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Mary Lou F. (Naples, FL)
Brave women
No matter what type of woman lived in Paris during World War 11, they all managed to survive to help others out if possible. Some turned themselves into different personalities but all were brave in their own way.
Jeanne W. (Columbia, MD)
WWII wasn't just the big battles
Anne Sebba's meticulous research into the lives of Parisian women during WWII is truly remarkable and an epic achievement. It's wonderful that so many stories of those "behind the lines" are now being told. Unfortunately, there are so many characters that there seems to be no cohesion to the story. It doesn't work well to tell their stories in a chronological fashion. It might have worked better to do a series of short sketches. There's a great deal of emphasis on the fashion and cultural worlds which seems somewhat non-essential to the story. While I found the book difficult to read, it's a worthwhile effort for the stories of these women to finally be told.
Darra_W
The "Back Story"
If you've ever wondered about the "back story" to recent book-club favorites such as Sarah's Key or Suite Francaise, or films such as Casablanca and The Monuments Men, this detailed, well-researched accounting of life in Paris during WWII provides many answers. Focusing primarily on the stories of women in the ten-year span (1939 - 1949) leading up to and during the occupation; the liberation; and the immediate post-war period, the author paints a series of vivid portraits detailing the complex experiences of collaborators, resisters, Jews, and other political outcasts, as well as the day-to-day sacrifices of women surviving in a particularly harrowing environment. Les Parisiennes is not an easy read, but a rewarding (and often uplifting) one for anyone interested in this dark and challenging time in 20th-century history.
Katherine P. (Post Mills, VT)
Paris and Her Women In Warfime
There are places where the story drags and others where the story is repetitious but overall it is a fascinating story. It begins in 1939 when the City becomes aware of the German threat but during the lull when the Germans are gracious and cultured and polite. Soon things begin to change and the food shortages begin and Jews are rounded up and made to wear yellow stars, Jewish companies are arynized and their owners flee or to into hiding.
Many French men have already gone to unoccupied France to fight in DeGualle's army, what few are left are gathered up and sent to work in Germany for the war effort. Left behind are the women and children, whom they need to protect and feed. The choices made by the women are unbelievable--some resist, some depart and others collaborate--some even collaborate while also resisting. All of the stories are heart-breaking and over and over I asked myself, what would I do, would I be able to survive some of the horrors , how would I protect my child?
Once liberation comes the story is far from over. All of the women who survived, no matter how, now had to face the future--for some a very short future, with death the result of trials that found them guilty of treason, or the result of illness and weakness resulting from years spent at the hands of brutal German imprisonment. Yet, others lived into their nineties and they, too, found their future shadowed by the years of the war and its aftermath. Perhaps the most impressive line in the book is its last:"It is not for the rest of us to judge but, with imagination, we can try to understand."
As this was an advance reading copy the pictures which will be in the published edition were lacking and that is sad, for the captions of the empty spaces indicate that they will greatly enhance this story of the incredible women who lived through the German occupation of Paris and the rest of France during WW II.
Mary Jane D. (Arlington Heights, IL)
Interesting Read
Les Parisiennes is an extremely well researched and detailed nonfiction account of the trials and tribulations of many different women who experienced the Nazi Occupation of Paris during WW2 and the aftermath.
I found it hard to get into because of the large number of characters and details. The book deals with each year and what occurs in many lives instead of following one character at a time. Many were mentioned very briefly and others were followed through their entire experience. I found it confusing and had to keep looking back to remember the details of each person. The cast list at the end was somewhat helpful.
I found the stories of the rich and famous very intriguing and never realized how people like Chanel, Dior, Lanvin, Edith Piaf, Picasso,and even Jacqueline Kennedy and Julia Child were affected or influenced. The most touching were the stories of the ordinary brave women who underwent unspeakable experiences and either lived to write and tell about them or perished.
Anne Sebba did very extensive research and should be applauded for her thoroughness. The book would appeal to serious scholars who are familiar with the history of the time period. It was not an easy read but I'm glad I stuck with it and learned much.
djn, oregon
Tough read
This book is about Paris women and how they faced WWII. It is not an easy read. There are a multitude of characters that come from many backgrounds. It is a definitely a well researched piece of work, which would appeal to a history buff rather than a reader of historical fiction which is my choice. I think the main difficulties is the number of characters. The cast of characters would have been better placed at the beginning of the book rather than the end where you could easily access it and you would know it was there in the beginning. It was not a book I would recommend to the average reader. I would actually give it two ratings, 2 for readability and 5 for detail and research.
Wanda T. (Garnet Valley, PA)
Les Parisiennes by Anne Sebba
If you are a fan of history you will love this book. It is not historical fiction, it is pure history. I have read many historical fiction novels about WWII and have read a few about the brave people who risked their lives to save airmen, Jews, children and many others from torture or death during that time. This book focuses on the women of Paris and their roll during the occupation and beyond.
It is a very detailed book of the struggles, pain and horror the women of Paris endured and I am in awe at the research the author conducted to get the facts for this book. Much to discuss for book clubs!
Carol R. (Manchester, NH)
Difficult Read
This was a difficult read for me. I had to force myself to go back to where I had left off, although interesting, very depressing and sad. Although I must admit that the research that went into the writing of this book is commendable, I just didn't enjoy reading it and didn't finish it.
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