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Мистериозно произведение на изкуството и една жена, вдъхновена да разкрие неговата история.
Клер губи майка си в инцидент, но тя самата оцелява и работи усилено, за да се измъкне от малкия си роден град в Луизиана. Това обаче не й носи очакваното удовлетворение. Ето защо тя напуска доходоносната си работа в Чикаго и се връща у дома, за да се грижи за болната си баба. Там преоткрива изящно произведение на изкуството, което нейният прадядо е изпратил от Париж след края на Втората световна война.
Баба й я насърчава да замине за Франция и да издири ателието, където е създаден подаръкът от прадядо й – маска на красива неизвестна жена. Под зоркия поглед на намусен майстор на отливки Клер попада на куп писма, които разкриват подробности за живота на незнайната жена, обезсмъртена чрез изкуството. Докато разнищва мистериите в живота й, Клер се натъква на неподозирани тайни от собственото си минало и осъзнава, че съдбите им са се преплели.
Клер губи майка си в инцидент, но тя самата оцелява и работи усилено, за да се измъкне от малкия си роден град в Луизиана. Това обаче не й носи очакваното удовлетворение. Ето защо тя напуска доходоносната си работа в Чикаго и се връща у дома, за да се грижи за болната си баба. Там преоткрива изящно произведение на изкуството, което нейният прадядо е изпратил от Париж след края на Втората световна война.
Баба й я насърчава да замине за Франция и да издири ателието, където е създаден подаръкът от прадядо й – маска на красива неизвестна жена. Под зоркия поглед на намусен майстор на отливки Клер попада на куп писма, които разкриват подробности за живота на незнайната жена, обезсмъртена чрез изкуството. Докато разнищва мистериите в живота й, Клер се натъква на неподозирани тайни от собственото си минало и осъзнава, че съдбите им са се преплели.
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2016
328 people are currently reading
4486 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Blackwell
41 books2,911 followersJuliet Blackwell (aka Julie Goodson-Lawes, aka Hailey Lind) started out life in Palo Alto, California, born of a Texan mother and a Yankee father. The family soon moved to what were, at the time, the sticks of Cupertino, an hour south of San Francisco. Walking to and from kindergarten every day she would indulge in her earliest larcenous activity: stealing walnuts and apricots from surrounding orchards.
By the time she graduated middle school, the orchards were disappearing and the valley at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay had become the cradle of the silicon semi-conductor. A man named Steve Jobs was working in his garage in Cupertino, just down the street. Juliet's father advised his daughters to enter the lucrative and soon-to-flourish field of computers.
"Bah" said Juliet, as she went on to major in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (they had, by far, the best parties of any department). Rather than making scads of money in computers, she read, painted, learned Spanish and a little French and Vietnamese, lived in Spain and traveled through Europe, Mexico, and Central America. She had a very good time.
Juliet pursued graduate degrees in Anthropology and Social Work at the State University of New York at Albany, where she published several non-fiction articles on immigration as well as one book-length translation. Fascinated with other cultural systems, she studied the religions, folklore and medical beliefs of peoples around the world, especially in Latin America. Juliet taught the anthropology of health and health care at SUNY-Albany, and worked as an elementary school social worker in upstate New York. She also did field projects in Mexico and Cuba, studied in Spain, Italy, and France, worked on a BBC production in the Philippines, taught English as a second language in San Jose, and learned how to faux finish walls in Princeton, New Jersey. After having a son, moving back to California, and abandoning her half-written dissertation in cultural anthropology, Juliet started painting murals and portraits for a living. She has run her own mural/faux finish design studio in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, for more than a decade. She specializes in the aesthetic renovation of historic homes.
Finally, to round out her tour of lucrative careers, Juliet turned to writing. Under the pseudonym of Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover's Mystery Series with her sister Carolyn, about an ex-art forger trying to go straight by working as a muralist and faux finisher in San Francisco. The first of these, Feint of Art, was nominated for an Agatha Award; Shooting Gallery and Brush with Death were both IMBA bestsellers, and Arsenic and Old Paint is now available from Perseverance Press.
Juliet's Witchcraft Mystery series, about a witch who finally finds a place to fit in when she opens a vintage clothes shop on Haight Street in San Francisco, allows Juliet to indulge yet another interest—the world of witchcraft and the supernatural. Ever since her favorite aunt taught her about reading cards and tea leaves, Juliet has been fascinated with seers, conjurers, and covens from many different cultures and historic traditions. As an anthropologist, the author studied and taught about systems of spirituality, magic, and medicine throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Halloween is by far her favorite holiday.
When not writing, painting, or haranguing her funny but cynical teenaged son, Juliet spends a lot of time restoring her happily haunted house and gardening with Oscar the cat, who ostensibly belongs to the neighbors but won't leave her alone. He started hanging around when Juliet started writing about witches...funny coincidence.
By the time she graduated middle school, the orchards were disappearing and the valley at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay had become the cradle of the silicon semi-conductor. A man named Steve Jobs was working in his garage in Cupertino, just down the street. Juliet's father advised his daughters to enter the lucrative and soon-to-flourish field of computers.
"Bah" said Juliet, as she went on to major in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (they had, by far, the best parties of any department). Rather than making scads of money in computers, she read, painted, learned Spanish and a little French and Vietnamese, lived in Spain and traveled through Europe, Mexico, and Central America. She had a very good time.
Juliet pursued graduate degrees in Anthropology and Social Work at the State University of New York at Albany, where she published several non-fiction articles on immigration as well as one book-length translation. Fascinated with other cultural systems, she studied the religions, folklore and medical beliefs of peoples around the world, especially in Latin America. Juliet taught the anthropology of health and health care at SUNY-Albany, and worked as an elementary school social worker in upstate New York. She also did field projects in Mexico and Cuba, studied in Spain, Italy, and France, worked on a BBC production in the Philippines, taught English as a second language in San Jose, and learned how to faux finish walls in Princeton, New Jersey. After having a son, moving back to California, and abandoning her half-written dissertation in cultural anthropology, Juliet started painting murals and portraits for a living. She has run her own mural/faux finish design studio in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, for more than a decade. She specializes in the aesthetic renovation of historic homes.
Finally, to round out her tour of lucrative careers, Juliet turned to writing. Under the pseudonym of Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover's Mystery Series with her sister Carolyn, about an ex-art forger trying to go straight by working as a muralist and faux finisher in San Francisco. The first of these, Feint of Art, was nominated for an Agatha Award; Shooting Gallery and Brush with Death were both IMBA bestsellers, and Arsenic and Old Paint is now available from Perseverance Press.
Juliet's Witchcraft Mystery series, about a witch who finally finds a place to fit in when she opens a vintage clothes shop on Haight Street in San Francisco, allows Juliet to indulge yet another interest—the world of witchcraft and the supernatural. Ever since her favorite aunt taught her about reading cards and tea leaves, Juliet has been fascinated with seers, conjurers, and covens from many different cultures and historic traditions. As an anthropologist, the author studied and taught about systems of spirituality, magic, and medicine throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Halloween is by far her favorite holiday.
When not writing, painting, or haranguing her funny but cynical teenaged son, Juliet spends a lot of time restoring her happily haunted house and gardening with Oscar the cat, who ostensibly belongs to the neighbors but won't leave her alone. He started hanging around when Juliet started writing about witches...funny coincidence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 525 reviews
October 17, 2016
Letters From Paris by Juliette Blackwell is a 2016 Penguin publication.
The characterizations are vivid and complex. The mystery compelling and the philosophy of art and history connects the reader to various themes such as the concept of ‘kinysugi—which treats breakage as part of history, leaving the blemish or flaw visible, not disguising it, which can be taken literally or metaphorically.
The story is also quite informative and taught me a great deal about art and history, and had me Googling artist’s names and reading about their lives and work. This book gave me a newfound respect for sculpture.
But, most of all, this romantic tale of loss, love and discovery, is about finding one’s niche’, finding the place that makes you happy and content, the place you call home.
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read the full review, click on this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/V5/Re...
The characterizations are vivid and complex. The mystery compelling and the philosophy of art and history connects the reader to various themes such as the concept of ‘kinysugi—which treats breakage as part of history, leaving the blemish or flaw visible, not disguising it, which can be taken literally or metaphorically.
The story is also quite informative and taught me a great deal about art and history, and had me Googling artist’s names and reading about their lives and work. This book gave me a newfound respect for sculpture.
But, most of all, this romantic tale of loss, love and discovery, is about finding one’s niche’, finding the place that makes you happy and content, the place you call home.
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read the full review, click on this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/V5/Re...
September 6, 2016
This book is the perfect read to wrap up the summer! Who wouldn't want a last-minute getaway to Paris, even if you're just an armchair traveler? LETTERS FROM PARIS is Juliet Blackwell's second contemporary novel set in the City of Lights. In this story, her inspiration comes from the mask of L'Inconnue de la Seine, a famous work of art from the turn of the last century. It was so interesting learning about the mask! Turns out I've seen her face many times before, but didn't realize it.
The story unfolds in alternating time periods. In the 1890s, a young country girl named Sabine comes to Paris to escape her cruel stepfather, only to find the city can be just as cruel. In present day, Claire Broussard travels to Paris from Louisiana to trace the origins of a mysterious broken mask found in her grandmother's attic. I enjoyed how the two story lines intertwined with a couple of very surprising twists. LETTERS FROM PARIS is a lovely blend of mystery, family secrets, art, history, and second chances, with the city of Paris as its star. Enjoyed!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The story unfolds in alternating time periods. In the 1890s, a young country girl named Sabine comes to Paris to escape her cruel stepfather, only to find the city can be just as cruel. In present day, Claire Broussard travels to Paris from Louisiana to trace the origins of a mysterious broken mask found in her grandmother's attic. I enjoyed how the two story lines intertwined with a couple of very surprising twists. LETTERS FROM PARIS is a lovely blend of mystery, family secrets, art, history, and second chances, with the city of Paris as its star. Enjoyed!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2019
3.5 & in a good way! You know when you pick up a book and have not so high expectations of it being any good or merely mediocre? This is what I initially thought of this book that has been in my bookcase for years. So I read it and it was what I needed at the moment. A cute chick-lit with a bit of Parisian history.
Claire promises her Grandmother on her death bed that she will go Paris and find the truth about the mask L'Inconnue, the unknown woman. Claire goes but feels empty inside. She gets no new information on this famous death mask except what everyone else knows. While there she lands a job as a translator for a casting shop that sells replicas of famous ones. The mold maker is a grumpy young heartbroken man that she seems fascinated by. Do they fall in love? You get ONE guess! Ding Ding! Very cheesy, predictable but enjoyable.
I liked the fact that the story went from Claire to a fictional story about the L'Inconnue. The author gave her a life and a name. I think this is the part that drew me in. Sabine was more interesting to me than Claire.
Claire promises her Grandmother on her death bed that she will go Paris and find the truth about the mask L'Inconnue, the unknown woman. Claire goes but feels empty inside. She gets no new information on this famous death mask except what everyone else knows. While there she lands a job as a translator for a casting shop that sells replicas of famous ones. The mold maker is a grumpy young heartbroken man that she seems fascinated by. Do they fall in love? You get ONE guess! Ding Ding! Very cheesy, predictable but enjoyable.
I liked the fact that the story went from Claire to a fictional story about the L'Inconnue. The author gave her a life and a name. I think this is the part that drew me in. Sabine was more interesting to me than Claire.
May 14, 2023
I fell in love with LETTERS FROM PARIS the minute Claire walked into the warmth of her childhood home as she returned to take care of her dying grandmother.
Claire had left Louisiana right after college for a high-paying job in Chicago, but returned because her grandmother needed her. While Claire was in Louisiana, she found a treasure in the attic that she remembered from her youth and a treasure that her grandmother suggested had a secret that Claire may find the answer to if she went to Paris.
Claire wasn't sure what she would find but complied with her dying grandmother's wishes and left for Paris.
Claire found more than the secret of the mask when she arrived. What else is there an abundance of in Paris? Love, of course.
As for her mission, Claire found a mask creator in Paris who made copies of “L’Inconnue” - The Unknown Woman, obtained a temporary job there, and learned how to sculpt while learning the mask's story and about the family legacy behind he mask.
Meanwhile LETTERS FROM PARIS takes us back to the life of the model for the mask and her tragic, difficult life. The tragedy and story of "LInconue" was well known in France and was part of many French households.
Ms. Blackwell did another marvelous job of taking you to Paris and experiencing the life there. I enjoyed Claire's adventures and loved the description of the market and the delicious, mouth-watering meals made by the French people.
Being taken to Paris and its countryside through Ms. Blackwell's descriptions was a marvelous treat. I would have loved to join in the fun at the gorgeous family estate. A family anyone would love to be a part of.
LETTERS FROM PARIS left me with a warm, cozy feeling because it was filled with history, family, Paris, love, and was simply a lovely read.
ENJOY!! 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review
Claire had left Louisiana right after college for a high-paying job in Chicago, but returned because her grandmother needed her. While Claire was in Louisiana, she found a treasure in the attic that she remembered from her youth and a treasure that her grandmother suggested had a secret that Claire may find the answer to if she went to Paris.
Claire wasn't sure what she would find but complied with her dying grandmother's wishes and left for Paris.
Claire found more than the secret of the mask when she arrived. What else is there an abundance of in Paris? Love, of course.
As for her mission, Claire found a mask creator in Paris who made copies of “L’Inconnue” - The Unknown Woman, obtained a temporary job there, and learned how to sculpt while learning the mask's story and about the family legacy behind he mask.
Meanwhile LETTERS FROM PARIS takes us back to the life of the model for the mask and her tragic, difficult life. The tragedy and story of "LInconue" was well known in France and was part of many French households.
Ms. Blackwell did another marvelous job of taking you to Paris and experiencing the life there. I enjoyed Claire's adventures and loved the description of the market and the delicious, mouth-watering meals made by the French people.
Being taken to Paris and its countryside through Ms. Blackwell's descriptions was a marvelous treat. I would have loved to join in the fun at the gorgeous family estate. A family anyone would love to be a part of.
LETTERS FROM PARIS left me with a warm, cozy feeling because it was filled with history, family, Paris, love, and was simply a lovely read.
ENJOY!! 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review
August 18, 2016
This review and more can be found on my blog at: www.whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Intelligent, mysterious, and heartwarming!
This story is set in the City of Lights and takes us on a journey into the lives of three main characters. Claire, a young woman who decides to travel to Paris after her grandmother’s death to uncover the history and identity of an unexplainable piece of art; Armand, a brooding Frenchman who is trying to survive his own tragedies while also continuing the family legacy of mould making; and Sabine, a young woman who lived over one hundred years ago, who finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship as an artist’s model.
The writing is well done. The characters are interesting, sympathetic, and strong. And the plot, although a touch slow in the early part of the novel, quickly evolves into a fascinating story that not only manages to intertwine all the subplots nicely, but also ends with a sweet surprise.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It truly is an intriguing mix of mystery interspersed with a romantic guidebook of the most iconic and memorable must-sees of Paris, including historical landmarks, art, lifestyle, and of course food.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Intelligent, mysterious, and heartwarming!
This story is set in the City of Lights and takes us on a journey into the lives of three main characters. Claire, a young woman who decides to travel to Paris after her grandmother’s death to uncover the history and identity of an unexplainable piece of art; Armand, a brooding Frenchman who is trying to survive his own tragedies while also continuing the family legacy of mould making; and Sabine, a young woman who lived over one hundred years ago, who finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship as an artist’s model.
The writing is well done. The characters are interesting, sympathetic, and strong. And the plot, although a touch slow in the early part of the novel, quickly evolves into a fascinating story that not only manages to intertwine all the subplots nicely, but also ends with a sweet surprise.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It truly is an intriguing mix of mystery interspersed with a romantic guidebook of the most iconic and memorable must-sees of Paris, including historical landmarks, art, lifestyle, and of course food.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2019
Не мога да повярвам, че съм пропуснала да добавя тази книга. Срам и позор!
