The Paris Hours

by Alex George

One day in the City of Lights. One night in search of lost time.

Paris between the wars teems with artists, writers, and musicians, a glittering crucible of genius. But amidst the dazzling creativity of the city’s most famous citizens, four regular people are each searching for something they’ve lost.

Camille was the maid of Marcel Proust, and she has a secret: when she was asked to burn her employer’s notebooks, she saved one for herself. Now she is desperate to find it before her betrayal is revealed. Souren, an Armenian refugee, performs puppet shows for children that are nothing like the fairy tales they expect. Lovesick artist Guillaume is down on his luck and running from a debt he cannot repay—but when Gertrude Stein walks into his studio, he wonders if this is the day everything could change. And Jean-Paul is a journalist who tells other people’s stories, because his own is too painful to tell. When the quartet’s paths finally cross in an unforgettable climax, each discovers if they will find what they are looking for.

Told over the course of a single day in 1927, The Paris Hours takes four ordinary people whose stories, told together, are as extraordinary as the glorious city they inhabit.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, France, Historical, Book Club, Audiobook, Literary Fiction

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Alex George is a writer, a bookseller, a director of a literary festival, and a lawyer. He was born in England, but presently lives in the midwest of America.

His novel, A Good American, was published by Amy Einhorn Books, an imprint of Penguin/Putnam, in February 2012. It was a #1 Indie Next Pick, a Barnes and Noble Discover New Writers Pick, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, a Midwest Connections Pick, and a a Library Journal Best Book of the Year. It was a national and international bestseller.

Setting Free The Kites was published in 2017, also by Penguin. It was an Indie Next Pick, a Barnes and Noble Best Fiction Pick, a Library Reads Choice and a Midwest Connection Pick.

His latest novel, The Paris Hours, will be published by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan, on May 5, 2020.

Alex read law at Oxford University and worked for eight years as a corporate lawyer in London and Paris. He moved to the United States in 2003. In addition to writing, he owns an independent bookshop, Skylark Bookshop, in downtown Columbia, MO. He is also the founder and director of The Unbound Book Festival, which will be holding its fifth annual festival in April 2020. Past guests have included Michael Ondaatje, Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith, and George Saunders. He is also a practicing attorney in his spare time.

Alex has been named as one of Britain’s top ten “thirtysomething” novelists by the Times of London, and was also named as the Independent on Sunday’s “face to watch” for fiction in its Fresh Talent feature.

Alex is married to the writer, professor, and critic, Alexandra Socarides. They live in Columbia, Missouri with their four children.

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is first and foremost a work of literary fiction. I inhaled the pages because of the enhanced prose; every word and sentence was bewitching.
The author took one day in the life of four characters and turned it into a beautiful story. Set in post-WWI Paris, four ordinary people begin an ordinary day until their paths cross.

Mostly, the first few chapters start out with the characters everyday routines. Some ordinary stuff. But the polished language made these everyday things seem fascinating. As the story progresses, their past is revealed in flashbacks. Secrets, regret, loss, and betrayal loom in the shadows as each character continues throughout their day.

Chapters are short and the pacing is good. The cast of characters is colorful and engaging. It took me a few chapters in the beginning to remember which character was which. Chapters are narrated by each of the four different characters.

If you do not like prolific writing or if you want mega fast-paced, then this probably isn't for you.

Thank you to Flatiron books for sending me an advance copy. Opinions are my own.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update...’great book’!

.....It was fitting that I read this wonderful novel in one day....as the entire novel takes place in a single day.
It’s truly transporting and immensely satisfying....exactly my favorite type of fiction: great old fashion page turning storytelling.

Having been a fan of two other books by Alex George ....
“A Good American”, and “Setting Free The Kites”....I didn’t hesitate for a second to read another book by Alex George. He’s a top-notched skillful storyteller!

In the Author’s notes we learn that Alex went to boarding school in Paris at age 13. (Alex lives in Missouri today)
Ten years after boarding school he returned to Paris, working as an attorney for an international law firm.
He said....”When I sat down to write this book, it was a joy to revisit some of my old haunts”.
“But writing about Paris is not without its challenges. After all, there are already more books and movies set in the French capital than there are croissants in the city’s boulangeries.: The symbol of Paris is the most recognizable architectural structure on the planet. So how to tell a story that offered a fresh perspective?”

One of the ways Alex accomplished freshness was that he set the novel on the streets and parks where ‘real-every-day-Parisians’ lived and worked — away from the famous tourist attractions.
He are so set the story in 1927, back when the city was in a post war explosion of creative brilliance—“populated by an army of geniuses whose artistic legacies survive to this day”.
“Some of those characters appear in the book, but by design they exist on the periphery of the novel, not at heart”.

