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The Light of Paris
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
"I adored The Light of Paris. Its so lovely and big-heartedit made me long for Paris." Jojo Moyes, New York Times-bestselling author of Me Before You and After You The Light of Paris is the miraculous new novel from New York Timesbestselling author Eleanor Brown, whose debut, The Weird Sisters, was a sensation beloved by critics and readers alike. Madeleine is trappedby her family's expectations, by her controlling husband, and by her own fearsin an unhappy marriage and a life she never wanted. From the outside, it looks like she has everything, but on the inside, she fears she has nothing that matters. In Madeleines memories, her grandmother Margie is the kind of woman she should have beenelegant, reserved, perfect. But when Madeleine finds a diary detailing Margies bold, romantic trip to Jazz Age Paris, she meets the grandmother she never knew: a dreamer who defied her strict, staid family and spent an exhilarating summer writing in cafs, living on her own, and falling for a charismatic artist. Despite her unhappiness, when Madeleines marriage is threatened, she panics, escaping to her hometown and staying with her critical, disapproving mother. In that unlikely place, shaken by the revelation of a long-hidden family secret and inspired by her grandmothers bravery, Madeleine creates her own Parisian summerreconnecting to her love of painting, cultivating a vibrant circle of creative friends, and finding a kindred spirit in a down-to-earth chef who reminds her to feed both her body and her heart. Margie and Madeleines stories intertwine to explore the joys and risks of living life on our own terms, of defying the rules that hold us back from our dreams, and of becoming the people we are meant to be. From the Hardcover edition.
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SheilaChew
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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I went to the library today. 🤓

23 likes1 stack add
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Pickpick

In this dual timeline novel, granddaughter Madeleine learns things she never knew about her grandmother Margie, thanks to a stash of diaries. This is a novel filled with “what if‘s” and hope and desire. And Paris. I wanted to crawl into the pages and walk the streets! Brown‘s writing left me feeling raw in part, as the main characters face disapproval at every turn. Glad I had an opportunity to read this with the #LiteraryCrew .

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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Did Margie make the right choice? From Litlovers.com #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Thanks for reading this month! Cannot wait for next month‘s reading!

CarolineLovesToRead I feel that Margie made the right choice of staying in Paris even though she had to come back too soon and pregnant with Sebastien's baby. She showed her parents that she can be her own person and had a small taste of freedom. I wanted to know a bit more of her life when she came back and married Roger. 4y
BookNAround She made the only choice she could for the time but it was sad that it led to more generations of repression. 4y
7 likes3 comments
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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4. Margie wants to write, and Madeleine wants to paint. How does their art affect their lives and what happens in the story? From Litlovers.com #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CarolineLovesToRead I'm not sure if Margie would have met Sebastien if he hadn't discovered her writing in the café. Her staying in Paris gave her the escape she needed from her parents even though short lived. Madeleine's art is who she is and so happy she got back to it in Magnolia 4y
BookNAround Their respective art and their discovery of the importance of it in terms of who their true selves are drives the whole novel. 4y
Librarybelle @CarolineLovesToRead @BookNAround The writing and the painting are outlets for Margie and Madeleine, a way to leave social conventions. I‘m glad Madeleine could pursue her art! I agree with @CarolineLovesToRead - Margie‘s writing helped lead her to Sebastien. 4y
6 likes3 comments
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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3. Think about Magnolia and Paris. Do the two cities have anything in common? Would you consider the cities characters in the novel? Adapted from Litlovers.com #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CarolineLovesToRead Both have culture and surprises as well as interesting people to befriend. Paris and Magnolia are definitely characters adding to the magic of discovery 4y
BookNAround I agree with @CarolineLovesToRead about the similarities but I don‘t think they are characters. They are incredibly important settings, causing each woman to come alive and consider her possibilities but they have no agency themselves. 4y
Librarybelle @CarolineLovesToRead @BookNAround I could see Paris more of a character than Magnolia, and that could just be me projecting what I know about the vibrancy of the city and how alive it seems. 4y
6 likes4 comments
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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2. What are the family patterns that are carried through the three generations of women - Margie, Simone, and Madeleine? How are they similar and how are they different? From Litlovers.com #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CarolineLovesToRead So much is focused on appearances and how each generation feels these women need to be a certain way. The mothers who put pressure on their daughters and how Philippe has an idea of how Madeleine needs to act to his expectations 4y
BookNAround Bucking social conventions was not only highly discouraged but led to disapproval and a perceived lack of love which caused the women to repress their true selves. Sad really. 4y
Librarybelle @CarolineLovesToRead @BookNAround The whole dynamic between the women, and then between Madeleine and Phillip, really made me sad for the young Margie and for Madeleine. But, totally agree with @BookNAround - at that time (1920s), to go against social convention was discouraged. It trickled down the family line, it seems. 4y
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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It‘s time for some discussion questions for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #Buddyread !

