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Paris, Rue des Martyrs
Some encounters make a difference.
Four strangers in Paris. Each one is on a quest: to uncover a family secret, to grasp a new chance at love, to repair mistakes of the past. Four stories entwine, four quests become one, as their paths cross amid the beauty, squalor, animation and desolation of a street in Paris, the Rue des Martyrs.
Rafael's search for his birth mother leads him to love and grim family secrets. Cecile’s view of herself as an unsatisfied housewife is radically changed by the promise of a passionate liaison. Andre, an aging actor, troubled by the arrival of the son he abandoned years ago, must make a choice, to either lose his son forever or put aside pride and seek redemption. Mira travels to Paris to begin a new life and forget about love… or so she intends.
Four strangers, four stories, one riveting novel.
Four strangers in Paris. Each one is on a quest: to uncover a family secret, to grasp a new chance at love, to repair mistakes of the past. Four stories entwine, four quests become one, as their paths cross amid the beauty, squalor, animation and desolation of a street in Paris, the Rue des Martyrs.
Rafael's search for his birth mother leads him to love and grim family secrets. Cecile’s view of herself as an unsatisfied housewife is radically changed by the promise of a passionate liaison. Andre, an aging actor, troubled by the arrival of the son he abandoned years ago, must make a choice, to either lose his son forever or put aside pride and seek redemption. Mira travels to Paris to begin a new life and forget about love… or so she intends.
Four strangers, four stories, one riveting novel.
265 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
109 people are currently reading
1136 people want to read
About the author
Adria J. Cimino
7 books95 followersAdria J. Cimino is the author of Amazon Best-Selling novels Paris, Rue des Martyrs and Close to Destiny, as well as Paris Jungle and A Perfumer’s Secret.
She also co-founded boutique publishing house Velvet Morning Press. Prior to jumping into the publishing world full time, she spent more than a decade as a journalist at news organizations including The AP and Bloomberg News.
Adria writes about her real-life adventures at AdriaJCimino.com and on Twitter @Adria_in_Paris.
She also co-founded boutique publishing house Velvet Morning Press. Prior to jumping into the publishing world full time, she spent more than a decade as a journalist at news organizations including The AP and Bloomberg News.
Adria writes about her real-life adventures at AdriaJCimino.com and on Twitter @Adria_in_Paris.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 5, 2014
“Do you like being a mystery?” he asked. “Are you doing this intentionally?”
“Sometimes I’m a mystery to myself.”
First, I’d like to thank Adria for sending me a free copy of her novel.
I enjoyed this read a lot. It’s set in the vignette style that I really like when it comes to fiction. It starts off as individual stories we are introduced to, and we see how they soon intertwine and become part of a larger tapestry.
And the characters: what a diverse bunch! As unlikeable as a couple of them were it was fascinating to encounter such a varied group. They were people going through real things all against the backdrop of the romantic Paris. It made me think about how everyone has a story, everyone has issues that they are dealing with that we never get to know. Getting to know more about the characters as the story progressed, trying to figure out how they are all connected was definitely fun; the unhappy mother of teens, the cheated-on girlfriend, the has-been actor, the child searching for secrets about his birth mother, to name a few. Very intriguing stories but believable at the same time.
It’s also a very “human” novel, i.e. one that tells human stories. And that’s what resonated with me while reading this book, the idea of stories, fears, trying to mask that fear by different methods, including affairs and such, having unmet dreams and desires.
As it’s France there’s a lot of what one would expect; romance, cafes, secrets, love affairs and art:
“Mira took this in with excited, inquisitive eyes, but she didn’t ask Septime to show her how to become an artist. Even back then, she realized that would have been silly. She quickly understood that she needed to find the way within herself. And she realized she wanted to paint, but not those obscure images that Septime created with such flair. Mira wanted to tell a story. She wanted to reproduce everyday experiences. She yearned to paint life.”
And stories yet again:
“But he was different from the others in the room. He had more of a story to tell. Mira could see it in his gaze when it rose now and again, as if seeking sanctuary through the slanted skylights overhead. He was too fragile. Like the butterflies she never tried to catch.”
A simple yet elegant read. Highly recommended!
“Sometimes I’m a mystery to myself.”
First, I’d like to thank Adria for sending me a free copy of her novel.
I enjoyed this read a lot. It’s set in the vignette style that I really like when it comes to fiction. It starts off as individual stories we are introduced to, and we see how they soon intertwine and become part of a larger tapestry.
And the characters: what a diverse bunch! As unlikeable as a couple of them were it was fascinating to encounter such a varied group. They were people going through real things all against the backdrop of the romantic Paris. It made me think about how everyone has a story, everyone has issues that they are dealing with that we never get to know. Getting to know more about the characters as the story progressed, trying to figure out how they are all connected was definitely fun; the unhappy mother of teens, the cheated-on girlfriend, the has-been actor, the child searching for secrets about his birth mother, to name a few. Very intriguing stories but believable at the same time.
It’s also a very “human” novel, i.e. one that tells human stories. And that’s what resonated with me while reading this book, the idea of stories, fears, trying to mask that fear by different methods, including affairs and such, having unmet dreams and desires.
As it’s France there’s a lot of what one would expect; romance, cafes, secrets, love affairs and art:
“Mira took this in with excited, inquisitive eyes, but she didn’t ask Septime to show her how to become an artist. Even back then, she realized that would have been silly. She quickly understood that she needed to find the way within herself. And she realized she wanted to paint, but not those obscure images that Septime created with such flair. Mira wanted to tell a story. She wanted to reproduce everyday experiences. She yearned to paint life.”
