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The Parisians
Paris, 1940. The Nazis have occupied the city—and the Ritz. The opulent old hotel, so loved by Parisians, is now full of swaggering officers, their minions and their mistresses.
For American Olivia Olsen, working as a chambermaid at the hotel means denying her nationality and living a lie, every day bringing the danger of discovery closer. When Hitler’s right-hand man moves in and makes her his pet, she sees an opportunity to help the Resistance—and draw closer to Jack, her contact, whose brusque instructions may be a shield for something more…
Within the hotel, famed designer Coco Chanel quickly learns that the new regime could work to her benefit, while Arletty, one of France’s best-loved actresses, shocks those around her—and herself—with a forbidden love.
But as the war reaches its terrible end, all three women learn the true price of their proximity to the enemy. For in the shadow of war, is anyone truly safe?
For American Olivia Olsen, working as a chambermaid at the hotel means denying her nationality and living a lie, every day bringing the danger of discovery closer. When Hitler’s right-hand man moves in and makes her his pet, she sees an opportunity to help the Resistance—and draw closer to Jack, her contact, whose brusque instructions may be a shield for something more…
Within the hotel, famed designer Coco Chanel quickly learns that the new regime could work to her benefit, while Arletty, one of France’s best-loved actresses, shocks those around her—and herself—with a forbidden love.
But as the war reaches its terrible end, all three women learn the true price of their proximity to the enemy. For in the shadow of war, is anyone truly safe?
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2019
2363 people are currently reading
6341 people want to read
About the author
Marius Gabriel
41 books558 followersMarius Gabriel is an international thriller and mystery writer.
Under the pseudonym Madeleine Ker, he wrote over 30 romance novels in the 1980s.
As Marius Gabriel he has written several mystery best-sellers, some of them historical novels.
He has three grown-up children and currently lives in Cairo and London. He is 59.
Under the pseudonym Madeleine Ker, he wrote over 30 romance novels in the 1980s.
As Marius Gabriel he has written several mystery best-sellers, some of them historical novels.
He has three grown-up children and currently lives in Cairo and London. He is 59.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
January 17, 2019
An interesting look at Paris during World War 2, concentrating on the guests and staff at the plush Ritz hotel. It has a mixture of real and fictional characters, including icons such as fashion designer Coco Chanel and French actress Arletty. We also follow the life of fictional character Olivia Olsen, an American chambermaid at the Ritz, hiding her identity behind a Swedish passport. We explore their stories during the Nazi occupation, and the ways each individual handles the oppressive regime. As the Nazi's take over one wing of the famed hotel we find our ladies risking their lives as the war drags on and on.
I did enjoy this book, and some of the characters are memorable, but not really fleshed out too much. This is a very believable tale, we get the lowdown how the Nazi's treated those in a position of privilege. My only real gripe is we don't really get a sense of time. It seems like characters have only just met, then suddenly two years have passed. All in all it's not a bad novel, it just doesn't have what it takes to stand out in a very popular genre.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy this book, and some of the characters are memorable, but not really fleshed out too much. This is a very believable tale, we get the lowdown how the Nazi's treated those in a position of privilege. My only real gripe is we don't really get a sense of time. It seems like characters have only just met, then suddenly two years have passed. All in all it's not a bad novel, it just doesn't have what it takes to stand out in a very popular genre.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2019
EXCERPT: . . . the eve of war had come as a shock. It was here suddenly, the thing they had all dreaded but not wished to look at, like the monster that lurked under the beds of children. Now, with terrifying purpose, it had clambered out and proved itself real after all.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Paris, 1940. The Nazis have occupied the city¬—and the Ritz. The opulent old hotel, so loved by Parisians, is now full of swaggering officers, their minions and their mistresses.
For American Olivia Olsen, working as a chambermaid at the hotel means denying her nationality and living a lie, every day bringing the danger of discovery closer. When Hitler’s right-hand man moves in and makes her his pet, she sees an opportunity to help the Resistance—and draw closer to Jack, her contact, whose brusque instructions may be a shield for something more…
Within the hotel, famed designer Coco Chanel quickly learns that the new regime could work to her benefit, while Arletty, one of France’s best-loved actresses, shocks those around her—and herself—with a forbidden love.
But as the war reaches its terrible end, all three women learn the true price of their proximity to the enemy. For in the shadow of war, is anyone truly safe?
MY THOUGHTS: What began as a fairly average read about a young American woman in Paris to make her name as an artist, slowly morphed into a gritty novel of surviving the war, and the German occupation of Paris, by whatever means possible.
I particularly liked how the author contrasted the lives of these three women, whose lives intersect at times, to give different perspectives. I also liked how he contrasted the grim reality, the melancholy of everyday life under the occupation, with rare moments of unadulterated joy, the spark that lit the desire to survive, no matter what.
The book is peppered with real people. I learned a lot about Coco Chanel. I had never known her background, nor that she was a Nazi sympathizer. I had, in the past, simply admired her style. And I had never heard of Arletty, the French film star.
At the end of the book, the Author's Note provides a lot of information about the people in the book who were real and what happened to them after the war, as well as further information about the history of the Ritz Hotel in Paris. It, like the book itself, is well worth reading.
Although one of the categories I have assigned The Parisians is romance, don't let that put you off. There is no schmaltzy romance, more of an awakening, and nothing that is inappropriate to the story. If anything, the love story enhances the overall realism.
This is not a book to be rushed through. It is a book to be lingered over, one that may challenge your previous perceptions about the people on both sides of the war.
I would like to read more by this author.
😊😊😊😊
THE AUTHOR: Marius Gabriel is an international thriller and mystery writer.
Under the pseudonym Madeleine Ker, he wrote over 30 romance novels in the 1980s.
As Marius Gabriel he has written several mystery best-sellers, some of them historical novels.
He has three grown-up children and currently lives in Cairo and London.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Parisians by Marius Gabriel for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my sandysbookaday.wordpress.com page https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Paris, 1940. The Nazis have occupied the city¬—and the Ritz. The opulent old hotel, so loved by Parisians, is now full of swaggering officers, their minions and their mistresses.
For American Olivia Olsen, working as a chambermaid at the hotel means denying her nationality and living a lie, every day bringing the danger of discovery closer. When Hitler’s right-hand man moves in and makes her his pet, she sees an opportunity to help the Resistance—and draw closer to Jack, her contact, whose brusque instructions may be a shield for something more…
Within the hotel, famed designer Coco Chanel quickly learns that the new regime could work to her benefit, while Arletty, one of France’s best-loved actresses, shocks those around her—and herself—with a forbidden love.
But as the war reaches its terrible end, all three women learn the true price of their proximity to the enemy. For in the shadow of war, is anyone truly safe?
MY THOUGHTS: What began as a fairly average read about a young American woman in Paris to make her name as an artist, slowly morphed into a gritty novel of surviving the war, and the German occupation of Paris, by whatever means possible.
I particularly liked how the author contrasted the lives of these three women, whose lives intersect at times, to give different perspectives. I also liked how he contrasted the grim reality, the melancholy of everyday life under the occupation, with rare moments of unadulterated joy, the spark that lit the desire to survive, no matter what.
The book is peppered with real people. I learned a lot about Coco Chanel. I had never known her background, nor that she was a Nazi sympathizer. I had, in the past, simply admired her style. And I had never heard of Arletty, the French film star.
At the end of the book, the Author's Note provides a lot of information about the people in the book who were real and what happened to them after the war, as well as further information about the history of the Ritz Hotel in Paris. It, like the book itself, is well worth reading.
