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Sedam pisama iz Pariza
Dvadeset godina, sedam pisama i jedna davno izgubljena ljubav, ali pre svega ovo je jedna od najšarmantnijih ljubavnih priča koje su ikada ispričane.
Dvadeset godina nakon njihovog prvog susreta, Samanta je konačno pronašla ljubav svog života. Istinita priča koja će vam vratiti veru u moć prave ljubavi i uliti nadu da se čuda dešavaju!
Samanta Veran je imala devetnaest godina kada je na kratkom putovanju u Pariz upoznala zgodnog francuskog naučnika Žan-Lika. Proveli su zajedno jedan dan šetajući se ulicama romantičnog grada, a kada se vratila kući, on joj je poslao sedam divnih ljubavnih pisama. Ali ona mu nikada nije odgovorila.
Dvadeset godina kasnije, na ivici razvoda, pitajući se u kom trenutku je njen život krenuo naopako, Samanta pronalazi stara Žan-Likova pisma. Ulazi mu u trag na internetu i piše mu dugo pismo izvinjenja. Uskoro shvata da je veza koju su stvorili i dalje jaka i posebna kao i onog davnog dana kada su se rastali na pariskoj železničkoj stanici.
Samanta zna da je suludo da otrči na prvi prekookeanski let ne bi li što pre srela čoveka s kojim je provela samo jedan lep, sunčan i zanosan dan, ali možda je to ona ludost na koju je čekala celog života…
Sedam pisama iz Pariza prava je bajka iz stvarnog života. To je priča o seksi, strastvenoj, burnoj romansi na koju je vredelo čekati dvadeset godina. Samanta Veran nam predočava važnost pružanja druge šanse i šta znači slediti svoje srce, ali nas podseća i na to kakvu moć može imati starinsko pisanje ljubavnih pisama.
Dvadeset godina nakon njihovog prvog susreta, Samanta je konačno pronašla ljubav svog života. Istinita priča koja će vam vratiti veru u moć prave ljubavi i uliti nadu da se čuda dešavaju!
Samanta Veran je imala devetnaest godina kada je na kratkom putovanju u Pariz upoznala zgodnog francuskog naučnika Žan-Lika. Proveli su zajedno jedan dan šetajući se ulicama romantičnog grada, a kada se vratila kući, on joj je poslao sedam divnih ljubavnih pisama. Ali ona mu nikada nije odgovorila.
Dvadeset godina kasnije, na ivici razvoda, pitajući se u kom trenutku je njen život krenuo naopako, Samanta pronalazi stara Žan-Likova pisma. Ulazi mu u trag na internetu i piše mu dugo pismo izvinjenja. Uskoro shvata da je veza koju su stvorili i dalje jaka i posebna kao i onog davnog dana kada su se rastali na pariskoj železničkoj stanici.
Samanta zna da je suludo da otrči na prvi prekookeanski let ne bi li što pre srela čoveka s kojim je provela samo jedan lep, sunčan i zanosan dan, ali možda je to ona ludost na koju je čekala celog života…
Sedam pisama iz Pariza prava je bajka iz stvarnog života. To je priča o seksi, strastvenoj, burnoj romansi na koju je vredelo čekati dvadeset godina. Samanta Veran nam predočava važnost pružanja druge šanse i šta znači slediti svoje srce, ali nas podseća i na to kakvu moć može imati starinsko pisanje ljubavnih pisama.
312 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
107 people are currently reading
3287 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Verant
11 books454 followersSamantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, at-home French chef. Over the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her. Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it led her to southwestern France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to one ridiculously adorable Charteux cat. When she’s not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses, or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
March 2, 2016
Having recently gone through a rough patch in my life that was the emotional equivalent of taking a hot iron to the face, this book's sweet, fluffy silliness was some welcome reprieve. I read it in one sitting, on a plane from Halifax to Glasgow. My somewhat poor experience with it could probably be blamed in part on my excruciating restless leg and nearly thirty hours without a wink of sleep. Well, actually, that's not true. I got about six minutes of shut-eye lying down in the car. It was a trustless sleep, though. I felt nervous doing it. That's some serious personal shit that I probably ought to work through.
I know you've all seen me talk smack about Paris before, but that's only because I'm a salty bitch with a bad attitude, and it's not my fault I'm that way; I was raised like it. Honestly, I was. Look at the way I react to fictional romance. It leaves me stone cold 95% of the time. All those Jane Austen romances, and like Katniss and Peeta or Elias and Laia, ought to stir my emotions like they did everyone else's. But I'm like a diamond. Hard. Beautiful, exquisite, but hard as shit.
So by some strange feat, this book casually fell into my hands as I perused the travel section in Coles during my last week in Canada. I was supposed to be saving money, because I'm currently jobless, but I was sad so I needed to buy things to make myself feel better. It works.
And it kept working. This book is one of those that requires absolutely zero thought, so don't go into it looking for anything edgy. Don't go into it looking for soul-searching or life chats. This book is honestly so self-indulgent and if you allow it to be just so, then you'll probably enjoy the shit out of it. Do I wish the writing had been more polished, less cheesy, with a more adept editor? Yes. Of course I do. There were full stops and whole words missing. I know typos happen and it's nobody's fault, it's just human error, but do there need to be multiple gaps in multiple sentences? No.
Sam is a pretty likeable human being, and her narration is cute (if extremely corny and saccharine). I love that she sees the chance to change her life and she takes it, and I love that she's sort of haphazard and blundering but a romantic, filled with grandiose ideas and dreams. She takes the notion of happily ever after and makes it a reality. And when you're in the mood for a pick-me-up, that's super nice.
The latter half of this book could have been polished; the first half, all adventure and romance and Jean-Luc's letters, was greatly enjoyable, while the latter was bogged down with whole chapters about nothing but the wedding decorations and the paperwork required for Sam's emigration to France. Some people might find it interesting, I guess, but does the wider public really care about how long it took for Sam's birth certificate to come through the mail? I know I didn't. "I got a marriage visa" probably would have sufficed, and would have allowed for a deeper wade into Sam's problems with Chris, her education, her friendships, her financial woes, among other things. I was interested in finding out more about Sam, and about why her life had crashed and burned, rather than how many starfish decoys she hung up in her parents' back yard.
Alas, it matters little; it all ended happily, Sam found her love, and now she's happy. That was the purpose of this memoir, and it fulfilled it nicely. Like I said: go into it with no expectations, or at the very least, low ones. You'll kill a sweet few hours.
I know you've all seen me talk smack about Paris before, but that's only because I'm a salty bitch with a bad attitude, and it's not my fault I'm that way; I was raised like it. Honestly, I was. Look at the way I react to fictional romance. It leaves me stone cold 95% of the time. All those Jane Austen romances, and like Katniss and Peeta or Elias and Laia, ought to stir my emotions like they did everyone else's. But I'm like a diamond. Hard. Beautiful, exquisite, but hard as shit.
So by some strange feat, this book casually fell into my hands as I perused the travel section in Coles during my last week in Canada. I was supposed to be saving money, because I'm currently jobless, but I was sad so I needed to buy things to make myself feel better. It works.
And it kept working. This book is one of those that requires absolutely zero thought, so don't go into it looking for anything edgy. Don't go into it looking for soul-searching or life chats. This book is honestly so self-indulgent and if you allow it to be just so, then you'll probably enjoy the shit out of it. Do I wish the writing had been more polished, less cheesy, with a more adept editor? Yes. Of course I do. There were full stops and whole words missing. I know typos happen and it's nobody's fault, it's just human error, but do there need to be multiple gaps in multiple sentences? No.
Sam is a pretty likeable human being, and her narration is cute (if extremely corny and saccharine). I love that she sees the chance to change her life and she takes it, and I love that she's sort of haphazard and blundering but a romantic, filled with grandiose ideas and dreams. She takes the notion of happily ever after and makes it a reality. And when you're in the mood for a pick-me-up, that's super nice.
The latter half of this book could have been polished; the first half, all adventure and romance and Jean-Luc's letters, was greatly enjoyable, while the latter was bogged down with whole chapters about nothing but the wedding decorations and the paperwork required for Sam's emigration to France. Some people might find it interesting, I guess, but does the wider public really care about how long it took for Sam's birth certificate to come through the mail? I know I didn't. "I got a marriage visa" probably would have sufficed, and would have allowed for a deeper wade into Sam's problems with Chris, her education, her friendships, her financial woes, among other things. I was interested in finding out more about Sam, and about why her life had crashed and burned, rather than how many starfish decoys she hung up in her parents' back yard.
Alas, it matters little; it all ended happily, Sam found her love, and now she's happy. That was the purpose of this memoir, and it fulfilled it nicely. Like I said: go into it with no expectations, or at the very least, low ones. You'll kill a sweet few hours.
January 24, 2016
At the age of 20, Samantha and her friend are travelling through Europe during a college break. They've spent two weeks in Paris and on their very last night in the city, they meet two young, good-looking Frenchmen. In particular, Samantha has a very strong connection with Jean-Luc, the man she meets. They spend the next 24 unforgettable sleepless hours exploring the city with the men, and despite pleas from the men to change plans and stay longer in Paris, the girls depart for Nice.
Samantha returns to college in the U.S., and Jean-Luc writes seven heart-felt love letters to her. Samantha is experiencing some personal crises at home, and never writes him back.
Fast forward twenty years. Samantha has been laid off from her job, is on the brink of divorce, and is about to turn 40. She finds Jean-Luc's old letters and wonders why she never wrote him back. Through the magic of the internet she finds him, and responds at long last...
A fun, romantic, real-life fairy-tale. And, it's Paris so you've got to love that.
3.5 stars rounded up
Samantha returns to college in the U.S., and Jean-Luc writes seven heart-felt love letters to her. Samantha is experiencing some personal crises at home, and never writes him back.
Fast forward twenty years. Samantha has been laid off from her job, is on the brink of divorce, and is about to turn 40. She finds Jean-Luc's old letters and wonders why she never wrote him back. Through the magic of the internet she finds him, and responds at long last...
A fun, romantic, real-life fairy-tale. And, it's Paris so you've got to love that.
3.5 stars rounded up
October 17, 2014
This is a lovely modern fairytale come true about a disillusioned American woman and her French prince. At 39 Samantha Verant made the brave decision to leave her loveless marriage and return, jobless and in debt to live with her parents.
Twenty years before, Sam and her best friend Tracey had met two handsome Frenchmen in Paris and spent a memorable twenty four hours with them before leaving to travel on to the South of France and the rest of their European holiday. After returning to her University studies, Sam received a series of seven beautiful, passionate, romantic letters from Jean-Luc expressing his feelings for her and his regret at allowing her to slip away. Scared of commitment and being let down, Sam is unable to find the right words to reply but now 20 years later decides she must apologise for not writing back.
What follows is a beautiful romance with a happy ending that any woman (even a happily married middle-aged one like me) would sigh for. Sam tells her story interwoven with Jean-Luc's seven love letters and her reminiscences of her youthful trip to Paris in a gorgeous memoir that she generously shares with her readers. 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book to review.
Twenty years before, Sam and her best friend Tracey had met two handsome Frenchmen in Paris and spent a memorable twenty four hours with them before leaving to travel on to the South of France and the rest of their European holiday. After returning to her University studies, Sam received a series of seven beautiful, passionate, romantic letters from Jean-Luc expressing his feelings for her and his regret at allowing her to slip away. Scared of commitment and being let down, Sam is unable to find the right words to reply but now 20 years later decides she must apologise for not writing back.
What follows is a beautiful romance with a happy ending that any woman (even a happily married middle-aged one like me) would sigh for. Sam tells her story interwoven with Jean-Luc's seven love letters and her reminiscences of her youthful trip to Paris in a gorgeous memoir that she generously shares with her readers. 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book to review.
October 23, 2014
I need to preface this review with the disclaimer that I'm not romantic. I suspect I once was but am now a washed-up middle-aged cynic. Or something.
And although I label myself a tad impulsive and irresponsible. I'm probably possibly not. So - the notion of travelling halfway around the world to reunite with someone you knew for 24hrs twenty years before is something I struggled with. A lot.
I can't say it's not realistic - as it actually happened in Samantha Verant’s memoir, ' Seven Letters From Paris.
It's a bit of a cliche I realise - those in unhappy marriages or reaching middle age (ahem) fondly remembering school sweethearts or long-lost loves The internet (damn Facebook!) allows us to reach out and indulge our fantasies of ... what if...
Samantha goes further than that. She leaves her husband (moving back in with her well-off mother and stepfather) and writes to Jean Luc who whom she once spent 24 hours.
I suspect you can sense my sarcasm. Like I said - it's mostly because the whole thing just felt a bit cheesy.
And I know by criticising the lead character I’m criticising the actual author (and a real person) but she came across (in the book anyway) as incredibly self-indulgent, self-obsessed and immature.
I suspect she was less glib about her finances in real life but her desperation to declare bankruptcy and move on with her life was a bit distasteful.
The character's reaction to Jean Luc's parents' apartment really made her seem like a bit of a princess.
“I shrugged off the initial shock. ‘Places don’t matter. People do.’ “
But we were supposed to admire her for getting past her distaste and accepting them nonetheless. WTF?!
I'm so used to crime fiction I was waiting for Jean Luc's story not to add up and for her to discover he was a fraud. Or better still, an axe murderer. Of course that could still happen as - happily ever after may be more difficult once the drudgery of full time work and household chores sets in.
I requested this book because I was at an event where a Random House editor spoke breathlessly about its beauty. I stepped out of my comfort zone because I wanted the romance, I wanted the fantasy.
However, while I don't begrudge Samantha’s happily ever after, if this wasn't a true story I'd be saying it didn't feel particularly feasible.
And although I label myself a tad impulsive and irresponsible. I'm probably possibly not. So - the notion of travelling halfway around the world to reunite with someone you knew for 24hrs twenty years before is something I struggled with. A lot.
I can't say it's not realistic - as it actually happened in Samantha Verant’s memoir, ' Seven Letters From Paris.
It's a bit of a cliche I realise - those in unhappy marriages or reaching middle age (ahem) fondly remembering school sweethearts or long-lost loves The internet (damn Facebook!) allows us to reach out and indulge our fantasies of ... what if...
Samantha goes further than that. She leaves her husband (moving back in with her well-off mother and stepfather) and writes to Jean Luc who whom she once spent 24 hours.
I suspect you can sense my sarcasm. Like I said - it's mostly because the whole thing just felt a bit cheesy.
And I know by criticising the lead character I’m criticising the actual author (and a real person) but she came across (in the book anyway) as incredibly self-indulgent, self-obsessed and immature.
I suspect she was less glib about her finances in real life but her desperation to declare bankruptcy and move on with her life was a bit distasteful.
The character's reaction to Jean Luc's parents' apartment really made her seem like a bit of a princess.
“I shrugged off the initial shock. ‘Places don’t matter. People do.’ “
But we were supposed to admire her for getting past her distaste and accepting them nonetheless. WTF?!
I'm so used to crime fiction I was waiting for Jean Luc's story not to add up and for her to discover he was a fraud. Or better still, an axe murderer. Of course that could still happen as - happily ever after may be more difficult once the drudgery of full time work and household chores sets in.
I requested this book because I was at an event where a Random House editor spoke breathlessly about its beauty. I stepped out of my comfort zone because I wanted the romance, I wanted the fantasy.
However, while I don't begrudge Samantha’s happily ever after, if this wasn't a true story I'd be saying it didn't feel particularly feasible.
July 29, 2021
Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
You know I'm trying to please to the calling
Of your heartstrings that play soft and low
You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
You know the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love?
Well, I wanna make love to you tonight
I can't wait till the morning has come
You know, I know now the time is just right
And straight into my arms you will run
And when you come, my heart will be waiting
To make sure that you're never alone
There and then all my dreams will come true, dear
There and then I will make you my own
And every time I touch you, you just tremble inside
And I know how much you want me, that you can't hide
Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love?
Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
You know I'm trying to please to the calling
Of your heartstrings that play soft and low
You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
You know the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love?
One more moondance with you
In the moonlight
On a magic night
La, la, la, la, la in the moonlight
On a magic night
Can't I just have one more, more dance with you, my love?
Ένα τραγούδι όλο το βιβλίο.
Αληθινή ιστορία παραμυθιού.
Και.
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Καλή ανάγνωση.
Πολλούς και σεμνούς ασπασμούς.
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
You know I'm trying to please to the calling
Of your heartstrings that play soft and low
You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
You know the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love?
Well, I wanna make love to you tonight
I can't wait till the morning has come
You know, I know now the time is just right
And straight into my arms you will run
And when you come, my heart will be waiting
To make sure that you're never alone
There and then all my dreams will come true, dear
There and then I will make you my own
And every time I touch you, you just tremble inside
And I know how much you want me, that you can't hide
Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love?
Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
You know I'm trying to please to the calling
Of your heartstrings that play soft and low
You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
You know the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love?
One more moondance with you
In the moonlight
On a magic night
La, la, la, la, la in the moonlight
On a magic night
Can't I just have one more, more dance with you, my love?
Ένα τραγούδι όλο το βιβλίο.
Αληθινή ιστορία παραμυθιού.
Και.
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Καλή ανάγνωση.
Πολλούς και σεμνούς ασπασμούς.
November 7, 2017
“When I let go of anger, guilt, and fear, I finally let love in. For once, my entire life jumped onto the right track, and it was cruising along, moving full speed ahead.”
I loved this..it was so cute and fun but had its heavy moments. A nonfiction fairy tale really along with its bumps in the road. I love most of all what it really stands for: life is too short, let go of whatever baggage or ghosts you have haunting you from the past and never be afraid to just start over.
I loved this..it was so cute and fun but had its heavy moments. A nonfiction fairy tale really along with its bumps in the road. I love most of all what it really stands for: life is too short, let go of whatever baggage or ghosts you have haunting you from the past and never be afraid to just start over.
September 29, 2015
Thank you so much for reading/buying/supporting my book.
Bisous!
Bisous!
April 23, 2019
This should have been titled, "Seven Letters from Paris: A Fairy Tale." I guess I am not very romantic, but if this is based on a true story, it is being retold through VERY rose colored glasses. Sam is the most beautiful and beguiling California girl God ever created. She meets Jean-Luc, the most handsome and perfect and romantic Frenchman, while traveling in France. They spend 24 hours together, after which Jean-Luc was besotted with this princess for life. She returns home and he pines for her. Never have seven such romantic letters been written! But Sam never answers a single one, although she kept them all. (I have to confess, I didn't find the letters romantic - they were so over the top they came off as creepy and stalker-y to me. I wouldn't have responded either.)
Twenty years later, Sam's first marriage crumbles. She is approaching middle age; she is facing bankruptcy. She has no job or money or prospects and is living with her parents. She decides to contact Jean-Luc and he is of course DELIGHTED to have his princess back in his life and solve all her problems for her. He whisks her around France, taking her to beautiful, romantic castles; eating wonderful food; drinking wine, assuring her every moment how beautiful and perfect and special she is. He introduces her to his friends, family, and young children, all of whom of course immediately LOVE her because she is so beautiful and perfect and special. Sam and Jean-Luc have mind-blowing sex, because they have PASSION, without which Jean-Luc keeps assuring her, life is not worth living and which will never die between the two of them. They never fight or even have disagreements.
I realize this review is cynical but honestly I have never met people like this. I guess if they exist and they are happy, more power to them. I sincerely hope that Jean-Luc and Sam were everything they seemed to be, and Sam never found human remains when digging in the perfect garden behind their perfect townhouse; or that during one of their never-ending romantic getaways in the south of France Jean-Luc never pushed her off a cliff to collect the insurance money.
Twenty years later, Sam's first marriage crumbles. She is approaching middle age; she is facing bankruptcy. She has no job or money or prospects and is living with her parents. She decides to contact Jean-Luc and he is of course DELIGHTED to have his princess back in his life and solve all her problems for her. He whisks her around France, taking her to beautiful, romantic castles; eating wonderful food; drinking wine, assuring her every moment how beautiful and perfect and special she is. He introduces her to his friends, family, and young children, all of whom of course immediately LOVE her because she is so beautiful and perfect and special. Sam and Jean-Luc have mind-blowing sex, because they have PASSION, without which Jean-Luc keeps assuring her, life is not worth living and which will never die between the two of them. They never fight or even have disagreements.
I realize this review is cynical but honestly I have never met people like this. I guess if they exist and they are happy, more power to them. I sincerely hope that Jean-Luc and Sam were everything they seemed to be, and Sam never found human remains when digging in the perfect garden behind their perfect townhouse; or that during one of their never-ending romantic getaways in the south of France Jean-Luc never pushed her off a cliff to collect the insurance money.
January 5, 2015
Seven Letters from Paris is a memoir by an American woman now living in south-western France, Samantha Verant. Moaning to her closest friend Tracey about her life’s latest terrible turns (jobless, deep in debt and her marriage on the rocks), Samantha Platt, almost forty, is reminded about a European holiday twenty years earlier, and a chance encounter with a Frenchman, Jean Luc Verant. She digs out the seven letters he sent her from Paris. And what letters they were: full of romance and promise. Letters to which she never replied….
With the wonders of the Internet, Facebook and Google, Samantha tracks Jean Luc down, apologises, twenty years late, for her lack of reply, and sends him a link to her seven-part blog describing their Paris encounter. Dare she hope for a civil reply, let alone something more? Obviously, since, in the opening passages, Samantha refers to Jean Luc as her husband, she can. But after an interval of twenty years, there are more than a few obstacles, psychological, logistical and bureaucratic, to be overcome before this true romance can properly develop from its initial spark. This is an enjoyable read: at times moving and often hilarious, with a true happily-ever-after ending.
With the wonders of the Internet, Facebook and Google, Samantha tracks Jean Luc down, apologises, twenty years late, for her lack of reply, and sends him a link to her seven-part blog describing their Paris encounter. Dare she hope for a civil reply, let alone something more? Obviously, since, in the opening passages, Samantha refers to Jean Luc as her husband, she can. But after an interval of twenty years, there are more than a few obstacles, psychological, logistical and bureaucratic, to be overcome before this true romance can properly develop from its initial spark. This is an enjoyable read: at times moving and often hilarious, with a true happily-ever-after ending.