And stories yet again:
“But he was different from the others in the room. He had more of a story to tell. Mira could see it in his gaze when it rose now and again, as if seeking sanctuary through the slanted skylights overhead. He was too fragile. Like the butterflies she never tried to catch.”
A simple yet elegant read. Highly recommended!
March 12, 2014
I’ve always been fascinated by people I pass on the street. Oftentimes I’ll find myself watching people and wondering what their life is like. This novel does just that. Four people who pass each other all the time on the same street and yet they’ll all strangers. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in our own worlds that we forget that we share this planet with others.
Each of the characters is in a crisis. Taken separately, their stories are interesting. However, the author takes it one step further and connects all of the stories on some levels, adding new layers of complexity and enriching the overall tale.
Each character comes alive as the story progresses and part of the reason is that they open their eyes and start to see what’s around them. This makes them more relatable and not cardboard cutouts. A lot of times I give credit to authors for creating “real” people as characters. This novel is unique in that the entwining stories make the characters real. Our lives are enriched by the people we know. This novel shows how true this is.
Each of the characters is in a crisis. Taken separately, their stories are interesting. However, the author takes it one step further and connects all of the stories on some levels, adding new layers of complexity and enriching the overall tale.
Each character comes alive as the story progresses and part of the reason is that they open their eyes and start to see what’s around them. This makes them more relatable and not cardboard cutouts. A lot of times I give credit to authors for creating “real” people as characters. This novel is unique in that the entwining stories make the characters real. Our lives are enriched by the people we know. This novel shows how true this is.
August 12, 2016
Rafael Mendez, 23, from Colombia
Cécile de Champigny, mother of two teenagers
André Wren, member of the entertainment world
Mira Galino, leaving her fiancé
What can possibly be the connection between these 4 people?
Following each one of them, one chapter at a time dedicated to each in turn, the reader gets to get acquainted with them and with one thing at least they have in common: la rue des Martyrs, in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris.
I enjoy this kind of whimsy literary device, and I am glad I followed my guts and trusted the synopsis enough to read the book. Paris, Rue Des Martyrs, in English despite its French title, is really a beautiful work of literary fiction.
I connected right away with....
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/03/07/b...
February 12, 2014
Before I write what I think of “Paris, Rue des Martyrs,” I feel that I have to tell you that I come from a literature, linguistics & languages background so that everyone has an idea of the way I read this novel… (I’m not saying it to sound pretentious!)
I always read contemporary literary fiction with a rather critical eye. Having said that, when a story is flawless and you feel like plunging into it – page after page – even if you have read all of the classic big names on your bookshelves, you can still appreciate something fresh and new!
This is what I enjoyed the most about Adria J. Cimino’s novel:
First, the sequence of what we call “scénettes” in literature. One after the other, the book presents you a succession of scenes that keep the momentum at a fast pace. In that sense, it is almost impossible to put your e-reader down! I found myself saying aloud “Okay, one more chapter and I’ll take a break…” when in fact, you end up being so attached to the plot (or plots I should say) that your desire to finish the whole book will be stronger than you would think…
Now that the structure is set, “Paris, Rue des Martyrs” offers many aspects that I found while studying Balzac and Zola. Forget about the political aspect of these writers and focus on the way they viewed the society of their time. You’ll find hints of that in Cimino’s writing style. The way she describes her characters’ life, the way she has her reader getting (purposely) attached to some of them at different moments of the story, and at some other times she (the author) has you getting so angry and annoyed with the behavior of others.
And this brings me to my second point which is, according to me, the most interesting one: The author plays with her reader! You may not be able to notice it right away but you will start noticing, little by little, that you are being manipulated… In a good way! As a reader, the book has you wearing several caps, several moods from chapter to chapter where the main theme of the novel (i.e., the quest) will only be revealed at the last moment, almost like in the good old days of the theater.
You will like the writing style, you will love following all the different relationships and finally you will want to move to Rue des Martyrs in order to find out if indeed it was only pure fiction or if a few characters are still lingering in that neighborhood!
Last, I’ve always been a big fan of quotes, so I will give you two that attracted my eye:
“I’m no longer a hero, Hugo,” Andre said with a sarcastic laugh. “I’m in line for the part of the father who fucked up his life… and sometimes, that seems to be not too far from the truth.”
(…)
But Andre ignored the bitter words about the object Clarisse had hated from the start. His only thought was to make it downstairs to the garage and spend the next few hours polishing the Harley that he never would ride again. It brought him a sense of regret, but at the same time, simply seeing it carried him far from the Rue des Martyrs.
I always read contemporary literary fiction with a rather critical eye. Having said that, when a story is flawless and you feel like plunging into it – page after page – even if you have read all of the classic big names on your bookshelves, you can still appreciate something fresh and new!
This is what I enjoyed the most about Adria J. Cimino’s novel:
First, the sequence of what we call “scénettes” in literature. One after the other, the book presents you a succession of scenes that keep the momentum at a fast pace. In that sense, it is almost impossible to put your e-reader down! I found myself saying aloud “Okay, one more chapter and I’ll take a break…” when in fact, you end up being so attached to the plot (or plots I should say) that your desire to finish the whole book will be stronger than you would think…
Now that the structure is set, “Paris, Rue des Martyrs” offers many aspects that I found while studying Balzac and Zola. Forget about the political aspect of these writers and focus on the way they viewed the society of their time. You’ll find hints of that in Cimino’s writing style. The way she describes her characters’ life, the way she has her reader getting (purposely) attached to some of them at different moments of the story, and at some other times she (the author) has you getting so angry and annoyed with the behavior of others.