Although one of the categories I have assigned The Parisians is romance, don't let that put you off. There is no schmaltzy romance, more of an awakening, and nothing that is inappropriate to the story. If anything, the love story enhances the overall realism.
This is not a book to be rushed through. It is a book to be lingered over, one that may challenge your previous perceptions about the people on both sides of the war.
I would like to read more by this author.
😊😊😊😊
THE AUTHOR: Marius Gabriel is an international thriller and mystery writer.
Under the pseudonym Madeleine Ker, he wrote over 30 romance novels in the 1980s.
As Marius Gabriel he has written several mystery best-sellers, some of them historical novels.
He has three grown-up children and currently lives in Cairo and London.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Parisians by Marius Gabriel for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my sandysbookaday.wordpress.com page https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 27, 2019
3. 5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
Readers choose books for all sorts of reasons and I am no exception. I chose this book specifically for its title because Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world. I may have mentioned this in other reviews, but I cried the very first time I saw that city and if the Eiffel Tower had been a person, well it most likely asked me to stop taking pictures of it. The fact that it was also surrounding the WWII era was a plus.
Juggling characters can be difficult, in the case of The Parisians, we have three very interesting characters( a chambermaid, a French actress, and Coco Chanel) and one intriguing setting- the Ritz hotel. Since this was the main place of entertainment and rest for the main players in the Nazi regime, our plot is driven by plenty of wartime intrigue. While young Swedish-American Olivia is driven to spy on Herman Goering after her lover dies at the hands of the Gestapo, French actress Arletty balances a fine line between the France she knew and what it has become, and Marius Gabriel leaves little doubt about designer Coco Chanel's collaboration with the Nazis.
I enjoyed this story, reading it in one sitting, and despite one foolish sex scene in which both genders sexual organs were described as particular flowers, I felt this was a good addition to the WWII era library.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
Readers choose books for all sorts of reasons and I am no exception. I chose this book specifically for its title because Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world. I may have mentioned this in other reviews, but I cried the very first time I saw that city and if the Eiffel Tower had been a person, well it most likely asked me to stop taking pictures of it. The fact that it was also surrounding the WWII era was a plus.
Juggling characters can be difficult, in the case of The Parisians, we have three very interesting characters( a chambermaid, a French actress, and Coco Chanel) and one intriguing setting- the Ritz hotel. Since this was the main place of entertainment and rest for the main players in the Nazi regime, our plot is driven by plenty of wartime intrigue. While young Swedish-American Olivia is driven to spy on Herman Goering after her lover dies at the hands of the Gestapo, French actress Arletty balances a fine line between the France she knew and what it has become, and Marius Gabriel leaves little doubt about designer Coco Chanel's collaboration with the Nazis.
I enjoyed this story, reading it in one sitting, and despite one foolish sex scene in which both genders sexual organs were described as particular flowers, I felt this was a good addition to the WWII era library.
January 27, 2020
The Parisians by Marius Gabriel opens just before the outbreak of WW11. American born Olivia is an artist and has moved to Paris to paint. She is desperately short of money and has resorted to trying to selling tourist paintings along the banks of the river Seine. Here she meets Fabrice and with the help of his mother, Olivia get a job as a chambermaid in the glamorous Ritz Hotel.
Britain declares war on Germany, then Paris falls to Germany occupation, Olivia sees the changes in the grand Ritz Hotel as the Nazis elite evict the hotel guest and take over the luxurious suits. Olivia has almost unlimited access to the rooms in the Ritz, she sees how she can help the the Resistance.
The story is told from three women’s perspectives.......Olivia who put her life in danger to support the Resistance, Coco Chanel who supported the Nazis and the war & French actress Arletty, who risked her career to follow her heart. Entwining real people in the story was interesting, especially the story of Arletty and her humble origins to being the top actress in France at the time.
The luxurious and opulent lifestyle the Nazis lead in Paris, whilst others starved was an eye opener. Well off members in Paris society collaborated with the occupying forces and although this was forbidden, within the walls of the Ritz, anything seemed to go.
How true or accurate it is, I don’t know but I assume it has been meticulously researched.
Some characterisation I found clumsy, especially that of Olivia, I found her slightly irritating, but the other women’s stories made the book for me.
Loved the authors note at the end of the novel, where he explains what happened after the war to the actual people mentioned in his book....... and many of the characters in the book were real people... fascinating!
3 1/2 star read.
Britain declares war on Germany, then Paris falls to Germany occupation, Olivia sees the changes in the grand Ritz Hotel as the Nazis elite evict the hotel guest and take over the luxurious suits. Olivia has almost unlimited access to the rooms in the Ritz, she sees how she can help the the Resistance.
The story is told from three women’s perspectives.......Olivia who put her life in danger to support the Resistance, Coco Chanel who supported the Nazis and the war & French actress Arletty, who risked her career to follow her heart. Entwining real people in the story was interesting, especially the story of Arletty and her humble origins to being the top actress in France at the time.
The luxurious and opulent lifestyle the Nazis lead in Paris, whilst others starved was an eye opener. Well off members in Paris society collaborated with the occupying forces and although this was forbidden, within the walls of the Ritz, anything seemed to go.
How true or accurate it is, I don’t know but I assume it has been meticulously researched.
Some characterisation I found clumsy, especially that of Olivia, I found her slightly irritating, but the other women’s stories made the book for me.
Loved the authors note at the end of the novel, where he explains what happened after the war to the actual people mentioned in his book....... and many of the characters in the book were real people... fascinating!
3 1/2 star read.
June 18, 2021
Struggling American artist Olivia Olsen is living in Paris during WW II, she's of Swedish heritage and she starts working as a chambermaid at the Ritz to pay her rent and buy food. As a chambermaid she has access to rooms and she gains the trust of Hermann Goering a high ranking German officer. Olivia reminds him of his first wife, he requests for her to be in charge of waking him up in the morning and cleaning his room. The book uses fact, fiction to create an interesting story and it all takes place in the posh hotel.
Olivia Olsen decides to take a huge risk to help the French resistance, she learns to use a tiny camera to take pictures of documents the German officers leave lying around on desks in their rooms. Some very famous people stayed and lived at the Ritz during WW II, they were friends with the German officers and Coco Chanel was one of them.
The Parisians gave me a glimpse into life in France during WW II, I had no idea the Germans took over the opulent hotel and lived such lavish lifestyles.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
Olivia Olsen decides to take a huge risk to help the French resistance, she learns to use a tiny camera to take pictures of documents the German officers leave lying around on desks in their rooms. Some very famous people stayed and lived at the Ritz during WW II, they were friends with the German officers and Coco Chanel was one of them.
The Parisians gave me a glimpse into life in France during WW II, I had no idea the Germans took over the opulent hotel and lived such lavish lifestyles.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
March 27, 2019
It is 1940 and Paris + the Ritz have been occupied by the Nazis. Most of the story revolves in the Ritz where we find 3 women, both fictional and real, who use this invasion for either their benefit or to extract revenge.
Olivia Olsen, is an aspiring artist turned chambermaid at the Ritz who becomes a favourite of Adolf Hitler's right hand man and uses this as an opportunity to help the Resistance and in the process avenge the death of her fiancee.
Coco Chanel is a world famous designer who sees at the onset that this regime can work to her benefit and doesn't waste time and effort to use them to get what she wants.
Arletty, France's darling and best loved actresses of the time, shocks herself and the sentiments of all French people when she decides to get into an ill-fated affair with a German Luftwaffe officer Hans-Jurgen Soehring.
What I really liked about this book was how the author managed to bring together both fictional and real characters into the story, at times intersecting their story lines to give a more perspective outlook on this grim period of history and what people were willing to do to survive it.