Беше ми много приятно да я обгрижвам, защото Джулиет Блекуел съумява да придаде на иначе доста стандартния за жанра сюжет (жена на кръстопът зарязва всичко и заминава в чужбина в търсене на себе си, където междувременно открива и любовта в лицето на мистериозен непознат) малко по-интригуващи измерения. Първо, чрез съдбата на реално съществувалата L'Inconnue, или Непознатата от Сена, и второ, чрез философията за пукнатините в душата ни, които не трябва да заличаваме, а да "позлатяваме" като неделима част от нас и да превръщаме в своеобразно житейско изкуство.
Историята не бърза заникъде и едва ли ще ви допадне, ако предпочитате повече динамика и драма. На мен обаче ми се понрави кроткото темпо, артистичната атмосфера, зрелостта на героите и постепенното обелване на пластовете болка и несигурност, под които крият травмите на миналото си. Любовната история не е никак сладникава, което винаги е плюс, а Блекуел е завъртяла и няколко сполучливи обрата за допълнителен чар. Накратко, препоръчвам, ако си търсите четиво за душата.
Беше ми много приятно да я обгрижвам, защото Джулиет Блекуел съумява да придаде на иначе доста стандартния за жанра сюжет (жена на кръстопът зарязва всичко и заминава в чужбина в търсене на себе си, където междувременно открива и любовта в лицето на мистериозен непознат) малко по-интригуващи измерения. Първо, чрез съдбата на реално съществувалата L'Inconnue, или Непознатата от Сена, и второ, чрез философията за пукнатините в душата ни, които не трябва да заличаваме, а да "позлатяваме" като неделима част от нас и да превръщаме в своеобразно житейско изкуство.
Историята не бърза заникъде и едва ли ще ви допадне, ако предпочитате повече динамика и драма. На мен обаче ми се понрави кроткото темпо, артистичната атмосфера, зрелостта на героите и постепенното обелване на пластовете болка и несигурност, под които крият травмите на миналото си. Любовната история не е никак сладникава, което винаги е плюс, а Блекуел е завъртяла и няколко сполучливи обрата за допълнителен чар. Накратко, препоръчвам, ако си търсите четиво за душата.
October 2, 2019
Claire escapes her small Louisiana Hometown for a better life in Chicago, where she goes to school and gets a lucrative job, only to find out it doesn’t bring her happiness. So she quits her job to go back to her small town life to care for her ailing grandmother. Upon her return home she finds a wooden crate from Paris at attic. It contains a broken sculpture – a mask of a young woman. At the urge of her grandma, she sets on a trip to Paris and searches for an atelier’s studio where the mask was made and the story of the woman behind the mask.
1897, Sabine leaves her home at countryside for Paris, where her cousin lives. After the death of her mother and brother, the stepfather sells all the wood they used to carve woodwork. Once all is gone, she searches for her survival in Paris. Her cousin suggests posing for an artist.
1944, seventeen year old Pierre “counts himself lucky to have any job at all let alone one as an apprentice to the famous casters the Famille Lombardi”.
Upon Claire’s arrival at the studio and Sabine’s finding an artist, the story loses its interest. The prose becomes unbearable to read, it’s so simple.
@FB: Best Historical Fiction
1897, Sabine leaves her home at countryside for Paris, where her cousin lives. After the death of her mother and brother, the stepfather sells all the wood they used to carve woodwork. Once all is gone, she searches for her survival in Paris. Her cousin suggests posing for an artist.
1944, seventeen year old Pierre “counts himself lucky to have any job at all let alone one as an apprentice to the famous casters the Famille Lombardi”.
Upon Claire’s arrival at the studio and Sabine’s finding an artist, the story loses its interest. The prose becomes unbearable to read, it’s so simple.
@FB: Best Historical Fiction
October 5, 2016
Beautiful. Intriguing. Captivating. These three words just begin to describe how I felt about this novel. The writing, the setting, and the storyline were all beautiful. The characters were intriguing. And what Claire uncovers in Paris is captivating. It is a story that holds your attention and keeps you wanting more.
Claire’s life in Chicago does not give her all she desires so when her grandmother becomes ill, she goes home to Louisiana, the place she once couldn’t wait to flee. There, she is confronted with her sad childhood and finds the mask in the attic where she used to hide, the mask of the beautiful lady who she’d confide all her secrets and desires to. Her grandmother tells her she should go to Paris to find answers about the mystery of the lady of the mask. With nowhere else to go, Claire heads to Paris and embarks on an adventure. What she finds is a brusque but intriguing mask-maker, a long-hid secret, and even a secret from her own past that startles her to her core.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves a well-written story with wonderful characters and an intriguing story. Escaping to Paris for a few hours isn’t too bad either.
(I received this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
Claire’s life in Chicago does not give her all she desires so when her grandmother becomes ill, she goes home to Louisiana, the place she once couldn’t wait to flee. There, she is confronted with her sad childhood and finds the mask in the attic where she used to hide, the mask of the beautiful lady who she’d confide all her secrets and desires to. Her grandmother tells her she should go to Paris to find answers about the mystery of the lady of the mask. With nowhere else to go, Claire heads to Paris and embarks on an adventure. What she finds is a brusque but intriguing mask-maker, a long-hid secret, and even a secret from her own past that startles her to her core.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves a well-written story with wonderful characters and an intriguing story. Escaping to Paris for a few hours isn’t too bad either.
(I received this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
November 20, 2016
A special thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Beautiful cover!
Juliet Blackwell returns following The Paris Key (2015) with LETTERS FROM PARIS — a sweeping historical family saga taking readers from Chicago to Louisiana to ultimately, Paris- to uncover secrets of the past.
Claire Broussard is ready to give up her life in Chicago when she receives a call regarding her sick grandmother. Claire (Chance) no longer felt like she was living the dream. She was not happy in Chicago. She wanted something else.
