was sort of like a big puzzle coming together to make a complete picture.

I've been singing the praises of Rutherfurd to my cousin who borrowed "London" today. It was probably my favourite although Paris has come close.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Finished this morning. What an ending. Those last chapters were brilliant - Rutherfurd did a fantastic job tying all those threads together and thank goodness (view spoiler)[ Luc got his just desserts! (hide spoiler)]

I really enjoyed this one - probably because Paris is somewhat familiar to me and I could really identify with a lot of the places he mentioned. Great reading.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Well put Lisa - it was like a big puzzle. I really liked that ending too (view spoiler)[ Luc was just such a horrible man (hide spoiler)].

I should read London next, but I keep reminding myself that Russka is sitting on my bookshelf and I've had it for a few years and really should return it to my friend!!

I'm glad you enjoyed this one so much. I agree that it brings more meaning when you have been to the city.
Have you read Labyrinth? I think you'd really enjoy it :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I bit the bullet and just bought the audio of
40 hours! :o

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Yes, I've read Labyrinth and a few of Kate Mosse's other books. I do enjoy her. They made a mini-series of Labyrinth a while ago but it wasn't as good as the novel.

I'll be interested in what you think of Russka, I didn't enjoy it as much as Paris and London. Didn't seem to connect with the characters, they didn't seem to have as much heart or substance and the stories weren't as compelling.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I think my favourite was the 3rd book in that Mosse series. The audio was very good too.

When I start Russka (probably in 2 days) I'll
Find the old BR thread and read your comments :)