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Cinema Lumière
Hannah Bailey has sealed her heart against love, she's resigned herself to a dead-end job and her catastrophic thinking is out of control. In fact, she's hard pushed to find a single reason for her existence until the day she stumbles across a tiny cinema with just one seat… Cinema Lumière doesn't screen Hollywood blockbusters or even low budget art-house flicks. Instead it shows people films of their lives. But how does its mysterious French owner Victor create such unique biopics and why is he so determined to coax Hannah into that single red velvet seat?
Set in West London’s Portobello, and Paris, Cinema Lumière is a story of love, loss and seeing your life on the big screen. If you liked The Time Traveller’s Wife and One Day, this could well be the book for you.
Set in West London’s Portobello, and Paris, Cinema Lumière is a story of love, loss and seeing your life on the big screen. If you liked The Time Traveller’s Wife and One Day, this could well be the book for you.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2014
32 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
Hattie Holden Edmonds
3 books8 followersHattie Holden Edmonds has held down a variety of jobs ranging from junior assistant on Separates in Clements department store, to hat maker and music hack on a German pop magazine. She was the in-house writer at Comic Relief for three years, working on projects with amongst others, Richard Curtis, Sacha Baron Cohen and Armando Iannucci.
She also runs a part time and very rickety cinema from a fisherman's shack in Whitstable, she loves a good swim, and dreams of being able to knock out a decent three course meal.
She writes a weekly Huffington Post blog on all things bookish.
She lives in London, not far from Kensal Green cemetery.
She also runs a part time and very rickety cinema from a fisherman's shack in Whitstable, she loves a good swim, and dreams of being able to knock out a decent three course meal.
She writes a weekly Huffington Post blog on all things bookish.
She lives in London, not far from Kensal Green cemetery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
July 26, 2016
Hannah Bailey has sealed her heart against love, she’s resigned herself to a dead-end job and her catastrophic thinking is out of control. In fact, she’s hard pushed to find a single reason for her existence until the day she stumbles across a tiny cinema with just one seat… Cinema Lumière doesn’t screen Hollywood blockbusters or even low budget art-house flicks. Instead it shows people films of their lives. But how does its mysterious French owner Victor create such unique biopics and why is he so determined to coax Hannah into that single red velvet seat?
Set in West London’s Portobello, and Paris, Cinema Lumière is a story of love, loss and seeing your life on the big screen. If you liked The Time Traveller’s Wife and One Day, this could well be the book for you.
Well, I like both of the books that were compared to Cinema Lumiere so that immediately perked up my interest! I love the whole plot premise of Victor creating films centred around people’s lives. At first I thought that was a tad bit stalky but please don’t be put off like that as by reading the novel, you will learn the reasons why behind Victor’s creations. The novel is adult fiction but to be honest, anyone 16+ could read it. I found the story behind Hannah’s character fascinating as she experiences a number of muddled relationships. I feel that I could relate to this a lot as within the last year or so, I’ve been in that exact position. The pacing was great, I’m not much of a movie person but reading this has perked up my movie habits again. A heart-racing read and kudos to Hannah’s pet dog Nellie for making me chuckle with laughter.
Alice rates this… 5 out of 5 stars!
Set in West London’s Portobello, and Paris, Cinema Lumière is a story of love, loss and seeing your life on the big screen. If you liked The Time Traveller’s Wife and One Day, this could well be the book for you.
Well, I like both of the books that were compared to Cinema Lumiere so that immediately perked up my interest! I love the whole plot premise of Victor creating films centred around people’s lives. At first I thought that was a tad bit stalky but please don’t be put off like that as by reading the novel, you will learn the reasons why behind Victor’s creations. The novel is adult fiction but to be honest, anyone 16+ could read it. I found the story behind Hannah’s character fascinating as she experiences a number of muddled relationships. I feel that I could relate to this a lot as within the last year or so, I’ve been in that exact position. The pacing was great, I’m not much of a movie person but reading this has perked up my movie habits again. A heart-racing read and kudos to Hannah’s pet dog Nellie for making me chuckle with laughter.
Alice rates this… 5 out of 5 stars!
February 6, 2017
“Every story has a second part, where we can put right what did not work before.” I thoroughly enjoyed this Goodreads First Reads giveaway win. Edmonds’s debut reminded me of a couple of great novels I read last year that are also on the verge of chick lit (but manage to stay just the right side of that dividing line, in my opinion):
What Nora Knew
by Linda Yellin and
Delicious!
by Ruth Reichl. In all three, the female protagonist is a magazine writer struggling to find purpose and true love. Rather than NYC, though, Edmonds situates her heroine in London, which gives this novel a fun note of Bridget Jones-esque melodrama.
For, like Bridget, Hannah Bailey has an overactive unconscious. “I’ve suffered from the Mentals since I was a little girl, and it basically involves a very overzealous imagination picturing in great detail the worst possible thing I can do or say in any particular situation,” she confesses. A doctor later diagnoses her with “chronic catastrophic thinking.” This is particularly ironic given she works for Health and Wellbeing magazine, an office bombarded with free relaxation CDs and foodstuffs consisting mostly of spelt, hemp, cacao and quinoa.