Paris was between wars.
Regular people were all searching for something they loss.
Alex unfolds this story with grace - gorgeous lyrical prose — with interesting, complex characters - each who have a story to tell.
He explores the brutality of war, love, longing, betrayal, and history....so exquisitely that I never wanted to set this book down - and didn’t - from start to finish....[one day in Paris - one day read here at home].

When I got to the ending pages — I almost forgot to breathe....as it was one of the most jaw-dropping powerful endings that I’ve read in years.

You’ll meet Camille Clermont and her 10 year old daughter, Marie. who had worked for Marcel Proust: [The famous French novelist, critic, and essayist] > 1871-1922
A little sample dialogue:
“Since 1922, five years, Camille Clermont had been coming to visit Proust’s grave.
He had been her employer. Marie watches her mother crying uncontrollably and asks, “was he a nice man?”
“Oh yes. He was very nice. Very kind. I wish you could’ve known him better. she smiles down at her daughter. But he thought children were best enjoyed at a distance”.
“He didn’t have children himself?”
“Goodness no, Camille laughs and shakes her head.
He had the characters in his books, though. They were his children, I suppose”.
“Did you love him?, asks Marie”
“Very much”.
“More than papa?”
“Oh no. Never more than papa. And in a very different way”.
“Different how?”
“It’s more like you and Irene”.
“In some ways. We shared secrets, just like you and Irene. That’s why I come and put flowers on his grave. I come to say hello, and to tell him that I miss him, and to say thank you for his friendship”.
“And, she thinks but does not say, to tell him that I am sorry for my betrayal. And to forgive him for his”.

You’ll meet Guillaume Blanc— an artist who can’t afford his rent - can’t afford to eat - achingly love sick and was running from a debt he couldn’t repay.

You’ll meet Souren Balakian, an Armenian refugee who performs puppet shows for children ( not your ordinary fairy tale stories)....

You’ll meet Emile Brataille - an art dealer who came to Paris to declare his love to Therese, ( a prostitute)

Jean-Paul Maillard is a journalist who dreams of America.

Josephine Baker, Ernest Hemingway, and the streets of Paris are irresistibly celebrated ....

This novel consumed me -as it will ‘every’ reader who loves riveting intimate storytelling!

Note: it wasn’t a sacrifice at all to turn off my phone - turn off the world around me for a day....it was reading heaven!
I do apologize to friends I owe messages to - I promise to return to our present lives together, soon.

Many thanks for an advance copy from Flatiron Books. This book will be released in stores early May.

WONDERFUL....HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and vividly told. Alex George’s debut is dazzling and packed with stunning pros. This is the story of a day in a life of four regular people in post WWI Paris. Camille, Souren, Guillaum, and Jean-Paul are all living seemingly ordinary lives, but they all have a story to tell. Told in short chapters we get to know each of these characters both through their current actions and flashbacks to their past. There was also a sprinkling of well-known historical figures throughout the book, such as Hemingway, Proust, Josephine Baker, and Gertrude Stein. The beauty of this book was in the storytelling it was quite magical.

Each of these characters spoke to me but I found Jean-Paul and Souren’s stories extra compelling. Jean-Paul’s grief was palpable and Souren’s determination was admirable. This was true literary fiction and while the writing was beautiful it was also quite dense. This is not a light easy breezy read, but it is definitely worth your time. This book will appeal to fans of historical fiction, literary fiction, and stellar storytelling.

This book in emojis 📰 📓 🗝 🎨 🎭

*** Big thank you to Flatiron for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

[Britany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stories, four perspectives, Paris and celebrities?

Four alternating storylines introduce a myriad of characters. We have Souren- an Armenian puppeteer, Jean-Paul a journalist missing his daughter, Guillaume - a painter that owes a debt, and Camille- housekeeper to Marcel Proust.

I wanted to fall in love with this story and these characters so much. I really grasped to let them draw me in emotionally. I found the writing compelling and the stories were strong. There were just way too many characters. I easily got confused and it always took a few sentences of a new section for me to orient myself as to whose story I was in. Then the addition of Hemingway, Stein, Proust and Josephine Baker was just too much. I struggled to connect but the threads of the main voice came through and for that I appreciated this read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Maziyar Yf · Rating 4 out of 5]