1. What are your overall impressions of this novel? Was this your first time reading a book by Eleanor Brown? Would you read another by her?

CarolineLovesToRead I've never read any of her books before and will gladly read anything recommended. She described her characters in way that I could relate. 4y
CarolineLovesToRead I clicked send to quickly.....felt awful that Margie didn't get to stay in Paris. If I was single and no pandemic and lots of money, I would definitely be in Paris. People love Paris in the springtime but Paris in the fall is so beautiful. 4y
catebutler This was my first of hers to read and I would definitely read her again. I‘ll be honest when we first started I wasn‘t sure I‘d like this one, but I ended up loving both storylines and the book. 4y
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Chrissyreadit I did not read this, but I suspect I will. 4y
BookNAround I read and loved The Weird Sisters by Brown so was looking forward to this one. Overall I enjoyed it but I thought the end wrapped up a little too quickly and we didn‘t really see why Margie became the stiff grandmother Madeleine remembers. 4y
Librarybelle @CarolineLovesToRead @catebutler @BookNAround I enjoyed this one too! It did start off some, and I have to agree about the quick wrap up at the end. There‘s a hint of why Margie became so austere, but I feel it would have been interesting to hear more about it. 4y
8 likes6 comments
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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We‘re concluding this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead for September! I‘ll post some discussion questions on the 30th, but feel free to share any impressions in the comments.

I‘ve enjoyed traveling to Paris in the 1920s and contemporary US! I‘m nearly finished...hoping to finish it tonight!

CarolineLovesToRead I really enjoyed this book. Can't wait for the discussion questions 4y
Jerdencon This one got away from me,,, I‘ll hoping to get to it at some point! 4y
Librarybelle @Jerdencon No worries! 4y
Librarybelle @CarolineLovesToRead It is a delightful read! 4y
52 likes4 comments
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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We‘re finishing the second section of reading for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead . Any thoughts to share? My impressions are in the comments section.

Librarybelle I feel gutted by the treatment Madeleine and Margie face from family members - not feeling good enough and always scrutinized and criticized. But, I love the spirit both women have, wishing for more and making plans to make it happen, or at least knowing they want out of their current situations. 4y
CarolineLovesToRead Am loving the stories of Madeleine and Margie. Excited to get to know what made Margie leave Paris and hoping that Madeleine does what she wants to do with her life. I identify with both women. How Margie wants to have excitement in her life and not feel so awkward and how Madeleine realizes that she wants more in her life. 4y
catebutler I agree! It really bothers me how they are trampled and stifled by their families. It especially made me sad when Madeleine realised that something happened to Margie, to make her go back to the US, and became rigid, stuffy and miserable. 😢 Now I‘m anxious to find out what happens!! 😬 4y
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Librarybelle @CarolineLovesToRead @catebutler I‘m anxious and nervous to find out what made Margie come back from Paris! She sounds so happy and alive in Paris! 4y
BookNAround If I was a part of this family, I don‘t think I‘d ever want to have children and perpetuate this dismissive and unkind mothering. 😔 Not only did they make their daughters feel unattractive and never good enough, but they stifled the creative parts of their daughters, the one piece of their lives that made them happy and fulfilled. 4y
BookNAround And did everyone else catch the comment that Margie married Robert Walsh? He was the author of her one magical evening in her young adulthood so if he‘s the reason she pokered up in later life, that‘ll make me sad. 4y
Librarybelle @BookNAround I know! I caught that too, but thought I read it wrong. 4y
51 likes7 comments
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BookNAround
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Taking my baby to college for the first time. Had to drive 8 hours today and will be here a couple of days so I packed road snacks and two books per day (minus move-in day itself). Here‘s to an imminent empty nest!

