Gail Paris - aNobii

Books (219)

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- The Summer Without Men (37)
- By Siri Hustvedt
- Finished on Feb 18, 2012
  
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The Summer Without Men

I have to say I've always thought that Siri Hustevedt was a more interesting writer than her very famous husband Paul Auster. My favorite remains "what I loved" tbough I thouroughly enjoyed "the summer without men". I could relate to the story (middle aged New York woman dumped by hubby of 30 yea ... (continue)

I have to say I've always thought that Siri Hustevedt was a more interesting writer than her very famous husband Paul Auster. My favorite remains "what I loved" tbough I thouroughly enjoyed "the summer without men". I could relate to the story (middle aged New York woman dumped by hubby of 30 years spends summer licking her wounds at mom's place in the midwest) but more importantly I enjoyed the narrator's voice and reflections on literature and life, the cruelty of young girls and reading.

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— Feb 18, 2012 | Add your feedback
- La délicatesse (125)
- By David Foenkinos
- Finished on Jan 29, 2012
  
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La délicatesse

Are there really any accidents?

nathalie is beautiful (ididnt check but pretty sure the word "belle" is used about a thousand times).
When francois dies suddenly, nathalie closes off. But the world goes on and others still see the "belle nathalie".
And one day she comes out of her trance, and choose without knowing that she has ... (continue)

nathalie is beautiful (ididnt check but pretty sure the word "belle" is used about a thousand times).
When francois dies suddenly, nathalie closes off. But the world goes on and others still see the "belle nathalie".
And one day she comes out of her trance, and choose without knowing that she has chosen. and the worlld doesnt get it...but she does... Belle histoire d'amour.

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— Jan 29, 2012 | Add your feedback
- You Deserve Nothing (7)
- A Novel
- By Alexander Kolya Maksik
- Finished on Jan 9, 2012
  
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You Deserve Nothing

Lolita in paris

the cool highschool english teacher. The beautiful senior. The jealous friend. From the beginning we know this cannot finish happily. And so it goes. Good stoey told in three voices: teacher, student and another teacher who loves the first teacher and cares about the student. A sort of love triangle ... (continue)

the cool highschool english teacher. The beautiful senior. The jealous friend. From the beginning we know this cannot finish happily. And so it goes. Good stoey told in three voices: teacher, student and another teacher who loves the first teacher and cares about the student. A sort of love triangle. But no. Regrets just a situation. BUT what if it wasnt fiction and the writer was a former teacher from a school that sounds a lot like this one? Fiction? Check out jezibel mag

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— Jan 9, 2012 | Add your feedback
- The Buddha in the Attic (33)
- By Julie Otsuka
- Finished on Dec 30, 2011
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- A Year Straight (2)
- Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Lesbian Beauty Queen
- By Elena Azzoni
- Finished on Dec 17, 2011
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- The Sense of an Ending (347)
- By Julian Barnes
- Finished on Nov 29, 2011
  
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The Sense of an Ending

Time plays tricks on us but so do authors!

it has been a while since I read a book that had me re-reading the ending. Up until then, I loved it - relished the language, the reflections on time and our distortion of it as we get older and look back. But what a twist...enjoy (and book clubs this is a perfect choice - you'll never get to dinner ... (continue)

it has been a while since I read a book that had me re-reading the ending. Up until then, I loved it - relished the language, the reflections on time and our distortion of it as we get older and look back. But what a twist...enjoy (and book clubs this is a perfect choice - you'll never get to dinner!)

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— Nov 29, 2011 | Add your feedback
- The Marriage Plot (268)
- By Jeffrey Eugenides
- Finished on Nov 22, 2011
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- Haussmann, Or the Distinction (4)
- By Paul LaFarge
- Finished on Oct 23, 2011
  
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Haussmann, Or the Distinction

1 person find this helpful
haussmann hubris and haute societe

Those of us who live in Paris, often dream about having the perfect Haussmannian apartment- high ceilings, fireplaces, molding. We think of these apartments as an elegant remnent from the past. But that wasn't always the case. When built, they were the equivalent of the glass buildings in Soho. Haus ... (continue)

Those of us who live in Paris, often dream about having the perfect Haussmannian apartment- high ceilings, fireplaces, molding. We think of these apartments as an elegant remnent from the past. But that wasn't always the case. When built, they were the equivalent of the glass buildings in Soho. Haussmann tore up large portions of the city, expropriated loads of people, destroyed numerous churches and artifacts to get us our beautiful avenues, buildings and parks. This novel, set in the 1860s in Paris, shows us both the good and the not so flattering side of Haussmann and the political and social webs of the time. The voice of the narrator is annoying at times (this is a novel in a novel -supposedly written at the time of Haussmann - so feels like an awkward version of Dickens at times) but the story worth reading. Loved the Madeleine character who goes from street urchin to lady.

