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The Paris Hours


One day in the City of Light. One night in search of lost time.
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How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

Created: 05/19/20

Replies: 12

Posted May. 19, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

Guillaume tells Suzanne that "any street or square in Paris would give the Folies-Bergère a run for its money." How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?


Posted May. 22, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terriej

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 422

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

I love Paris and thought the history and romance of the city added to the storylines.


Posted May. 23, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
momo

Join Date: 04/03/19

Posts: 49

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

I have never been to Paris but I pictured the fountains, kids running and playing, the famous Paris coffee shops, the elegance of the city. It upheld its reputation as the city of love.


Posted May. 23, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 407

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

I've been to Paris a couple of times, and in particular to the parts of Paris that feature in the story. It was easy to visualize what was happening with that context , although I think I would have enjoyed the book even without that experience.


Posted May. 23, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
katherinep

Join Date: 07/16/14

Posts: 374

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

The setting is why I chose this book. I've been to Paris and have always wanted to return. I'm a city girl--grew up in Manhattan. A city is always a character--it breathes and has a heart-beat. It's people move to the rhythm of its sounds. Gershwin caught it right in his music --Rhapsody in Blue.


Posted May. 23, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
PinkLady

Join Date: 01/22/18

Posts: 187

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

After answering the first question about who was my favorite character, I must re-think that because Paris was my favorite character. I have spent several weeks in Paris over the course of 10 years and I love the city. I have stayed in a number of different areas of the city including Montmartre. The descriptions of sights, sounds, smells and people were so realistic I felt transported. I wasn't surprised by any aspects of the city. Of course it's a bit different now than it was then, but enough has remained the same that the time difference didn't interfere with my feelings.


Posted May. 23, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
tswaine

Join Date: 09/14/11

Posts: 94

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

I have never been to Paris, but I enjoyed reading about the different areas other than the Eiffel Tower, which is what I think about when I think of Paris.


Posted May. 24, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Peggy H

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 272

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

Paris is definitely a character. As I said above, I found the book sensual and I think the role of Paris is part of what I meant.


Posted May. 24, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
katherinep

Join Date: 07/16/14

Posts: 374

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

Oh, tswaine--there is so much more to Paris than the Awful Tower, as my French friends call it. Like the author I would have skipped it but my travel companion wanted to go. So we went but I stayed below it which is a whole different experience as he went up for the view. lol


Posted May. 24, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
karenking

Join Date: 04/15/19

Posts: 19

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

I adore Paris! I’ve been there three times over the years and I especially love reading about 1920s Paris. I could visualize the city particularly The Luxembourg Gardens that was described perfectly. Paris is definitely the main character this story could not have taken place without it.


Posted May. 26, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
TBM

Join Date: 04/04/20

Posts: 11

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

I thought Paris helped carry the sadness of the characters as that's often how I think of the city, especially during the 1920s as featured in this story...kind of dark and foreboding and rebuilding.


Posted May. 27, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kate

Join Date: 01/22/11

Posts: 95

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

I definitely think Paris is a character, and a main one at that! To me, it creates such strong images that I think it would have been a totally different story had it taken place in a different city. I have been to Paris several times and thought he depicted it perfectly!


Posted Jun. 11, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Lois Irene

Join Date: 01/20/16

Posts: 76

RE: How does Paris itself become a character in this book? If you have spent time in Paris, did the portrait ring true? Were you surprised by any aspects of it?

Indeed Paris lives and breathes in this novel. It serves as catalyst and setting. It also serves as a goal for some of the characters.


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