Also, at the end of the book, the author gives us a short update on all the real people in the book, telling us what happened to them and where their lives led them after the war was over which was interesting (and made me Google to know more about them). The only drawback for me was that I did not emotionally connect with anyone in the book but overall the book was gripping.
My thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for giving me an ARC.
Olivia Olsen, is an aspiring artist turned chambermaid at the Ritz who becomes a favourite of Adolf Hitler's right hand man and uses this as an opportunity to help the Resistance and in the process avenge the death of her fiancee.
Coco Chanel is a world famous designer who sees at the onset that this regime can work to her benefit and doesn't waste time and effort to use them to get what she wants.
Arletty, France's darling and best loved actresses of the time, shocks herself and the sentiments of all French people when she decides to get into an ill-fated affair with a German Luftwaffe officer Hans-Jurgen Soehring.
What I really liked about this book was how the author managed to bring together both fictional and real characters into the story, at times intersecting their story lines to give a more perspective outlook on this grim period of history and what people were willing to do to survive it.
Also, at the end of the book, the author gives us a short update on all the real people in the book, telling us what happened to them and where their lives led them after the war was over which was interesting (and made me Google to know more about them). The only drawback for me was that I did not emotionally connect with anyone in the book but overall the book was gripping.
My thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for giving me an ARC.
February 17, 2020
The Parisians follows the life of Olivia Olsen, an American living in Paris, who is literally a starving artist. Her new boyfriend’s mother is able to get Olivia a job as a chambermaid at the Ritz right before the start of World War II. When the war is imminent, Olivia is given a Swedish passport and decides to remain in Paris.
The plot intertwines the fictional Olivia into the lives of real people, including Coco Chanel, and the famous French actress Arletty who was bisexual. When the Germans overtake Paris, the elite Gestapo members, including Hermann Göring, move into the Ritz and Olivia becomes his chambermaid. Olivia then connects with the French Resistance and passes on valuable information she gathers from the hotel.
Through Olivia’s eyes, the reader learns how Coco Chanel, Arletty and many wealthy Parisians got in bed (both literally and figuratively) with the Germans during World War II. There is a female Gestapo officer whose character is closely based on the real-life French athlete, Violet Morris.
This is a very believable story about the roles that three strong women (Olivia, Coco, and Arletty) played in World War II. 5-stars. Book Club recommended.
If you like book reviews that come with recipe recommendations, check out my blog www.kerrinsbookreviews.com My recipe to go with The Parisians is Julia Child’s Fondue de Poulet à la Crème [Chicken Simmered with Cream and Onions].
July 20, 2022
I will say this about this book, thank God for Coco Chanel and Arletty! Those two women made the book worthwhile reading. I found the beginning of the book very hard to get into thanks to Olivia Olsen, this young artist who has come to Paris to paint. She's just the kind of character I have a problem with, a young naive thing that on the very first pages of the book meets a young anarchist that will take her by storm. I was not amused, I found Olivia to be boring to be very frank. However, I kept on reading because as I wrote before there were two bright spots in this book Coco Chanel and the French actress Arletty. Personally, I wouldn't have minded that Olivia had been cut out of the picture and the book had been just about Coco Chanel and Arletty. Although I have to admit Olivia's role become more interesting after the Germans occupied France and she started to help the Resistance.
At first, I gave the book 4-stars, but after some consideration did I lower the rating to 3-stars. And, that's because I've read two books previously by Marius Gabriel that I really enjoyed, The Ocean Liner and The Designer. The Parisians can't really measure up to them. It's just not as interesting, unfortunately. Still, there are some really good parts in the book, well everything concerning Coco Chanel and Arletty. I felt that Olivia's personality was truly bland and I felt it the most when she interacted with them. She grew a bit better towards the end, but still, the stars of this book were Coco Chanel and Arletty!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!>
At first, I gave the book 4-stars, but after some consideration did I lower the rating to 3-stars. And, that's because I've read two books previously by Marius Gabriel that I really enjoyed, The Ocean Liner and The Designer. The Parisians can't really measure up to them. It's just not as interesting, unfortunately. Still, there are some really good parts in the book, well everything concerning Coco Chanel and Arletty. I felt that Olivia's personality was truly bland and I felt it the most when she interacted with them. She grew a bit better towards the end, but still, the stars of this book were Coco Chanel and Arletty!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!>
February 16, 2019
The Parisians was a solid account of how WW2 impacted Paris and the role of The Ritz hotel. The story focuses on the lives of 3 women whose paths intersect throughout the war at The Ritz. The author includes historical characters including a famous French actress named Arletty and the infamous Coco Channel. At the heart of the story is a young American artist named Olivia Olsen who clings to her Swiss roots and pretends to be from Switzerland.
Olivia gets a job as a chambermaid at The Ritz and is privy to many of the Nazi's secret plans as she cleans rooms. Her role in the resistance is highlighted. Arletty falls for an SS officer and her budding romance is scorned by French Patriots. Coco is mostly depicted during the first part of the story as she immerses herself with the Nazis.
I enjoyed Arletty's story and Olivia's story picked up during the second half of the book. I wasn't very interested in Coco's role and found myself quite detached when the plot focused on her. In all, the story was interesting although there was nothing about the war that I didn't already know. So if you tend to read a lot of books with a ww2 backdrop, you may find the historical bits redundant. Where I struggled most with this book, was with it's one dimensional plot and limited opportunity for emotional connection. I enjoyed the love stories and felt these were the instances during which I most strongly connected emotionally. I think if the story had gone a little deeper with its characters, it would have made it that much more heartfelt.
In all, a book that I'd recommend to readers who are interested in a ww2 story that is more superficial in nature and without the raw descriptive atrocities that happened to many people during this time. Some significant occurrences are mentioned but in a lighter way. As others have mentioned, the first half is slow but picks up at about the 60% mark.
Thank you to publisher and NG for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Olivia gets a job as a chambermaid at The Ritz and is privy to many of the Nazi's secret plans as she cleans rooms. Her role in the resistance is highlighted. Arletty falls for an SS officer and her budding romance is scorned by French Patriots. Coco is mostly depicted during the first part of the story as she immerses herself with the Nazis.
I enjoyed Arletty's story and Olivia's story picked up during the second half of the book. I wasn't very interested in Coco's role and found myself quite detached when the plot focused on her. In all, the story was interesting although there was nothing about the war that I didn't already know. So if you tend to read a lot of books with a ww2 backdrop, you may find the historical bits redundant. Where I struggled most with this book, was with it's one dimensional plot and limited opportunity for emotional connection. I enjoyed the love stories and felt these were the instances during which I most strongly connected emotionally. I think if the story had gone a little deeper with its characters, it would have made it that much more heartfelt.
In all, a book that I'd recommend to readers who are interested in a ww2 story that is more superficial in nature and without the raw descriptive atrocities that happened to many people during this time. Some significant occurrences are mentioned but in a lighter way. As others have mentioned, the first half is slow but picks up at about the 60% mark.
Thank you to publisher and NG for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2022
Čista petica.
Roman baš po mojoj mjeri; tematika, historijska pozadina, historijske ličnosti, Pariz ❤️
Jedva sam ga ispuštala iz ruku 😍
Život modne dive Koko Šanel i glumice Arleti u zabranjenoj ljubavi sa nacistom doprinosi autentičnosti romana. Zanimljivi su opisi hotela Ritz i njegove uloge u ratnim dešavanjima. Čitajući roman pretraživala sam likove, mjesta radnje i stvarala tako kompletan utisak.
Preporuka za ljubitelje teme II svj.rata.