The problem is that Hannah isn’t happy in her work. Knocking off a few hundred words for the website about the latest meditation techniques just isn’t fulfilling. Most people will be able to relate to this crisis of meaning; deride it as a First World Problem if you like, but it can be truly soul-sapping to be stuck in a job you hate. “When I was growing up, I just assumed there’d be something that I would love doing and for which I would get paid,” Hannah recalls wistfully. “It’s not that I want stacks of money or fame, I just want to find something with a bit of meaning which will pay the rent and which I hopefully enjoy.”
Hannah gets a kickstart in the right direction when Victor Lever reenters into her life. She met the 70-year-old Frenchman, an elevator operator, on her first day at the job. Victor introduced her to French cinema, especially the Nouvelle Vague, and in their moviegoing as well as their explorations of London’s tourist attractions and cafes, they built a special friendship that faded somewhat when Hannah got wrapped up with Luke, her previous lover.
Now Victor, working at a video store, has set up a private theatre with one seat. He’s started making short films for ordinary people; “I wanted to film the lost souls of this life,” he explains. He’s made a movie reel of Hannah’s life, interspersing beautiful and painful scenes that remind her of who she is what she values. There’s a chance that it will inspire her to appreciate her mother again, and make a go of this new relationship with Joe, a half-Jamaican playwright with a young daughter, instead of just resigning herself to the fact that all the men she loves – from her father to her last boyfriend – break her heart and leave.
Parallel timelines contrast the novel’s present-day with the three-year development of Hannah’s relationship with Victor, leading to a couple of shocking revelations and a hint that there has been some magic happening all along. It may sound like a feel-good story, but like the black-and-white films it references, the novel is a fine balancing act between light and dark. It’s very funny in places, thanks to Hannah’s melodramatic inner monologue, her ridiculous British bulldog, Nellie, and the office banter with her shy new assistant, Ian.
At the same time, though, it’s a convincing psychological drama, as you watch the main character exorcising her demons and figuring out how to embark on the life she wants to live. “Somehow I will track down whatever it is that will make me happy,” she finally resolves. French films, a confiding narrator, a diversity of London settings, a gently unfolding mystery, romance, and a preposterous dog – there’s really a lot to love here.
For, like Bridget, Hannah Bailey has an overactive unconscious. “I’ve suffered from the Mentals since I was a little girl, and it basically involves a very overzealous imagination picturing in great detail the worst possible thing I can do or say in any particular situation,” she confesses. A doctor later diagnoses her with “chronic catastrophic thinking.” This is particularly ironic given she works for Health and Wellbeing magazine, an office bombarded with free relaxation CDs and foodstuffs consisting mostly of spelt, hemp, cacao and quinoa.
The problem is that Hannah isn’t happy in her work. Knocking off a few hundred words for the website about the latest meditation techniques just isn’t fulfilling. Most people will be able to relate to this crisis of meaning; deride it as a First World Problem if you like, but it can be truly soul-sapping to be stuck in a job you hate. “When I was growing up, I just assumed there’d be something that I would love doing and for which I would get paid,” Hannah recalls wistfully. “It’s not that I want stacks of money or fame, I just want to find something with a bit of meaning which will pay the rent and which I hopefully enjoy.”
Hannah gets a kickstart in the right direction when Victor Lever reenters into her life. She met the 70-year-old Frenchman, an elevator operator, on her first day at the job. Victor introduced her to French cinema, especially the Nouvelle Vague, and in their moviegoing as well as their explorations of London’s tourist attractions and cafes, they built a special friendship that faded somewhat when Hannah got wrapped up with Luke, her previous lover.
Now Victor, working at a video store, has set up a private theatre with one seat. He’s started making short films for ordinary people; “I wanted to film the lost souls of this life,” he explains. He’s made a movie reel of Hannah’s life, interspersing beautiful and painful scenes that remind her of who she is what she values. There’s a chance that it will inspire her to appreciate her mother again, and make a go of this new relationship with Joe, a half-Jamaican playwright with a young daughter, instead of just resigning herself to the fact that all the men she loves – from her father to her last boyfriend – break her heart and leave.
Parallel timelines contrast the novel’s present-day with the three-year development of Hannah’s relationship with Victor, leading to a couple of shocking revelations and a hint that there has been some magic happening all along. It may sound like a feel-good story, but like the black-and-white films it references, the novel is a fine balancing act between light and dark. It’s very funny in places, thanks to Hannah’s melodramatic inner monologue, her ridiculous British bulldog, Nellie, and the office banter with her shy new assistant, Ian.
At the same time, though, it’s a convincing psychological drama, as you watch the main character exorcising her demons and figuring out how to embark on the life she wants to live. “Somehow I will track down whatever it is that will make me happy,” she finally resolves. French films, a confiding narrator, a diversity of London settings, a gently unfolding mystery, romance, and a preposterous dog – there’s really a lot to love here.
March 17, 2015
Plot Device Over-used
The relationship between the main character and Victor (70 year old film-lover) is sweet. So is her relationship with Joe. However, by constantly keeping information from the reader at bay while hinting at its existence and not revealing it until the very end of the story, just doesn't work well. There is another more surprise at the end of the book and it would have been better to clue the reader in earlier in the book to the big secret and leaving the other (sweeter) surprise until the end. I would not recommend this book to friends. The concept is sweet, but was not well-executed.
The relationship between the main character and Victor (70 year old film-lover) is sweet. So is her relationship with Joe. However, by constantly keeping information from the reader at bay while hinting at its existence and not revealing it until the very end of the story, just doesn't work well. There is another more surprise at the end of the book and it would have been better to clue the reader in earlier in the book to the big secret and leaving the other (sweeter) surprise until the end. I would not recommend this book to friends. The concept is sweet, but was not well-executed.