And this brings me to my second point which is, according to me, the most interesting one: The author plays with her reader! You may not be able to notice it right away but you will start noticing, little by little, that you are being manipulated… In a good way! As a reader, the book has you wearing several caps, several moods from chapter to chapter where the main theme of the novel (i.e., the quest) will only be revealed at the last moment, almost like in the good old days of the theater.
You will like the writing style, you will love following all the different relationships and finally you will want to move to Rue des Martyrs in order to find out if indeed it was only pure fiction or if a few characters are still lingering in that neighborhood!
Last, I’ve always been a big fan of quotes, so I will give you two that attracted my eye:
“I’m no longer a hero, Hugo,” Andre said with a sarcastic laugh. “I’m in line for the part of the father who fucked up his life… and sometimes, that seems to be not too far from the truth.”
(…)
But Andre ignored the bitter words about the object Clarisse had hated from the start. His only thought was to make it downstairs to the garage and spend the next few hours polishing the Harley that he never would ride again. It brought him a sense of regret, but at the same time, simply seeing it carried him far from the Rue des Martyrs.
March 8, 2014
*Received for an honest opinion
Anything with France in it will automatically win a place in my heart but this story really warmed my heart and made me misty eye. First, what an eloquent and beautifully written story. I typically stay away with stories that have more than two main characters because I always lose interest in all the characters as a whole. I prefer to focus on one character or two and see their stories play out. "Paris Rue Des Martyrs" was an exception. I loved and sympathized with all four main characters. They each had their "own" story and their own journey. The author masterfully intertwined them all. When I finished this story I held it to my chest and smiled. Really beautiful to see these characters on an incredible journey. The four main characters all had their own faults and carried baggage. Their journeys were not easy ones. Second, the characters become real. They become these real people that have made mistakes, feel unsatisfied, and are searching for love. All types of love, self-love, romantic love, and familial love. I loved the rawness behind the relationships and the nitty-gritty that sometimes became uncomfortable. The dialogue was really and at times humorous. All the time I was reading I kept thinking, “I would love to see this played out on film” the way the scenes moved from one to the other was very entertaining and engaging. I really can’t recommend this book enough and I think it has a little something for everyone. Truly beautiful!
Anything with France in it will automatically win a place in my heart but this story really warmed my heart and made me misty eye. First, what an eloquent and beautifully written story. I typically stay away with stories that have more than two main characters because I always lose interest in all the characters as a whole. I prefer to focus on one character or two and see their stories play out. "Paris Rue Des Martyrs" was an exception. I loved and sympathized with all four main characters. They each had their "own" story and their own journey. The author masterfully intertwined them all. When I finished this story I held it to my chest and smiled. Really beautiful to see these characters on an incredible journey. The four main characters all had their own faults and carried baggage. Their journeys were not easy ones. Second, the characters become real. They become these real people that have made mistakes, feel unsatisfied, and are searching for love. All types of love, self-love, romantic love, and familial love. I loved the rawness behind the relationships and the nitty-gritty that sometimes became uncomfortable. The dialogue was really and at times humorous. All the time I was reading I kept thinking, “I would love to see this played out on film” the way the scenes moved from one to the other was very entertaining and engaging. I really can’t recommend this book enough and I think it has a little something for everyone. Truly beautiful!
February 17, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria J. Cimino is the story of four interconnected strangers whose paths cross during the novel, and of course, it’s set in Paris.
Everyone faces a struggle (from the synopsis):
-A young man’s search for his birth mother leads him to love and grim family secrets.
-An unsatisfied housewife finds her world turned upside down by the promise of a passionate liaison.
-An aging actor, troubled by the arrival of the son he abandoned years ago, must make a choice: either lose him forever or put aside pride and seek redemption.
-A young woman, betrayed by her fiancé, travels to Paris to begin a new life and forget about love… at least that is her intention.
I really enjoyed reading this novel, and I was hooked from beginning to end. I especially liked the story of Andre, the aging actor, who was kind of a jerk at first. He was kind of a fun character, because it was hard not to like his gruffness at times.
And Cimino threw in a couple of side characters that I liked, too. I really liked Cecile. She was soooo housewifey but wanting more, and unsure of herself. Cecile seems like someone I might want to be friends with but also want to shake at some points, too.
For the full review, visit Love at First Book
Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria J. Cimino is the story of four interconnected strangers whose paths cross during the novel, and of course, it’s set in Paris.
Everyone faces a struggle (from the synopsis):
-A young man’s search for his birth mother leads him to love and grim family secrets.
-An unsatisfied housewife finds her world turned upside down by the promise of a passionate liaison.
-An aging actor, troubled by the arrival of the son he abandoned years ago, must make a choice: either lose him forever or put aside pride and seek redemption.
-A young woman, betrayed by her fiancé, travels to Paris to begin a new life and forget about love… at least that is her intention.
I really enjoyed reading this novel, and I was hooked from beginning to end. I especially liked the story of Andre, the aging actor, who was kind of a jerk at first. He was kind of a fun character, because it was hard not to like his gruffness at times.
And Cimino threw in a couple of side characters that I liked, too. I really liked Cecile. She was soooo housewifey but wanting more, and unsure of herself. Cecile seems like someone I might want to be friends with but also want to shake at some points, too.
For the full review, visit Love at First Book
January 25, 2015
The heart of this story is in its characters—with all their quirks and flaws and desires and different paths in life. It takes true talent to weave together a story with so many different characters and make you care about each one, and Adria J. Cimino does just that.
The setting is gorgeous as well, not just because it takes place in Paris (with equally enjoyable jaunts to Colombia and Italy) but because the author makes a tiny slice of the City of Light, the Rue des Martyrs, come alive.