Roman baš po mojoj mjeri; tematika, historijska pozadina, historijske ličnosti, Pariz ❤️
Jedva sam ga ispuštala iz ruku 😍
Život modne dive Koko Šanel i glumice Arleti u zabranjenoj ljubavi sa nacistom doprinosi autentičnosti romana. Zanimljivi su opisi hotela Ritz i njegove uloge u ratnim dešavanjima. Čitajući roman pretraživala sam likove, mjesta radnje i stvarala tako kompletan utisak.
Preporuka za ljubitelje teme II svj.rata.
January 27, 2019
I very much enjoyed this trip to WW2 where real and fictional characters do a cross over in a plush hotel in Paris. From Coco Chanel to famed French actress Arletty, not to mention a bunch of other well-drawn fictional characters, all are faced with the invasion of the Nazis and all yearn to survive the best possible way. This of course is far from being simple, especially for the central heroine who longs to save her boyfriend who is at the hands of the Gestapo. One thing’s for sure, though, simple or not, their many problems do make for a fine read. The narrative, as the plot and subplots, is solid, and I found myself totally invested in the denouement of these complicated but oh-so fascinating people. Marius Gabriel has a knack for re-imagining true moments in time, and I look forward to read more of his stuff in the future. Thumbs up to NetGalley and the publisher for this reviewed title.
Full review: https://sleaze-factor.blogspot.com/20...
Full review: https://sleaze-factor.blogspot.com/20...
December 14, 2018
If you're looking for an effortless read that juxtaposes the lifestyles of rich Nazi sympathizers and struggling Resistance workers in Paris during World War II, you'll enjoy this. It really made my commute zip along. If, however, you like your books with some depth and writing that rises above the workmanlike, this will disappoint. The characters never blossomed into three-dimensional. Their motivations seemed pat and superficial. For instance, did Arletty, one of the biggest French film stars of the time, really plunge so deeply in love with a Nazi officer that she didn't give more than a passing thought to how she was betraying her audience and her country? And there's a lovemaking scene that I think qualifies for the Bad Sex Writing Award. All that said, as escapism that introduces you to the role of the Paris Ritz (and the sumptuousness of the hotel itself) and the attitudes of French society types during the war, this will please.
January 19, 2020
Wow , knjiga baš po mom ukusu, uživala sam u svakoj stranici . Pariz prikazan u vrijeme najtežih vremena ... rat ,smrt, glad i odmah uz to velika raskoš , bogatstvo čelinh ljudi koji su bili desna ruka Hitleru. Velika preporuka !
March 15, 2020
Drugi svjetski rat izvor je inspiracije za mnoga književna djela. Kako i ne bi bio, uzimajući u obzir da se radi o jednom od najstrašnijih razdoblja novije svjetske povijesti. A čak i uz sva ta književna djela (a i ona filmska, pa i djela drugih umjetnosti) još uvijek o ovom mračnom razdoblju ne znamo sve. Još uvijek otkrivamo nove poglede i dobivamo nove uvide u strahote koje su 40-ih godina 20. stoljeća harale i Europom i svijetom.
Marius Gabriel svojim nam je 'Parižankama' dao još jedan pogled na događaje iz 2. svjetskog rata, a taj pogled počiva na okupiranom Parizu i možda najslavnijem hotelu na svijetu - pariškom Ritzu.
Na samom začetku rata, neposredno prije okupacije, Olivia Olsen mlada je slikarica koja prodajom svojih slika pokušava zaraditi za život - i u tome jedva uspijeva. Amerikanka, porijeklom Šveđanka, Olivia se zaljubljuje u mladog anarhista Fabricea, čija majka joj pronalazi posao sobarice u slavnom pariškom hotelu Ritz. Miris rata osjeća se u zraku, ali bogati stanari Ritza za rat mare malo ili nimalo. Kada Nijemci stignu, oni će se jednostavno prilagoditi. Novac, na kraju krajeva, uvijek otvara sva vrata.
Nijemci konačno stižu 1940., pustošeći grad i tjerajući njegove stanovnike u glad i siromaštvo. Njemački časnici nastanjuju se upravo u Ritzu, u kojem se život nastavlja po starom. Dok vani ljudi gladuju, u Ritzu se bogati Parižani zabavljaju s Nijemcima na raskošnim gozbama.
Zbog svog švedskog podrijetla, koji Nijemci smatraju 'pravim arijevskim', Olivia ubrzo postaje ljubimica Reichsmarschalla Goeringa, a svoj položaj odluči iskoristiti kako bi pomogla francuskom Pokretu otpora. No, put je to kojim bi lako, ako samo jednom krivo kroči, mogla zakoračiti u pogibelj.
Istovremeno s Olivijinom, u ovoj knjizi pratimo priče još dviju Parižanki: slavne dizajnerice Coco Chanel i jedne od najpoznatijih francuskih glumica - Arletty. Obje ove žene upustit će se u zabranjene veze s Nijemcima: jedna romantične naravi, druga materijalne. A objema će te njihove veze donijeti puno više od onoga što su u njima tražile - i to ne u dobrom smislu.
Marius Gabriel u ovoj je knjizi fantastično precrtao život jednog povijesnog razdoblja, u svoju priču sjajno uklopivši stvarne likove iz toga razdoblja. Naravno, ovdje se radi o povijesnoj fikciji, ali ta je fikcija vješto utemeljena na stvarnim povijesnim događajima i ljudima, koje, čitajući, pratimo kao da su stvarno pred nama, živi i autentični koliko su uopće to mogli biti.
Baš svi su likovi u ovoj knjizi, osim Olivie i još nekolicine sporednih likova, stvarne povijesne ličnosti ili, poput Heike Schwab, likovi utemeljeni na stvarnim povijesnim ličnostima. O mnogima od njih, prvenstveno Arletty i Coco Chanel, ovdje ćemo saznati i nešto što možda još nismo znali, a autor se pobrinuo i da nam, u bilješci na kraju romana, za svakog lika utemeljenog na stvarnoj osobi kaže i što se s njim dogodilo poslije.
Neopisivo mi je zanimljivo bilo čitati o ratu na način na koji su na njega gledali pariški bogataši nastanjeni u Ritzu. Za tu povlaštenu skupinu ljudi, rat je bio tek kulisa, još jedna vrsta razonode kojoj su bili u prilici, iz svojih raskošnih apartmana, svjedočiti. Čitajući o Oliviji, čija se priča dodiruje s pričama ostalih gostiju Ritza, svjedočimo o sudaru dvaju svjetova, dva Pariza, dvije Francuske: one siromašne, gladne i potlačene, i one povlaštene, bogate i samoljubive. Dok ljudi na ulicama Pariza gladuju, gosti hotela Ritz uživaju u delikatesama na raskošnim gozbama koje svakodnevno priređuju za sebe i sebi slične. Strašno je vidjeti koliko su u tome neosjetljivi, koliko im malo znači i njihova zemlja i njihov narod i koliko se malo obaziru na patnje kojima svjedoče svaki put kada bace pogled kroz prozor.
'Parižanke' su fantastična knjiga. Zabavna i šarmantna, ali i poučna i ozbiljna. Dok nam na primjeru jednih Parižanki autor prikazuje zašto su one i ljudi oko njih smatrale da 'Nijemci i nisu tako loši', na primjeru drugih prikazuje nam i svu surovost nacista, horore kroz koje su prolazili ljudi ispitivani u zatvorima Gestapa, beznađe i očaj onih koji nisu imali sreće roditi se kao pripadnici pariške buržoazije i plemstva. A pored svega toga, ova knjiga sjajno opisuje i to da, koju god stranu odabrao, u nekom ćeš se trenutku neizbježno naći na onoj krivoj. Svaka od tri žene u ovoj knjizi to je na svojoj koži iskusila. I svaka se sa svojim iskustvom drugačije morala nositi. Kao žena, kao kolaboracionistica, kao špijunka, kao Parižanka.