February 26, 2017
This sounded highly interesting reading the description on Amazon. However, I'd got 20% in and we'd hardly touched on this cinema and the supposed film of Hannah's life and I just ended up glazing over, getting fed up waiting for it to get going, really.
There were some very funny lines in it and hardly a mistake that I'd seen, just a missed comma or two. This might have been an error too, since I couldn't find anything to explain what this means-"...linear nplots and predictable scripts".
I was very confused about the taxi parking near the cemetery. The driver was never mentioned and at first I thought Hannah owned it, then we had the scene of Joe getting into it with his dogs but again no mention was made of the driver so it might have been his. It was baffling.
I gave up with it when, for around the 5th time, Hannah wondered about leaning forward and kissing someone. She did this over and over. A couple of times it was amusing but then grew old.
I liked both Victor and Ian but none of the others were very interesting to me.
There were some very funny lines in it and hardly a mistake that I'd seen, just a missed comma or two. This might have been an error too, since I couldn't find anything to explain what this means-"...linear nplots and predictable scripts".
I was very confused about the taxi parking near the cemetery. The driver was never mentioned and at first I thought Hannah owned it, then we had the scene of Joe getting into it with his dogs but again no mention was made of the driver so it might have been his. It was baffling.
I gave up with it when, for around the 5th time, Hannah wondered about leaning forward and kissing someone. She did this over and over. A couple of times it was amusing but then grew old.
I liked both Victor and Ian but none of the others were very interesting to me.
January 16, 2015
I love this book so much that I want to marry it and have its babies....and I don't even like Truffaut. I prefer narrative to Nouvelle Vague, though we do like a few directors in common - Wim Wenders, Abel Gance and so on.
Anyway - yes, I did get this free in a Goodreads giveaway, but as anyone who reads my reviews knows, I am a sour witch and getting a book free by no means guarantees a good review.I adored this, though, and I can't find anything really bad to say about it, try as I might.
One joy was that it is intelligent and edgy, yet deals with love and joy, and has humour (actually that's several joys but hell, this is a review, not my thesis, and it's nearly Christmas so my brain is fried). It's very rare to get all these things together - usually intelligent books dealing with love and fulfillment are terribly serious and all about sensitive nuances, and funny intelligent books are usually all cutting and vicious.
Another joy is the truthful look at journalism - yes, this really is what it's like. Then there's the wonderful way it describes what the protagonist (who isn't very politically aware) calls The Mentals - i.e. when your boyfriend's mother is talking to you and you want to show her your knickers and repeatedly tell her to f*** off, or when someone asks you expectantly what the dreadful meal they cooked is like, and you long to throw it at the wall and tell them the truth about it.
The protagonist also seems to remember the same things as I do, despite being about fifteen years younger - Bella at the Bar! How lovely to see that mentioned in a book. I remember reading an interview with the guy who drew Bella (in a recent-ish Misty reboot) and it brought back so many memories.
I am a film-lover, but you don't have to be to like this, and anyway, as I said, I don't share the protagonist's taste but I still enjoyed the tribute to the wonderful filmmakers of the world. I wonder if the author has seen Les Jeux Interdits? And does she like Bergman?
This is all a bit disjointed - apologies, I'm visiting in-laws tomorrow and I'm taking a cake - but this is the sort of book that makes you want to buy a coffee for the author and tell her that's she's brilliant.
Anyway - yes, I did get this free in a Goodreads giveaway, but as anyone who reads my reviews knows, I am a sour witch and getting a book free by no means guarantees a good review.I adored this, though, and I can't find anything really bad to say about it, try as I might.
One joy was that it is intelligent and edgy, yet deals with love and joy, and has humour (actually that's several joys but hell, this is a review, not my thesis, and it's nearly Christmas so my brain is fried). It's very rare to get all these things together - usually intelligent books dealing with love and fulfillment are terribly serious and all about sensitive nuances, and funny intelligent books are usually all cutting and vicious.
Another joy is the truthful look at journalism - yes, this really is what it's like. Then there's the wonderful way it describes what the protagonist (who isn't very politically aware) calls The Mentals - i.e. when your boyfriend's mother is talking to you and you want to show her your knickers and repeatedly tell her to f*** off, or when someone asks you expectantly what the dreadful meal they cooked is like, and you long to throw it at the wall and tell them the truth about it.
The protagonist also seems to remember the same things as I do, despite being about fifteen years younger - Bella at the Bar! How lovely to see that mentioned in a book. I remember reading an interview with the guy who drew Bella (in a recent-ish Misty reboot) and it brought back so many memories.
I am a film-lover, but you don't have to be to like this, and anyway, as I said, I don't share the protagonist's taste but I still enjoyed the tribute to the wonderful filmmakers of the world. I wonder if the author has seen Les Jeux Interdits? And does she like Bergman?
This is all a bit disjointed - apologies, I'm visiting in-laws tomorrow and I'm taking a cake - but this is the sort of book that makes you want to buy a coffee for the author and tell her that's she's brilliant.
July 27, 2016
Cinema Lumiere is quite different to other books I have read recently and I have really enjoyed the change of pace to be honest. This is a beautifully written story of real life, friendship, love, loss, regrets and trying to move on from the past.