July 20, 2014
I have just finished a wonderful 72 hours in the company of Samantha Vérant and her touching Seven Letters from Paris. Written from the heart, with sometimes startling honesty, Seven Letters tells the story of how Samantha met her husband, and then didn't—for twenty years. Culminating with a pair of fairy-tale weddings in France and California, her experience teaches us the reality of love at first sight, and the imperative to believe it when you see it. Seven Letters from Paris is a beautiful study of what we learn about love and our lives in middle age when we are finally crazy enough to act on the instincts we are too 'sensible' to listen to in our twenties. Inspiring and encouraging for all of us, whether we have found the love of our lives or not (yet).
Disclosure: Author supplied ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Disclosure: Author supplied ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
November 6, 2014In 1989, Samantha Platt, a nineteen year old American arts student, was traveling through Europe with her best friend, Tracey, when, on their second to last day in Paris they met two handsome young Frenchman, Jean-Luc and Patrick. Though their time together was brief, Samantha and Jean-Luc both admitted to feeling a strong connection, and though Samantha chose to continue their planned journey leaving Jean-Luc behind, she did so with no small amount of regret.
Twenty odd years later, Samantha has been made redundant and her marriage is disintegrating when Tracey reminds her of their summer in Paris and the seven letters full of romance and longing she received from Jean-Luc after her return home. Wondering 'what if?', Samantha gathers her courage and decides to contact Jean-Luc, awkward emails soon became more intimate, leading to long phone calls which eventually results in Samantha accepting Jean-Luc's invitation to visit him in Paris. It is a chance Samantha feels she has to take...
Seven Letters From Paris is the true tale of an extraordinary second chance love story. Twenty years after their day long romance in Paris, Samantha and Jean-Luc are reunited, and less than 12 months later are husband and wife.
Samantha's story may have a fairytale ending, but it is a life and love hard won. She has dealt with an absentee father, a difficult divorce and bankruptcy to then moving to France with only rudimentary language skills, and becoming not only a wife, but also a full time stepmother of two young children.
Written in a friendly, almost conversational tone, Seven Letters From Paris is an easy read. Romantics will swoon over the seven letters Jean-Luc sent Samantha in 1989, francophiles will enjoy reading about Samantha's new life in France.
As my own love story is entirely prosaic - he was 20 and a co-worker of a friend, I was just 16 and still in high school when we got together, we married when I was 22 and next week we will celebrate 19 years of marriage - I appreciated the romance of Samantha and Jean-Luc's relationship and their almost too-good-to-be-true reunion.
My French is very rusty but:
Je vous souhaite de nombreuses années de bonheur
(I wish you both many years of happiness)
*Please note: I choose not to rate memoirs*
October 5, 2014
Reading Seven Letters from Paris is like traveling to France with a good friend -- the journey revolves around laughter and angst, food and wine, new and cherished connections. Throughout this memoir, I commiserated, I laughed, I cheered our brave heroine on.
Samantha Verant is a women who had the courage to take a chance in life; she took the proverbial lemons and made French-pressed lemonade. Her witty writing is in a similar vein as Peter Mayle, in A Year in Provence (Mayle also endorsed the book, too). Seven Letters from Paris is a delightful look at a woman who rebooted her heart and created the life she deserved. In addition, this charming tale is certain to inspire legions of letter writers bent on romance.
Five stars for this courageous writer; I'm certainly hoping for more from Samantha Verant as she continues her life adventures.
Samantha Verant is a women who had the courage to take a chance in life; she took the proverbial lemons and made French-pressed lemonade. Her witty writing is in a similar vein as Peter Mayle, in A Year in Provence (Mayle also endorsed the book, too). Seven Letters from Paris is a delightful look at a woman who rebooted her heart and created the life she deserved. In addition, this charming tale is certain to inspire legions of letter writers bent on romance.
Five stars for this courageous writer; I'm certainly hoping for more from Samantha Verant as she continues her life adventures.
October 14, 2014
VERDICT: Seven Letters From Paris is a lively and very inspiring memoir witnessing to the fact that sometimes, life has better things in store for you than the best of fiction could make you dream of. French food and culture will also help! Perfect for all lovers of France and readers who need to be reminded that the sun always shines behind the clouds, how dark they may be.
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/10/13/b...
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/10/13/b...
June 13, 2020
”My God, what an idiot I’d been. Punctuated with passion, Jean-Luc’s letters still heated my soul twenty years later. So why hadn’t I written him back in 1989?
In March, I finished reading Paris Was Ours (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). In my review I mentioned that I really liked reading about Paris and that is why this book caught my attention. I was looking through the library catalog for a different book and this one came up also. So I checked it out. How bad could a book be about Paris? How bad could a book be that is essentially a true life fairy tale?
The basic answer is not bad at all. I had a good time vicariously living Verant’s life. If someone asked me if they should read this book, I would say yes, if you like romantic stories. Verant’s rediscovery of the love of her life was wonderful. Her life seems to still be a fairy tale. I am happy for her.
My only caveat is that Verant had made a total mess of her life before she found Jean-Luc again. I know I should not judge a person that I don’t know. I know life is messy and I know many things happen to us that we can’t control. I just struggled with Verant’s chaos. I don’t know why it bothers me so much. I am not a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” kind of person. Verant had serious problems, lost her job, had a divorce and ended up declaring bankruptcy. All of this is terrible, I should not blame the victim.
Whatever my problem is and it is my problem, this detracted from the fairy tale that Verdant was telling. And so, this book was fine and I am glad I read it. I just didn’t love it. I guess I wanted to love it because of my unrequited love affair with Paris.
In March, I finished reading Paris Was Ours (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). In my review I mentioned that I really liked reading about Paris and that is why this book caught my attention. I was looking through the library catalog for a different book and this one came up also. So I checked it out. How bad could a book be about Paris? How bad could a book be that is essentially a true life fairy tale?
The basic answer is not bad at all. I had a good time vicariously living Verant’s life. If someone asked me if they should read this book, I would say yes, if you like romantic stories. Verant’s rediscovery of the love of her life was wonderful. Her life seems to still be a fairy tale. I am happy for her.
My only caveat is that Verant had made a total mess of her life before she found Jean-Luc again. I know I should not judge a person that I don’t know. I know life is messy and I know many things happen to us that we can’t control. I just struggled with Verant’s chaos. I don’t know why it bothers me so much. I am not a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” kind of person. Verant had serious problems, lost her job, had a divorce and ended up declaring bankruptcy. All of this is terrible, I should not blame the victim.
Whatever my problem is and it is my problem, this detracted from the fairy tale that Verdant was telling. And so, this book was fine and I am glad I read it. I just didn’t love it. I guess I wanted to love it because of my unrequited love affair with Paris.
February 7, 2017
This is such a beautifully written, honest story about overcoming the immense loss that is divorce and moving on to find true love. Samantha’s willingness to open her heart to someone she’d met so long ago and then share their incredible story in her memoir has certainly given me hope and has warmed my heart. Samantha’s love story with Jean-Luc really is a fairy-tale come true, but not without its own challenges of course! The financial stress after divorce, the paperwork insanity of getting married in France, becoming an instant mother, and learning the ever-beautiful, ever-challenging French language are all obstacles Samantha faces in her story. But she does so with passion, grace, and love in her heart and in her prose. Bravo for sharing your beautiful story, Samantha, and for giving divorced women everywhere (including me!) the hope that true love is not only out there, but it is better than we could’ve ever dreamed it to be.
November 9, 2014
What's not to love? Girl meets Frenchman on the last evening of her first time in Paris when she is 19 and he is 26. They are smitten with each other, but she has to leave the next day. The chemistry is there, but she doesn't see him again for twenty years, after digging out seven very fabulously romantic love letters he wrote to her to which she never responded. The rest, as they say, is history. A great read on a snowy day.
“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
― Mason Cooley
“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
― Mason Cooley
November 11, 2024
Η ζωή της Samantha Verant θα μπορούσε να χαρακτηριστεί συνηθισμένη. Έχει έναν σύζυγο που λατρεύει και την λατρεύει, έχει τη δουλειά της, το σπίτι της, τους φίλους της, όλα αυτά τα μικρά πράγματα που συνθέτουν την πραγματικότητα όλων μας. Όμως, για την Samantha, τα πράγματα είναι κάπως διαφορετικά, αφού προκειμένου να κατακτήσει την προσωπική της ευτυχία και να ολοκληρωθεί, χρειάστηκε να περάσουν 39 ολόκληρα χρόνια. Λίγο πριν την ανατολή της μέσης ηλικίας, η Samantha κοίταξε τη μέχρι τότε ζωή της και συνειδητοποίησε πως δεν ήταν αυτή που ήθελε, αλλά και πως τα περισσότερα από αυτά που ήθελε και ονειρευόταν να κάνει όταν ήταν νέα, δεν τα τόλμησε ποτέ. Ωστόσο, ποτέ δεν είναι αργά, όχι όταν διεκδικείς το δικαίωμά σου στην αγάπη, στον έρωτα, στην ίδια τη ζωή.
Το "Επτά γράμματα από το Παρίσι" είναι ουσιαστικά ένα χρονικό της ζωής της ίδιας της συγγραφέως. Μια προσωπική εξομολόγηση, που στα σημεία θυμίζει ημερολόγιο, μέσω της οποίας μαθαίνουμε πως αποφάσισε να αλλάξει μια μέρα τη ζωή της, χωρίζοντας με έναν σύζυγο με τον οποίο δεν είχαν καμία επαφή, παρατώντας μια δουλειά που ποτέ δεν την γέμιζε ούτε και την εξέφραζε, μετακομίζοντας σε μια άλλη χώρα και -κυρίως- ζώντας ξανά τον έρωτα στην αγκαλιά ενός άντρα που αν και γνώρισε είκοσι ολόκληρα χρόνια πριν -και όταν εκείνη ήταν μόλις δεκαεννέα ετών- και δεν είχαν περάσει παρά μονάχα στιγμές μαζί, ήξερε βαθιά μέσα στην καρδιά της πως ήταν ο ιδανικός για εκείνη. Ήξερε πως άξιζε να θυσιάσει τα πάντα και να κυνηγήσει το όνειρο της ευτυχίας της που δεν τόλμησε κάποτε.
Ο τρόπος που γράφει η Samantha Verant -ή, καλύτερα, που εξομολογείται τα προσωπικά της- είναι άμεσος, σύγχρονος, ρεαλιστικός, διανθισμένος με έντονες δόσεις χιούμορ, αυτοσαρκασμού, αυτοκριτικής και καυστικού κυνισμού, πράγμα το οποίο αποδεικνύει το πόσο ειλικρινής και ακομπλεξάριστη είναι. Δεν διστάζει να παραδεχτεί τα λάθη της, που ακόμα κι αν τα διακωμωδεί κατά περιπτώσεις, δεν παραλείπει να μας τονίσει πως αν ποτέ βρεθούμε στη θέση της, καλό θα ήταν να σκεφτούμε τα πράγματα δύο φορές προτού να πάρουμε μίαν απόφαση. Μέσα από τα κείμενά της μπορούμε να διακρίνουμε τις δύο διαφορετικές, αντικρουόμενες προσωπικότητές της. Εκείνη της μεσήλικης, ώριμης γυναίκας που δεν βιάζεται να πάρει αποφάσεις, κι εκείνη της καταπιεσμένης εικοσάρας που κάνει την επανάστασή της προκειμένου να διεκδικήσει τα δικαιώματά της στα θέλω και τη ζωή της.
Όσον αφορά τον έρωτά της με τον Ζαν-Λιν, θα έλεγε κανείς πως φαντάζει ονειρικός και παραμυθένιος. Πραγματικά, υπήρχαν στιγμές που με έκαναν να αμφισβητώ πως όλα όσα διάβαζα μπορεί να είχαν πράγματι συμβεί αλλά από την άλλη, η ζωή είναι το μεγαλύτερο και το πιο τρελό παραμύθι απ' όλα όσα έχουν ειπωθεί, άρα τίποτα δεν είναι απίθανο και όταν πιστεύεις στο όνειρο, τα πάντα είναι πιθανά. Με βαθιά συναισθηματικό τρόπο, λοιπόν, και με ένα αίσθημα κάπως νοσταλγικό που παραπέμπει σε έρωτες άλλης εποχής, η συγγραφέας μας μεταφέρει εικόνες, μηνύματα, συναισθήματα, με τρόπο που μας συγκινεί και μας διασκεδάζει παράλληλα, κάνοντάς μας να την θαυμάζουμε για το -έστω και καθυστερημένο- θάρρος της, και να ζηλεύουμε λιγάκι την τύχη της να ζήσει έναν έρωτα που ακόμα και μετά από είκοσι χρόνια δεν είχε σβήσει.
Το "Επτά γράμματα από το Παρίσι" είναι ένα βιβλίο με μαγική διάθεση, ιδανικό για ονειροπόλους και για όσους πιστεύουν στο παραμύθι του μεγάλου, του απόλυτου έρωτα, που έστω και αργά θα πραγματοποιηθεί και θα ζήσει την κορύφωσή του. Ειλικρινές, διασκεδαστικό, με έξυπνο και διόλου διεκπεραιωτικό ή δήθεν χιούμορ, το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο θα σας προσφέρει όμορφες αναγνωστικές στιγμές. Αν μη τι άλλο, θα εκτιμήσετε την αλήθεια της συγγραφέως και την τόλμη της να παραδεχτεί τα λάθη της, αλλά και όλα όσα τόλμησε να κάνει προκειμένου να ξαναφτιάξει τη ζωή της από την αρχή, διεκδικώντας μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία στη ζωή. Άλλωστε, όποιος τολμά, νικά, και το μήνυμα αυτό είναι κάτι περισσότερο από αισιόδοξο.
Το "Επτά γράμματα από το Παρίσι" είναι ουσιαστικά ένα χρονικό της ζωής της ίδιας της συγγραφέως. Μια προσωπική εξομολόγηση, που στα σημεία θυμίζει ημερολόγιο, μέσω της οποίας μαθαίνουμε πως αποφάσισε να αλλάξει μια μέρα τη ζωή της, χωρίζοντας με έναν σύζυγο με τον οποίο δεν είχαν καμία επαφή, παρατώντας μια δουλειά που ποτέ δεν την γέμιζε ούτε και την εξέφραζε, μετακομίζοντας σε μια άλλη χώρα και -κυρίως- ζώντας ξανά τον έρωτα στην αγκαλιά ενός άντρα που αν και γνώρισε είκοσι ολόκληρα χρόνια πριν -και όταν εκείνη ήταν μόλις δεκαεννέα ετών- και δεν είχαν περάσει παρά μονάχα στιγμές μαζί, ήξερε βαθιά μέσα στην καρδιά της πως ήταν ο ιδανικός για εκείνη. Ήξερε πως άξιζε να θυσιάσει τα πάντα και να κυνηγήσει το όνειρο της ευτυχίας της που δεν τόλμησε κάποτε.