Marius Gabriel svojim nam je 'Parižankama' dao još jedan pogled na događaje iz 2. svjetskog rata, a taj pogled počiva na okupiranom Parizu i možda najslavnijem hotelu na svijetu - pariškom Ritzu.
Na samom začetku rata, neposredno prije okupacije, Olivia Olsen mlada je slikarica koja prodajom svojih slika pokušava zaraditi za život - i u tome jedva uspijeva. Amerikanka, porijeklom Šveđanka, Olivia se zaljubljuje u mladog anarhista Fabricea, čija majka joj pronalazi posao sobarice u slavnom pariškom hotelu Ritz. Miris rata osjeća se u zraku, ali bogati stanari Ritza za rat mare malo ili nimalo. Kada Nijemci stignu, oni će se jednostavno prilagoditi. Novac, na kraju krajeva, uvijek otvara sva vrata.
Nijemci konačno stižu 1940., pustošeći grad i tjerajući njegove stanovnike u glad i siromaštvo. Njemački časnici nastanjuju se upravo u Ritzu, u kojem se život nastavlja po starom. Dok vani ljudi gladuju, u Ritzu se bogati Parižani zabavljaju s Nijemcima na raskošnim gozbama.
Zbog svog švedskog podrijetla, koji Nijemci smatraju 'pravim arijevskim', Olivia ubrzo postaje ljubimica Reichsmarschalla Goeringa, a svoj položaj odluči iskoristiti kako bi pomogla francuskom Pokretu otpora. No, put je to kojim bi lako, ako samo jednom krivo kroči, mogla zakoračiti u pogibelj.
Istovremeno s Olivijinom, u ovoj knjizi pratimo priče još dviju Parižanki: slavne dizajnerice Coco Chanel i jedne od najpoznatijih francuskih glumica - Arletty. Obje ove žene upustit će se u zabranjene veze s Nijemcima: jedna romantične naravi, druga materijalne. A objema će te njihove veze donijeti puno više od onoga što su u njima tražile - i to ne u dobrom smislu.
Marius Gabriel u ovoj je knjizi fantastično precrtao život jednog povijesnog razdoblja, u svoju priču sjajno uklopivši stvarne likove iz toga razdoblja. Naravno, ovdje se radi o povijesnoj fikciji, ali ta je fikcija vješto utemeljena na stvarnim povijesnim događajima i ljudima, koje, čitajući, pratimo kao da su stvarno pred nama, živi i autentični koliko su uopće to mogli biti.
Baš svi su likovi u ovoj knjizi, osim Olivie i još nekolicine sporednih likova, stvarne povijesne ličnosti ili, poput Heike Schwab, likovi utemeljeni na stvarnim povijesnim ličnostima. O mnogima od njih, prvenstveno Arletty i Coco Chanel, ovdje ćemo saznati i nešto što možda još nismo znali, a autor se pobrinuo i da nam, u bilješci na kraju romana, za svakog lika utemeljenog na stvarnoj osobi kaže i što se s njim dogodilo poslije.
Neopisivo mi je zanimljivo bilo čitati o ratu na način na koji su na njega gledali pariški bogataši nastanjeni u Ritzu. Za tu povlaštenu skupinu ljudi, rat je bio tek kulisa, još jedna vrsta razonode kojoj su bili u prilici, iz svojih raskošnih apartmana, svjedočiti. Čitajući o Oliviji, čija se priča dodiruje s pričama ostalih gostiju Ritza, svjedočimo o sudaru dvaju svjetova, dva Pariza, dvije Francuske: one siromašne, gladne i potlačene, i one povlaštene, bogate i samoljubive. Dok ljudi na ulicama Pariza gladuju, gosti hotela Ritz uživaju u delikatesama na raskošnim gozbama koje svakodnevno priređuju za sebe i sebi slične. Strašno je vidjeti koliko su u tome neosjetljivi, koliko im malo znači i njihova zemlja i njihov narod i koliko se malo obaziru na patnje kojima svjedoče svaki put kada bace pogled kroz prozor.
'Parižanke' su fantastična knjiga. Zabavna i šarmantna, ali i poučna i ozbiljna. Dok nam na primjeru jednih Parižanki autor prikazuje zašto su one i ljudi oko njih smatrale da 'Nijemci i nisu tako loši', na primjeru drugih prikazuje nam i svu surovost nacista, horore kroz koje su prolazili ljudi ispitivani u zatvorima Gestapa, beznađe i očaj onih koji nisu imali sreće roditi se kao pripadnici pariške buržoazije i plemstva. A pored svega toga, ova knjiga sjajno opisuje i to da, koju god stranu odabrao, u nekom ćeš se trenutku neizbježno naći na onoj krivoj. Svaka od tri žene u ovoj knjizi to je na svojoj koži iskusila. I svaka se sa svojim iskustvom drugačije morala nositi. Kao žena, kao kolaboracionistica, kao špijunka, kao Parižanka.
February 10, 2019
I have read a lot of WWII novels and one of the things I liked about this one is the mix of fictional characters and historical persons. The Parisians has three POV characters. Olivia Olsen is a young painter from the Midwest who moves to Paris in around 1939 to paint. Olivia is the main character and we follow her through the war as she begins to work at the Ritz and then becomes a spy for the Resistance against Goering.
The other two characters are Coco Chanel and Arletty. Now I had heard of Chanel before but did not know anything about her past. (Makes me happy I don't own anything Chanel.) But I had never heard of Arletty. The nice contrast of the two historical characters is that they are women who were collaborators during the war and were actually tried after the war for their relationships with German Officers.
All of the Germans were real people, including Heike who is based on a real woman named Violetle Morris. This is a novel that you would devour in a weekend. If you want a war novel that is a little different definitely give this one a try and read the Author's Note at the end for a little history (it is super short).
The other two characters are Coco Chanel and Arletty. Now I had heard of Chanel before but did not know anything about her past. (Makes me happy I don't own anything Chanel.) But I had never heard of Arletty. The nice contrast of the two historical characters is that they are women who were collaborators during the war and were actually tried after the war for their relationships with German Officers.
All of the Germans were real people, including Heike who is based on a real woman named Violetle Morris. This is a novel that you would devour in a weekend. If you want a war novel that is a little different definitely give this one a try and read the Author's Note at the end for a little history (it is super short).
April 13, 2020
Sada ne znam što nakon ovog romana čitati...
Odlična, drži pažnju, ulovila sam se za dva lika i tjeralo je da čitam dalje i dalje...
Nedjelja, ljetno jutro 1938.
Tri žene Olivia, Coco, Arletty (dvije stvarne osobe i mašta)
Kroz lišće stabala šuškao je blag, nježan lahor. Mlada je žena nacrtala scenu elegantnim potezima kista i svijetlim bojama, ali na sredini platna je prazan prostor, kao da lik još uvijek mora biti naslikan: kao što objašnjava znak priložen za štapić, za tri stotine franaka gospođica Olivia Olsen spremna je staviti bilo koga na sliku, nudeći savršen pariški suvenir za ponijeti kući. Da bi se potpuno uklopila u ulogu pariškog umjetnika, Olivia nosi beretku i bezgrešan slikarski kaput, nadajući se da će uspjeti privući kupce...
