I haven’t posted about a book for awhile because I’ve haven’t read much since the new year. I’ve been pretty busy with other activities and also took the time to watch all the best picture nominations for the Academy Awards. I was so happy to see Parasite win best picture. If you haven’t seen Parasite (English Subtitled) you can watch on Amazon Prime (click on picture below). Even though I liked all the movies I saw, except Joker which I couldn’t finish, Parasite is the only one I am excited to experience again, and I will soon when I make my husband watch it!!
But I’m logging in today to tell you about the book I’ve been slowly reading since the new year. At first I thought that maybe I wasn’t liking this book so much because I was reading it very slowly. But after fully experiencing it and finding out it was inspired by real people and of course a real place, I am going to recommend it:
Most books I read I have learned about from previews, other reviewers, or friends, but this one I happened to spot on the new fiction shelf at my library. Just put an Eifel Tower and a picture of a woman appearing to be from the WWII era on a cover, and yes, I’m reaching for the book!!
This book is set during occupied Paris and centers around the activity at the luxurious Hotel Ritz.
The Hotel Ritz, Paris. A palace of dreams, of luxury, of diamonds and cocktails and gossip — and secrets. Nothing bad can happen a the Ritz; inside is gilded walls every woman looks beautiful, every man appears witty.
But when the German army occupy the hotel, those who live and work there must navigate the new reality. It reminded me a bit of The Alice Network: A Novel and many others I’ve read through the years.
See my WWII historical fiction reading list here.
I love books when authors make a place seem like a character with its own personality. And I looked up the legendary Hotel Ritz which still exists. It says it’s “great for families” but for over $1,000 a night. So I won’t be doing that in the near future, and on the bucket list it goes. If you can’t get there quite yet either, you can check out this book in the meantime.