And the common theme of searching for love, in all its forms, holds this story together and carries you through each scene.
There's something in this unique book for everyone—romance, action, literary description—and during the time you spend immersed in these characters' lives, you'll feel like you're right there with them.
The setting is gorgeous as well, not just because it takes place in Paris (with equally enjoyable jaunts to Colombia and Italy) but because the author makes a tiny slice of the City of Light, the Rue des Martyrs, come alive.
And the common theme of searching for love, in all its forms, holds this story together and carries you through each scene.
There's something in this unique book for everyone—romance, action, literary description—and during the time you spend immersed in these characters' lives, you'll feel like you're right there with them.
May 23, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.
I was so riveted by this book that I stayed up until 3 am to finish it and read it in one sitting.
I really enjoyed how complex the characters were, each one had a dramatic backstory and vastly different personalities. The supporting characters were just as interesting, loveable and infuriating and their interaction with the main characters is what ties the story together.
Really enjoyed this one. Thanks Adria for introducing me to your novel!
For my full review, visit me at Mom's Small Victories.
I was so riveted by this book that I stayed up until 3 am to finish it and read it in one sitting.
I really enjoyed how complex the characters were, each one had a dramatic backstory and vastly different personalities. The supporting characters were just as interesting, loveable and infuriating and their interaction with the main characters is what ties the story together.
Really enjoyed this one. Thanks Adria for introducing me to your novel!
For my full review, visit me at Mom's Small Victories.
January 12, 2016
Originally posted on The Book Musings
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria J. Cimino is a story about four people.
Cecile de Champigny is a wife and mother of two teenagers; however she isn’t happy in her life, until she meets an Italian painter and runs the risk of being led into temptation.
Minutes before Rafael Mendez’s father died, he revealed something to his son that led him from Colombia to Paris to uncover a family secret and to seek his birthmother.
Mira Gilano leaves Naples after finding out that her fiancé, who she is about to marry in a couple of months, has betrayed her. Trying to escape the hurt she travels to Paris to live with a friend and instead finds herself been given a new chance at love. With her fiancé, or a new guy?
Then there is Andre Wren, an established actor, who finds his career basically over after sustaining injuries following an accident. He has a son that he abandoned years ago; who suddenly shows up in Paris and Andre is set on repairing his mistakes and seeking redemption from his son. This only happened when Andre realized that after losing the love of his life, he can’t lose his son too.
The story is set in Paris of course, specifically in a street called Rue des Martyrs. When you google some pictures of the street, you’ll find some old vintage photos as well as new current day pictures and it is a beautiful street. However, the story isn’t so much about the street itself, but the characters are the heart of the novel. Not only these four characters whose lives intertwine at some point, but also the secondary characters too. I like Mira the best, because I felt that she knows what she wanted and that she is a strong woman. She was able to show her hurt (not weakness) with tears, but she was strong enough to know what was good for her and what was not. At the end, her life has a happy ending. I also liked that Andre, who is such a pompous and self-righteous character that irritated me at some point, redeemed himself in his son’s eyes. Cecile I found to be weak, she is vocal about her distaste for her stepdaughter, but can’t seem to voice her concerns for her failing marriage or notice when her daughter needs her. Naïve she was, but still likable.
I enjoyed reading this novel and I was hooked from the beginning to the end, because I found the characters in the book intriguing. I like observing people and this story was like observing the lives of these four people and wanting to know more about them and the people in their lives.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria J. Cimino is a story about four people.
Cecile de Champigny is a wife and mother of two teenagers; however she isn’t happy in her life, until she meets an Italian painter and runs the risk of being led into temptation.
Minutes before Rafael Mendez’s father died, he revealed something to his son that led him from Colombia to Paris to uncover a family secret and to seek his birthmother.
Mira Gilano leaves Naples after finding out that her fiancé, who she is about to marry in a couple of months, has betrayed her. Trying to escape the hurt she travels to Paris to live with a friend and instead finds herself been given a new chance at love. With her fiancé, or a new guy?
Then there is Andre Wren, an established actor, who finds his career basically over after sustaining injuries following an accident. He has a son that he abandoned years ago; who suddenly shows up in Paris and Andre is set on repairing his mistakes and seeking redemption from his son. This only happened when Andre realized that after losing the love of his life, he can’t lose his son too.
The story is set in Paris of course, specifically in a street called Rue des Martyrs. When you google some pictures of the street, you’ll find some old vintage photos as well as new current day pictures and it is a beautiful street. However, the story isn’t so much about the street itself, but the characters are the heart of the novel. Not only these four characters whose lives intertwine at some point, but also the secondary characters too. I like Mira the best, because I felt that she knows what she wanted and that she is a strong woman. She was able to show her hurt (not weakness) with tears, but she was strong enough to know what was good for her and what was not. At the end, her life has a happy ending. I also liked that Andre, who is such a pompous and self-righteous character that irritated me at some point, redeemed himself in his son’s eyes. Cecile I found to be weak, she is vocal about her distaste for her stepdaughter, but can’t seem to voice her concerns for her failing marriage or notice when her daughter needs her. Naïve she was, but still likable.
I enjoyed reading this novel and I was hooked from the beginning to the end, because I found the characters in the book intriguing. I like observing people and this story was like observing the lives of these four people and wanting to know more about them and the people in their lives.
March 14, 2014
*I recieved this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
We meet many people everyday. Some more often that we know enough for a nodding acquaintance. Among those there are some we have a connection even unknown to us. Suddenly you realise that somebody you see everyday at the cafe is your boyfriend's father. After all we live in a very small world. So what is the connection between these strangers whose lives intersect in Rue des Martyrs.