به افق پاریس ، رمان خلاقانه ای ایست از آلکس جورج ، نویسنده انگلیسی . کتاب او را باید شرح با شکوهی از پاریس بعد از جنگ جهانی اول دانست ، شهری پر نور که می کوشید بر زخم و ویرانی های حاصل از جنگ اول پیروز شود . جنگ جهانی اول تأثیرات عمیقی بر پاریس گذاشت ، افزون بر خرابی و ویرانی های حاصل از جنگ ، تلفات سنگین جنگ به ویژه در میان مردان جوان ، گویی پاریس را ازشور و شوق جوانی خالی کرده و به جای آن شهری ویران ، ناامید و افسرده به جا گذاشته بود . دولت فرانسه ، با برگذاری مراسمی مانند کنفرانس صلح و المپیک 1924 پاریس ، کوشید تا دوباره امید و زندگی را به این شهر برگرداند ، این گونه شهر به سرعت خود را بازسازی کرد و به یکی از جذاب‌ترین شهرهای جهان تبدیل شد ، شهری که افزون بر هنرمندان سرشناس فرانسوی مانند مارسل پروست ، میزبان پیکاسو ، سالوادور دالی ، ارنست همینگوی و گرترود استاین و هنرمندان سرشناس دیگری بود که زندگی به سبک پاریسی را به زندگی در کشور خود ترجیح می دادند .
نویسنده از زیستن این افراد سرشناس درپاریس و مواجه آنها با مردم عادی که البته می توانند آوارگان جنگی از کشورهای دیگر هم باشند استفاده کرده و داستان خود را خود را پیش برده ، او حکایت چهار فرد را روایت کرده که هر یک به گونه ای از گذشته خود که بیشتر به دستان خشن جنگ ، تغییر کرده می گریزند . جورج سپس این افراد را به بهانه های گوناگون با مارسل پروست ، همینگوی و گرترود استاین روبرو کرده ونشان داده که آنها چگونه می توانند بر زندگی و سرنوشت مردم عادی اثر بگذارند .
به افق پاریس ، همانگونه که از نامش پیداست زیبایی های زیستن در پاریس پس از جنگ را هم نشان داده ، نویسنده با استادی و مهارت ، شهری را به تصویر کشیده که همینگوی مشتری همیشگی یکی از کافه های آن بوده ، پروست در یکی از خانه های آن سکونت کرده و پیوند خود را با تمام شهر بریده و ژوزفین بیکر در کاباره های آن می خوانده و می رقصیده . اوهم چنین خواننده را با خود به مناطق مختلف پاریس می برد ، مناطقی مانند مومغ ، که در یکصد سال پیش هم ، مانند امروز پاتوق و جایگاه نقاشان ، هنر دوستان و البته جایی برای خالی کردن جیب توریست های بی خبر بوده است .
پایان داستان جورج یک بار دیگر ، خلاقیت او را نشان می دهد ، او تمام شخصیت های داستان را در یک مکان جمع کرده و آنها را با هم روبرو می کند ، آنها بدون آنکه خبرداشته باشند بر هم دیگر اثر گذاشته و زندگی یکدیگر را تغییر داده اند . نویسنده برای پایان داستان خود مکان مناسب را پیدا کرده و با جدا کردن کاراکترهای داستان از یکدیگر ، کتاب را به پایان می رساند . گویی این گونه و با جدا شدن گذشته و درد و رنج آن است که آینده معنا می یابد .

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Paris Hours is set during a single day in 1927. I LOVED THAT. I also loved the storytelling and was completely swept up in this most memorable story. More thoughts to come when I can collect them.

I received a gifted copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some things are forgettable, but misfortune is not. It dogs you relentlessly once it gets the scent of defeat.

Down-and-out, a day late, the wolf at the door all pull up a chair and take residence within the pages of The Paris Hours. But lest you feel the weight of all that suppressing you about now, remember that a determined and undaunted soul travels through life with mop and bucket in hand.

Alex George sets this story in the midst of the streets of Paris in the late 1920's. The world is still trying to find balance between recovery after the war and the weight of still aching wounds carried within by its citizens and by those misplaced and wayward souls wandering through those streets. Alex George will introduce us to four individuals who will find themselves stepping into connecting links that will snap back and forth across this incredible storyline. He will cleverly slip in characters like Josephine Baker, Marcel Proust, Gertrude Stein, and Ernest Hemingway in order to get a real feel for life in Paris during this time period.

Souren Balakian, an Armenian seeking sanctuary in Paris, has set up a puppet theater on the streets to entertain and to benefit from the coins thrown into his open suitcase. We'll come to find that Souren's escape from Armenia was a dangerous and treacherous one.

Guillaume Blanc is an undiscovered artist of questionable talent who needs desperately to pay back a loan that hangs over his head like a guillotine. His art dealer, Emile Brataille, has set up a meeting with Gertrude Stein who dabbles in acquiring up and coming art pieces. Will he catch her eye?

Jean Paul Maillard is a newspaper writer sent to interview the famous and lovely Josephine Baker. Be ready for Jean Paul's backstory. It's gonna grab you.

Camille Clermont is the wife of Olivier and mother of young Marie. When she and her husband were first married, she worked as a chambermaid and companion for Marcel Proust. Camille's relationship with Proust will have a bearing that will spread in quite a few directions here.

