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The novel gives a peek into the lifestyles of affluent, intellectual Parisian society. The author has considerable skill in painting a detailed picture of Parisian living at its finest. I felt like I wanted to move to Paris and live among the Tellers’ social circle.
I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, so I will just say that this book is a gem. The pacing in the first third of the book gives off an underlying tension and makes the reader feel like they are in Elizabeth’s shoes, frantic that her past will come to light at any moment. I felt a sense of terror that Troy might get revenge on Elizabeth, even before I knew what she had done. The secret is not revealed right away, yet you can identify with her feelings of guilt about her past actions.
The book is written in 3 parts and each part has a different feel and pacing. The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that there are no chapters. Without chapters, I found it difficult to find a place to stop after reading. This format didn't bother me too much in the first section since I couldn’t put the book down. However, as the pacing slowed down a bit in the middle section, it would have been nice to have chapters so that there isn’t so much of a run-on feel.
Some of the events in the story seem a bit overdone, although the overall story does seem realistic. I think the author’s skill is in making you feel that an action has many consequences, even years later. The consequences can be felt in minor and major ways. I found this book to be very thought-provoking. I enjoyed reading about the characters so much that I didn’t want to the book to end. Rating: 4 out of 4 stars
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