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— Oct 23, 2011 | Add your feedback
- In the Garden of Beasts (51)
- Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
- By Erik Larson
- Finished on Oct 2, 2011
  
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In the Garden of Beasts

turning a blind eye

fascinating story of ambassador Dodd, one of the last American ambassadors to Germany before the war. The naivety of the government and of Dodd himself and the transformation turns this nonfiction into a real life novel. Marha, his high spirited daughter who seemed to collect lovers from as many cou ... (continue)

fascinating story of ambassador Dodd, one of the last American ambassadors to Germany before the war. The naivety of the government and of Dodd himself and the transformation turns this nonfiction into a real life novel. Marha, his high spirited daughter who seemed to collect lovers from as many countries as she could, is a story to herself. Larsen's style is particular with strange asides which tends to make the story a long read but worth it tounderstand a bit better this period of history.

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— Oct 2, 2011 | Add your feedback
- Last Man in Tower (12)
- Finished on Aug 25, 2011
  
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Last Man in Tower

lord of the rings in india

when you get down to it, people are pretty evil and money destroys all sense of decency. that's the message of this third book of the wonderful and disturbing writer of the white tiger

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— Aug 26, 2011 | Add your feedback

- Garlic and Sapphires (48)
- By Ruth Reichl
- Finished on Aug 2, 2011
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- Life, on the Line (3)
- A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat
- By Grant Achatz
- Started on Jul 24, 2011
  
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Life, on the Line

warning: this book will make you hungry

grant achatz always knew he wanted to cook. Nick Kokokas wanted to make good money so did and then was looking for a project. The combination produced Alinea, one of the world's best restaurants. And then Grant got very ill - what is the worst thing that could happen to a chef? Not being able to tas ... (continue)

grant achatz always knew he wanted to cook. Nick Kokokas wanted to make good money so did and then was looking for a project. The combination produced Alinea, one of the world's best restaurants. And then Grant got very ill - what is the worst thing that could happen to a chef? Not being able to taste food. A memoir written in two voices - the story of friendship and food, family and conflict and even how to build a car. A delight (for the foodies: see the blog alineaathome.com)

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— Jul 29, 2011 | Add your feedback
- Faithful Place (34)
- By Tana French
- Finished on Jul 21, 2011
  
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Faithful Place

Need a book you can't put down? try this one - Francis left his family in Dublin 22 years ago when the girl he thought was eloping with him didn't show up. The truth is, she did but someone stopped her from joining him. 22 years later a body is discovered and Francis' world is turned upside down. A ... (continue)

Need a book you can't put down? try this one - Francis left his family in Dublin 22 years ago when the girl he thought was eloping with him didn't show up. The truth is, she did but someone stopped her from joining him. 22 years later a body is discovered and Francis' world is turned upside down. A good who dunnit - perfect for the summer!

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— Jul 22, 2011 | Add your feedback
- Maine (14)
- By J. Courtney Sullivan
- Finished on Jul 17, 2011
  
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Maine

beach book - beware manipulative time consuming fluff

sometimes I get sucked in - like a good girl movie - family with problems and secrets but a beautiful beach house. Watch your sunburn during this one as it does suck you in - easy read, absolutely nothing to remember from it except beware of women who design doll houses and others who raise worms.. ... (continue)

sometimes I get sucked in - like a good girl movie - family with problems and secrets but a beautiful beach house. Watch your sunburn during this one as it does suck you in - easy read, absolutely nothing to remember from it except beware of women who design doll houses and others who raise worms...

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— Jul 18, 2011 | Add your feedback
- State of Wonder (42)
- By Ann Patchett
- Finished on Jun 30, 2011
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