Hannah Bailey is a very likeable character. I warmed to her straight away. She obviously doesn't love her job, but like a lot of people, just gets on with it as bills have to be paid. I liked the friendship she builds with Ian when he starts to work with her.
Hannah doesn't spend nearly enough time with her mother, which she is well aware of, but I think this makes her all the more believable. I think we're all guilty of assuming those we love will be around forever.
I have to say that Nellie is one of my favourite characters. Nellie is a British Bulldog and is just awesome! I love that she is written with equal importance to the human characters. After all, she was a gift to Hannah, from Victor, when she needed her the most. I love the friendship she shares with Victor and their mutual love of films. It soon becomes clear that Hannah and Victor share a secret, something Hannah doesn't like to talk about, but we don't find out what until much later on. This kept me intrigued all the way through as well as wanting to know what happened with Luke, although I did hazard a good guess. Luke was not a character I warmed to, but I really liked Joe and was routing for him and Hannah.
The story flits between the present and 2009 where chapter by chapter we discover what Hannah is trying her best to move on from to secure a happier future.
This book made me laugh out loud at times and cry at others. It's a very moving story and one I will happily recommend.
Many thanks to Anna at RedDoor Publishing for my paperback review copy.
Blog post - https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
Hannah Bailey is a very likeable character. I warmed to her straight away. She obviously doesn't love her job, but like a lot of people, just gets on with it as bills have to be paid. I liked the friendship she builds with Ian when he starts to work with her.
Hannah doesn't spend nearly enough time with her mother, which she is well aware of, but I think this makes her all the more believable. I think we're all guilty of assuming those we love will be around forever.
I have to say that Nellie is one of my favourite characters. Nellie is a British Bulldog and is just awesome! I love that she is written with equal importance to the human characters. After all, she was a gift to Hannah, from Victor, when she needed her the most. I love the friendship she shares with Victor and their mutual love of films. It soon becomes clear that Hannah and Victor share a secret, something Hannah doesn't like to talk about, but we don't find out what until much later on. This kept me intrigued all the way through as well as wanting to know what happened with Luke, although I did hazard a good guess. Luke was not a character I warmed to, but I really liked Joe and was routing for him and Hannah.
The story flits between the present and 2009 where chapter by chapter we discover what Hannah is trying her best to move on from to secure a happier future.
This book made me laugh out loud at times and cry at others. It's a very moving story and one I will happily recommend.
Many thanks to Anna at RedDoor Publishing for my paperback review copy.
Blog post - https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
November 6, 2014
Hannah and her dog Nellie live in the famous Portobello area of London. Nellie is a British Bull Dog with greedy tendencies which lead to funny unfortunate smelling side-effects. Nellie has a starring sub-role throughout the book.
Hannah writes articles for a Health and Wellbeing magazine, a dead-end job but unless she can find out what she'd really like to do in life, she's stuck here, testing free samples and writing about them along with new recruit Ian. Their working relationship is fun and upbeat making a good contrast to more serious parts of the book.
This book is quite deep and complex, it's about Hannah's journey through life and how she learns to forgive, trust and let go of her past. We meet Victor an older Frenchman who introduces Hannah to the world of French films and the Lumière brothers. Through a series of time shifts we read the back stories of Hannah's past, her childhood, boyfriends, her trips out with Victor and hear of the many French films they watch together. Her own fascination with films culminates in the Cinema Lumière with just one plush red seat for private viewings only and Victor's dedication to film production.
Hannah narrates this story, so you get a good feel for her character, and of course Victor is full of amazing stories of Paris and the past. A few times the book wavers towards the story being a dream and I was glad to see that Hannah didn't write a book about her life at the end. I had a personal issue with the gymnastics in the book, men use the parallel bars, women the a-symmetric and a mat is for landing on while routines are performed on the floor, that's purely from my own years of training as a British gymnast. Other people from around the world will use different terminology.
Hannah writes articles for a Health and Wellbeing magazine, a dead-end job but unless she can find out what she'd really like to do in life, she's stuck here, testing free samples and writing about them along with new recruit Ian. Their working relationship is fun and upbeat making a good contrast to more serious parts of the book.
This book is quite deep and complex, it's about Hannah's journey through life and how she learns to forgive, trust and let go of her past. We meet Victor an older Frenchman who introduces Hannah to the world of French films and the Lumière brothers. Through a series of time shifts we read the back stories of Hannah's past, her childhood, boyfriends, her trips out with Victor and hear of the many French films they watch together. Her own fascination with films culminates in the Cinema Lumière with just one plush red seat for private viewings only and Victor's dedication to film production.
Hannah narrates this story, so you get a good feel for her character, and of course Victor is full of amazing stories of Paris and the past. A few times the book wavers towards the story being a dream and I was glad to see that Hannah didn't write a book about her life at the end. I had a personal issue with the gymnastics in the book, men use the parallel bars, women the a-symmetric and a mat is for landing on while routines are performed on the floor, that's purely from my own years of training as a British gymnast. Other people from around the world will use different terminology.
September 16, 2014
Clever funny and thought-provoking novel about woman wrestling with her past and future and a very curious a cinema with only one seat. Themes of love, ambition, friendship and acceptance. In turn laugh out loud funny, and mysterious. Really nice read.
March 23, 2015
I got 60% through this book and just couldn't do it anymore. There is a whole lot of nothing going on and if there were more silly bits with Nellie in them I could probably keep reading. But there aren't so I can't. It's just too boring.