The Paris Hours is a remarkable character study by this talented author. Alex George pulls threads through tiny openings unseen by the naked eye. The descriptors are rich and full in presenting life in Paris at such a tumultuous era with people desperate to escape the harsh realities of life. Happiness faded quickly if you didn't keep it front and center. Our characters will be signaling us with just that. Grab this one. It will stay with you for quite some time.

I received a copy of The Paris Hours through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Flatiron Books and to Alex George for the opportunity.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Paris in 1927, the City of Lights, vibrates with artists of all kinds. However, the story gives the center stage to four ordinary people, who rub elbows with famous artists. By meeting another person, they learn something about themselves. And sometimes what one person needs is simply kindness.

Armenian refugee, Souren Balakian, escapes brutality of his native country imposed by invading Turks. “Being forced from their homes and driven eastwards, into the Syrian desert, to die.” He makes his way to Europe, remembering his mother’s words, “there were more than three hundred types of cheese made in France.” And he intended to eat every one of them. When he understands what makes him safe, being invisible, he takes his life in that direction by creating puppets and performing at the Luxembourg Gardens, beneath the chestnut trees where he waits for children to come. Escaping his brutal past and through an encounter with another person, he realizes what he’s been craving the most - the human kindness.

Guillaume Blanc escapes a small French country place and dreams of joining the ranks of the famous Parisian artists. He is struggling for now, but his fate might be changing today with a new patron, American novelist and art collector Gertrude Stein. She is to come and view his collection.

Jean-Paul Maillard, a journalist, dreams of America. “The first Americans he met were soldiers.” When he thinks of America, he thinks of hope. He likes to observe the world, rather than be observed. He likes telling other people’s stories, rather than revealing his own, which also explains why he is a journalist. When he interviews Josephine Baker, American-born French entertainer, she reveals how different her life was in America and that’s why she made France her home. He realizes that her celebrity is a mask and now he needs to face his.

Camille Clermont, once the maid for Marcel Proust, now she visits his grave with her daughter every week. While working for Proust, she gets surprised when he asks her about her childhood. How a man of such status who spends evenings with duchesses wearing tiaras could be interested in a simple country girl? He tells her why and he also tells her, “The only place where you can regain lost paradise is in yourself.” What he gives her is her independence.

Each of the characters tries to escape the past, at least some aspect of it, but by escaping it they can’t free themselves from what haunts them. They need to face it. By encountering another person, it helps them learn something about themselves. Some see the mirror image of their experience; some see how little it takes to make another person happy. Through their life journeys we get a glimpse at their life lessons, which may even mirror some of ours. This is more than just a touching read. It has a deeper meaning. It’s up to you if you want to tap into it and learn a deeper message.

The events happen over one day, but the stories of protagonists alternate between the present day and their pasts, revealing deeply touching stories, taking a reader on a very engaging journey and leaving with a lingering effect.

Masterfully written and evoking human emotions, this story weaves human natures and touches upon many depths of not only those characters but also ours. Thus, creating a deep connection with the story.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The author came up with an original idea for a story which I always appreciate as a reader. It might not have hit me on quite the emotional level I was hoping for, but it was still an enjoyable reading experience. Paris in the 1920s was a wise choice for a setting as it's not a time period that is captured as often in historical fiction as say, the 1940s during World War 2.

The story takes place over the course of a day and alternates between four characters. By the time my copy of the book I arrived at my houese, I had actually forgotten the synopsis and I just decided to dive right in without refreshing my memory. I am glad I did because part of the enjoyment I got from reading this book was learning about each character bit by bit and watching things slowly unfold rather than getting a heads up about their backstories. If you don't mind taking a leap of faith on a book, I recommend going into this one blind rather than reading the publisher's synopsis.

This book can be classified as historical fiction although you could place it in the literary fiction genre as well. There are a few famous people from the 1920s era that pop up in the story but for the most part this is a work of the author's imagination rather than relying heavily on historical facts or events. I've been having a kick lately out of reading this type of historical fiction as it's fun to see where a writer's creativity will go.

This is a well-written story and I liked seeing how everything came together in the end. Unfortunately I didn't feel much for the characters minus a few moments here and there. I felt invested in them to want to find out what was in store for them, but not much more than that. There was potential here for this to be one of those good emotional type reads but in that area it fell flat, at least in my eyes. But just because I didn't necessarily feel anything while reading that doesn't mean this book wasn't worthy of my time. Might not have been the ultimate reading experience but it was still pretty darn good.

I won a free advance copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway by the publisher but was not obligated to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

[Amanda Zirn Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t felt this way about a book since I read WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING.

Every time I read Alex George and think he could not possibly write a more beautiful novel, he does.

After turning the last page of “The Paris Hours” I instantly considered rereading the entire book just so I could experience the magic all over again.