Ο τρόπος που γράφει η Samantha Verant -ή, καλύτερα, που εξομολογείται τα προσωπικά της- είναι άμεσος, σύγχρονος, ρεαλιστικός, διανθισμένος με έντονες δόσεις χιούμορ, αυτοσαρκασμού, αυτοκριτικής και καυστικού κυνισμού, πράγμα το οποίο αποδεικνύει το πόσο ειλικρινής και ακομπλεξάριστη είναι. Δεν διστάζει να παραδεχτεί τα λάθη της, που ακόμα κι αν τα διακωμωδεί κατά περιπτώσεις, δεν παραλείπει να μας τονίσει πως αν ποτέ βρεθούμε στη θέση της, καλό θα ήταν να σκεφτούμε τα πράγματα δύο φορές προτού να πάρουμε μίαν απόφαση. Μέσα από τα κείμενά της μπορούμε να διακρίνουμε τις δύο διαφορετικές, αντικρουόμενες προσωπικότητές της. Εκείνη της μεσήλικης, ώριμης γυναίκας που δεν βιάζεται να πάρει αποφάσεις, κι εκείνη της καταπιεσμένης εικοσάρας που κάνει την επανάστασή της προκειμένου να διεκδικήσει τα δικαιώματά της στα θέλω και τη ζωή της.
Όσον αφορά τον έρωτά της με τον Ζαν-Λιν, θα έλεγε κανείς πως φαντάζει ονειρικός και παραμυθένιος. Πραγματικά, υπήρχαν στιγμές που με έκαναν να αμφισβητώ πως όλα όσα διάβαζα μπορεί να είχαν πράγματι συμβεί αλλά από την άλλη, η ζωή είναι το μεγαλύτερο και το πιο τρελό παραμύθι απ' όλα όσα έχουν ειπωθεί, άρα τίποτα δεν είναι απίθανο και όταν πιστεύεις στο όνειρο, τα πάντα είναι πιθανά. Με βαθιά συναισθηματικό τρόπο, λοιπόν, και με ένα αίσθημα κάπως νοσταλγικό που παραπέμπει σε έρωτες άλλης εποχής, η συγγραφέας μας μεταφέρει εικόνες, μηνύματα, συναισθήματα, με τρόπο που μας συγκινεί και μας διασκεδάζει παράλληλα, κάνοντάς μας να την θαυμάζουμε για το -έστω και καθυστερημένο- θάρρος της, και να ζηλεύουμε λιγάκι την τύχη της να ζήσει έναν έρωτα που ακόμα και μετά από είκοσι χρόνια δεν είχε σβήσει.
Το "Επτά γράμματα από το Παρίσι" είναι ένα βιβλίο με μαγική διάθεση, ιδανικό για ονειροπόλους και για όσους πιστεύουν στο παραμύθι του μεγάλου, του απόλυτου έρωτα, που έστω και αργά θα πραγματοποιηθεί και θα ζήσει την κορύφωσή του. Ειλικρινές, διασκεδαστικό, με έξυπνο και διόλου διεκπεραιωτικό ή δήθεν χιούμορ, το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο θα σας προσφέρει όμορφες αναγνωστικές στιγμές. Αν μη τι άλλο, θα εκτιμήσετε την αλήθεια της συγγραφέως και την τόλμη της να παραδεχτεί τα λάθη της, αλλά και όλα όσα τόλμησε να κάνει προκειμένου να ξαναφτιάξει τη ζωή της από την αρχή, διεκδικώντας μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία στη ζωή. Άλλωστε, όποιος τολμά, νικά, και το μήνυμα αυτό είναι κάτι περισσότερο από αισιόδοξο.
February 22, 2021
Samantha Verant’s publisher calls her book a memoir. In fact, it’s a modern day fairy tale: too improbable to be true, too heartwarming to be real. Here’s the nutshell synopsis:
Samantha is a 19-year-old college student who, with her best friend, takes off one summer for a whirlwind two-week adventure in Europe. At dinner on their last night in Paris, a pair of dashing Frenchmen saunter over to their table, treat them to a bottle of wine, capture their hearts, and escort them on a Paris-by-night—all night—grand tour. At day’s end, they race to the station, barely catch the train and take off for the French Riviera, Geneva, Florence, and Greece—Paris now a fond memory never to be forgotten.
But Jean-Luc has been smitten. He writes to Samantha . . . seven times. She doesn’t answer. Summer adventure over. Life goes on.
Twenty years later—20 years—Samantha’s marriage is crumbling. Her job peters out. She moves in with her parents, takes up dog-walking to earn a bit of cash.
She digs out Jean-Luc’s 20-year-old letters. Searches him out on the Internet. Writes to apologize for not answering him. He writes back. Soon, letters are flying back and forth. Then phone calls, sometimes two or three a day. He invites her to France. She goes. And yep, that 20-year-old spark bursts into a bonfire. Eventually they marry. She moves to France.
That, dear readers, is a fairy tale. But it’s also an improbable, lovely, heart-warming love story, and so well told.
Read Seven Letters because it’s so impossibly true, but read it also to delight in a story told with humor, honesty, and not a bit of self-pity. The characters are charming. Like the story itself, you’ll never forget Jean-Luc or Samantha Verant.
Samantha is a 19-year-old college student who, with her best friend, takes off one summer for a whirlwind two-week adventure in Europe. At dinner on their last night in Paris, a pair of dashing Frenchmen saunter over to their table, treat them to a bottle of wine, capture their hearts, and escort them on a Paris-by-night—all night—grand tour. At day’s end, they race to the station, barely catch the train and take off for the French Riviera, Geneva, Florence, and Greece—Paris now a fond memory never to be forgotten.
But Jean-Luc has been smitten. He writes to Samantha . . . seven times. She doesn’t answer. Summer adventure over. Life goes on.
Twenty years later—20 years—Samantha’s marriage is crumbling. Her job peters out. She moves in with her parents, takes up dog-walking to earn a bit of cash.
She digs out Jean-Luc’s 20-year-old letters. Searches him out on the Internet. Writes to apologize for not answering him. He writes back. Soon, letters are flying back and forth. Then phone calls, sometimes two or three a day. He invites her to France. She goes. And yep, that 20-year-old spark bursts into a bonfire. Eventually they marry. She moves to France.
That, dear readers, is a fairy tale. But it’s also an improbable, lovely, heart-warming love story, and so well told.
Read Seven Letters because it’s so impossibly true, but read it also to delight in a story told with humor, honesty, and not a bit of self-pity. The characters are charming. Like the story itself, you’ll never forget Jean-Luc or Samantha Verant.
December 3, 2016
Ušuškam se tako u tu toplinu i ljubav, i zagnjurim nos u papirne stranice novog života. Odlutam i prepustim se. Pročitala sam neke knjige koje su mi pomogle da shvatim i prihvatim život, da oprostim, da budem otvoreni cvijet. Knjige koje su mi život promijenile. Knjige koje me uče svakog dana da budem bolja, da budem sveža, da budem dijete, da dišem. Poslednju knjigu "Papina kći", nisam uspjela da završim. I toplo ti preporučujem da je zaobiđeš.
U mojim rukama se sinoć našla jedna naizgled obična ljubavna priča. Nešto da razgalim veče, da opustim ovu rastopljenu kašu u glavi, nešto da zagrijem prste na nogama. "Sedam pisama iz Pariza". Samanta koja posle dvadeset godina pronalazi svoju evropsku avanturu. I ljubav koja nikad nije prestala ponovo živi. Znam, zvuči prosto. Ali ova knjiga je sve samo ne prosta. Proživljavala sam svaki mail, svaki poziv telefonom, njen odlazak u Pariz, strepnju na aerodromu, sjetila sam se moje poslednje ljubavi i mog odlaska preko granice, i leta, i te iste strasti i ljubavi, snova i maštanja. Sjetila sam se carinika koji mi je udario pečat u pasošu, i zagrljaja pri susretu, i poljubaca, i vožnje i predivnih dana. Smijala sam se na trenutke, kolutala očima, i nisam prestala da je čitam dok nisam zatvorila korice. Ostala sam sa knjigom u rukama pitajući se šta se desilo.