Njezine su financije nestabilne, ali joj se ekonomska situacija mijenja kada odlazi u prestižni hotel Ritz, smješten u 15 Place Vendôme, gdje će se zaposliti kao sobarica.
Hotel Ritz, prepun pozlate, satena i mramora. Glavni dio hotela predstavljen je novim zaposlenicima kao okupljalište moćnih ljudi u uniformama raznih vrsta i svatko ima svoj vlastiti zadatak. Na ovom ekskluzivnom i sjajnom mjestu Olive će upoznati poznatu dizajnericu Coco Chanel koja stalno živi u Ritzu. Poznatu francusku glumicu Arletty, nacističke časnike Hermanna Goeringa.
Prijeteći oblaci skupljaju se iznad pariškog neba....
Odlična, drži pažnju, ulovila sam se za dva lika i tjeralo je da čitam dalje i dalje...
Nedjelja, ljetno jutro 1938.
Tri žene Olivia, Coco, Arletty (dvije stvarne osobe i mašta)
Kroz lišće stabala šuškao je blag, nježan lahor. Mlada je žena nacrtala scenu elegantnim potezima kista i svijetlim bojama, ali na sredini platna je prazan prostor, kao da lik još uvijek mora biti naslikan: kao što objašnjava znak priložen za štapić, za tri stotine franaka gospođica Olivia Olsen spremna je staviti bilo koga na sliku, nudeći savršen pariški suvenir za ponijeti kući. Da bi se potpuno uklopila u ulogu pariškog umjetnika, Olivia nosi beretku i bezgrešan slikarski kaput, nadajući se da će uspjeti privući kupce...
Njezine su financije nestabilne, ali joj se ekonomska situacija mijenja kada odlazi u prestižni hotel Ritz, smješten u 15 Place Vendôme, gdje će se zaposliti kao sobarica.
Hotel Ritz, prepun pozlate, satena i mramora. Glavni dio hotela predstavljen je novim zaposlenicima kao okupljalište moćnih ljudi u uniformama raznih vrsta i svatko ima svoj vlastiti zadatak. Na ovom ekskluzivnom i sjajnom mjestu Olive će upoznati poznatu dizajnericu Coco Chanel koja stalno živi u Ritzu. Poznatu francusku glumicu Arletty, nacističke časnike Hermanna Goeringa.
Prijeteći oblaci skupljaju se iznad pariškog neba....
March 9, 2020
Čitala sam i bolje romane sa sličnom tematikom. Ovaj mi je nekako ostao neuvjerljiv i pored toga što su neki likovi stvarne ličnosti, čak i stvarni događaji su mi nekako bili nerealni, sa previše idealnim raspletima. Ukratko moglo je ovo biti puno, puno bolje napisano.
January 31, 2019
I really felt Marius Gabriel captured the spirit of Paris and The Ritz in this and even more, he was more historically accurate than most others out there. I was so impressed with this book and I read it as if I were needing air haha I couldn't put it down. I will say that at some parts Oliva's chapters were too flowery for me, but, on the whole, I went from being a bit annoyed with her character to admiring her. I wasn't sure what type of ending it would be as the novel did go quite dark, which was reasonable given the plots, but it was a really satisfying one.
Coco and Arletty were very dynamic and I wasn't sure what I was going to get reading this book, maybe just some fluff, but it turned out to be more than that. You were allowed to feel sympathy and revulsion at some parts, to look at the darker parts of the human soul and still allowed some hope. The writing is eloquent, the shift of the characters lets you know the author has thought greatly on how each perspective will be laid out for the reader and I look forward to reading more by Marius Gabriel.
I was allowed to read a free e-copy from NetGalley of this in exchange for my honest opinion. I'm not paid, I'm poor, a hobo really who just happens to like lovely books and this is one of them.
Trigger Warning: This contains brief instances of sexual assault/near sexual assault, it is not a heavy theme in the book but felt it needed warranting for those who would be put off.
Coco and Arletty were very dynamic and I wasn't sure what I was going to get reading this book, maybe just some fluff, but it turned out to be more than that. You were allowed to feel sympathy and revulsion at some parts, to look at the darker parts of the human soul and still allowed some hope. The writing is eloquent, the shift of the characters lets you know the author has thought greatly on how each perspective will be laid out for the reader and I look forward to reading more by Marius Gabriel.
I was allowed to read a free e-copy from NetGalley of this in exchange for my honest opinion. I'm not paid, I'm poor, a hobo really who just happens to like lovely books and this is one of them.
Trigger Warning: This contains brief instances of sexual assault/near sexual assault, it is not a heavy theme in the book but felt it needed warranting for those who would be put off.
April 6, 2019
Lately there have been a lot of "women in WWII"novels being published. I've read a number of them, and this one is by far the best. First, the research is impeccable. You learn a lot about Paris during the war from reading this book, but the best thing is that the research doesn't get in the way of the storytelling. It's seamless--not too much, not too little--and all of it is interesting. Second, the characters are real, complex people--a far cry from the relatively naive ingenues you see in other books. The mix of historical and fictional characters is an interesting approach that I think works well to reveal fascinating parts of history while remaining true to the demands of the story. I also appreciate the honest (not coy, not raunchy) way that Gabriel treats sexuality in the book. Third, the pacing is perfect. Gabriel keeps you turning pages, but not too fast. You have time to savor the city and the characters' emotions. Last, the writing is beautiful. Pitch-perfect. If you're planning on reading one of the new "women in WWII" novels, definitely choose this one.
September 2, 2019
This novel gives a slice of life in Paris after the Germans invaded during WW II. Because it is set in the luxurious surroundings of the Ritz hotel, used by the higher ranking Germans, wealthy civilians and hotel staff it has an intensity not possible in a wider setting. The three female characters, Olivia, (fictional), Co Co Chanel and Arletty, both actual, historical people are central to the plot. I thought Co Co and Arletty were well portrayed but Olivia was rather weak and one dimensional. Olivia's two romances didn't ring quite true either and the sex scenes made me cringe. However having said that it
is an enjoyable read and gives some idea of how ordinary people subverted the invaders.
is an enjoyable read and gives some idea of how ordinary people subverted the invaders.
February 1, 2019
The Parisians is a story of WWII. The Nazi occupation of Paris includes the Ritz hotel. The story is three different perspectives of women within the Ritz. It's interesting to see how each one unfolds because of social class and station and nationality. This is a fascinating time period. Readers of historical fiction will enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2020
Koju knjigu čitati poslije ove🤔 prelijepa predobra knjiga koja drži pažnju i kad ne čitaš razmišljam šta će biti dalje kao što su naveli u Cosmop."drzi pažnju da i ručak zagori" Pogotovo volim kad su u priči i stvarni likovi koji su živjeli još dugo poslije rata...Znači sve preporuke od ❤
March 11, 2022
Gabriel does a wonderful job of mixing history and fiction. His characters are fleshed out, and he weaves real historical people with his fictional characters seamlessly. The storyline makes you want to delve deeper into history to get more information about the events and the people.
May 17, 2020
Priča o ljubavima, skandalima, tajnama i zakulisnim igrama koje su se događale u čuvenim salonima i apartmanima pariškog hotela Ritz uoči njemačke okupacije Pariza 1940. godine.
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Drugi svjetski rat je neiscrpno vrelo inspiracije mnogim književnicima. Autor Marius Gabriel tako nas vodi u najugledniji pariški hotel – Ritz. U salonske priče, apartmane koji čuvaju mnoge tajne i misterije, zakulisne borbe za boljom pozicijom među osobljem upliće se dolazak okrutnih vojnika koji nimalo ne cijene eleganciju i prestiž ovog hotela i koji su ovdje s nekim drugim ciljem.