Her mother died when she was little and her Mammaw always said:
“The Lord’s got something special planned for you. You mark my words.”
Her Mammaw wasn’t just a grandmother. She had raised her and saved her life.
Claire heads to Louisiana. The place where she was called Chance. From her dying mother, and alcoholic father.
She discovers a mask (sculpture) in the attic, along with some old newspapers and receipts. Her grandmother tells her it is from Paris. Her great-grandfather sent home from Paris after World War II. She encourages her to find out more about the story.
She is intrigued. After her grandmother dies, Claire decides why not, go to Paris. What does she have holding her to this place?
Claire discovers the shop which made the (death) mask, L’Inconnue de la Seine (the Unknown Woman). She begins working at the shop, in order to find out more about its history with some eccentric characters.
Drawn into the past and the mystery, there is the story of Sabine, a young model in Paris in the 1890s. How are these two women’s lives connected? The model for L’Inconnue lived decades before WWII. A poor girl from the countryside?
From tragedy and death to the romantic; the beauty of Paris from art, food, culture, history, and secrets to be discovered. Old wounds reflected and scars to be healed. Re-discovery.
Having survived drowning as a child, Claire is wary of rivers, while Sabine is rumored to have met her end in the Seine.
Per the author’s note, L’Inconnue is an actual mask of a young woman who lived during the nineteenth century. No one knows for sure whether the model was French, English, German, Russian, or otherwise.
To find out more about this intriguing story, and follow Claire’s journey in LETTERS FROM PARIS!
I also purchased the audiobook, narrated by Xe Sands for a captivating adventure.
JDCMustReadBooks
Juliet Blackwell returns following The Paris Key (2015) with LETTERS FROM PARIS — a sweeping historical family saga taking readers from Chicago to Louisiana to ultimately, Paris- to uncover secrets of the past.
Claire Broussard is ready to give up her life in Chicago when she receives a call regarding her sick grandmother. Claire (Chance) no longer felt like she was living the dream. She was not happy in Chicago. She wanted something else.
Her mother died when she was little and her Mammaw always said:
“The Lord’s got something special planned for you. You mark my words.”
Her Mammaw wasn’t just a grandmother. She had raised her and saved her life.
Claire heads to Louisiana. The place where she was called Chance. From her dying mother, and alcoholic father.
She discovers a mask (sculpture) in the attic, along with some old newspapers and receipts. Her grandmother tells her it is from Paris. Her great-grandfather sent home from Paris after World War II. She encourages her to find out more about the story.
She is intrigued. After her grandmother dies, Claire decides why not, go to Paris. What does she have holding her to this place?
Claire discovers the shop which made the (death) mask, L’Inconnue de la Seine (the Unknown Woman). She begins working at the shop, in order to find out more about its history with some eccentric characters.
Drawn into the past and the mystery, there is the story of Sabine, a young model in Paris in the 1890s. How are these two women’s lives connected? The model for L’Inconnue lived decades before WWII. A poor girl from the countryside?
From tragedy and death to the romantic; the beauty of Paris from art, food, culture, history, and secrets to be discovered. Old wounds reflected and scars to be healed. Re-discovery.
Having survived drowning as a child, Claire is wary of rivers, while Sabine is rumored to have met her end in the Seine.
Per the author’s note, L’Inconnue is an actual mask of a young woman who lived during the nineteenth century. No one knows for sure whether the model was French, English, German, Russian, or otherwise.
To find out more about this intriguing story, and follow Claire’s journey in LETTERS FROM PARIS!
I also purchased the audiobook, narrated by Xe Sands for a captivating adventure.
JDCMustReadBooks
December 2, 2016
I truly enjoyed this book.
November 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I had read a couple of depressing downers before this and needed something lighter. I really like France and am fascinated by the fashionable, grumpy people who live there. I loved that most of the book took place in France. The book was very true to French culture. I liked the WWII history that was included in the book. The modern story line tied to the past was interesting to try to figure out. I did predict the ending, but I still liked it. I now have a hankering to visit Louisiana and Paris!
September 3, 2017
This was on track for four stars but the modern day story got a bit cheesy toward the end. I feel this would make a good movie though
August 4, 2016
Female protagonist at loose ends in her life? Check.
Brooding male love interest with a few secrets in his artistic closet? Check.
Paris locale? Check.
Juliet Blackwell covers all the requisites for a work of romantic women's fiction in her newest release, LETTERS FROM PARIS. She gives her readers Claire Broussard, the orphan girl raised by her grandmother after her mother died and her father proved to be an abusive alcoholic parent. Claire ran from her past, all the way from Louisiana bayou country to Chicago, but she still hasn't found what she's looking for. She is unsatisfied in life, and what self-respecting work of women's fiction doesn't have a main character who isn't satisfied with what she has but feels that more is out there if she just goes looking for it.
While visiting her dying grandmother she reconnects with a mysterious bit of home decor in the form of a popular plaster mask that was shipped from Paris at the close of the Second World War. Inside is a cryptic note and there's the next item on the check list. Claire needs a quest to continue her journey, and that quest is finding out the significance of the note.
So she's off to Paris, the most romantic city in the world, and she meets up with Mr. Darcy as a plaster-caster. While she takes on a little side job as his assistant, the reader is treated to flashbacks told by the woman whose face was used to create the original mask that Claire has long been fascinated by. The story within a story parallels much of Claire's experiences, but it is told in present tense to bring the past more readily into the present.