Jedna pretopla ljubavna priča koja mi je ugrijala ne samo prste na nogama, nego i cijelo tijelo i srce, i oči, i kosu. Jer ljubav, ona zbog koje vrijedi ostaviti sve, i poći na drugi kraj svijeta, postoji. Disala sam je. Ljubav zbog koje poželiš okrenuti svijet naopako. Duše se prepoznaju, sretnu se. Za ljubav se bori, od nje se ne odustaje, ona se diše svakog trena. I kad uspiješ pronaći onog nekog s kim možeš da pričaš o svemu, kome možeš sve svoje da otkriješ, onog nekog s kim možeš da se držiš za ruke, to ne puštaš više nikad. Ja nisam htjela, ali mene su pustili. Samanta je svoju ljubav sačuvala.
Nisam nikad bila u Parizu, mada imam osjećaj ako jednom tamo pođem da neću željeti da se vratim. Valjda to u meni neka umjetnička budala govori. Čitajući ovu knjigu ponovo sam poželjela poći, vidjeti polja suncokreta koje toliko volim, vidjeti polja lavande koju obožavam, osjetiti istoriju... Piti vino, i mirisati nebo. Voljela bih napisati priču iz Pariza dok sjedim u nekom ćošku, i gledam let slobodnih ptica.
Eto takva je knjiga. Preporučujem ti je kao kroasane za doručak, ali one prave domaće, sa malo maslaca i vanil šećerom u prahu.
U mojim rukama se sinoć našla jedna naizgled obična ljubavna priča. Nešto da razgalim veče, da opustim ovu rastopljenu kašu u glavi, nešto da zagrijem prste na nogama. "Sedam pisama iz Pariza". Samanta koja posle dvadeset godina pronalazi svoju evropsku avanturu. I ljubav koja nikad nije prestala ponovo živi. Znam, zvuči prosto. Ali ova knjiga je sve samo ne prosta. Proživljavala sam svaki mail, svaki poziv telefonom, njen odlazak u Pariz, strepnju na aerodromu, sjetila sam se moje poslednje ljubavi i mog odlaska preko granice, i leta, i te iste strasti i ljubavi, snova i maštanja. Sjetila sam se carinika koji mi je udario pečat u pasošu, i zagrljaja pri susretu, i poljubaca, i vožnje i predivnih dana. Smijala sam se na trenutke, kolutala očima, i nisam prestala da je čitam dok nisam zatvorila korice. Ostala sam sa knjigom u rukama pitajući se šta se desilo.
Jedna pretopla ljubavna priča koja mi je ugrijala ne samo prste na nogama, nego i cijelo tijelo i srce, i oči, i kosu. Jer ljubav, ona zbog koje vrijedi ostaviti sve, i poći na drugi kraj svijeta, postoji. Disala sam je. Ljubav zbog koje poželiš okrenuti svijet naopako. Duše se prepoznaju, sretnu se. Za ljubav se bori, od nje se ne odustaje, ona se diše svakog trena. I kad uspiješ pronaći onog nekog s kim možeš da pričaš o svemu, kome možeš sve svoje da otkriješ, onog nekog s kim možeš da se držiš za ruke, to ne puštaš više nikad. Ja nisam htjela, ali mene su pustili. Samanta je svoju ljubav sačuvala.
Nisam nikad bila u Parizu, mada imam osjećaj ako jednom tamo pođem da neću željeti da se vratim. Valjda to u meni neka umjetnička budala govori. Čitajući ovu knjigu ponovo sam poželjela poći, vidjeti polja suncokreta koje toliko volim, vidjeti polja lavande koju obožavam, osjetiti istoriju... Piti vino, i mirisati nebo. Voljela bih napisati priču iz Pariza dok sjedim u nekom ćošku, i gledam let slobodnih ptica.
Eto takva je knjiga. Preporučujem ti je kao kroasane za doručak, ali one prave domaće, sa malo maslaca i vanil šećerom u prahu.
November 18, 2014
Reading my blog you are fully aware of my preference to tragic, painful love stories. I know, terrible. You might call me a cynic when it comes to love, but deep down inside there is hope, hope in happily ever after, happenstance, love at first sight…all the saccharine wants we all dream of in matters of the heart.
Vérant successfully turned this cynic into her biggest fan. Seven Letters From Paris is a beautiful love story. The best part of this story, it’s a love story involving not just one love story but two. The first part is Samantha realizing what prevented her from allowing herself ‘to love’ and ‘be loved,’ Reading of her trials and tribulations, her courage and her ‘aha’ moment when she discovered the root cause of her fear of love was touching. Witnessing her growth, her avoidance set aside, her hesitancy and concerns – no doubt we could relate to her, at least I could. Her ability to finally let go and love completely, take the risk as well as release her fear, relinquish her heart made the reunion with Jean-Luc even more tender.
The second best part, of course, was connecting with Jean-Luc after twenty years. A whole lot of life in between, having timing on your side, and the biggie her realization and personal growth shows serendipity had other plans. Their love story is inspiring and from what Vérant generously shared, these two belong together with all certitude. Touching was their slow and easy progression to reignite a flame never really extinguished. The most cynical of people couldn’t help but be swept away and cave to this beautiful story of two people separated but never really apart, at least not in their heart and soul.
A fluke at its best in the romance between Samantha and Jean-Luc, lovely tale of two deserving people. I wish you two all the happiness in the world forever. You are to be envied and emulated.
Vérant successfully turned this cynic into her biggest fan. Seven Letters From Paris is a beautiful love story. The best part of this story, it’s a love story involving not just one love story but two. The first part is Samantha realizing what prevented her from allowing herself ‘to love’ and ‘be loved,’ Reading of her trials and tribulations, her courage and her ‘aha’ moment when she discovered the root cause of her fear of love was touching. Witnessing her growth, her avoidance set aside, her hesitancy and concerns – no doubt we could relate to her, at least I could. Her ability to finally let go and love completely, take the risk as well as release her fear, relinquish her heart made the reunion with Jean-Luc even more tender.
The second best part, of course, was connecting with Jean-Luc after twenty years. A whole lot of life in between, having timing on your side, and the biggie her realization and personal growth shows serendipity had other plans. Their love story is inspiring and from what Vérant generously shared, these two belong together with all certitude. Touching was their slow and easy progression to reignite a flame never really extinguished. The most cynical of people couldn’t help but be swept away and cave to this beautiful story of two people separated but never really apart, at least not in their heart and soul.
A fluke at its best in the romance between Samantha and Jean-Luc, lovely tale of two deserving people. I wish you two all the happiness in the world forever. You are to be envied and emulated.
October 12, 2014
I've known about this book for some time but reading the pre-publication version was something else. Sam's done a great job telling the story of how she met her husband, or should I say, she met him in Paris, then left to go back to the US. He wrote seven truly romantic letters to her after she went back, the stuff you dream of receiving, but she ignored him for twenty years, until she finally came to her senses and sent him an apology. To his credit, he wrote back and they picked up where they'd left off.
He needs a medal for perseverance, I reckon!
I was telling my (French) chéri about Sam's husband Jean-Luc. My Frenchman is not very romantic so when I was telling him about everything that Jean-Luc had done for Sam, he said he needed a good talking to as he had just raised the bar for every Frenchman who wanted to get intimate with an American girl... After reading that book they'd be expecting castles, romantic letters and all sorts of effort. He perked up though when I told him that JL had previously been married to a young Russian. From being a bit of a traitor, JL suddenly became a Person of Interest. It's always been my Frenchman's pie in the sky fantasy to have a young Russian hanging off his arm. Luckily for him he doesn't need to think about trying to seduce either young Americans or young Russians any more (and have his fantasy crash to earth if JL's ex is typical...)!
So full marks for romance. Sam and Jean-Luc's story is so charming it warms the cockles. She writes from the heart and you're drawn into the ups and downs of her adventures as she tries to make sense of her life and love.
He needs a medal for perseverance, I reckon!
I was telling my (French) chéri about Sam's husband Jean-Luc. My Frenchman is not very romantic so when I was telling him about everything that Jean-Luc had done for Sam, he said he needed a good talking to as he had just raised the bar for every Frenchman who wanted to get intimate with an American girl... After reading that book they'd be expecting castles, romantic letters and all sorts of effort. He perked up though when I told him that JL had previously been married to a young Russian. From being a bit of a traitor, JL suddenly became a Person of Interest. It's always been my Frenchman's pie in the sky fantasy to have a young Russian hanging off his arm. Luckily for him he doesn't need to think about trying to seduce either young Americans or young Russians any more (and have his fantasy crash to earth if JL's ex is typical...)!
So full marks for romance. Sam and Jean-Luc's story is so charming it warms the cockles. She writes from the heart and you're drawn into the ups and downs of her adventures as she tries to make sense of her life and love.
September 24, 2015
I almost never read fiction by people I know. With that being said, I almost do not know Samantha Verant, the author of Seven Letters From Paris. We met via Internet a few years ago. She is beautiful {I have seen pictures}, well spoken and has a delightful sense of humor.
The ARC of Seven Letters arrived in the mail. I was not expecting it. I sat down and started reading, finishing the book within 48 hours. It was that wonderful, captivating and honest. I could not put it down.
Samantha gives an honest rendition of her struggles and how love found her. Life IS interesting and funny. We are reminded of this with each page.
Seven Letters is delightful, sad, romantic and ecstatic. I refuse to spoil it for anyone who will be reading it upon its release in Oct, but I can share one thing with you. I will be giving this as Christmas gifts to all of my girl friends this coming holiday. Look out Amazon, a huge order is coming your way!
I would give Seven Letters From Paris 6 stars if I could.
The ARC of Seven Letters arrived in the mail. I was not expecting it. I sat down and started reading, finishing the book within 48 hours. It was that wonderful, captivating and honest. I could not put it down.
Samantha gives an honest rendition of her struggles and how love found her. Life IS interesting and funny. We are reminded of this with each page.
Seven Letters is delightful, sad, romantic and ecstatic. I refuse to spoil it for anyone who will be reading it upon its release in Oct, but I can share one thing with you. I will be giving this as Christmas gifts to all of my girl friends this coming holiday. Look out Amazon, a huge order is coming your way!
I would give Seven Letters From Paris 6 stars if I could.
July 10, 2014
Samantha is the friend anyone with a French rail pass would love to travel with: she’s carefree and fun--yet she’s determinated to stick to the itinerary. Too bad the stop in Paris wasn’t scheduled for longer—to include more time with the gorgeous Frenchman she met in the bistro!
You’ll tear up reading this inspiring love story set in Paris and the South of France. And you’ll giggle and cheer as the Franco-American lovers reunite in time to conquer French bureaucracy--and even bankruptcy—in order to tie the knot. Seven Letters from Paris is sweet, touching and real—as well as chock-full of information on how one American navigated international regulations in order to sail off into the horizon with her Frenchman.
You’ll tear up reading this inspiring love story set in Paris and the South of France. And you’ll giggle and cheer as the Franco-American lovers reunite in time to conquer French bureaucracy--and even bankruptcy—in order to tie the knot. Seven Letters from Paris is sweet, touching and real—as well as chock-full of information on how one American navigated international regulations in order to sail off into the horizon with her Frenchman.
March 16, 2016
We want the happy ending, don’t we? Sam did. She was at the end of her marriage, had slipped past forty with no children, and found her career had tanked. While she was sorting through her things, she ran across seven old letters. Sam opened them and she remembered the romance of her life, a man she met in Paris when she was young, a man who had sent her seven letters, seven letters she had never answered. She decided to answer them now, twenty years later. A fairy tale of a book.
December 27, 2014
This is a modern love story, beautifully told. In the telling Samantha is honest, funny, real, which captured me and held me rapt from beginning to end. Samantha takes you on an exhilarating ride as she and Jean~Luc find a way to make their love story happen. The beautiful settings in both the US and France enhance the love story. A warm, positive, delightful real life romantic memoir. Thanks Samantha for telling your story.
December 28, 2014
A great memoir of love lost and then found again. We can't but cheer for Samantha and her dashing French prince. It's the kind of romance we all dream of. What a wonderful way to pay homage to one's relationship. Told with insight, humour and from the heart. A feel good love story that leaves one uplifted. Proof that good things come to those who wait.
February 20, 2017
Стига да не търсиш велики откровения и истини за живота, тази книга е изключително приятен начин да убиеш няколко часа. Като всяка истинска история на моменти звучи прекалено захаросано и невероятно и доста често като четеш какъв романтик е главният герой си казваш "Абе никой не говори така в истинския живот", обаче не можеш да не я дочетеш, нищо, че знаеш за щастливия край.
February 27, 2022
at least the covers i own are pretty...
edit: i just realised this is a true story of a writer so im adding another star. (i have 1⭐ at the beggining) im glad she found the love of her life, but this book just wasn't it for me
edit: i just realised this is a true story of a writer so im adding another star. (i have 1⭐ at the beggining) im glad she found the love of her life, but this book just wasn't it for me
February 9, 2025
Изключително топла и романтична история по действителен случай. Авторката разказва за своя интересен живот, който изглежда, като приказка.
Като тинейджърка със своя приятелка правят разходка из Франция и случайно се запознават с двама красиви французи. Времето прекарано с тях е кратко, но оставя следи в младежите за цял живот. Животът на Саманта не се развива по най-добрия начин за нея, докато след 20 години си спомня за седемте писма изпратени й от Париж, които й вдъхват кураж да промени живота си и да се бори за истинската любов.
Тази книга не е захаросан любовен роман. За мен това е едно послание към всички нас да се борим за мечтите си, за любовта си, да не се примиряваме до степен да се обезличаваме.. Едно послание за всички, които не вярват, че могат да се справят и да започнат живота си от дъното. И не на последно място, тази история за мен беше и много лична. Накара ме за пореден път да оценя и осмисля, какво "държа в ръцете си".
Оценям книгата с 4*, заради моментите на разтегливост в описанията. На места има излишни подробности. И малко повече са вмъкнатите френски изрази.
Като тинейджърка със своя приятелка правят разходка из Франция и случайно се запознават с двама красиви французи. Времето прекарано с тях е кратко, но оставя следи в младежите за цял живот. Животът на Саманта не се развива по най-добрия начин за нея, докато след 20 години си спомня за седемте писма изпратени й от Париж, които й вдъхват кураж да промени живота си и да се бори за истинската любов.
Тази книга не е захаросан любовен роман. За мен това е едно послание към всички нас да се борим за мечтите си, за любовта си, да не се примиряваме до степен да се обезличаваме.. Едно послание за всички, които не вярват, че могат да се справят и да започнат живота си от дъното. И не на последно място, тази история за мен беше и много лична. Накара ме за пореден път да оценя и осмисля, какво "държа в ръцете си".
Оценям книгата с 4*, заради моментите на разтегливост в описанията. На места има излишни подробности. И малко повече са вмъкнатите френски изрази.
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