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I've never been a fan of fictionalized works of authors' lives, and the fact that The Paris Wife recounts my favourite author's life during the writing of my favourite book of all time, The Sun Also Rises, antagonized the hell out of me. It didn't bode well.
But I promised my sister I'd give it a go; she wanted me to read it because we'd just read A Moveable Feast together, and she sent me the hardcover that she'd read for a recent book club. I couldn't say no.
Then, straight away, Paula McLain p ...more
But I promised my sister I'd give it a go; she wanted me to read it because we'd just read A Moveable Feast together, and she sent me the hardcover that she'd read for a recent book club. I couldn't say no.
Then, straight away, Paula McLain p ...more

A fictional inside view by the first wife of one of the most enigmatic writers of the 20th century.
Hadley Richardson is portrayed as a weak woman, indecisive, subservient to her effusive husband, a heavy drinker herself and an absentee mother who is relieved when her baby spends more time with the nanny; a woman without the guts to tear the eyeballs out of the wily opponent who steals her husband.
This is Paris in the 20’s, filled with American expatriates who see their dollar go very far against ...more
Hadley Richardson is portrayed as a weak woman, indecisive, subservient to her effusive husband, a heavy drinker herself and an absentee mother who is relieved when her baby spends more time with the nanny; a woman without the guts to tear the eyeballs out of the wily opponent who steals her husband.
This is Paris in the 20’s, filled with American expatriates who see their dollar go very far against ...more

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I loved this book. I'd been waiting for it from the library and as soon as I got it I had to start reading it, putting my other books on hold. I find the "lost" generation fascinating. Who doesnt want to go hang out in Paris with artists? It was interesting to hear about the crowd the Hemingways partied with, the things they did. I'm not a huge fan of Hemingways writing, but I love The Sun Also Rises, and this book takes place while he is writing that, and they spend a lot of time in Pamplona. T
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I enjoyed this book, but was frequently confused about whether I was reading a work of fiction or non-fiction, and since I knew it was fiction, had some difficulty understanding to what extend I could trust the narrator.
For starters, the literary characters seemed amazingly self-aware of their ultimate importance. Everyone knew Hemingway would be one of the most important writers of his time, Hemingway knew James Joyce was doing something really noteworthy, etc. And maybe that was all true, but ...more
For starters, the literary characters seemed amazingly self-aware of their ultimate importance. Everyone knew Hemingway would be one of the most important writers of his time, Hemingway knew James Joyce was doing something really noteworthy, etc. And maybe that was all true, but ...more

Fast paced and interesting look into Paris in the 1920's. It was great fun to read about the young writers and painters relationships and hardships. This book is heartbreaking, but now I am on to Green Mansions and A Moveable Feast.
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I have to start off by saying that after reading this, I'll never really forgive Ernest Hemingway.
Paula McLain amazed me with this piece of historical fiction. I don't know if I've ever fallen in love with a character the way I did for Hadley. She's so genuinely real in this story that I doubt I'll be able to separate her voice from reality. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I started reading it. I also appreciate the way the story really followed through to the very en ...more
Paula McLain amazed me with this piece of historical fiction. I don't know if I've ever fallen in love with a character the way I did for Hadley. She's so genuinely real in this story that I doubt I'll be able to separate her voice from reality. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I started reading it. I also appreciate the way the story really followed through to the very en ...more

Apr 21, 2011
Daniel Villines
marked it as to-read-and-own

May 08, 2011
Bonnie
added it

Jun 12, 2011
Noelle
marked it as to-read

Jul 26, 2011
Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB
marked it as to-read

Nov 09, 2011
Sue Bridehead (A Pseudonym)
marked it as to-read

Dec 11, 2011
Rodney Ulyate
marked it as to-read

Jan 07, 2012
B0nnie
marked it as to-read

Jan 15, 2016
Sue
marked it as did-not-finish