At any rate, the mystery of the mask is gradually revealed while the relationship between Claire and the Frenchman heats up. It's what you expect in women's fiction, no real surprises or artistic flourishes. Girl meets boy, they dance around, and then they reveal pieces of their past that release the old ghosts and thus ends the haunting. Cue the violins.
For those who consume romances, this is perhaps a more substantial read than most. It's a book that satisfies the cravings for all things sweet and light, seasoned with a touch of life's tearful moments. The ending is happy for everyone, as it should be in this kind of thing. Sometimes it's what you need when everyone else is fretting about what Brexit will mean to the economy.
WIth thanks to Penguin Random House and their First To Read offers.
Brooding male love interest with a few secrets in his artistic closet? Check.
Paris locale? Check.
Juliet Blackwell covers all the requisites for a work of romantic women's fiction in her newest release, LETTERS FROM PARIS. She gives her readers Claire Broussard, the orphan girl raised by her grandmother after her mother died and her father proved to be an abusive alcoholic parent. Claire ran from her past, all the way from Louisiana bayou country to Chicago, but she still hasn't found what she's looking for. She is unsatisfied in life, and what self-respecting work of women's fiction doesn't have a main character who isn't satisfied with what she has but feels that more is out there if she just goes looking for it.
While visiting her dying grandmother she reconnects with a mysterious bit of home decor in the form of a popular plaster mask that was shipped from Paris at the close of the Second World War. Inside is a cryptic note and there's the next item on the check list. Claire needs a quest to continue her journey, and that quest is finding out the significance of the note.
So she's off to Paris, the most romantic city in the world, and she meets up with Mr. Darcy as a plaster-caster. While she takes on a little side job as his assistant, the reader is treated to flashbacks told by the woman whose face was used to create the original mask that Claire has long been fascinated by. The story within a story parallels much of Claire's experiences, but it is told in present tense to bring the past more readily into the present.
At any rate, the mystery of the mask is gradually revealed while the relationship between Claire and the Frenchman heats up. It's what you expect in women's fiction, no real surprises or artistic flourishes. Girl meets boy, they dance around, and then they reveal pieces of their past that release the old ghosts and thus ends the haunting. Cue the violins.
For those who consume romances, this is perhaps a more substantial read than most. It's a book that satisfies the cravings for all things sweet and light, seasoned with a touch of life's tearful moments. The ending is happy for everyone, as it should be in this kind of thing. Sometimes it's what you need when everyone else is fretting about what Brexit will mean to the economy.
WIth thanks to Penguin Random House and their First To Read offers.
March 26, 2017
Sometimes I can get into chic lit... which this book was. The modern day character annoyed me some of the time and I had to fast forward when she got too ponder some (Part of this was a function of the narrator and her "intimate" reading style... that is what they say on the cover) However, I really enjoyed the story of the L’Inconnue de la Seine (the unknown woman of the Seine). She even has a Facebook page! That part of the story enthralled, and learning about her... was the best part of the book. The book did keep me interested, and although the ending was tied up with a pretty bow, it still was somewhat compelling.
December 19, 2025
Second book I read recentlywhere the protagonist goes to Europe to put her life into perspective. This was a little less enjoyable for two reasons. The first was that this woman’s family kept a pretty huge secret from her. Completely unjustifiably. Second, the live interest with an ornery unavailable man, whi conpletely changes once they fall in love. The only thing I really liked was the setting, both Paris and the French countryside, and the food. And the wine, of course.
December 4, 2016
It was like the author interviewed me for the lead character. I can relate to Claire. Everyone says the author nailed Paris but she nailed Louisiana as well. Makes me want to go play in Paris and soon.
March 12, 2022
Actually 3.5 stars. I always enjoy books with a food and cultural storyline.I am a sucker for anything with food and cooking involved. My one complaint is that Claire finally cooked Gumbo but decided to go mild with the spices. Everyone knows that a nice spicy Cajun dish has to be more than mild to taste right!!
I rather liked the slow meandering story telling blending with two women as the main characters. I read that some reviewers didn't enjoy this but truthfully I think that people are too darn impatient. Low and slow with good flavors is what this book offers up. Yes, a bit predictable, but can't that sometimes be soothing? I like to follow a good book through to a predictable ending. I don't always need to be shocked or surprised. Geez we are too fussy about that in books. If a book is well written and thought out enough, I can sit back and enjoy the ride, why not?
I rather liked the slow meandering story telling blending with two women as the main characters. I read that some reviewers didn't enjoy this but truthfully I think that people are too darn impatient. Low and slow with good flavors is what this book offers up. Yes, a bit predictable, but can't that sometimes be soothing? I like to follow a good book through to a predictable ending. I don't always need to be shocked or surprised. Geez we are too fussy about that in books. If a book is well written and thought out enough, I can sit back and enjoy the ride, why not?
January 22, 2022
This book is excellent. It tells the story of two women, Claire, a modern-day woman who goes to Paris to find some answers to a mystery involving a death mask she found in her grandmother's attic, and Sabine, a young woman in the 1890's in Paris, who was forced by poverty to work as an artist's model. When Claire finds the studio where the death mask was made, she also finds much more. The death mask is called L'Inconnue, because it is supposedly the mask of a young girl who drowned herself in the Seine. Claire suspects that there is much more to the story, and that the mystery of her identity is somehow connected to the current owner of the studio, Armand, who grudgingly allows Claire to work temporarily as his assistant. There are many more things going on in the backgrounds of both Claire and Armand, as well as with Sabine. This is an absorbing and intriguing story that will keep the reader turning pages while at the same time savoring the Paris atmosphere that permeates all.