“Ritz je, otkrila je, bio složeni svemir sačinjen od dvaju svjetova. U jednom su gosti živjeli šarmantnim životima, okruženi ljepotom, nedotaknuti potrebama ili tjeskobom. U drugom se osoblje mučilo radeći dan i noć kako bi takvo stanje ostalo nepromijenjeno. Kao što je to opisala Marie-France – Ritz je mjesto na kojem dvjesto jadnih vragova rade do smrti kako bi dvjesto sretnika moglo živjeti u luksuzu.”
Priča je zaista prava poslastica za sve koji vole povijesne romane. Pogotovo ako u njima volite karakterno jake ženske likove koji nose priču. Upoznajemo Oliviu Olsen mladu sobaricu, čuvenu francusku glumicu Arletty i samu Coco Chanel koja je zaštitni znak pariškog Ritza i u čiji hotelski apartman možemo zaviriti.
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Svaka od ove tri iznimno jake i hrabre žene prilagođava se dolasku nacista u Ritz. Olivia sakrije svoje američko podrijetlo i privuče na sebe pozornost samog Göringa. Arletty se nesretno zaljubi, a Coco nekako postaje nevidljiva i kreira planove za budućnost. Između šušura i šaputanja u hodnicima Ritza te marširanja nacista, nekako se čuje i njihov glas, hrabrost i odlučnost da se odupru Nijemcima. U tome će često morati pokleknuti, pretvarati se, ali iz svega vidimo kako su se i rukama i nogama borile za sebe, svoj položaj i svoj život. Primjerice Olivia je odrasla u trenu, pretvorivši svoj nevini djevojački san o slikarici u opasne poduhvate špijuniranja. Arletty se ne želi pokoriti i glumiti u filmovima njemačke propagande, a Coco, šarmantna kakva je i bila odluči stati iza svojih patenata – parfema i sama zarađivati za svoj život pa i pod cijenu da je osude što je surađivala s neprijateljima.
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Marius Gabriel nam je pokazao kako ratna previranja mogu u potpunosti promijeniti živote i sudbine i onih malih ljudi. Iako u samom pogovoru otkriva da su likovi o kojima čitamo podjednako stvarni koliko i izmišljeni, često sam se upitala koliko u svemu tome ima istine te koliko od te istine nam tek predstoji otkriti. S brojnim likovima iz ove priče imate love-hate odnos. Ponekada ih zagovarate, pa se onda već u sljedećem poglavlju zgražate zbog njihovih postupaka. Često se bojite za njih jer znate je opasnost iza svakog ugla, ali nekako im je teško suditi jer su se samo borili za sebe i da prežive tu grozotu Drugog svjetskog rata.
“Tamo se odvija rat, rekao je. Na drugom planetu, među stranim bićima s kojima nemamo ništa zajedničkoga, koja čine stvari koje mi nikada nećemo razumjeti i koje nikada ne želimo shvatiti.”
“On je slušao. U svakom slučaju, rat se činio vrlo dalekim. Ako niste gledali u njemačke vojnike i kukaste križeve , rata nikada nije ni bilo.”
Ukoliko želite knjigu koja će biti prepuna povijesnih činjenica o okupaciji Pariza 1940. možda ćete ostati i pomalo razočarani. Ima ovdje divnih opisa grada i opasni o promjenama koje su ga zatekle, ali ipak je fokus na pojedincima. Kroz priče ovih triju iznimnih žena, sudbinu samog Ritza i mnogo ostalih protagonista otkriti ćete i više nego što ste očekivali.
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Drugi svjetski rat je neiscrpno vrelo inspiracije mnogim književnicima. Autor Marius Gabriel tako nas vodi u najugledniji pariški hotel – Ritz. U salonske priče, apartmane koji čuvaju mnoge tajne i misterije, zakulisne borbe za boljom pozicijom među osobljem upliće se dolazak okrutnih vojnika koji nimalo ne cijene eleganciju i prestiž ovog hotela i koji su ovdje s nekim drugim ciljem.
“Ritz je, otkrila je, bio složeni svemir sačinjen od dvaju svjetova. U jednom su gosti živjeli šarmantnim životima, okruženi ljepotom, nedotaknuti potrebama ili tjeskobom. U drugom se osoblje mučilo radeći dan i noć kako bi takvo stanje ostalo nepromijenjeno. Kao što je to opisala Marie-France – Ritz je mjesto na kojem dvjesto jadnih vragova rade do smrti kako bi dvjesto sretnika moglo živjeti u luksuzu.”
Priča je zaista prava poslastica za sve koji vole povijesne romane. Pogotovo ako u njima volite karakterno jake ženske likove koji nose priču. Upoznajemo Oliviu Olsen mladu sobaricu, čuvenu francusku glumicu Arletty i samu Coco Chanel koja je zaštitni znak pariškog Ritza i u čiji hotelski apartman možemo zaviriti.
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Svaka od ove tri iznimno jake i hrabre žene prilagođava se dolasku nacista u Ritz. Olivia sakrije svoje američko podrijetlo i privuče na sebe pozornost samog Göringa. Arletty se nesretno zaljubi, a Coco nekako postaje nevidljiva i kreira planove za budućnost. Između šušura i šaputanja u hodnicima Ritza te marširanja nacista, nekako se čuje i njihov glas, hrabrost i odlučnost da se odupru Nijemcima. U tome će često morati pokleknuti, pretvarati se, ali iz svega vidimo kako su se i rukama i nogama borile za sebe, svoj položaj i svoj život. Primjerice Olivia je odrasla u trenu, pretvorivši svoj nevini djevojački san o slikarici u opasne poduhvate špijuniranja. Arletty se ne želi pokoriti i glumiti u filmovima njemačke propagande, a Coco, šarmantna kakva je i bila odluči stati iza svojih patenata – parfema i sama zarađivati za svoj život pa i pod cijenu da je osude što je surađivala s neprijateljima.
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Marius Gabriel nam je pokazao kako ratna previranja mogu u potpunosti promijeniti živote i sudbine i onih malih ljudi. Iako u samom pogovoru otkriva da su likovi o kojima čitamo podjednako stvarni koliko i izmišljeni, često sam se upitala koliko u svemu tome ima istine te koliko od te istine nam tek predstoji otkriti. S brojnim likovima iz ove priče imate love-hate odnos. Ponekada ih zagovarate, pa se onda već u sljedećem poglavlju zgražate zbog njihovih postupaka. Često se bojite za njih jer znate je opasnost iza svakog ugla, ali nekako im je teško suditi jer su se samo borili za sebe i da prežive tu grozotu Drugog svjetskog rata.
“Tamo se odvija rat, rekao je. Na drugom planetu, među stranim bićima s kojima nemamo ništa zajedničkoga, koja čine stvari koje mi nikada nećemo razumjeti i koje nikada ne želimo shvatiti.”
“On je slušao. U svakom slučaju, rat se činio vrlo dalekim. Ako niste gledali u njemačke vojnike i kukaste križeve , rata nikada nije ni bilo.”
Ukoliko želite knjigu koja će biti prepuna povijesnih činjenica o okupaciji Pariza 1940. možda ćete ostati i pomalo razočarani. Ima ovdje divnih opisa grada i opasni o promjenama koje su ga zatekle, ali ipak je fokus na pojedincima. Kroz priče ovih triju iznimnih žena, sudbinu samog Ritza i mnogo ostalih protagonista otkriti ćete i više nego što ste očekivali.