Young Rafael is an Emerald trader from Bagota in search of his birth mother in Paris. Mira, an artist, leaves her unfaithful fiancé in Naples and moves to Paris with her friend. Cecile is bored with her life, her children don't need her and her husband is unfaithful. Andre is an actor whose career is at an end after an accident. What are the connections between these varied people?
It is an easy and fast read. Though I haven't read many books with this premise, I have seen lot of movies with this strangers meeting situation, and so it is the connections and how it is handled that would make it novel and interesting. The connections start appearing in the beginning itself and what I like most are the surprises and everything is not as it seems.
I found Cecile's situation quite interesting. When you are young and you are caught in mischief, and you are compared to the prefect little young lady. You do get irritated. Why does she have to be so perfect? But her mother would be proud, wouldn't she to have taught her daughter to be a young lady with grace and charm? What if the perfect little young lady's mother is a plain woman with no charms? Her husband is involved with somebody else. Her perfect little daughter needs no mothering. She is lonely and bored. Has Cecile decided to embark on an affair because her husband is unfaithful or she feels that her perfect little daughter doesn't need her?
I found some of the character tracks similar in the beginning. Aren't Cecile and Mira facing the same kind of situation- unfaithful partner? Aren't Hugo and Rafael on the lookout for their biological parents with whom they shared nothing else? But as the story progresses the similarity between the situations and the reality behind it is revealed, you realise that how different they are. And I couldn't help wondering if Rue des Martyrs is actually Rue des Artists with the book brimming with artists of all kinds from portrait artists, actors, Jewellery designers, and an upcoming writer too. An interesting easy read for the weekend.
We meet many people everyday. Some more often that we know enough for a nodding acquaintance. Among those there are some we have a connection even unknown to us. Suddenly you realise that somebody you see everyday at the cafe is your boyfriend's father. After all we live in a very small world. So what is the connection between these strangers whose lives intersect in Rue des Martyrs.
Young Rafael is an Emerald trader from Bagota in search of his birth mother in Paris. Mira, an artist, leaves her unfaithful fiancé in Naples and moves to Paris with her friend. Cecile is bored with her life, her children don't need her and her husband is unfaithful. Andre is an actor whose career is at an end after an accident. What are the connections between these varied people?
It is an easy and fast read. Though I haven't read many books with this premise, I have seen lot of movies with this strangers meeting situation, and so it is the connections and how it is handled that would make it novel and interesting. The connections start appearing in the beginning itself and what I like most are the surprises and everything is not as it seems.
I found Cecile's situation quite interesting. When you are young and you are caught in mischief, and you are compared to the prefect little young lady. You do get irritated. Why does she have to be so perfect? But her mother would be proud, wouldn't she to have taught her daughter to be a young lady with grace and charm? What if the perfect little young lady's mother is a plain woman with no charms? Her husband is involved with somebody else. Her perfect little daughter needs no mothering. She is lonely and bored. Has Cecile decided to embark on an affair because her husband is unfaithful or she feels that her perfect little daughter doesn't need her?
I found some of the character tracks similar in the beginning. Aren't Cecile and Mira facing the same kind of situation- unfaithful partner? Aren't Hugo and Rafael on the lookout for their biological parents with whom they shared nothing else? But as the story progresses the similarity between the situations and the reality behind it is revealed, you realise that how different they are. And I couldn't help wondering if Rue des Martyrs is actually Rue des Artists with the book brimming with artists of all kinds from portrait artists, actors, Jewellery designers, and an upcoming writer too. An interesting easy read for the weekend.
February 19, 2014
Source: I received this ebook from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I recently had the opportunity to read Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria Cimino. Any book with a setting in Paris sets certain expectations by nature. Romance, the Eiffel Tower, berets, long loaves of crisp French bread...okay, okay, all very stereotypical. And not what you will find in the pages of Paris, Rue des Martyrs. True, the title of this book is an actual street set in an actual neighborhood in Paris, but the story is not a mini tourist attraction, so to speak. You can read more about the author's intentions for the setting here, but the story stands on its own, regardless of the stereotyped expectations of the setting.
Amazon's short summary starts: "Four strangers in Paris. Each one is on a quest: to uncover a family secret, to grasp a new chance at love, to repair mistakes of the past. Four stories entwine, four quests become one, as their paths cross amid the beauty, squalor, animation and desolation of a street in Paris, the Rue des Martyrs." One of my favorite plot points in a story is seemingly unconnected characters whose paths cross. It puts me on the edge of my seat to see how the author can possibly bring all of these people together.
Raphael is on the search for answers to questions that haven't been asked yet, revealing secrets he didn't know he had been sent to find, his parents' sudden death the catalyst.
Cecile, housewife and mother, can remember a time when life was exciting and she was part of it. Now she finds herself with the temptation and opportunity to claim that life once again.
Andre, after suffering an accident, finds his acting career waning. Loss of work reveals gaps in his life he never thought were important...gaps like the son he abandoned years ago.
Mira runs from betrayed love, only to find herself in Paris, running toward love. But not without a few complications.
With most stories, the cool part is the main characters themselves. In Paris, Rue des Martyrs, the secondary characters the reader meets through these main four are what makes the story. The host of secondary characters that entwine the main characters and tie the storylines together as well was my favorite part.
I recently had the opportunity to read Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria Cimino. Any book with a setting in Paris sets certain expectations by nature. Romance, the Eiffel Tower, berets, long loaves of crisp French bread...okay, okay, all very stereotypical. And not what you will find in the pages of Paris, Rue des Martyrs. True, the title of this book is an actual street set in an actual neighborhood in Paris, but the story is not a mini tourist attraction, so to speak. You can read more about the author's intentions for the setting here, but the story stands on its own, regardless of the stereotyped expectations of the setting.
