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The Paris Diversion


A pulse-pounding thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The ...
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Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

Created: 01/14/20

Replies: 8

Posted Jan. 14, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3444

Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that.

In an age of digital innovation, the world is mediated and experienced through the many screens of modern-day technology. Do you think that any of the characters in "The Paris Diversion" strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do you think that "the expats" seek a sense of belonging and community with one another because of that?

Have you ever lived overseas for an extended period of time? If so, what was the experience like?


Posted Jan. 24, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marks

Join Date: 02/25/19

Posts: 112

RE: Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

I'm having trouble coming up with any character who worked to "restore a feeling of human connection" in the context of your question. Hunter's obvious and shallow pursuit of Colette doesn't make the cut, and even Kate's "gesture" at the end seems more about ending a conflict than restoring anything. At best, it could be seen as a "pay it forward" moment. There were expats in the novel who have certainly learned to blend in their communities, but none of them were fleshed out enough. To me, the relationships in this novel were about everything but "human connection." They were either already broken or in the process of being broken, and that makes sense in a novel focused on greed, deception, and survival. Maybe Pavone intended to send that very message by creating characters and relationships like that. It worked for me.


Posted Jan. 24, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

I tend to agree with marks. Everyone seemed pretty self-involved, and I didn't feel like anyone in the book was trying to establish a connection with anyone.


Posted Jan. 25, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorinned

Join Date: 10/13/14

Posts: 176

RE: Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

It seems that the message of this novel (and The Expats) is one of human disconnection, and they certainly were not wishing to establish any sense of belonging to the community of expats. Kate's aspersion to the Hashtag neighbor, but still using her for favors to watch Kate's children (though she could barely remember her name), illustrates this.


Posted Jan. 29, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pnelson384

Join Date: 05/13/19

Posts: 47

RE: Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

I didn't really find that came across as a major theme in the story. Most of the people were very disconnected, but their actions weren't leading them toward connection.


Posted Jan. 30, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliep

Join Date: 04/07/12

Posts: 250

RE: Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

No, it didn’t seem that any of the characters were too interested in human connection, but rather making money, seducing a personal assistant, gaining revenge for past wrongs, etc. Kate seemed to want to belong to the neighborhood group, but her attempts at friendship seemed to ring hollow to me.


Posted Feb. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

RE: Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

It is difficult to make a human connection when your job is top secret. Kate didn't have a group of co-workers she could laugh or chat with in the break room. Dexter worked alone and spent large chunks of his day all by himself. Hunter has people who work FOR him, not with him. He can also use his money to avoid making connections with others by "paying someone" to do it for him. Susanna was on the run and constantly hiding from the law. It was not in her best interest to make human connections.

I am surprised by how little any of the "expats" have to do with French people. It seems like they want to live outside of the U.S., but they don't want to give up their U.S.-ness. Susanna, an American, was Kate's "best friend" when they both lived in Luxembourg. And with regard to Kate's dinner party ("everyone's coming), the only woman she discusses it with is Hashtag Mom, who is from New Jersey.


Posted Feb. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Junebug

Join Date: 01/25/20

Posts: 21

RE: Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

I felt that all the characters had minimal attachment to other people. A lot of self-centered people.


Posted Feb. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
paulagb

Join Date: 08/16/17

Posts: 173

RE: Do you think that any of the characters strive to restore a feeling of human connection in the material world? Do they seek a sense of belonging and community because of that?

I agree with most of the comments that this novel just was not about community. It focused on individual desires and some interpersonal relationships. Those relationships were not strong or deep.


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