BooksCoffeeNurse @BookNAround Aw, good luck to your baby at college. ☺️ 4y
Aims42 Cheers, mama!! 🥂 💕 4y
robinb Welcome to the club!! 🤗 4y
67 likes3 comments
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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We‘re at the end of the first part of this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead ! Any thoughts to share? Do you like the dual timeline?

catebutler I‘m enjoying the novel, and I do like the dual narrative, I‘m finding this style to be the popular thing right now. Sometimes it works for me, and sometimes it draws me out of the narrative a bit. 4y
Librarybelle @catebutler Agreed! Sometimes the dual timeline narrative works, and sometimes it does not. I like the contrast between the familial generations with the timeline. 4y
catebutler I‘m also surprised that I‘m enjoying the Medeleine chapters as much as I am. I usually find the modern storylines meh! 😒 4y
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CarolineLovesToRead I'm loving the stories of these two women. I can definitely relate to both. I'm interested in finding out more of Margie's story. I'm in love with 1920's Paris and can't wait to find out more. 4y
Librarybelle @CarolineLovesToRead It‘s so fascinating! 4y
Librarybelle @catebutler Haha! Glad you‘re enjoying the modern storyline too! 4y
BookNAround This has been slow going so far because of non-book stuff but I am enjoying it so far. I do like Eleanor Brown‘s writing. 4y
Librarybelle @BookNAround It does draw you in with the writing style! 4y
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Librarybelle
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Better late than never - the September pick for the next #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead ! We‘re heading to Paris in a dual timeline novel, as a young woman discovers her grandmother‘s diary & it‘s secrets...

Wanna join us? Just comment below! We‘re a no pressure buddy read - use the schedule above as a suggestion. Read at your own pace, and I will post periodically to check in with everyone.

For the August read, I‘ll post discussion points on Monday!

Librarybelle Because I posted this so late for the Sept 1 start, the first section is a little bit longer, and I‘ll post the first check in post a little bit later into September. 4y
catebutler So excited about this! Thank you for all the work you do, to organize this!! 🥰 4y
Librarybelle Thanks, @catebutler ! 🥰 4y
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Jerdencon Great! 4y
KarouBlue I hear this book is excellent! I‘ll join! 4y
BethM awesome! I suck and won‘t get Aug done but hopefully I‘ll be back on track for sept! 4y
Librarybelle @BethM No worries! I have to finish August today. 4y
BookNAround I never did crack open August but I‘m hoping I can join in for this one! 4y
Chelsey_5 Sounds awesome! I‘ll join 💁🏼‍♀️ 4y
Librarybelle @Chelsey_5 Terrific! Welcome! 4y
55 likes13 comments
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CoffeeNBooks
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Eggs Sounds fun🤗👏🏻 4y
67 likes1 comment
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lowellette
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Pickpick

Sometimes one needs to delve into some family history to gather inspiration on how to deal with a disappointing husband.

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CoffeeNBooks
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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smilingshelves
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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I don't get many moments like this anymore! The baby is napping, and my son is "helping" Daddy with some home repairs. Time for some peppermint tea and a book!

erank58 I am in LOVE with that mug 🤩 6y
smilingshelves @erank58 Isn't it pretty? It was a gift from my handbell choir. It's my favorite mug, for sure! 6y
33 likes2 comments
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smilingshelves
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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It might just be because purple is my favorite color, but looking at this cover makes me happy. 😊 #coverlove

Nute Cool fonts also!🙂 6y
25 likes1 comment
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Redy2trvl
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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George is pretty pleased with my morning read! #crazycatgeorge #catsoflitsy

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Bourriquet76
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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May book goals!

morgan_krahn I hope you enjoy beartown as much as I did! 7y
Bourriquet76 @morgan_krahn Loving it so far! 7y
48 likes2 comments
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Bourriquet76
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Not the best month. 6 and 2 halves books.

I can‘t seem to keep my eyes open at night right now.

MuddyPuddle It certainly looks pretty darned good to me! 7y
tammysue Yes it does @MuddyPuddle ! Great job! 👍🏻🙌🏻 7y
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Bourriquet76
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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I couldn‘t put down Citizens Creek, so this is my next upstairs read.

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allisoncalifornia
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Reorganizing my bookshelf 📚 looks like I need more purple books

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ReadingSusan
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Pickpick

What a delightful book! I enjoyed it so much. Also, it's a gorgeous day but I keep getting alerts about all the tornados Irma will bring. 😭😭 #tornadophobia

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ReadingSusan
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Um no. I would leave him immediately.

Leniverse Yikes! Now if he's said to get rid of all the tatty old mass market paperbacks, I'd have agreed to store them in boxes under the bed and get nice new leather bounds for the posh shelves. But the setup he's got there: Nu-uh! Bye Felipe! 7y
Suet624 Shoot. Me too. 7y
MochiiMocha Wow! I would not consent with Phillip on that one! I would want to keep my books. 7y
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MicheleinPhilly Nope. Swipe left. 7y
Zelma Heck no! Definitely not ok with me. 7y
xicanti Phillip is clearly a rotter. 7y
Nafiza That is grounds for a divorce. 7y
CocoReads Nope-no to Phillip and yes to books! Also what the hell else are book shelves supposed to be for? 7y
rubyslippersreads Definitely a deal-breaker! 😠 7y
ReadingSusan @Leniverse yes me too. 7y
ReadingSusan @xicanti he definitely is. 7y
ReadingSusan @CocoReads he's an idiot!! 7y
Libby1 No no no no no. NO. 7y
minkyb ‼️‼️‼️ 7y
62 likes15 comments
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ReadingSusan
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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I am unable to sleep right now so I am reading this terrific book. I am starting to get nervous about this darn hurricane. I am worried about friends who have stayed and family who are still on the road up here. And now they are talking about it being bad here which NEVER happens. It's bizarre and weird. I am trying not to waste time worrying about a situation that might change and that I can't control.

Smrloomis Hope it all turns out ok! 🤞🏽 7y
Bookish.Heart I second that! Sending good thoughts your way! 7y
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Jenken1998 I hear ya. I'm trying to read away my anxiety. 7y
Zelma I hope you do okay! I have a ton of anxiety right now too. My stomach is getting upset everything I look at a map and track the storm. 7y
ReadingEnvy My dogs have been anxious since last night so I suspect it's still going to be bad here too, hours inland! And this morning it was so cold outside I could see my breath. usually this time of year is 80s and 90s so everything feels off. May you be safe! 7y
ReadingSusan @Zelma me too😐 I need to stop looking as it doesn't help anything. But I can't tear myself away. 7y
ReadingSusan @ReadingEnvy yes that's how I felt too. Usually there are birds singing and this morning there wasn't. So weird. 7y
MaureenMc 🙏🙏 7y
DivineDiana Sending love! ❤️ 7y
Suet624 Much love to you. 7y
Fan_of_70 Hope everyone stays safe and things work out! 7y
Hollie Thinking of you!! 7y
minkyb Thinking if you! 7y
97 likes6 stack adds17 comments
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Ncostell
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Mehso-so

I really didn't love this book. It was told from the perspectives of a woman in 1999 and her grandmother in 1924 and I didn't care for either of these characters unfortunately. The granddaughter in particular was a little too whiny for my taste. The saving grace for me was learning about the American Library in Paris which I found very interesting. Image is from Goodreads.

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Purrfectpages
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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I've never been to France, although I'd like to go someday. In the meantime, I'll have to settle for visiting through good books! #setinfrance #jubilantjuly

40 likes1 stack add
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SMW_BookLover
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
Pickpick

One of my favorites!!

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Branwen
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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"Margie nearly wept at the simplicity if it. This room was hers, Paris was hers, at last, her life was hers." This book was so beautiful it nearly destroyed me. A woman who has been denying her true self for years gains the confidence to make her life her own again. Truly, a wonderful book. ♡

28 likes1 stack add
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Branwen
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN CAPE MAY!!! ♡♡♡

LadyPotterHead Oooh awesome 7y
Branwen @MyBookZleeves It was the first one I ever found! I was so excited! :-) 7y
LadyPotterHead I would love to find one, feel like creating one but feel like it'll be vandalised around my area 7y
CouronneDhiver Wow, thats a good one! 7y
Branwen @MyBookZleeves Same here! :/ @CouronneDhiver I thought so too! It's beautiful! They had bookmarks in there too! 7y
41 likes5 comments
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Branwen
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Went on a Victorian shore mansion house tour and totally fell in love with the library! ♡ Isn't is beautiful?!?