Want to read
March 16, 2015I could not continue with this book. For me (and everyone is different) I could not connect with the characters. So have put this to the side and maybe will try again later.
December 25, 2018
So, I have a lot of thoughts about this book. It’s not terrible, but it is not at all what the synopsis describes it to be. The whole idea of a strange movie theater that shows you a movie of your life, it’s actually got a cool sci-fi quality to it. I would’ve loved to read that book. Instead I read a very long book about a woman trying to figure her life out, and she visits this theater in only 2 or 3 short scenes. And in only one of those visits is the movie about her life. Again, it’s not a bad book, there were several parts about it I enjoyed (like how she describe being a writer for the magazine 😆 that is dead on). But it’s just not what I thought it was going to be.
It’s also written in that style where it keeps jumping back-and-forth between the present and the past, giving you small bits of the story from the past as you go along. I don’t always dislike that style, but this book just went on so much longer than it needed too, that that aspect actually got annoying. Especially because the pay off in the end wasn’t what it was built to be, in my opinion.
It’s also written in that style where it keeps jumping back-and-forth between the present and the past, giving you small bits of the story from the past as you go along. I don’t always dislike that style, but this book just went on so much longer than it needed too, that that aspect actually got annoying. Especially because the pay off in the end wasn’t what it was built to be, in my opinion.
November 8, 2022
The description in this book was completely compelling, you can’t help but be fully immersed into the complicated and slow burning life of the main character Hannah. With her relationships unfolding as the book goes on , I was eager to get to the end of this book ,however I’d have to say plot twist was not explained far enough and the ending felt anticlimactic.Overall I enjoyed the majority of this book.
January 17, 2019
I got bored with this about 1/3 of the way through, debated quitting, and then just skimmed the rest of it. Overall, it was a dull read. The secret she keeps hinting at isn’t anything as big as what you’re lead to believe, so the ending was anti-climactic. She suddenly has all these epiphanies and now all her emotional and mental issues are gone? That’s not how life works.
December 16, 2020
2.5 stars. Fast, easy read that started out well. The middle of the book just felt like I was stuck in the Doldrums - not going anywhere & loads of unnecessary flashbacks. The end was not the surprising plot twist the author was going for. Wouldn't have been sad about not finishing it.
June 18, 2017
An interesting read which kept me guessing about outcomes. Well-written and it connected with me. Great dog.
October 30, 2017
Wonderful insightful book.
Wonderful insightful read. Funny, sad, happy, and more. No spoiler alerts, just be prepared to bring a tissue for the tears of joy and sadness.
Wonderful insightful read. Funny, sad, happy, and more. No spoiler alerts, just be prepared to bring a tissue for the tears of joy and sadness.
March 21, 2018
Well written but a very predictable end. 3 and a half stars.
December 22, 2016
Hannah works for a magazine she isn't interested in. The only thing she likes about her job is her shy new colleague Ian. They get along well and they love going out for lunch together. After a bad relationship Hannah finally might be ready to date again and Joe could be the man for her, but Hannah has a past that's bothering her and it's hard for her to open up to someone. She finds solace with her friend Victor in Cinema Lumière, a small cinema that shows unique films. Hannah is being shown the movie of her own life. It scares Hannah, but Victor is determined, she has to come back for more. Will she eventually get her life under control again and will Victor's movies help her to make sense of her situation and to take some much needed steps in the right direction?
Cinema Lumière is a beautiful story about old movies, love, friendship, traumatic experiences, happiness and loneliness. Victor is an enigmatic and charismatic man and I immediately loved his personality. He's the kindest man there is and I loved the descriptions of his movies. The idea of a personal cinema is wonderful and I enjoyed reading about his magical theater. Hannah has some problems she doesn't deal with and by trying to push them away she allows them to get bigger. She's been hurt and therefore she also hurts others, mostly unintentionally and always with great regret. I could almost feel her pain and I was sad about her wasted talents and her lost sparkle. She's a wonderful woman and she deserves to have a life. I liked how Hattie Holden Edmonds combines the story about love and friendship in Hannah's life with gorgeous movie descriptions and a cinema with allure.
Hattie Holden Edmonds writes beautifully and I love her creative ideas. Victor is a Frenchman, which gives him something extra mysterious. I liked that Hannah forms bonds with people in all kinds of age categories. There are three important men in her life, Victor, Ian and Joe and they each play a very different part in the story. I found them equally interesting and enjoyed reading about the connection they have with Hannah. Hattie Holden Edmonds's vivid descriptions of their personalities make them come to life really well.
Cinema Lumière has a fantastic surprising ending. I read it with tears in my eyes and it feels like getting a huge gift when a great story has such a stunning and fitting conclusion. It made me fall in love with this book even more. The idea of an old-fashioned cinema is romantic and I loved the atmosphere of the story. Hattie Holden Edmonds describes all of Hannah's senses, she uses the way she feels, sees, tastes and touches to tell her story, which is a fascinating angle. She also pays special attention to details that matter, like the behavior of Hannah's adorable dog. Cinema Lumière is an amazing book, it's a story that gripped me from the start and I enjoyed every single sentence.
Cinema Lumière is a beautiful story about old movies, love, friendship, traumatic experiences, happiness and loneliness. Victor is an enigmatic and charismatic man and I immediately loved his personality. He's the kindest man there is and I loved the descriptions of his movies. The idea of a personal cinema is wonderful and I enjoyed reading about his magical theater. Hannah has some problems she doesn't deal with and by trying to push them away she allows them to get bigger. She's been hurt and therefore she also hurts others, mostly unintentionally and always with great regret. I could almost feel her pain and I was sad about her wasted talents and her lost sparkle. She's a wonderful woman and she deserves to have a life. I liked how Hattie Holden Edmonds combines the story about love and friendship in Hannah's life with gorgeous movie descriptions and a cinema with allure.
Hattie Holden Edmonds writes beautifully and I love her creative ideas. Victor is a Frenchman, which gives him something extra mysterious. I liked that Hannah forms bonds with people in all kinds of age categories. There are three important men in her life, Victor, Ian and Joe and they each play a very different part in the story. I found them equally interesting and enjoyed reading about the connection they have with Hannah. Hattie Holden Edmonds's vivid descriptions of their personalities make them come to life really well.
Cinema Lumière has a fantastic surprising ending. I read it with tears in my eyes and it feels like getting a huge gift when a great story has such a stunning and fitting conclusion. It made me fall in love with this book even more. The idea of an old-fashioned cinema is romantic and I loved the atmosphere of the story. Hattie Holden Edmonds describes all of Hannah's senses, she uses the way she feels, sees, tastes and touches to tell her story, which is a fascinating angle. She also pays special attention to details that matter, like the behavior of Hannah's adorable dog. Cinema Lumière is an amazing book, it's a story that gripped me from the start and I enjoyed every single sentence.
July 25, 2016
When I was given the chance to read Cinema Lumiere I was very very excited. I loved the sound of the blurb and it felt unlike anything I've ever read before. I also thought the cover was really cute so I couldn't wait to start reading!
Now I don't know whether this book was supposed to have an element of magical realisim but it felt like that for me. The book was divided into two timelines...the present and the past and it changed between the two throughout...
Hannah works for a Health and Wellbeing magazine in a small office in London and is pretty fed up with her life as it is. When she bumps into an old friend Victor and he invites her to watch a film that's just for her, things seem to shift in her world and she begins to see that life might actually be quite beautiful. With a new colleague, Ian, her super cute dog Nellie and a new love interest, Joe, Hannah's life begins to turn around.
*** POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT! ***
Now, I didn't understand the character of Victor...it transpires at the end that he's been dead for years so therefore couldn't be in Hannah's present however if it wasn't Victor...what was happening?! Was she dreaming? Was she hallucintaing?! Was Victor just a personification of her anxiety and confusion about her life? I wasn't clever enough to pick up on this...it wasn't until the end when we're told he is dead that a whole load of questions formed in my mind. Perhaps allowing the reader to know this at the start would have made it more believable? I don't know!
*** SPOILER ENDS ***
I thought Hattie's characters were GREAT. I loved Hannah as a protagonist and I became really invested in her and her story. I also have a huge soft spot for Ian...he was potentially my favourite character of them all! He was so sweet and kind but not in a sickly, predictable way. Although I have to admit that Hannah's dog Nellie might just beat Ian to the top spot...I've never been so in love with a fictional dog before!
Whilst I thought the idea of the cinema and showing Hannah a film of her life was a unique idea, I was more invested and interested in Hannah's new relationship with Joe and was less concerned about her past. I guess for me, this would have been a five star book had Hattie just made this into a novel about Hannah navigating her life with the awesome cast of characters she had behind her. That's not to say the cinema element didn't work but I just didn't feel like it was as effective or poignant as it could have been? However that is just personal opinion and is probably loved by other readers!
I found myself excited to pick up this book each time I went back to it and flew through the pages, caught up in Hannah's world. I think Hattie is a great writer and I look forward to seeing what she writes next!
Now I don't know whether this book was supposed to have an element of magical realisim but it felt like that for me. The book was divided into two timelines...the present and the past and it changed between the two throughout...
Hannah works for a Health and Wellbeing magazine in a small office in London and is pretty fed up with her life as it is. When she bumps into an old friend Victor and he invites her to watch a film that's just for her, things seem to shift in her world and she begins to see that life might actually be quite beautiful. With a new colleague, Ian, her super cute dog Nellie and a new love interest, Joe, Hannah's life begins to turn around.
*** POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT! ***
Now, I didn't understand the character of Victor...it transpires at the end that he's been dead for years so therefore couldn't be in Hannah's present however if it wasn't Victor...what was happening?! Was she dreaming? Was she hallucintaing?! Was Victor just a personification of her anxiety and confusion about her life? I wasn't clever enough to pick up on this...it wasn't until the end when we're told he is dead that a whole load of questions formed in my mind. Perhaps allowing the reader to know this at the start would have made it more believable? I don't know!
*** SPOILER ENDS ***
I thought Hattie's characters were GREAT. I loved Hannah as a protagonist and I became really invested in her and her story. I also have a huge soft spot for Ian...he was potentially my favourite character of them all! He was so sweet and kind but not in a sickly, predictable way. Although I have to admit that Hannah's dog Nellie might just beat Ian to the top spot...I've never been so in love with a fictional dog before!
Whilst I thought the idea of the cinema and showing Hannah a film of her life was a unique idea, I was more invested and interested in Hannah's new relationship with Joe and was less concerned about her past. I guess for me, this would have been a five star book had Hattie just made this into a novel about Hannah navigating her life with the awesome cast of characters she had behind her. That's not to say the cinema element didn't work but I just didn't feel like it was as effective or poignant as it could have been? However that is just personal opinion and is probably loved by other readers!