Amazon's short summary starts: "Four strangers in Paris. Each one is on a quest: to uncover a family secret, to grasp a new chance at love, to repair mistakes of the past. Four stories entwine, four quests become one, as their paths cross amid the beauty, squalor, animation and desolation of a street in Paris, the Rue des Martyrs." One of my favorite plot points in a story is seemingly unconnected characters whose paths cross. It puts me on the edge of my seat to see how the author can possibly bring all of these people together.
Raphael is on the search for answers to questions that haven't been asked yet, revealing secrets he didn't know he had been sent to find, his parents' sudden death the catalyst.
Cecile, housewife and mother, can remember a time when life was exciting and she was part of it. Now she finds herself with the temptation and opportunity to claim that life once again.
Andre, after suffering an accident, finds his acting career waning. Loss of work reveals gaps in his life he never thought were important...gaps like the son he abandoned years ago.
Mira runs from betrayed love, only to find herself in Paris, running toward love. But not without a few complications.
With most stories, the cool part is the main characters themselves. In Paris, Rue des Martyrs, the secondary characters the reader meets through these main four are what makes the story. The host of secondary characters that entwine the main characters and tie the storylines together as well was my favorite part.
September 18, 2015
One of my favorite conventions of fiction is when a group of seemingly random characters, whose individual stories have already captivated me, begin to cross paths, their seemingly unrelated stories putting them in a position to change each others lives. So, the moment I began Adria Cimino’s exquisitely written Paris, Rue des Martyrs, I knew I was in for a treat.
Andre, the recently injured actor with the golden voice is struggling with the loss of his career and whether to accept the offer of a relationship from the son he abandoned. Cecile, the bored housewife, feels as though she is treading water, desperate for her own place in the world, until the promise of an unexpected romance enters the picture, shaking her world. Rafael, the Columbian emerald heir, flees tragedy to discover the secret about his birth mother. And Mira, the heartbroken artist, runs away from her cheating fiancé to find new love and a chance at reconciliation with her estranged brother.
The characters are so richly drawn that they come to life before you on the page, their paths winding and meandering around one another on the fateful, sometimes dark, sometimes glorious Rue des Martyrs.
I was in awe of the complexities and layers in the ways in which these characters are connected to one another and astonished by the depth of Cimino’s characters, complete with quirks and flaws that make them all the more real. She draws the relationships in this novel—both romantic and familial—in such believable ways that I found myself feeling as though I was following the lives—and discovering the secrets—of good friends.
This is a story of love, loss, redemption, and, most of all, living life on your own terms. I highly, highly recommend it!
Andre, the recently injured actor with the golden voice is struggling with the loss of his career and whether to accept the offer of a relationship from the son he abandoned. Cecile, the bored housewife, feels as though she is treading water, desperate for her own place in the world, until the promise of an unexpected romance enters the picture, shaking her world. Rafael, the Columbian emerald heir, flees tragedy to discover the secret about his birth mother. And Mira, the heartbroken artist, runs away from her cheating fiancé to find new love and a chance at reconciliation with her estranged brother.
The characters are so richly drawn that they come to life before you on the page, their paths winding and meandering around one another on the fateful, sometimes dark, sometimes glorious Rue des Martyrs.
I was in awe of the complexities and layers in the ways in which these characters are connected to one another and astonished by the depth of Cimino’s characters, complete with quirks and flaws that make them all the more real. She draws the relationships in this novel—both romantic and familial—in such believable ways that I found myself feeling as though I was following the lives—and discovering the secrets—of good friends.
This is a story of love, loss, redemption, and, most of all, living life on your own terms. I highly, highly recommend it!
April 1, 2014
Throughout my reading of this novel, I thought of the movie "Crash." Like "Crash," "Paris, Rue des Martyrs" interweaves multiple characters beginning as several equidistant, individual stories. As the movie and the novel progress, the movie-watcher and reader start making connections between the characters, as they eventually crash into one another. Quite a complex angle for a debut novelist to attempt, yet Adria Cimino proves a reliable narrator, guiding readers through a tangled maze, and rewards them with the realization of the interconnectedness of her characters lives, as well as the readers' own.
Emerald dealers in South America, lovers in Italy, romantic and familial love, "Paris, Rue des Martyrs" does not shy away from exposing the true nature of people, good and bad. This book is perfect for you if you've ever looked at an apartment building and wondered about the lives of the tenants, or simply wondered how connected we are to those around us without even knowing it. Cimino puts her finger on the theory of "degrees of separation" and delivers a wonderful story exemplifying the network of connectedness around us every day.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
Read my full review here: http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.c...
Emerald dealers in South America, lovers in Italy, romantic and familial love, "Paris, Rue des Martyrs" does not shy away from exposing the true nature of people, good and bad. This book is perfect for you if you've ever looked at an apartment building and wondered about the lives of the tenants, or simply wondered how connected we are to those around us without even knowing it. Cimino puts her finger on the theory of "degrees of separation" and delivers a wonderful story exemplifying the network of connectedness around us every day.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
Read my full review here: http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.c...
February 13, 2014
I truly enjoyed this book and I couldn't put it down. Started on a flight home on my iPad and after the battery went dead, continued reading on my Kindle and this reader stayed up way past her bedtime... until that kindle battery finally died as well. Adria J. Cimino has created a story that should be read and savored - much like the Montmartre life she depicts in Paris, Rue des Martyres.