“The Paris Hours” will sweep readers off their feet from the very beginning and whisk them away to early 20th century Paris. It is lush and poignant, it is raw yet sophisticated; it is everything readers have ever wanted in their next favorite book.

After the last sentence of the very last page, when the journey has ended, readers will realize this beautiful novel was the exact book they were looking for.

[Daniella · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is how it ends!?" I cried out loud when i finished.

I'm not mad though.

[Connie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Alex George transports us to Paris for 24 hours to explore how losses and secrets can have a profound effect on the lives of four ordinary Parisians. Souren, an Armenian refugee, is lonely and suffering from survivor's guilt after losing his family to Turkish soldiers. Guillaume, an impoverished painter, has to leave Paris to avoid being killed by loan sharks. Journalist Jean-Paul has written a book to keep the memory of his infant daughter alive. Camille, a housekeeper for Marcel Proust, is holding on to a terrible secret and is afraid that it may be revealed someday.

The lives of these four characters also intersect with some famous celebrities--Maurice Ravel, Sylvia Beach, Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker, Sidney Bechet, Gertrude Stein, and more. The novel sometimes brought Woody Allen's movie, "Midnight in Paris," to mind, especially when the various character threads merge at the jazz club, Le Chat Blanc.

There are numerous coincidences that bring the characters together, but I was intrigued by each of their stories. The novel showed how the Great War brought lifelong difficulties into some characters' lives. Post-war Paris was being reborn as an exciting city full of people on the artistic, musical, and literary cutting edge. I've always been fascinated by both Paris and the Twenties so I found this to be an enjoyable book.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I RECEIVED THIS BOOK VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
A polyphonous choral piece, not an extended solo. We are not left in one narrator's head for long; all of them speak to us on this one ordinary day in Paris. Yet what is most perfectly described is, oddly enough, not Paris; it is the interior landscape of the four souls whom Alex George has plucked from his imagination as a former résident étranger from boarding school years. His life there clearly made a deep impression on him. His evocation of fellow-foreigner and city-garden puppeteer Souren's life in hiding behind the small stage he puts his shows on is almost the most heartbreaking thing in the book. Then, when contrasted with the way the lone and lonely man sets his day up, Author George slips the shiv into your ribs:

This man's music has become part of Souren's mornings, as essential as the sun rising over the rooftops of the city. The familiar melody offers him a moment of quiet grace, and this gives him strength for the day ahead. The pianist knows nothing of this, of course. He plays only for himself. Souren wonders how the arc of the man's own days is changed by creating such beauty each morning. He watches as the pianist makes his lonely way down the street. The man looks tired, defeated. He does not play for joy, thinks Souren. He plays for survival.

Souren, and Author George, are not really empathizing with the defeated creator of beauty so much as inhabiting his worn shoes as he slumps into another day.

Lovely no-longer-young mother Camille's place is really the most attention-grabbing one, though, as she was once femme de ménage, growing into confidante, of the divine auteur Proust. It is fascinating to follow her through her memories, trace her regrets, but in the end, I felt the least personal connection to her...it was flat and expected, the way she dealt with the great author; no fresh angle was adduced, but the events are certainly involving and make for good reading.

I hate it when reviewers go all coy about endings. I know why they do, of course, and I'm about to do it to you. The ending of the book is truly what makes the work a polyphony, not a dirge or an aria or even a chorale. The music to your own inner ear will necessarily be different from mine. I don't think it's wise or fair to enable you to dismiss or demand a book based on what my response to the ending might be. In this book's case, I do not think it's wise to say more than "you will be moved to a greater or a lesser degree depending on factors including your belief in human lovingkindness as a guiding star."

But the beating heart of the story is:

Some things you cannot leave behind. Your history will pursue you doggedly across frontiers and over oceans. It will slip past the unsmiling border guards, fold itself invisibly into the pages of your passport, a silent, treacherous stowaway.

Resistance is futile; escape is impossible; grace, nonetheless, finds us wherever we are.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, LOVED The Paris Hours by Alex George! This was my first time reading a book by this author, but I am definitely going to have to read his backlist now. The prose was wonderful, and the book was so moving.

I listened to the entirety of the book on audio and while at times it could be a little confusing without having a physical copy, overall I really enjoyed it this way. The narrator, Raphael Corkhill, did a remarkable job especially considering how many characters he had to voice. There are a ton of different viewpoints in The Paris Hours which is why not having the book was a little hard. If you are going to listen to the audio I would highly recommend having a physical copy you can look at as well. There are a lot of names, and during the last, big, chapter when everything is coming together it was harder for me to follow on audio alone.