December 20, 2018
In the end, this book left me breathless and aching. This is a powerful story about love, World War II, and just what it means to do your duty. With a mixture of fictional characters and real, Gabriel depicts women's struggles during this war. The story revolves around Olivia Olsen, an asset to the Resistance, Arletty, a Nazi sympathizer, and Coco Chanel, a Nazi.
One thing that I really appreciated about this book is that it took women's struggles seriously, regardless of their political affairs. There's pregnancy, abortion, miscarriages, double standards, threats, and the inevitable being told to "smile." Each woman made their decision, and they stood by it until the end, even if they didn't necessarily like the consequences.
Though at times this book seemed strangely catered to the male gaze (warning--there's a failed lesbian rape scene in the later half of this book), it overall did a good job resisting that notion and critiquing the positions women were put into when Nazi men were making the rules. To smile is to survive, to lie about your identity is to survive, to continue working at a hotel that now serves the enemy in order to be able to eat is to survive.
One other thing that I really enjoyed about this book is the notion of female solidarity. When Olivia, Coco, and Arletty had scenes together, there was an unspoken sense of trust between them. They helped each other get abortions, allowed for one moment for a facade to drop. Regardless of their choices, they were still women, and as women, they needed to stick together.
I also learned quite a bit about WWII--I'm not a very big history buff, but it was really fun to be able to learn about names and places and be able to look them up for reference and additional learning. It helped me contextualize this story a little better. Not only that, but it also helped me learn a lot more about French culture--which is saying something considering I lived in France. But again, not knowing much about history, there's always so much to learn!
Overall, this book was an engaging ride, filled with intrigue, and at times, horror. At times I wanted to sit back and appreciate the detail, and others, I needed to rush through to discover what would happen next. Just wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
Review cross-listed here!
One thing that I really appreciated about this book is that it took women's struggles seriously, regardless of their political affairs. There's pregnancy, abortion, miscarriages, double standards, threats, and the inevitable being told to "smile." Each woman made their decision, and they stood by it until the end, even if they didn't necessarily like the consequences.
Though at times this book seemed strangely catered to the male gaze (warning--there's a failed lesbian rape scene in the later half of this book), it overall did a good job resisting that notion and critiquing the positions women were put into when Nazi men were making the rules. To smile is to survive, to lie about your identity is to survive, to continue working at a hotel that now serves the enemy in order to be able to eat is to survive.
One other thing that I really enjoyed about this book is the notion of female solidarity. When Olivia, Coco, and Arletty had scenes together, there was an unspoken sense of trust between them. They helped each other get abortions, allowed for one moment for a facade to drop. Regardless of their choices, they were still women, and as women, they needed to stick together.
I also learned quite a bit about WWII--I'm not a very big history buff, but it was really fun to be able to learn about names and places and be able to look them up for reference and additional learning. It helped me contextualize this story a little better. Not only that, but it also helped me learn a lot more about French culture--which is saying something considering I lived in France. But again, not knowing much about history, there's always so much to learn!
Overall, this book was an engaging ride, filled with intrigue, and at times, horror. At times I wanted to sit back and appreciate the detail, and others, I needed to rush through to discover what would happen next. Just wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
Review cross-listed here!
March 26, 2020
Last year, I read and finished Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin. It relates the meeting, courtship and marriage of Blanche Ross and Claude Auzello. She is from the US and he is the manager of the Ritz, the famous hotel in Paris.
Imagine my delight and recognition when as I read The Parisians, I realized that the Auzellos are characters in this book, although minor.
During the summer of 1940, the Luftwaffe, the air forces of Nazi Germany during the Second World War, set up their headquarters at the Ritz, with their chief Hermann Goering.
Marius Gabriel has included many real life people in his book, but he is quick to warn:
"This novel contains both real and fictional characters. However, the whole book should be regarded as a work of imagination, not history."
A short list of the real people, some famous, some not:
Arletty, a French actress and model
Major Hans-Jürgen Soehring, her German lover
Coco Chanel, famous couturier and perfumer
Spatz von Dincklage, Coco's German lover
Pierre Wertheimer, owner of Coco's perfumery
Dr Kurt Blanke, persecutor of Jews
Hermann Goering, second in command to Hitler, stayed at the Ritz
Swedish consul, Raoul Nordling,
Antoinette d’Harcourt, duchess and member of Resistance
Josée de Chambrun and her husband, René, Nazi sympathizers
Claude and Blanche Auzello, manager and mistress of the Ritz
And, of course, The Ritz Hotel itself.
I both read and listened to this astounding book. I plan to read more by Gabriel. His writing is phenomenal.
5 stars
Imagine my delight and recognition when as I read The Parisians, I realized that the Auzellos are characters in this book, although minor.
During the summer of 1940, the Luftwaffe, the air forces of Nazi Germany during the Second World War, set up their headquarters at the Ritz, with their chief Hermann Goering.
Marius Gabriel has included many real life people in his book, but he is quick to warn:
"This novel contains both real and fictional characters. However, the whole book should be regarded as a work of imagination, not history."
A short list of the real people, some famous, some not:
Arletty, a French actress and model
Major Hans-Jürgen Soehring, her German lover
Coco Chanel, famous couturier and perfumer
Spatz von Dincklage, Coco's German lover
Pierre Wertheimer, owner of Coco's perfumery
Dr Kurt Blanke, persecutor of Jews
Hermann Goering, second in command to Hitler, stayed at the Ritz
Swedish consul, Raoul Nordling,
Antoinette d’Harcourt, duchess and member of Resistance
Josée de Chambrun and her husband, René, Nazi sympathizers
Claude and Blanche Auzello, manager and mistress of the Ritz
And, of course, The Ritz Hotel itself.
I both read and listened to this astounding book. I plan to read more by Gabriel. His writing is phenomenal.
5 stars
February 14, 2019
I really liked the story it centers around Olivia Olsen a chambermaid, then housekeeper at the Ritz hotel in Paris. She'd originally gone to Paris to become an artist, but couldn't sell any of her paintings, so she had to find a job elsewhere. There are two additional main characters, one an actress and one a fashion designer of notable fame. The characters were well written, the story kept me reading, I couldn't put it down. The author's research seemed to be right on, but I'm not sure about the authenticity of the fashion designer. Not sure if she really was as described in the book. Further research on my part may be necessary to find out. The atrocities of this time in history are well documented but it still doesn't prepare a reader when it's written again. I can't believe the brutality and inhumane treatment people were subjected to under the Hitler regime. The ending was a bit predictable, but I'm glad it finished the way it did. Good book and I'm glad I read it!
May 18, 2020
This one took me a while to get through. It was interesting to learn about these significant figures in history and their experiences in and views of World War Two. It was heartbreaking to follow along Olivia’s journey as she goes though love, loss, pain, and grief. She has incredible courage and resilience as she fights for herself, countries, and loved ones.
This novel switches back and forth between Olivia’s, Arletty’s, and Coco’s stories. I enjoyed reading Olivia’s the most, but the others grew on me. This was definitely an eye opening historical fiction novel that leaves you feeling sadness, pride, and in awe of Olivia’s strength.
This novel switches back and forth between Olivia’s, Arletty’s, and Coco’s stories. I enjoyed reading Olivia’s the most, but the others grew on me. This was definitely an eye opening historical fiction novel that leaves you feeling sadness, pride, and in awe of Olivia’s strength.
January 20, 2019
I do enjoy reading historical fiction and especially enjoy reading books where WW2 is concerned. This is the first time that i have read any books by Marius Gabriel and have a few more which shall be reading soon. I am not going to write what this story is about, as i prefer one to read the story for themselves. Recommended.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
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