I found myself excited to pick up this book each time I went back to it and flew through the pages, caught up in Hannah's world. I think Hattie is a great writer and I look forward to seeing what she writes next!
April 14, 2015
Hannah’s life is going nowhere. She dislikes her job, she distrusts her heart, her relationship with her mother is strained, her overactive imagination and her domineering bulldog, Nellie, make every day a struggle. When the mysterious Victor re-enters her life and shows her his indie film of her life, he sets in motion wondrous, painful, hopeful changes.
Hannah is both fragile and feisty. She is generous and selfish, open and secretive. The reasons behind these contradictions are slowly revealed to the reader, which makes for great storytelling and a thoroughly endearing lead character. Her attacks of “the Mentals” where she pictures “in great detail the worst possible thing” she “can do or say in any particular situation” are laugh-out-loud funny. And there’s plenty more humour in the amazing Nellie, and in Hannah’s job as a writer for a health and wellbeing magazine, partly from the array of natural products she and her colleague review, partly due to the irony that she’s struggling to find her own path and equilibrium in life.
Hannah’s search for happiness evolves through her relationships with an array of fascinating characters. While there are strands of comedy in these relationships, they have a darker more complex aspect to them too. None are static, they all develop in interesting and unusual ways. I particularly like the development of her relationships with her mother, Victor, and her work colleague. At crucial moments they each take her to memorable events in her past.
The trips back and forth can be a little challenging to follow at times, but a book that makes you work a bit is no bad thing. Especially when it’s a book that explores the themes of love and loss so eloquently.
There isn’t room here to list all the things I love about this book. However, I can’t finish this review without mentioning the beautiful evocation of the romance of French cinema and the authentic portrayal of the reality of London life. I’m so glad I chose to read this treat of a book and encourage you to read it too.
Hannah is both fragile and feisty. She is generous and selfish, open and secretive. The reasons behind these contradictions are slowly revealed to the reader, which makes for great storytelling and a thoroughly endearing lead character. Her attacks of “the Mentals” where she pictures “in great detail the worst possible thing” she “can do or say in any particular situation” are laugh-out-loud funny. And there’s plenty more humour in the amazing Nellie, and in Hannah’s job as a writer for a health and wellbeing magazine, partly from the array of natural products she and her colleague review, partly due to the irony that she’s struggling to find her own path and equilibrium in life.
Hannah’s search for happiness evolves through her relationships with an array of fascinating characters. While there are strands of comedy in these relationships, they have a darker more complex aspect to them too. None are static, they all develop in interesting and unusual ways. I particularly like the development of her relationships with her mother, Victor, and her work colleague. At crucial moments they each take her to memorable events in her past.
The trips back and forth can be a little challenging to follow at times, but a book that makes you work a bit is no bad thing. Especially when it’s a book that explores the themes of love and loss so eloquently.
There isn’t room here to list all the things I love about this book. However, I can’t finish this review without mentioning the beautiful evocation of the romance of French cinema and the authentic portrayal of the reality of London life. I’m so glad I chose to read this treat of a book and encourage you to read it too.
December 26, 2014
The original review, and many other reviews and features, can be found at http://www.thebookeaters.co.uk
Hannah Bailey is busy isolating herself from the all the pain that life can throw at her. She’s had enough of it, the father she adored who left her then died, the perfect boyfriend who decided she didn’t measure up, the disappointing career and the shame she feels about letting down a friend.
But life won’t be pushed away so easily, a chance encounter with the friend she betrayed leads her to the mysterious Cinema Lumiere. Where, in the solitary red velvet chair, she views a film that is so indicative of her early life that she can no longer block out her feelings about her childhood.
Although she runs from the cinema in the grip of a violent panic attack, she can’t stay away forever. She returns to watch another movie.
Accompanied by her ever-faithful (and frequently farting!) British bulldog Nellie, Hannah starts to open up to love again. But although there is a romantic story running through it, this isn’t a typical love story. It is a love letter to London, to French films, to friends, to parents, to pets, and even to failure. In short it shows that love runs through our lives in many different ways and it is there in each moment if we just peek behind the red velvet curtain.
This novel is charmingly crafted and full of characters that are both likeable and believable. It shows us that we all have our problems and our failings, but we can all love and be loved in return. Not without risk, but because of it.
4 bites.
Hannah Bailey is busy isolating herself from the all the pain that life can throw at her. She’s had enough of it, the father she adored who left her then died, the perfect boyfriend who decided she didn’t measure up, the disappointing career and the shame she feels about letting down a friend.
But life won’t be pushed away so easily, a chance encounter with the friend she betrayed leads her to the mysterious Cinema Lumiere. Where, in the solitary red velvet chair, she views a film that is so indicative of her early life that she can no longer block out her feelings about her childhood.
Although she runs from the cinema in the grip of a violent panic attack, she can’t stay away forever. She returns to watch another movie.
Accompanied by her ever-faithful (and frequently farting!) British bulldog Nellie, Hannah starts to open up to love again. But although there is a romantic story running through it, this isn’t a typical love story. It is a love letter to London, to French films, to friends, to parents, to pets, and even to failure. In short it shows that love runs through our lives in many different ways and it is there in each moment if we just peek behind the red velvet curtain.
This novel is charmingly crafted and full of characters that are both likeable and believable. It shows us that we all have our problems and our failings, but we can all love and be loved in return. Not without risk, but because of it.