Although there were a lot of characters, I found myself drawn to each and every one of them along with their stories. There is just something about George's writing that really spoke to my soul and I can't even begin to explain how much I truly loved this novel. The chapters were mostly very short as well which I think made the book speed by even faster, but I never wanted it to end. It broke my heart, but at the same time was inspiring and made me laugh at times.

The very end of the book wrecked me even more than the rest of it, and this does not tie everything up in a neat little bow, but it does give you hope. I think it would make a great buddy read or book club book as there is definitely a lot to talk about here. The Paris Hours also had mentions of many famous people I was familiar with, and some that I was not. I did a lot of Googling names and I feel like I learned quite a bit as well. In my eyes this was a masterpiece, and I will definitely be purchasing myself a copy to have on my shelf!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that it was absolutely beautifully written - sensually and lyrically put together. The four stars is for the writing and the atmosphere and the creativity in conception. Every line, I thought to myself that my Goodreads friend Theresa would just love everything about this. But I was in a mood, or just exhausted, or something. There was a way in which it didn't hit the spot for me, that is hard to put my finger on. Too many characters and immediate plot lines to keep straight. Too many celebrities that I didn't quite know. There was Hemingway, Proust, Ravel, and Jospehine Baker. There was Gloria Steinem, there was Sylvia Beech. Then there were 4-8 other characters to keep straight, and i was still wondering if these names belonged to anyone famous. The mystery kept the convoluted connections going. But it was the feeling that made the novel. There was an atmosphere and rich character development. And it was Paris in the 1920's. Need I say more. Glad that I read it, and also glad that I finished it. I would be curious to hear Theresa's thoughts.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four ordinary Parisians on a regular day in 1927 mix with the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Marcel Proust and Josephine Baker and Gertrude Stein, and the result is an unexpected overlap of stories and situations. One is Camille, who ignored the wishes of her employer Marcel Proust and kept one of his journals. Another is painter Guillaume who must find a buyer for his paintings before those to whom he owes money force him to pay up or die. Yet another is Souran, a refugee from Armenia, who puts on puppet shows to assuage his demons. And finally there is journalist Jean-Paul desperately seeking his lost daughter everywhere he goes.

I enjoyed seeing how these lives intertwine and play out, on the streets of one of the greatest cities in the world.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read... lots of wonderful characters.... great development of the stories surrounding each person.
Really enjoyed the fluid images of places, love lost and found. Super ending! Thank you for the giveaway.

[☮Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really like this author and loved Setting Free the Kites and A Good American. His books all appear to have nothing in common except for yummy writing and character development.

Here we have four distinct sorrowful characters all in 1920's Paris on a single day. There is a painter in debt to his eyeballs, so he tries to sell his most prized painting to Gertrude Stein, which doesn't help him much after all. There is a journalist/writer who is friends with Josephine Baker, who asks Ernest Hemingway to read her friend's first book. A puppeteer from Armenia mourning the loss of his family and his country. And a young woman who had worked for Marcel Proust until his death, when she takes one of his notebooks into her own possession for confidentiality reasons.

All go about their days, with flashbacks galore of their histories. The famous people play important roles in the story progression, albeit distracting. At the end, the plot brings the four people, strangers to each other, together for a major event which seals their fates.

I would give this 4 stars for the prose and the clever build-up, but 3 stars for the plot, which required extra attention listening to on audio, especially with four alternating perspectives. Worth the listen, but reading it would probably have suited me better. The narrator had a very pleasing voice and handled the character variations well; however, the many French pronunciations really threw me.

[°•.Melina°•. · Rating 4 out of 5]

پاریس همیشه مکان امنی برای پناه گرفتنه.حتی توی ذهن و رویا و کتاب✨🇫🇷

کل کتاب چهار تا کرکتر رو(تو هر فصل از زبون یکیشون) با سرگذشت‌های متفاوتی که به پاریس کشوندتشون رو نشون میده که متوجه میشید بالاخره یجایی اینا بهم ربط پیدا خواهند کرد.

کلامش خیلی شیرین بود و از اون معاصرهایی بود که هم امروزیه هم ادبی و خیلی به دل میشینه و کشش داره و پایان بندی هم خیلی به یادموندنی بود.

اینکه نویسنده‌های واقعی مثل مارسل پروست و همینگوی تو کتاب نقش داشتن خیلی قشنگ بود و از اونجایی که خیلی دقیق به کار برده بودتشون خیلی لذت بردم✨

وایب گوشه به گوشه‌ی پاریس و فرهنگشون و زیبایی‌هاش هم که به طرز بی نظیری به تصویر کشیده شده بود،مخصوصا روزهای جنگ و غربت و عشق و تنهایی...همشون به شدت قابل لمس بودن.

در کل تجربه‌ی خوبی بود ولی داشتم به این فکر میکردم که آیا اگر یه دوره‌ی دیگه‌ای از زندگیم که کمتر حوصله داشتم یا هرچی میخوندمش،همینقدر سریع میخوندمش و برام جذابیت داشت یا نه؟
چون به هر حال برای هرکسی هرکتابی بستگی به این داره که زمان درستی خوندیش یا نه و واسه من کاملا زمان درستی بود✨

[Jade Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

This is a complicated book for me to review. Because while there were things about it that I absolutely loved, there was no crazy wow factor for me. I guessed the plot as soon as we were given the slighest hint, and while this in itself doesn't both me (it actually boosts my self-esteem that I was actually able to guess something correctly) it bothered me in the sense that if the reader did happen to guess this one wow factor detail, then there was nothing else, it just ends and you are left wanting more.

So part of me wants to give it 5 stars but another part of me is like 4.5 stars is more accurate because there was something that genuinely bothered me about the book.

I really hope that there is a sequel to this. I was left wanting more. There is another story that could be written after this one to satisfy the desires the reader has to have closed ends. However, I think this author knows what he is doing and will purposely not give the reader what they want, which (to me) shows a great amount of talent. We will be left wondering and thinking about this story until we are satisfied with the fact that we have read all we were given.

The aspect of this book that really took me by surprise was the writing. It was eloquent and beautifully crafted to show the reader, instead of tell them, the story. I felt attached to these characters because their backstories and feelings were written in a way where I had no choice but to love them and care about what happens to them. There wasn't a character whose story I wasn't invested in, which isn't common when I read books with multiple perspectives. The writing is what made me love the characters. They were developed and different, yet somehow they were connected in one way or another. So while I can say that I loved this characters and felt for them all deeply, it was (again) the writing that made me feel this way.

The connected plots were brilliant. You learn the stories and (overtime) backstories of the characters and you create this idea in your head how they are connected because it says in the synopsis that they are. It kept me wanting to know how and why, these peoples lives were intertwined and when they were, I wasn't exactly blown away which was disappointing, but that didn't ruin the journey.

Overall this was an amazing book and the writing alone, is why I would recommend it to everyone. And who knows, maybe you will not guess the plot. Maybe you will be left satisfied by the ending. Maybe you will have a completely different outlook on this book than I did, but I bet you'd still be glad you read it.

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lyrical novel sharing the stories of four individuals living in Paris in the 1920s. Camille, a housemaid and assistant to the famous writer Marcel Proust, is at risk of losing everything she's ever loved when her jealous husband sells one of Proust's handwritten journals without her knowledge or consent. Souren, a puppet master from Armenia, weaves an intricate tale of loss and pain describing his journey to Paris and the loneliness that followed him. Jean-Paul, a journalist, is taken in by the glittering and glamorous Josephine Baker as he regales her with his tragic story about his deceased wife and missing daughter. Guillame, a struggling painter, has found himself in hot water when he can't pay back a mobster and must make the difficult decision to flee Paris and abandon his work and his daughter in order to save his life.

The stories are entirely separate for much of the novel though there are glimpses of overlap. Each story was unique and alternated between the characters' pasts and their present. The stories merge in a climactic and dramatic ending which was powerful and also fairly emotional.

The writing was beautiful but for such a short book, it felt like it took a while to understand the purpose and plot line for each character. I also didn't feel as connected to each character and enjoyed some storylines more than others.

This was a quick read but not one that will really stick with me.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pensive, evocative, and atmospheric!

The Paris Hours takes us on a moving journey into the lives of four strangers in Paris for one day during 1927 and introduces us to their thoughts, feelings, motivations, fears, and dreams, and highlights just how small the world truly is and how easily our paths can cross, intertwine, and collide.

The writing is eloquent and expressive. The characters are complex, damaged, and genuine. And the plot is an affecting, absorbing tale about life, loss, love, loneliness, family, friendship, heartbreak, war, grief, hope, guilt, secrets, deception, and survival.

Overall, The Paris Hours is a wonderful blend of historical characters and alluring fiction that sweeps you away to another time and place and does a beautiful job of reminding us that everyone that enters our lives, no matter how brief, can impact, shape, and define it.

Thank you to Flatiron Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy Bruestle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book from a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review….

Sadly to say, I just couldn’t get into this book, I DNF’D at page 65…which is roughly over a 5th of the book (23%)…I tried..

[Brittany McCann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one started out so well! I was really excited. However, around the 1/3 mark, it rapidly fell off.

Alex George did a superb job of establishing the narrative threads, personalities, and more critical the distinct narrative voices of each character. Unfortunately, it is around this same 1/3 mark that the narrative voices become relatively blurred and less individualized. They no longer have the same changes in narration that tell them apart or even the difference in dialogue that was previously established. It felt weird that they would lose this along the way. Was this a miss in editing, or was it meant to blur to show them pulling out at the end and how they are all tied together?

I am curious about the author using so many famous real characters that seem to be more of a highlight to the story than the created characters.

End ending wasn't bad, but it wasn't a huge shock, either. The merge in narrative voice and the slower pacing, and the stretching out of ONE DAY just didn't work for me. Alas, this left me wanting in the end.

Not bad, but not more than ok for me as a reader. Alex George still has potential, though, especially from the beginning. I want more of that.

2.5 stars for me.

[Ayeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

چقدر درد توی این کتاب بود، برای تک‌تک شخصیت‌ها غمگینم، وسط‌های داستان فقط می‌خواستم کتاب رو ببندم و اشک بریزم.

داستان توی شهر پاریس رقم می‌خوره، دوران پس از جنگ. زندگی آدم‌هایی با قصه‌های مختلف که توی این شهر زندگی می‌کنن.
سورن عروسک‌سازیه که از کشور خودش فرار کرده و به پاریس پناه آورده، ولی نمی‌تونه گذشته رو فراموش کنه. ژان‌پل روزنامه‌نگاریه که هر روز توی چهره‌ی همه‌ی افرادی که می‌بینه دنبال ردی از دختر گمشده‌اش می‌گرده. گیوم، نقاشیه که چند قدم با مرگ فاصله داره و
کمیه، زنی که یک راز و یک دفترچه رو پنهان می‌کنه...

شخصیت‌ها کاملا بی‌ربط به همدیگه به نظر میان و همین‌طور هم هست، ولی آخر کتاب راه همه‌شون یه‌جورایی بهم گره می‌خوره و مثل اثر پروانه‌ای داستان‌هاشون کنار هم قرار می‌‌گیره. یه ستاره کم‌ می‌کنم چون اولش داستان کند پیش می‌رفت و خسته می‌شدم (شایدم به خاطر پایین اومدن مود کتاب‌خوندنم این جوری بود... ) ولی درهرصورت بعدش خوب شد.

" ...ژان‌پل گوش به موسیقی سپرد تا از بوته‌زار درهم‌تنیده‌ی آهنگ راهِ خود را پیدا کند... "

[Camille Maio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a bit conflicted about how to review this book. On one hand, the prose exceeded even its exquisite cover. There were moments where I just sighed at the beauty of the story or the words assembled. And the ending - perfect!! But - there were so many different characters and timelines that I found it a lot of work to keep track of them. Though each chapter felt like its own small story part of the bigger story, and each chapter was written to perfection, it was the order and the amount of them that was challenging. I like a book I can escape into, and I felt like I had to do a bit more work than I like in my fiction. But - if your aim is to read something that is achingly beautiful, this one will fit the bill.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Paris and I gravitate towards novels that are either about Paris or take place in Paris. And this, my friends, has proven to not always work for me. I went in with a great desire to love this book, but the multiple characters and multiple POVs made it a little choppy for me. Although still a good read, not the great read I was hoping for.

[Mehrnaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

شرح حال ۴ فرد مختلف که همگی در پاریس زندگی میکنن،و داستان هر بار شرح حال زندگی یکی از این شخصیت هاست و در آخر رسیدن همزمان این چهار نفر به یک مکان مشخص در پاریس و سرنوشتی که برای هر کدومشون رقم میخوره.خود شهر پاریس در کتاب حضور پررنگی داره که خیلی جالب بود

[Darka · Rating 2 out of 5]

дуже хочеться порівняти цю книжку з "емілі в парижі", бо вона так само зібрала купу штамів про столицю Франції, але в міжвоєнний час. написано по-ремісницьки добре, але без душі, як на мене.

[Sallie Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I’m in a new book club! This is the third selection since I joined this new group. And as they say, the third time’s a charm. I really connected with this choice.

The Paris Hours is fine literary fiction. Make that historical fiction set in a single day in 1927. It’s between the wars in Paris. There are four main characters. Souren is an Armenian refugee puppeteer. He makes his living by putting on puppet shows in the Luxembourg Garden. Guillaume is a painter. He makes his living by selling his art, only he’s having a dry spell — no money coming in. Camille runs a hotel with her husband, but her claim to fame is her connection to Marcel Proust, who died five years earlier. She was his “chambermaid” and confidante. Jean Paul is a journalist, always chasing a story.

These four characters’ lives converge in a single day. In between there is a lot of backstory for each character: where they came from and their deepest sorrows. Now add Gertrude Stein, Josephine Baker, Ernest Hemingway, and the aforementioned Marcel Proust to the mix. I especially enjoyed learning some background on these famous people, whose names I’ve come across occasionally in my reading. Confirmed via Wikipedia the oddities of these historical figures.

This is the first time I’ve read Alex George and I’ve added a few more of his offerings to my TBR.

Goodreads 2025 Challenge - Book #94 of 125