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Lisette's List
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
13 posts | 7 read | 12 to read
From Susan Vreeland, bestselling author of such acclaimed novels as "Girl in Hyacinth Blue, Luncheon of the Boating Party, "and" Clara and Mr. Tiffany, "comes a richly imagined story of a woman s awakening in the south of Vichy France to the power of art, to the beauty of provincial life, and to love in the midst of war. In 1937, young Lisette Roux and her husband, Andre, move from Paris to a village in Provence to care for Andre s grandfather Pascal. Lisette regrets having to give up her dream of becoming a gallery apprentice and longs for the comforts and sophistication of Paris. But as she soon discovers, the hilltop town is rich with unexpected pleasures. Pascal once worked in the nearby ochre mines and later became a pigment salesman and frame maker; while selling his pigments in Paris, he befriended Pissarro and Cezanne, some of whose paintings he received in trade for his frames. Pascal begins to tutor Lisette in both art and life, allowing her to see his small collection of paintings and the Provencal landscape itself in a new light. Inspired by Pascal s advice to Do the important things first, Lisette begins a list of vows to herself (#"4. Learn what makes a painting great"). When war breaks out, Andre goes off to the front, but not before hiding Pascal s paintings to keep them from the Nazis reach. With German forces spreading across Europe, the sudden fall of Paris, and the rise of Vichy France, Lisette sets out to locate the paintings ("#11. Find the paintings in my lifetime"). Her search takes her through the stunning French countryside, where she befriends Marc and Bella Chagall, who are in hiding before their flight to America, and acquaints her with the land, her neighbors, and even herself in ways she never dreamed possible. Through joy and tragedy, occupation and liberation, small acts of kindness and great acts of courage, Lisette learns to forgive the past, to live robustly, and to love again. Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader s Circle for author chats and more. "" Vreeland s love of painters and painting, her meticulous research and pitch-perfect descriptive talents . . . are abundantly evident in her new novel. "The Washington Post" This historical novel s . . . great strength is its lovingly detailed setting. . . . Readers will enjoy lingering in the sun-dappled, fruit-scented Provencal landscape that Vreeland brings to life. "The Boston Globe" A pleasurable opportunity to learn something about art, history . . . and to enjoy a plucky heroine who grows in ways she never thought possible. "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" Mesmerizing . . . Vreeland s passionate writing is as good as a private showing at the Louvre. "Kirkus Reviews" (starred review) An entrancing novel of joy and heartache . . . Vreeland provides the reader with a broad spectrum of emotions. "The Free Lance-Star""
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Mshookquilts
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t sure I would like this in the beginning. If it strikes you the same way, hang in there. An excellent, heart-warming read. Lisette is forced from Paris to Provençal but learns the most about paintings and life.

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BookishMe
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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Pickpick

Completed my February's #BookSpin over the weekend. Such a lovely story, despite tragedies marked by the war. My growing interest in Provence now includes Roussillon ❣️❣️ and French art. Apparently there's another painting, by Cézanne, of a group of card players. The featured pic is the one discussed in this #HistoricalFiction
Glad to be introduced to the fanciful world of Chagall as well

39 likes1 stack add
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BookishMe
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland

Amid the crowd of travelers darting in front of the Avignon train station, the delivery boys on ancient bicycles swerving between children and horsecarts, and the automobile drivers honking their horns, André stood relaxed, eating an apple from a fruit stand.

Finger *exhaling* (if that's possible ;))

#FirstLineFridays - courtesy of wanderingwords.co.uk
@ShyBookOwl

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BookishMe
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland

We were part of the theatre that was Paris.

#currentRead #nowReading #HistoricalFiction #ebook #Paris #France

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BookishMe
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland

We're walking through a painting right now, Lisette.

- Reading fiction set in Provence and then wanting to know about the Provençal son, Cezanne, led me to this book. It has now also piqued my interest in Chagall.
#nowReading #currentRead #HistoricalFiction

Crazeedi Sounds interesting!! I love stories set here. Dont know if you like mysteries, but Martin Walker has a series set in Peregord that is excellent. Mystery plus food, winevand cukture 5y
Crazeedi Wine and culture, 🙄 5y
BookishMe I will definitely look that up! I certainly enjoy stories set outside Paris ☺️☺️ Peter Mayle spoiled me with minimal mystery but lots of wine and food in his books 5y
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BookishMe
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland

A moment here, a moment there, even just mildly pleasant moments, and you will stitch them together into a pleasant life.

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BookishMe
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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Enjoying the start of my #BookSpin 12

A Parisian couple uproot their lives & budding careers in the art world, in response to a letter from the young husband's ailing grandfather. Upon arriving in bucolic Roussillon, Lisette is appalled rural life meant using public loo & no drinking in bars for females.
2 yrs of good life pass with the former pigment seller & his memories of friendships with artists. Those reminiscing lead to Lisette's List.

BookishMe Oh... Provence means Peter Mayle to me!! His book is the other companion while I get through the tagged book ☺️☺️ 5y
31 likes1 comment
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BookishMe
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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February #BookSpin - 12!
I will attempt the #doubleSpin as well. I really want to finish that book (1) which has tolerated my sporadic attention since last year 😟😖

Thanks so much @TheAromaofBooks
This is FUN ;D

TheAromaofBooks This is the simplest challenge ever yet I am having a GREAT TIME! 😁 Here's hoping you get two off the list!! 5y
31 likes2 comments
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SaraFair
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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1/3 of the way through and I am just stuck for some reason. Why can't I enjoy this when I love anything French related and also loved her "Clara and Mr Tiffany"? Should I push through? So depressing, not my thing.

DivineDiana Did you persist? 7y
SaraFair @DivaDiana - lol no. I skipped through and didnt see anything that made me want to persist, so I moved on to something else. 7y
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GeekGrl82
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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Mehso-so

I lived Vreeland's The Passion of Artemisia. But I don't know as much about Italian renaissance history & that may have made it easier to like. I know a lot about World War II, & I have focused on the War in France for the last year. That part of this book is pretty weak and general, & it bothered me. But I loved the parts about the artists & paintings. That is obviously her strong suit. I'd give this a soft 3.5 stars.

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Emiller
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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Absolutely loved this book!!! And I just couldn't resist using Ronin as a book prop (just long enough for the photo, she immediately got up). 😂

Prairiegirl_reading Adorable 🐶 7y
respekt1111 So cute!💕 7y
Nat_Reads Love your dog! 7y
See All 9 Comments
PurpleyPumpkin Is that a Shiba Inu???😍 7y
Emiller @PurpleyPumpkin yes Ronin is a shiba. She's 11 years old. She was not amused with being a book prop for a photo 😂 7y
PurpleyPumpkin 😊She looks like she was trying to be very patient. She's a beauty. I'm hoping that my hubby & I get one one day! I understand that they're quite independent which would work for us since we're used to cats. 7y
Emiller @PurpleyPumpkin They are very cat like. They don't always play well with other animals. But they are very cute! They are very unique dogs. 7y
NovelGirl82 She's gorgeous!! 7y
MicheleinPhilly Ronin! ❤️ 7y
62 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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Emiller
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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Never enough books! Want all the books!! 📚📚📚📚📚

Suet624 Yes! 7y
tpixie Lol!! 💕📚💕📚💕 7y
Redjewel_7734 There is no such thing as enough books 😡😜 7y
That-Bookish-Hiker My husband tells me this all the time and then he buys me more books lol. 7y
60 likes4 comments
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Emiller
Lisette's List | Susan Vreeland
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Starting this one today. Love Susan Vreeland's books!

PenguinInFlight I do, too! She is an amazing writer! 😍 7y
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