I connected with these characters immediately, they were very likable, credible and multi-dimensional. I loved Rafael's determination, sense of family and pride. Andre drove me crazy with his unyielding ways. I was proud of Mira for standing her ground. Many women in her "situation" would've tried to make it work out with Antonio only to wind up like Cecile. I feel as if I've met many women like Cecile (As the author says... "this woman who witnessed life rather than experienced it") and my heart went out to her. I wanted to befriend her immediately just so I could give her a good shaking. However, it was Hugo who has stayed with me the most. His courage, tenderness and tenacity truly stole my heart.
Truly a great novel that leaves its reader pondering the characters' lives and choices long after the last page. I'd recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
I connected with these characters immediately, they were very likable, credible and multi-dimensional. I loved Rafael's determination, sense of family and pride. Andre drove me crazy with his unyielding ways. I was proud of Mira for standing her ground. Many women in her "situation" would've tried to make it work out with Antonio only to wind up like Cecile. I feel as if I've met many women like Cecile (As the author says... "this woman who witnessed life rather than experienced it") and my heart went out to her. I wanted to befriend her immediately just so I could give her a good shaking. However, it was Hugo who has stayed with me the most. His courage, tenderness and tenacity truly stole my heart.
Truly a great novel that leaves its reader pondering the characters' lives and choices long after the last page. I'd recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
May 11, 2014
What an entrancing read--could not put it down all one afternoon and evening and finished first thing next morning. It didn't promise to be so readable--4 characters, each with a chapter, one by one, then all over again--but the flow was amazing, I was always in the middle of whichever story I was reading, and no padding or fluff--just a tale, well, 4 tales--like a Venn diagram if the center circle were the rue des Martyrs and 4 triangles' points met in the center--lots of connecting lines among the characters--friends, lovers, same-building residents. Unusual to find a novel so split and solid at the same time. Loved the diversity--Colombian, Italian, half French/half American, Parisian; and of course the spice of the "aventures" (Americans would say hook-ups) that connected so many characters via lovers, betrayals, friendships. An old old man, a young young girl, and then so many in between, sons, daughters, couples, friends, lovers, colleagues--but never was the scene crowded, never was the story confusing. My only wish for "more" was to see more detail of the rue des Martyrs, its flavor, its color, its own atmosphere. But that is a quibble--I look forward to a re-read!!
March 5, 2014
A gripping story that I was unable to let go of.
The descriptions of the Montmartre district, the parisian ambience are acurate and wonderfully told. The author was able to provide a realistic atmosphere with fair beautiful words and without cliché. I loved how Adria J. Cimino plays with her words and with her readers. A real treat.
The characters are endearing. All have flaws and they all want to discover something or run away from their troubles until that have to face life. The fates of the characters intersect and intertwine and this is orchestrated in a subtle way. The author really charmed me, she is very talented and her story is brillant of simplicity.
As a reader, I was caught by the adventures and I was unable to release my book before discovering the end of the story ... Captivating!
Beautiful discovery and beautiful slice of life.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
The descriptions of the Montmartre district, the parisian ambience are acurate and wonderfully told. The author was able to provide a realistic atmosphere with fair beautiful words and without cliché. I loved how Adria J. Cimino plays with her words and with her readers. A real treat.
The characters are endearing. All have flaws and they all want to discover something or run away from their troubles until that have to face life. The fates of the characters intersect and intertwine and this is orchestrated in a subtle way. The author really charmed me, she is very talented and her story is brillant of simplicity.
As a reader, I was caught by the adventures and I was unable to release my book before discovering the end of the story ... Captivating!
Beautiful discovery and beautiful slice of life.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
April 6, 2015
Thank you Velvet Morning Press Books and Reading Deals for allowing me a free copy of this book to read and give my honest review.
I really began to love these four strangers who all have something to do with someone on the Rue des Martyrs. The book begins with four different storylines that begin to weave in and out of each other seamlessly. As each story unfolds, one can't help but see the flaws of the main characters soften just a bit. By the end, I wanted "the happily ever after" for all of them.
The mystery of who these people are and in which way they are connected to each other is absolutely phenomenal. It keeps the reader constantly on their toes and wanting to stay invested in finding out the outcome of the book. For this reason, I believe any reader worth their salt would enjoy this good read.
I really began to love these four strangers who all have something to do with someone on the Rue des Martyrs. The book begins with four different storylines that begin to weave in and out of each other seamlessly. As each story unfolds, one can't help but see the flaws of the main characters soften just a bit. By the end, I wanted "the happily ever after" for all of them.
The mystery of who these people are and in which way they are connected to each other is absolutely phenomenal. It keeps the reader constantly on their toes and wanting to stay invested in finding out the outcome of the book. For this reason, I believe any reader worth their salt would enjoy this good read.
June 2, 2015
Ever wonder what's going on with your neighbors? Then this novel is one for you. We meet various characters who live at number 120, rue des Martyrs in the 9th district of Paris and immediately get a sense of the whole building, and street, as a world stage. (How Shakespearean is that!?!) As with any well-devised ensemble cast, we dive and weave between multiple plot strands, with characters crossing into and impacting on each others' lives in surprising ways. There are 20-somethings figuring out their place in the world, and the older generation wondering if it's too late to change. (Possibly there's a lack of toddler drama -- maybe a sequel could include a crèche where mini-Rafaels, Laurels, Miras, Hugos etc all interact). But this is the stuff of life -- and the setting of Paris adds extra magic and panache. A great debut novel by a talented author.