February 6, 2017
I picked up this book at the library thinking it would be like any other whimsical Paris romance, but it actually surprised me with its historical ties. Blackwell takes the legend of L'inconnue, a plaster mold/death-mask of an unknown woman, creates a backstory for her, and works her into the present via the heroine's search for the woman's identity. It was fun to read about mold-making and a classic Parisian legend while still reading something so lighthearted.
May 7, 2019
This novel was not what I usually read, but I quite enjoyed it for what it was! I chose it because I will soon be making my first visit to Paris and I just wanted to read about enjoying the city. I really liked the book for that and Claire had the kind of experience that I would have wanted in my mid-20s. It's essentially a love story, but there is a tiny mysterious side-story as well, and I mainly read it for the setting!
January 30, 2020
Wow, what an awesome story.
This is my first read by Juliet Blackwell, but definitely not the last.
A multi timeline set in mainly in the Paris art world, and spanning the late 19th century to present day. It is a journey of discovery, of long hidden secrets and lies, with lots of surprises.
The writer has been diligent in her research, and this well written story is one which I can't recommend highly enough.
This is my first read by Juliet Blackwell, but definitely not the last.
A multi timeline set in mainly in the Paris art world, and spanning the late 19th century to present day. It is a journey of discovery, of long hidden secrets and lies, with lots of surprises.
The writer has been diligent in her research, and this well written story is one which I can't recommend highly enough.
April 30, 2024
At her ailing grandmother's insistence, Claire travels to Paris to learn more about a century-old mask her great-grandfather sent home after World War II.
I listened to this on audiobook and never felt invested in Claire's story or what she discovered about the history of the mask. I typically love books about art, so I was definitely disappointed I never felt a connection to the storyline, the characters, or even the art and history of mask making.
Location: Louisiana and Paris, France
Audiobook
I listened to this on audiobook and never felt invested in Claire's story or what she discovered about the history of the mask. I typically love books about art, so I was definitely disappointed I never felt a connection to the storyline, the characters, or even the art and history of mask making.
Location: Louisiana and Paris, France
Audiobook
September 9, 2016
Note there are mentions of suicides in this story.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Claire/Chance Broussard goes home to Louisiana to be with her grandmother as she lives out her last days. When she finds a broken piece of artwork in the attic. Her grandmother tells her to go to Paris. There is a story that goes with the artwork she found but she will only hear it in Paris. Soon after her grandmother passes Claire heads to Paris and the trip changes her life forever.
the unknown woman
www.smh.com.au
As soon as Claire found the broken mask I was on the internet so I had the right picture of the mask in my head. But this story was about so much more that a mask. Ms. Blackwell takes us back in time where we meet Sabine, a young woman working as an artist’s model. It was not the life she had imagined. Then we alternate and come to present day and Claire’s experiences in Paris. The author entwines these stories together to give us a wonderful story. One I had a hard time putting down.
The characters from past and present feel so alive and real. I found myself immersed both of their stories at times not wanting to switch back and forth, but the author’s way of doing this made each of the stories even more powerful. These characters are unique but in certain ways the same. The were both searching for something and what they found was so unexpected. There is a twist toward the end the totally just floored me. I just didn’t see it coming at all.
I enjoyed the description of the setting in both time periods and how over the years many of the places are virtually the same. I was so moved by Blackwell’s book The Paris Key that I ended my review of that book hoping to someday travel there. This book has me wishing even harder. I want to see with my own eyes and feel with my own hands these magnificent places.
I enjoyed learning the story of “The Unknown Woman of the Seine” even though yet again there was that suicide element. Learning about death masks was very interesting too. Somehow I feel as my son is nearby as I read these passages and he helps me know I can handle it and to just keep reading. The story overrides my moments of pain.
Letters from Paris is a story of discovery and strength, heartwarming and heartbreaking. A story that will resonate with everyone who reads it.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Claire/Chance Broussard goes home to Louisiana to be with her grandmother as she lives out her last days. When she finds a broken piece of artwork in the attic. Her grandmother tells her to go to Paris. There is a story that goes with the artwork she found but she will only hear it in Paris. Soon after her grandmother passes Claire heads to Paris and the trip changes her life forever.
the unknown woman
www.smh.com.au
As soon as Claire found the broken mask I was on the internet so I had the right picture of the mask in my head. But this story was about so much more that a mask. Ms. Blackwell takes us back in time where we meet Sabine, a young woman working as an artist’s model. It was not the life she had imagined. Then we alternate and come to present day and Claire’s experiences in Paris. The author entwines these stories together to give us a wonderful story. One I had a hard time putting down.
The characters from past and present feel so alive and real. I found myself immersed both of their stories at times not wanting to switch back and forth, but the author’s way of doing this made each of the stories even more powerful. These characters are unique but in certain ways the same. The were both searching for something and what they found was so unexpected. There is a twist toward the end the totally just floored me. I just didn’t see it coming at all.
I enjoyed the description of the setting in both time periods and how over the years many of the places are virtually the same. I was so moved by Blackwell’s book The Paris Key that I ended my review of that book hoping to someday travel there. This book has me wishing even harder. I want to see with my own eyes and feel with my own hands these magnificent places.
I enjoyed learning the story of “The Unknown Woman of the Seine” even though yet again there was that suicide element. Learning about death masks was very interesting too. Somehow I feel as my son is nearby as I read these passages and he helps me know I can handle it and to just keep reading. The story overrides my moments of pain.