4 bites.
January 22, 2015
I received this book as part of a goodreads giveaway. Firstly I would like to thank Hattie for the lovely message that I received with the book and wish her a Happy New Year. This book was not really what I expected, I was expecting it to start with Hannah, the main character viewing a mysterious film about her life and the consequences of viewing this film and a mystery story about how and why the film had been made. It was not like that it was more about the different relationships that Hannah has in her life currently and discovering the ones she has had in the past that have shaped how she is now. My favourite character was Ian, her work colleague and the banter that Hannah and Ian had. It did get me turning the pages to discover what had happened to Victor and Hannah's relationship in the past and to discover what had happened with her previous boyfriend Luke. I did sort of expect the ending but that didn't ruin the experience. Great book and worth a read.
March 29, 2025
I really enjoyed this book about a woman on a journey to discover herself and what love really looks like. At times the writing was completely captivating and the whole idea of the “cinema lumiere” being the enlightening tool to her feelings was done very well. Though I wished the author spent more time highlighting this aspect of the story. I enjoyed seeing Hannah’s growth as she tries to move forward from her past and truly embrace who she is. The ending was touching and little unexpected. I loved all the quirky characters and her dog brought true “laugh out loud” moments for me. I did have a few struggles - it had its slow moments and the jumping back and forth between time periods started out fine but became a little old by the end. I’m giving it 3.5 stars because it was an unusual and satisfying read.
January 15, 2015
I quite enjoyed this little London more than a chick flick book. It trod a familiar path ie the London chick lit but also some of my old haunts. It talked of my first love - the cinema and its many guises. It had the comic genius presence - Nellie the British Bulldog all no manners but huge personality. Great dialogue, not a cast of thousands but a good strong and believable cast and the twist that adds heart, quite a few really to make the story more 'normal'.
Its no literatory classic but its no trolley trash either. Its a gold solid read that gives an honest account of itself. I enjoyed it. Worth reading I say.
Toast
Its no literatory classic but its no trolley trash either. Its a gold solid read that gives an honest account of itself. I enjoyed it. Worth reading I say.
Toast
February 4, 2016
This was a good story, but...
I didn't find it funny. I found it overwhelmingly sad. It probably doesn't help that I'm reading it at this time of year; it's a personal thing. That being said, I am better for having read this. It's reminded me to examine my life and to treasure every moment. Sometimes I feel lost, like Hannah. Although I know what my passions are, I'm not really sure how to follow them at present. I think part of the reason I found this book so painful to read was that I can relate a little too much to Hannah, and that makes me sad. However, as I've said I'm better for having read this and I'm grateful for the reminder to stay true to myself and beware of cynicism.
I didn't find it funny. I found it overwhelmingly sad. It probably doesn't help that I'm reading it at this time of year; it's a personal thing. That being said, I am better for having read this. It's reminded me to examine my life and to treasure every moment. Sometimes I feel lost, like Hannah. Although I know what my passions are, I'm not really sure how to follow them at present. I think part of the reason I found this book so painful to read was that I can relate a little too much to Hannah, and that makes me sad. However, as I've said I'm better for having read this and I'm grateful for the reminder to stay true to myself and beware of cynicism.
November 24, 2014
I did enjoy reading this, over a travelling weekend it was a nice place to turn to. The setting was familiar - Kensal Green Cemetry and the Upper Portobello. Three time frames was good if at times confusing and again maybe she could have made more of the themes of repression - her own repression of "the mentals" - just once she perhaps she could have acted them out. On the other hand it was a deeply personal book I feel especially regarding the various male characters and her dealings with them. Some poor sentences but the general texture was thoughtful and original.
October 13, 2016
What a captivating and delightful read. This book will make you laugh, cringe, and cry. The characters captured me from the first chapter until the end. I love how Nellie is treated like a real person with thoughts and emotions, and will definitely keep you in stitches throughout the book. I definitely was anxious to know the mystery in this book and what happened between Hannah, Victor and Luke. The ending leaves quite a surprising twist. I highly recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading other novels by Hattie Holden Emonds.
March 31, 2015
This is the best book I've read in a long, long time. I really liked the characters- especially the bulldog (I loved how the author made the dog feel like it was a human character). Although I guessed the ending of the book (don't worry, I won't tell you) about halfway through, I still really liked where the story went. I was laughing and crying throughout this book. I definitely recommend this one!
September 4, 2015
Hmm - would have given this a 2.5 if I could - somewhere between 'it was OK' and ' liked it'.
Yes, I did like the story, but think I must have missed clues or part of the plot 'cos I didn't really get the impression that Victor was showing her a film of her actual life...just snippets which made her sit up and think about her past, present and putting things right with, for example, her mother.
Nice story... but I'm sure I've missed something here :(
Yes, I did like the story, but think I must have missed clues or part of the plot 'cos I didn't really get the impression that Victor was showing her a film of her actual life...just snippets which made her sit up and think about her past, present and putting things right with, for example, her mother.
Nice story... but I'm sure I've missed something here :(
March 16, 2016
This is a truly engrossing read. From the first page, we were drawn into Hannah's life, loves, regrets and pain. At once funny and heartbreaking, Cinema Lumiere is a novel about recovery, about friendship and above all, about the prevailing power of love. On finishing the novel we felt a sense of sadness for the loss of a host of relatable characters, and joy for the possibilities of what is to come for them.
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