Felso I want that book case!!! 7y
Branwen @Felso Right?! Me too! I'm so in love with it! 7y
CrowCAH OMG gorgeous!!! 😍 7y
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Branwen @CrowCAH Isn't it though? It was torture to not be able to touch the gorgeous spines! 7y
CrowCAH @Branwen I understand; I tour enough old houses, with old books, to know the feeling! ☺️ 7y
Branwen @CrowCAH The struggle is real! :-) 7y
37 likes6 comments
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Branwen
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Now that I am finished school and I have the summer off from my studies can you guess what my next project is? I am totally down with learning French so that I can (eventually) read books in French and someday take a trip to Paris! My dream is to be able to one day read Proust in French! :-)

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LindaGrace812
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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LindaGrace812
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown

While I'm enjoying this book overall, I am already tired of both women constantly talking and thinking about what they consider their shortcomings. I want to tell both of them to quit freakin' worrying about what other people think!

LindaGrace812 ok, so fine. I'm liking both of them better. 😁 8y
8 likes1 comment
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rustoryhuf
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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My goal for the day.

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Ash11hope
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
Bailedbailed

I couldn't read it, I been on page 15 for like a month, I wanted to read it but just wasn't interested, maybe it's because the small letters I don't know
It was good on what I did read lol but I noticed I got a little distracted and re read a few words

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Ash11hope
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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I should really start reading this, the small letters on the pages intimidate me lol but once I do read and finish will let you all know how I liked it, could be the mixed Reviews I've read that's stopping me too (gotta stop reading reviews before reading actual book lol)
#reading #currentread #currently

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CGeorge
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Pickpick

This book was a fun read. Nothing earth-shatteringly new, but enjoyable nonetheless.

2 likes1 stack add
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hollytucker
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Wow, what a great first paragraph. THE LIGHT OF PARIS. --Eleanor Brown

31 likes4 stack adds
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clconn17
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Bailedbailed

I feel bad bailing after two chapters, but I was so bored already. Also, the library book smells like smoke and I don't think I could stand to read it. 😩 Moving on to Ember in the Ashes that just came through from my holds list!

Debiw781 The smoke smell would have ended it for me. 8y
mostlycatsandcoffee Ugh, I hated when patrons would return books smelling like smoke. We would have to air them out in the shipping room with a fan for several days. 8y
Donna_sBookMinute Smoke. Eyugh! Annoying! Can the card application ask if a person smokes and deny it if the question is answered, "Yes"? It wouldn't be discrimination but protection of an investment. 8y
My_novel_obsession My sister took one of my books camping and it came back smelling like campfire...I don't know if this would work with cigarette smoke but I put the book in a ziploc bag with a dryer sheet for a couple of weeks - it got rid of the smoke smell. (edited) 8y
Reviewsbylola I hate when library books or used books smells like smoke. 8y
64 likes5 comments
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kpelli73
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Mehso-so

This was an OK book. The stories were a little predictable but at the same time OK for a light read. One thing that bugged me a little was that the character who story was in 1924 had won the Mary Oliver prize for lyric poetry. Perhaps this was not intended to reference the real poet Mary Oliver who was born in 1935 but I kind of doubt that. And little editing things like that kind of bug me in a book. #litsyatozchallenge

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Posemn
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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I love all things Paris, but I want the story about Margie STAYING in Paris, struggling through her problems, and making a life that was everything she wanted.
Also....my apologies to A Gentleman in Moscow who keeps getting set aside ( because I own it) due to all of the library books that keep coming up in my queue after months!

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Seriousbookworm
The Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Pickpick

Started this book only two day ago and have already finished it. An inspiring read that makes the reader see that your dreams are possible and being happy is up to you, not everyone around you.

3 likes1 stack add
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KendylChamberlain
Light of Paris | Eleanor Brown
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Pickpick

Great read! I found myself wondering the streets and bridges of Paris and wanting to visit the same places. What a different time. I wish there was more about Sebastian tho...