April 12, 2015
Good story detailing a cross-section of lives from a random street in Paris, and I liked how the stories connected. As with any good book, there were characters I liked and those I didn't. There were also endings I liked and those I didn't - I won't spoil it with details - but isn't that just like life? The stories were of (mostly) ordinary people and they are not all going to make the decisions I would make. It takes skill to write about such diverse personalities in the same work in such a seamless manner. Brava!
June 26, 2015
Excellent book,
I gave it a 4 because I'm stingy with 5's. I save those for characters I miss when the book is done. However the book does have great characterization, it just want long enough for me to miss them. The story was intriguing and I looked forward to reading it every night. All in all an excellent book and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys atmospheric settings and lives that intertwine.
I gave it a 4 because I'm stingy with 5's. I save those for characters I miss when the book is done. However the book does have great characterization, it just want long enough for me to miss them. The story was intriguing and I looked forward to reading it every night. All in all an excellent book and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys atmospheric settings and lives that intertwine.
March 1, 2014
An excellent first novel. The women characters were great, closer to what I imagine women are like than the men were to what I imagine men are like. Or something like that. In any case, a good well-paced story that fitted different storylines together very well. It sounds like there's more to come, can't wait. And obviously Adria has uncovered a very talented cover artist!
May 22, 2015
Really enjoyed,this book!
I was really surprised that I liked this book so much my only sorrow is at the book was not very long!! A few more characters would have made it more interesting! A book with a happy ending of sorts.
I was really surprised that I liked this book so much my only sorrow is at the book was not very long!! A few more characters would have made it more interesting! A book with a happy ending of sorts.
April 19, 2020
Intertwined lives
Well written story centered on residents of a Paris neighborhood. Love lost and found, dreams, ambitions adventure and death: there's something for everyone.
Well written story centered on residents of a Paris neighborhood. Love lost and found, dreams, ambitions adventure and death: there's something for everyone.
January 28, 2016
great descriptions of locals in Paris and compelling glimpses into the art scene.
July 20, 2015
Enjoyed.
Good stories. Characters are well defined. Plot holds together. Each chapter makes you want to know more and hope for happy ending.
Good stories. Characters are well defined. Plot holds together. Each chapter makes you want to know more and hope for happy ending.
December 26, 2015
This was a good book and well-written. The plot moves along and how all four characters' lives intersect is intricate and well-done. However, each four plot lines could have been a separate book and each of those books might have been a best-seller and an award winning novel. I especially think Rafael's back story about the emerald mines in Columbia would be a powerful book. I would like to see how Rafael and Laurel's relationship fares and his relationship with his new-found family member. (I won't spoil it for you.) Andre Wren and his career and estranged family would also be a great book as well as Mira/Septime and their struggles and futures. There is a darkness over the whole book, it is not a happy book, but I think everyone will live their lives having been enriched by knowing each other and will move on. The ending was abrupt, but there was a sense of finality or at least we know enough about each character for the story to end. I will read more by this author as Ms. Cimino definitely has talent to write books of Pulitzer or Mann Booker award winning caliber. This overall was a book I'm not sure what I felt about it, but was glad to have read after I finished it.
September 24, 2015
I'm very glad that this was a free book (thanks to Amazon Prime's Lending Library). I would hate to think that I actually spent money on it. I'm amazed that the ratings are as high as they are.
The premise is this: the lives of four strangers intersect in various ways in Paris. Eventually, the stories are all interconnected. It doesn't really work. There are a lot of coincidences, love at first sight (repeatedly), lust at first sight, incomprehensible behavior, overly mature and totally unrealistic teenagers, and an overall need for some serious editing. Viv, who is supposedly 14 years old, sounds like she is at least twice that age. Septime acts like he is madly in love with Cecile and then sleeps with another woman. Andre spends the entire book throwing temper tantrums. Rafael's subplot doesn't even seem to belong with the rest of the novel.
This book is just not worth the effort. I did manage to finish reading it, which surprised me. I hate rating books this low, but there's no way I could justify anything higher than two stars, and I feel that is being generous.
The premise is this: the lives of four strangers intersect in various ways in Paris. Eventually, the stories are all interconnected. It doesn't really work. There are a lot of coincidences, love at first sight (repeatedly), lust at first sight, incomprehensible behavior, overly mature and totally unrealistic teenagers, and an overall need for some serious editing. Viv, who is supposedly 14 years old, sounds like she is at least twice that age. Septime acts like he is madly in love with Cecile and then sleeps with another woman. Andre spends the entire book throwing temper tantrums. Rafael's subplot doesn't even seem to belong with the rest of the novel.
This book is just not worth the effort. I did manage to finish reading it, which surprised me. I hate rating books this low, but there's no way I could justify anything higher than two stars, and I feel that is being generous.
April 20, 2014
Great premise - housing the four sufferers on Rue des Martyrs in Paris where they interact with each other: André, the angry actor full of regrets who has never established a relationship with his son Hugo; Cécile, the bored housewife who makes no effort to interact with her family; Rafael, the Colombian expat who is driven to find his birth mother; and Mira, a fledging painter who flees Naples to endure her pregnancy alone in Paris. Other significant characters create the conflicts which further drive the action: Clara, the other woman; Laurel, the troubled daughter of Cécile's husband Manu; Septime Galino, the painter who seduces Cécile; Hugo, the son who appears in Paris to launch his acting career; June, Hugo's mother who is still the love of Andre's life and others.
An entertaining read.
An entertaining read.
December 29, 2015
Good plot and characters. Really liked the feel of Montmartre and Paris, and the character development.
July 28, 2015
The intricacy of the characters kept me reading even when the writing was a little flat. I loved strolling through the streets of Paris especially around Sacre Coeur.
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