Letters from Paris is a story of discovery and strength, heartwarming and heartbreaking. A story that will resonate with everyone who reads it.
August 15, 2019
Прочетох "Писма от Париж" и съм влюбена в книгата. В нея има толкова много артистизъм, а описанието на Париж те понася по тесните улички, пропити с толкова много история, аромат на вино и сирене. Когато главната героиня решава да напусне Луизиана след смъртта на баба си и тръгва към Франция, по следите на разгадаването на мистерията на една гипсова маска, тя се впуска в проключение водещо я към корените й. За видимото и невидимото, за истините и необходимите лъжи, скрити в Писма от Париж.
September 28, 2016
3.5 stars. In "Letters for Paris," Claire's dying grandmother sends her on a wild goose chase while on her death bed. Claire's grandmother says that she should go to Paris to try to figure out the mystery of a mask that had been in their family for years. What Claire doesn't know is that there may be a greater reason that Mawmaw wants Claire to go to Paris, one that will help Claire come to terms with her own past.
I love a story with a family secret. This book is full of them. You have the secret of the mask. While the book is mostly focused on Claire, you get a glimpse of the Belle Epoque as well as World War II in the book, which I thought was great. I liked the historical detail in both sets. Mask making and sculpture is so fascinating and I liked the insight that the author provided. Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin both appear in the book. Both of them are so fascinating to me!
You also have the secrets of Claire's background to contend with in the book. The unraveling of this secret makes for a great ending. It has a little bit of a loose end but was still pretty satisfying. The author does a good job of giving readers a little bit to go on at a time.
The writing of the book was okay. The narrative often dives into telling too much rather than showing. The narrative definitely could have been streamlined a bit more, which would have helped with the flow in some places. The story was engaging enough to overcome some of the issues though!
I love a story with a family secret. This book is full of them. You have the secret of the mask. While the book is mostly focused on Claire, you get a glimpse of the Belle Epoque as well as World War II in the book, which I thought was great. I liked the historical detail in both sets. Mask making and sculpture is so fascinating and I liked the insight that the author provided. Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin both appear in the book. Both of them are so fascinating to me!
You also have the secrets of Claire's background to contend with in the book. The unraveling of this secret makes for a great ending. It has a little bit of a loose end but was still pretty satisfying. The author does a good job of giving readers a little bit to go on at a time.
The writing of the book was okay. The narrative often dives into telling too much rather than showing. The narrative definitely could have been streamlined a bit more, which would have helped with the flow in some places. The story was engaging enough to overcome some of the issues though!
August 27, 2016
What a beautifully, crafted story of love, secrets, family, beauty, and freedom. Claire may have reinvented herself once before after leaving Louisiana but she found her true identity when she came to Paris. This is where with each passing day I found that Claire grew more and more into an independent woman. Where it concerned Armand, he in the beginning came off as very abrupt and a man of few words but yet I knew he was a good man. I was right. He and Claire made a good couple.
The past had lots to share about what brought Claire to Paris and the present. Thus the reason I was a little disappointed that the chapters were shorter then the present. There was a few time where I was just getting into the moment and then the story would flash back to the present as quickly. However the ending left me with a smile on my face. Letters from Paris is a book to be read.
The past had lots to share about what brought Claire to Paris and the present. Thus the reason I was a little disappointed that the chapters were shorter then the present. There was a few time where I was just getting into the moment and then the story would flash back to the present as quickly. However the ending left me with a smile on my face. Letters from Paris is a book to be read.
January 15, 2018
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book - I only borrowed it from the library because it was available over a busy Christmas holiday, and I couldn't wait for some of my other books to arrive. I figured if nothing else, I could just listen to it halfway and abandon it once something else came in.
The writing is better than I expected, detailed and vivid, a perfect recreation of writing of Paris. As cheesy - and predictable - as I found the narrative to read, it was so well done that I didn't mind continuing on.
Overall, I'd recommend this for a beach ready - light and predictable and enjoyable for stretching out in the sun, but nothing earth shattering in any way.
The writing is better than I expected, detailed and vivid, a perfect recreation of writing of Paris. As cheesy - and predictable - as I found the narrative to read, it was so well done that I didn't mind continuing on.
Overall, I'd recommend this for a beach ready - light and predictable and enjoyable for stretching out in the sun, but nothing earth shattering in any way.
November 8, 2019
Based on other reviews I had high hopes for this book, but was ultimately disappointed. I liked the art history component to the story, but I felt like the rest was both formulaic and contrived. It is completely not believable that someone who grew up learning "French" in the bayou would be understood by a native Parisian. The two languages have very little in common (especially spoken word). AND, for anyone who's thinking about listening to the audiobook, if you speak French, I wouldn't. The reader's French pronunciation is atrocious and super annoying.
June 5, 2017
A lovely book! The present and past stories are both well-told and well-set; we the readers get to see connections that Claire and Armand in the present day can only guess at, though we know they guess right! The glimpse inside the art world of Paris late in the 19th century is intriguing, and it was great fun to learn more about the mask makers. I'd love to visit Moulange de Lombardi -- and that family place in the country!
dnf
August 19, 2020I won’t rate since I didn’t finish, but here’s what didn’t work for me:
- by 75 pages in, not a whole lot happened in either storyline
- I was pretty sure I knew where the story was going so I read the last few chapters and I was basically 100% right
- wasn’t really connected to the story at all
- by 75 pages in, not a whole lot happened in either storyline
- I was pretty sure I knew where the story was going so I read the last few chapters and I was basically 100% right
- wasn’t really connected to the story at all
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