Synopsis
From the New York Times bestselling author of Sarah's Key and A Secret Kept comes an absorbing new novel about one woman's resistance during an époque that shook Paris to its very core.
Paris, France: 1860's. Hundreds of houses are being razed, whole neighborhoods reduced to ashes. By order of Emperor Napoleon III, Baron Haussman has set into motion a series of large-scale renovations that will permanently alter the face of old Paris, moulding it into a "modern city." The reforms will erase generations of history—but in the midst of the tumult, one woman will take a stand.
Rose Bazelet is determined to fight against the destruction of her family home until the very end; as others flee, she stakes her claim in the basement of the old house on rue Childebert, ignoring the sounds of change that come closer and closer each day. Attempting to overcome the loneliness of her daily life, she begins to write letters to Armand, her beloved late husband. And as she delves into the ritual of remembering, Rose is forced to come to terms with a secret that has been buried deep in her heart for thirty years. Tatiana de Rosnay's The House I Loved is both a poignant story of one woman's indelible strength, and an ode to Paris, where houses harbor the joys and sorrows of their inhabitants, and secrets endure in the very walls...
About Tatiana de Rosnay
See more books from this AuthorDe Rosnay’s delicacy and the flavor of her beloved Paris are everywhere in this brief but memorable book.
Read Full Review of The House I Loved | See more reviews from KirkusIn Rose, one gets the clear sense of a woman losing her place in a changing world, but this isn’t enough to make up for a weak narrative hung entirely on the eventual reveal of a long-buried secret.
Read Full Review of The House I Loved | See more reviews from Publishers Weekly...knowing how this one will end is what makes it so special.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedUnlike the author’s earlier books, it is more domestic than dramatic, but this slim and perceptive diversion has an unhurried charm of its own.
Read Full Review of The House I Loved | See more reviews from Globe and MailDespite the heavy emotions of this story, The House I Loved is a breezy reading experience, and that makes for a disjointed novel.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedBut the few characters feel flat and hastily drawn, and Rose’s dedication to her husband’s family home feels forced and artificial...
Read Full Review of The House I Loved...it is a strong story none-the-less and brings to light a period of history that I enjoyed learning more about.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedWith this book Ms. De Rosnay has gone to new heights in writing excellence.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedThe end result is a novel that leaves a reader feeling restless as the story unfolds, wishing it would happen faster, and fairly unsatisfied at its ending, all for a story that had potential but fizzled all too quickly.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedThe House I Loved is not a novel with much action, but it is a fascinating view into the life of a 19th century Parisian woman, as well as a period of French history that is not much-discussed.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedFans of de Rosnay's Sarah's Key will not find the same kind of compelling, page-turning urgency in The House I Loved.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedAn emotionally percussive and solidly powerful read, made perfect in its execution.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedI liked the plot and the characters immensely but felt something was missing as well.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedI think my issue was with the characters – that I couldn’t identify with them that turned me off a little bit.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedThe House I Loved is both heartbreaking and suspenseful.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedDe Rosnay once again successfully blends a grand historical event... with an intensely personal story of love, grief and dedication.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedBut the truth is I was bored reading The House I Loved.
Read Full Review of The House I LovedAn aggregated and normalized score based on 646 user ratings from iDreamBooks & iTunes
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