Saturday, February 26, 2011

Book Review and Giveaway: The Paris Wife

Title: The Paris Wife
Author: Paula McLain
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published Date: February 22, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-345-52130-9
Pages: 318

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

Synopsis:
In Chicago in 1920, Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness-until she meets Ernest Hemingway and finds herself captivated by his good looks, intensity, and passionate desire to write. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group of expatriates that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.
But the hard-drinking and fast-living cafe life does not celebrate traditional notions of family and monogamy. As Hadley struggles with jealousy and self-doubt and Ernest wrestles with his burgeoning writing career, they must confront a deception that could prove the undoing of one of the great romances in literary history.


About the Author:
Paula McLain received an MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan and has been a resident of Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony. She 9is the author of two collections of poetry, as well as a memoir, Like Family, and a first novel, A Ticket to Ride. She lives in Cleveland with her family.


My review:
I could not wait to get a copy of this book to read. I am a fan of Hemingway and I love reading about the lives of actual people. The book takes you back to a time period that was rich with literary figures and their involvement with each other. McLain's writing pulls you into the story to where you felt like you were Hadley's best friend. As a woman reading the book, I could relate to her and the insecurities that she felt. Yet, it was very much a love story that urged you to want to fight for their relationship and make sure they made it. Although the book is a novel and mixes some fact with fiction, as I read, I wanted all of it to be true so that I could feel that I really did share part of the lives of the Hemingway's.
McLain's writing is fantastic and I couldn't pull myself away from the pages until I had read every one of them. I was immersed into a world I couldn't get enough of, in fact, I finished this book in a mere few hours. I urge everyone to get a copy of this book. For myself, I now have the urge to read all I can find about the Hemingway's and their life together.
Be sure to check out the site HERE on the book for more information.

Giveaway:
I have 5 copies of this book to giveaway, thanks to the generosity of the publisher. Leave a comment below and tell me about your favorite love story couple-whether real or fictional. Don't forget to leave an email so I can contact you. Winners will be chosen on March 10.




21 comments:

  1. I am a huge hemingway fan. In fact, when my son visited key west, he couldn't wait to see his home. I admit,though, I have never read a book with him as a character in it. I would love to read this one.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  2. Thanks for this fascinating giveaway which I would enjoy greatly.My favorite real love story couple is Wyatt Earp and Josie Markus. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. Noah and Allie in The Notebook.

    pocokat AT gmail DOT com

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  4. My favorite would be Anne and Gilbert. Anne of Green Gables and her true love Gilbert. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  5. OK. I have to go with the sappy one, Love Story, with Oliver and Jenny. This came out when I was in high school and everyone fell in love with Ryan O'Neal.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. My favourite couple on tv is Jason and Sam on
    General Hospital, I enjoy this show everyday.
    I would love to read this novel the storyline sounds very interesting.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

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  7. My favorite couple has to be Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.

    Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

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  8. I'm also a huge Hemingway fan and from your review, this sounds like a great love story!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  9. The first couple that comes to mind for me is Romeo and Juliet. This Hemmingway book sounds fascinating. Thanks for the giveaway.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

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  10. Jamie and Claire from Outlander. =)
    tiredwkids at live dot com

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  11. My favorite couple is from the book 'Geai' by Christian Bobin. I love the way they become a couple, softly.
    xlacrimax[at]gmail.com

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  12. My favorite couple was a real life couple. My grandparents who met during WWII have served as an inspiration for me on many levels.

    jenn.whipple@yahoo.com

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  13. Thanks for the chance to win this. My favorite fictional couple would be Sophie and Edward from Brenda Joyces 'After Innocense.'

    niteofblu at gmail dot com

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  14. My favorite love story couple is tristan & isolde!

    heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

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  15. I'm going to revert to my childhood on this one and say Beauty and the Beast!
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. I love Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Mrs. DeWinter and her husband, I love that story.
    Lizpitcavage at gmail dot com

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  17. I've always enjoyed the interplay between Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man movies. I only wish my relationships could be so sophisticated and urbane! I'm really intrigued by THE PARIS WIFE. I'm sure it wasn't easy being married to Hemingway, but I'm also sure it wasn't dull! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

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  18. I would pick Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler for fictional. For real I would pick a great aunt and uncle who have been married for 64 years!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  19. I'm very excited about this book and so glad you enjoyed it! I think the relationship between Iris Murdoch and John Bayley was a beautiful one. They totally loved and supported each other, so much so that when she began to suffer from Alzheimers his life became all about caring for her. This time in their lives is portrayed in his book
    Iris.

    Thank you for this great giveaway!
    ~ Amy
    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. The love between Tony and Maria in West Side Story comes to mind.

    wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. The first couple that came to mind for me was Duncan & Tess from the Highlander TV series.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete