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The Curator of Broken Things #1-3
The Curator of Broken Things Trilogy: Full Trilogy
THE CURATOR OF BROKEN THINGS TRILOGY is a fast-paced family-saga that takes place over a century and across four continents. Multiple narrative threads take the reader through love, betrayal, and espionage in a story that spans from the last days of the Ottoman Empire to Paris of the Roaring Twenties to the prewar French Riviera to the World War II Allied landing in North Africa and to modern-day Paris and Los Angeles. In this trilogy, three generations of a family’s secrets are unearthed that might bring it together or tear it apart.
Book 1: From Smyrna to Paris.
With her twins in college and her ex-husband off to a younger pasture, Cassie is resigned to a disappointing life in Los Angeles, until she reluctantly returns to Paris to visit her ailing father. There, she discovers the existence of an estranged aunt, a woman of many secrets who lives in a beautiful house in Paris’s exclusive Cité des Fleurs. Dumbfounded by what she learns, Cassie sets out on a quest to understand her family’s past and make sense of her father’s cold indifference toward her. In Paris, as the truth about her failed marriage begins to take form, Cassie fights with her family, grapples with French idiosyncrasies and her own, and attempts to resist the charms of a good-looking Parisian who rides a vintage motorcycle.
Book 2: Escape to the Côte d' Azur.
A family flees Paris at the dawn of the Second World War, haunted by secrets that threaten to rip them apart. Seventy years later, Cassie, in modern-day Paris, finds herself alone frantically trying to confront her hostile relatives. Meanwhile, puzzled by the advances of a charming Frenchman, she struggles to cope with the demands of her manipulative ex and gain an understanding of her true self.
Book 3: Resistance in Algiers.
Amidst he chaos of the Second World War, and having taken refuge in North Africa, Cassie’s parents and grandparents enter the French Resistance. As the Nazi threat tightens its noose, they find love and risk their lives and one another’s. In modern-day Paris, Cassie, now on the cusp of a surprising and disorienting love interest, has to conquer her fear of failure and success. When the last shocking piece of her family’s puzzle comes into her possession, Cassie must unburden herself from several generations of family secrets.
773 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2019
80 people are currently reading
913 people want to read
About the author
Corine Gantz
7 books96 followersCorine Gantz was born in France where she spent the first twenty years of her life. She studied Contemporary Art at the Sorbonne and worked in advertising and marketing in Paris, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
She is the author of Hidden in Paris and The Curator of Broken Things trilogy.
She has two grown sons and lives between Los Angeles and Bennington Vermont with her husband.
She is the author of Hidden in Paris and The Curator of Broken Things trilogy.
She has two grown sons and lives between Los Angeles and Bennington Vermont with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 19, 2021
It took me a looooong time to finally get around to reading this trilogy. At a daunting 1142 pages it sat at the bottom of my to-read list for almost 2 years. I want to sincerely apologize to the author. I should have read it long ago, because now that I have, I know what a delightful book it is.
In the beginning, the main character, Cassie, was a simpering, whiny, pitiful thing who I absolutely could not stand. I balked from the beginning, but thankfully kept on reading. In chapter 2, when we meet Albano, I was a lot more interested. It was clear that there was some kind of connection between the 2, but it took awhile to find out exactly what the connection was. And what a wonderful road it was to get there. I learned so much about a tragic event in history that I had barely even heard about and knew almost nothing about. How sad that it is not more well-known!
The better I got to know Cassie, the more I understood where she was coming from. I guess maybe I would be a little self-pitying too if almost everyone who was supposed to care about me had been gas-lighting me my entire life. I do love how as she learned more about her own history, she was able to learn more about herself and who she was, and finally able to stand up for herself.
I preferred the parts that focused on the history of the family and the world wars. The parts with Cassie got to be redundant and boring. She did like to go on and on about her pathetic life. It did get better eventually, and I honestly hope there will be follow up books. I would love to read about Marceline’s history and what happens to Cassie after the end of this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Hidden Gems and have voluntarily left this review.
In the beginning, the main character, Cassie, was a simpering, whiny, pitiful thing who I absolutely could not stand. I balked from the beginning, but thankfully kept on reading. In chapter 2, when we meet Albano, I was a lot more interested. It was clear that there was some kind of connection between the 2, but it took awhile to find out exactly what the connection was. And what a wonderful road it was to get there. I learned so much about a tragic event in history that I had barely even heard about and knew almost nothing about. How sad that it is not more well-known!
The better I got to know Cassie, the more I understood where she was coming from. I guess maybe I would be a little self-pitying too if almost everyone who was supposed to care about me had been gas-lighting me my entire life. I do love how as she learned more about her own history, she was able to learn more about herself and who she was, and finally able to stand up for herself.
I preferred the parts that focused on the history of the family and the world wars. The parts with Cassie got to be redundant and boring. She did like to go on and on about her pathetic life. It did get better eventually, and I honestly hope there will be follow up books. I would love to read about Marceline’s history and what happens to Cassie after the end of this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Hidden Gems and have voluntarily left this review.
July 27, 2021
The issues that I had with this book have already been outlined in other, much higher rated, reviews. I found it hard to be interested in the main character and her storyline, and while I thought the historical portions were much more interesting from a narrative standpoint, the number of proofreading errors was jarring to the point of distraction. This paired with the fact that the edition I was reading was the 775 page (on kindle) full trilogy edition, my annoyance outweighed my investment.
September 28, 2024
I simply could not put these books down. I read them on Kindle, so I was unaware as one book slipped seamlessly into the next. The story is mesmerizing and the characters are vivid and colorful. Gantz is a master of mixing a modern Los Angeles woman, Cassie's story with the the story of how she and her family came to be from generations long ago. The story covers Cassie's family history from Smyrna in the early 1900's, now Izmir on the coast of Turkey, through World War II, and into modern day Paris and Los Angeles. Who knew there was once a city called Smyrna? Yet Gantz paints a vivid picture of what that vibrant city would have been in that era.
Many books have been written about the horrors of Hitler and Europe in World War II, but this story is unique as the writer follows a family whose patriarch found a way to protect and save his Jewish family from Hitler's camps by escaping to Algiers. The clever way that Cassie's grandfather out maneuvered the Nazi wave that swept Europe was fascinating to follow.
Not to be missed, this read is one you will be lauding to friends for years to come. I would highly suggest buying the entire trilogy and they should definitely be read in order.
Many books have been written about the horrors of Hitler and Europe in World War II, but this story is unique as the writer follows a family whose patriarch found a way to protect and save his Jewish family from Hitler's camps by escaping to Algiers. The clever way that Cassie's grandfather out maneuvered the Nazi wave that swept Europe was fascinating to follow.
Not to be missed, this read is one you will be lauding to friends for years to come. I would highly suggest buying the entire trilogy and they should definitely be read in order.
June 2, 2021
3.75 stars
A lot of good things in this book.
The characters are distinct and memorable. Albano escapes from the deadly 1922 Smyrna fire to find new life in Paris. He is idealistic but as a Jew in interwar Europe, realistic at the same time. He always acts with integrity. Marcelline, his daughter, shows bravery and courage if not always good sense.
The storytelling is quite good. I was absorbed.
Because it is three books published as one, a good part of it seems repetitive. Yes I already know this. Yes we've already been told that. The story of Cassie is basic romance novel and the framing device that pulls it all together. It's the most predictable of all the plot lines.
There are many proofreading errors, such as incorrect use of "discrete," "at her parent's house" (this one was never spelled correctly once in the whole book), "lightening rod" and too many others to name. They were distracting. A good editor was badly needed.
A lot of good things in this book.
The characters are distinct and memorable. Albano escapes from the deadly 1922 Smyrna fire to find new life in Paris. He is idealistic but as a Jew in interwar Europe, realistic at the same time. He always acts with integrity. Marcelline, his daughter, shows bravery and courage if not always good sense.
The storytelling is quite good. I was absorbed.
Because it is three books published as one, a good part of it seems repetitive. Yes I already know this. Yes we've already been told that. The story of Cassie is basic romance novel and the framing device that pulls it all together. It's the most predictable of all the plot lines.
There are many proofreading errors, such as incorrect use of "discrete," "at her parent's house" (this one was never spelled correctly once in the whole book), "lightening rod" and too many others to name. They were distracting. A good editor was badly needed.
July 12, 2021
I’d read Hidden in Paris by this author and really enjoyed it. So I was looking forward to this trilogy. I have to admit I initially thought jumping timelines and continents was iffy but stuck with it considering her previous book.
We’re introduced early on to lives in Smyrna (Smyrna of Ottoman Empire fame, not Georgia!) in the early 1900’s as well as a family in present Los Angeles who has ties to France.
The writing and characters are so good you don’t mind what looks to be incongruities but you know eventually, there will be a connection…and there is but the story has a long way to go.
I’ve bought the remaining two books in this trilogy and look so forward to reading them!
We’re introduced early on to lives in Smyrna (Smyrna of Ottoman Empire fame, not Georgia!) in the early 1900’s as well as a family in present Los Angeles who has ties to France.
The writing and characters are so good you don’t mind what looks to be incongruities but you know eventually, there will be a connection…and there is but the story has a long way to go.
I’ve bought the remaining two books in this trilogy and look so forward to reading them!
March 10, 2022
Excellent storyline. Relatable characters.
I found myself reading this book every chance I got, even in my office when I had small breaks in my schedule. The characters are engaging and relatable. The story provides insight and details into WWII that I can use never knew before and left me with little doubt that we haven't come as far as we believe we have in our society towards respecting people and cultures that are different from our own.
I found myself reading this book every chance I got, even in my office when I had small breaks in my schedule. The characters are engaging and relatable. The story provides insight and details into WWII that I can use never knew before and left me with little doubt that we haven't come as far as we believe we have in our society towards respecting people and cultures that are different from our own.
March 29, 2022
absolutely loved this book!
I learned so much from this amazing trilogy. While quite long and intense, not a word could have been omitted and kept the vibrancy and truthfulness of this story that ranged over 100 years. There are so many emotions being explored here. This is a remarkable book.
I learned so much from this amazing trilogy. While quite long and intense, not a word could have been omitted and kept the vibrancy and truthfulness of this story that ranged over 100 years. There are so many emotions being explored here. This is a remarkable book.
August 22, 2020
Fascinating family dynamic
It's fascinating because every family has a dynamic, yet most don't know the origin of their uniqueness. I love the interplay between past and present. I root for Cassie but see her flaws.
I won this book on a goodreads.com giveaway.
It's fascinating because every family has a dynamic, yet most don't know the origin of their uniqueness. I love the interplay between past and present. I root for Cassie but see her flaws.
I won this book on a goodreads.com giveaway.
May 3, 2021
This family saga was one of the best books I have read this year. It was impossible to put down. I could not wait to see what happened next. This e-book from Goodreads receives 5 stars, only because there is no option for 10!
Read
May 27, 2022I loved the depth of the characters!
This book will enthrall you with the different perspectives of the story. Cassie grows up in ways you could not anticipate. I loved the story. Thank you.
This book will enthrall you with the different perspectives of the story. Cassie grows up in ways you could not anticipate. I loved the story. Thank you.
July 4, 2022
a tale of love and mystery
Great story entwined over several generations lots of history.
I really enjoyed the history and the lost loves. Well written felt as if you were on the journey with the author.
Great story entwined over several generations lots of history.
I really enjoyed the history and the lost loves. Well written felt as if you were on the journey with the author.
April 1, 2023
One great story I read the whole trilogy. Takes place in Armenia, Algeria,Paris,California. Goes back and forth between time periods. Book follows 2 friends Albano and Hathor, their lives and loves. The research was excellent, don’t want to give it away, but I really enjoyed it
June 10, 2023
Amzing story
This story grabs you, pulls you in, and doesn't release you until the very end. A family with secrets on top of secrets and surprising turns along the way. Just read it!
This story grabs you, pulls you in, and doesn't release you until the very end. A family with secrets on top of secrets and surprising turns along the way. Just read it!
March 13, 2024
the curator of broken things
Excellent book. Every time you think you have it figured out there is another twist. I couldn’t put it down as I was always anxious to see what happens next
Excellent book. Every time you think you have it figured out there is another twist. I couldn’t put it down as I was always anxious to see what happens next
April 22, 2021
Wonderful book!
The book lured me into an incredible story,. I read it all in 3 days. I hope the author is working on more books.
The book lured me into an incredible story,. I read it all in 3 days. I hope the author is working on more books.
May 6, 2021
I won this Kindle edition book in a Goodreads
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
Great book. Well written!!
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
Great book. Well written!!
May 8, 2021
Engaging
Surprising
Well written
Surprising
Well written
March 10, 2022
loved it
Great characters. Great storyline. Was totally immersed and was intrigued with the twists and turns Can’t wait to read another by this author
Great characters. Great storyline. Was totally immersed and was intrigued with the twists and turns Can’t wait to read another by this author
May 12, 2022
It seemed to drag on and there were parts that just went in and on but the story was good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
Slow start, almost DNF. Started getting interesting by end of first book. Couldn't put it down in third book.
June 3, 2024
The historical inaccuracies were disappointing.
October 25, 2024
I couldn't put this down. I spilled water all over myself because I couldn't put it down long enough to fill my hot water kettle.
Memorable characters and an unforgettable story.
Adored this.
Memorable characters and an unforgettable story.
Adored this.
December 26, 2025
This trilogy has blown my mind. If an author’s brief is to inform the reader while entertaining her,
Gantz has done this in abundance. Despite my intense research of the last few years into the experiences of Jews in Vichy France, I had never realised that it spilled over into Algeria in the way it apparently has. Nor had I ever read of the destruction of Smyrna.
Gantz weaves a breathtaking story that holds your interest while you are presented with the indigestible facts of racial hatred in so many areas of the globe. She reminds us that anti-Semitism is not “back then” but to be guarded against to this day. And the story is so spellbinding that you can’t put it down.
What an amazing talent!
Gantz has done this in abundance. Despite my intense research of the last few years into the experiences of Jews in Vichy France, I had never realised that it spilled over into Algeria in the way it apparently has. Nor had I ever read of the destruction of Smyrna.
Gantz weaves a breathtaking story that holds your interest while you are presented with the indigestible facts of racial hatred in so many areas of the globe. She reminds us that anti-Semitism is not “back then” but to be guarded against to this day. And the story is so spellbinding that you can’t put it down.
What an amazing talent!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews