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In Nazi-occupied Paris, a talented artisan must fight for her life by designing for her enemies. From New York Times bestselling author Juliet Blackwell comes an extraordinary story about holding on to hope when all seems lost.
Capucine Benoit works alongside her father to produce fans of rare feathers, beads, and intricate pleating for the haute couture fashion houses. But after the Germans invade Paris in June 1940, Capucine and her father must focus on mere survival—until they are betrayed to the secret police and arrested for his political beliefs. When Capucine saves herself from deportation to Auschwitz by highlighting her connections to Parisian design houses, she is sent to a little-known prison camp located in the heart of Paris, within the Lévitan department store.
There, hundreds of prisoners work to sort through, repair, and put on display the massive quantities of art, furniture, and household goods looted from Jewish homes and businesses. Forced to wait on German officials and their wives and mistresses, Capucine struggles to hold her tongue in order to survive, remembering happier days spent in the art salons, ateliers, and jazz clubs of Montmartre in the 1920s.
Capucine’s estranged daughter, Mathilde, remains in the care of her conservative paternal grandparents, who are prospering under the Nazi occupation. But after her mother is arrested and then a childhood friend goes missing, the usually obedient Mathilde finds herself drawn into the shadowy world of Paris’s Résistance fighters. As her mind opens to new ways of looking at the world, Mathilde also begins to see her unconventional mother in a different light.
When an old acquaintance arrives to go “shopping” at the Lévitan department store on the arm of a Nazi officer and secretly offers to help Capucine get in touch with Mathilde, this seeming act of kindness could have dangerous consequences.
Capucine Benoit works alongside her father to produce fans of rare feathers, beads, and intricate pleating for the haute couture fashion houses. But after the Germans invade Paris in June 1940, Capucine and her father must focus on mere survival—until they are betrayed to the secret police and arrested for his political beliefs. When Capucine saves herself from deportation to Auschwitz by highlighting her connections to Parisian design houses, she is sent to a little-known prison camp located in the heart of Paris, within the Lévitan department store.
There, hundreds of prisoners work to sort through, repair, and put on display the massive quantities of art, furniture, and household goods looted from Jewish homes and businesses. Forced to wait on German officials and their wives and mistresses, Capucine struggles to hold her tongue in order to survive, remembering happier days spent in the art salons, ateliers, and jazz clubs of Montmartre in the 1920s.
Capucine’s estranged daughter, Mathilde, remains in the care of her conservative paternal grandparents, who are prospering under the Nazi occupation. But after her mother is arrested and then a childhood friend goes missing, the usually obedient Mathilde finds herself drawn into the shadowy world of Paris’s Résistance fighters. As her mind opens to new ways of looking at the world, Mathilde also begins to see her unconventional mother in a different light.
When an old acquaintance arrives to go “shopping” at the Lévitan department store on the arm of a Nazi officer and secretly offers to help Capucine get in touch with Mathilde, this seeming act of kindness could have dangerous consequences.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2022
114 people are currently reading
6997 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 116 reviews
May 19, 2022
Capucine Benoit lived her life as a free spirit in Paris. As a young widow, unable to provide the lifestyle she wanted for her daughter Mathilde, she agreed to have her raised by her late husband’s parents. Enjoying the jazz clubs and bohemian life at night, Capucine worked with her father during the day creating beautiful feather fans. In June 1940, her father is betrayed and arrested for his political views. Capucine, not willing to denounce her father, is also arrested and sent to a work camp within Paris’ Lévitan department store, which was converted into a collection site for all the items the Nazis looted from Jewish homes. The prisoners were assigned the task of sorting through all the furniture, artwork, jewelry and other valuables, organizing and repairing them. As Capucine’s daughter Mathilde grows up, she starts to question her grandparents’ beliefs including their support of the German occupation. She learns about the Résistance movement and vows to help her mother.
Before reading The Paris Showroom, I was unaware that prisoners were held in Paris to prepare the plundered items so that the German officers could take whatever they wanted from the former four-story department store. Author Juliet Blackwell has done a fine job researching this period in history and telling this relatively unknown story. The mother-daughter story was emotional and effective. While WWII stories are always heartfelt and sad, I found this book to be written in a lighter style even though there is plenty of tragedy detailed. It therefore might also appeal to a younger audience. As I usually do with subject matter that is new to me, I spent time researching the real life Möbel Aktion or “Operation Furniture”. There are some fascinating articles and photos posted online that can serve as an excellent supplement to this book.
Rated 3.75 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Before reading The Paris Showroom, I was unaware that prisoners were held in Paris to prepare the plundered items so that the German officers could take whatever they wanted from the former four-story department store. Author Juliet Blackwell has done a fine job researching this period in history and telling this relatively unknown story. The mother-daughter story was emotional and effective. While WWII stories are always heartfelt and sad, I found this book to be written in a lighter style even though there is plenty of tragedy detailed. It therefore might also appeal to a younger audience. As I usually do with subject matter that is new to me, I spent time researching the real life Möbel Aktion or “Operation Furniture”. There are some fascinating articles and photos posted online that can serve as an excellent supplement to this book.
Rated 3.75 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
April 23, 2022
We meet Mathilde and Capucine during the occupation of Paris....mother and daughter.
Mathilde lives with her grandparents who are doing well under the Nazi regime. She has lived with them for years because her mother had left.
Capucine and her father Bruno were taken away.
Bruno went to a concentration camp, and Capucine was sent to a camp that was in a Parisian furniture store...Levitan.
In this store the Jewish prisoners were made to sort and then sell the items the Germans had taken from the homes of Jewish families who were evacuated from their homes. The German officers would "shop" in the store.
Some of the workers found the things from their families and made their time in the furniture store even worse.
The prisoners also confiscated personal papers they found for anyone who may survive and have something of their loved ones. That was one way they could defy the enemy.
We follow Mathilde and Capucine both present and past through alternating chapters.
Loved learning about the gorgeous fans Capucine's father made before the war and that spoke to others simply by where the fan was placed on one's face or heart.
You will LOVE the characters as we also meet men and women in the French Resistance.
You will be amazed at how the prisoners in this furniture store camp worked together to keep spirits up.
I had never heard of this camp and what was going on inside.
Such interesting facts and research but that obviously included the heartbreaking situations of WWII.
THE PARIS SHOWDOWN will keep your interest even though it is a bit confusing at first with all the characters.
Another book Juliet Blackwell fans won’t want to miss. 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Mathilde lives with her grandparents who are doing well under the Nazi regime. She has lived with them for years because her mother had left.
Capucine and her father Bruno were taken away.
Bruno went to a concentration camp, and Capucine was sent to a camp that was in a Parisian furniture store...Levitan.
In this store the Jewish prisoners were made to sort and then sell the items the Germans had taken from the homes of Jewish families who were evacuated from their homes. The German officers would "shop" in the store.
Some of the workers found the things from their families and made their time in the furniture store even worse.
The prisoners also confiscated personal papers they found for anyone who may survive and have something of their loved ones. That was one way they could defy the enemy.
We follow Mathilde and Capucine both present and past through alternating chapters.
Loved learning about the gorgeous fans Capucine's father made before the war and that spoke to others simply by where the fan was placed on one's face or heart.
You will LOVE the characters as we also meet men and women in the French Resistance.
You will be amazed at how the prisoners in this furniture store camp worked together to keep spirits up.
I had never heard of this camp and what was going on inside.
Such interesting facts and research but that obviously included the heartbreaking situations of WWII.
THE PARIS SHOWDOWN will keep your interest even though it is a bit confusing at first with all the characters.
Another book Juliet Blackwell fans won’t want to miss. 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
March 15, 2022
The Paris Showroom
by Juliet Blackwell
Berkley Publishing Group
Pub Date: April 19.
This was such a fascinating twist on WWII novels, told from the alternating POVs of Capucine and her daughter Mathilde.
Capucine once made gorgeous haute couture fans with her father until both were arrested by the Nazis. She was sent to Lévitan, a Nazi camp in a Paris department store, where workers were forced to sort through, repair and sell items stolen from Jews to German customers. For all I've read on the war, Lévitan was unknown to me.
Mathilde, living with her grandparents who did well under the Nazi occupation, decides instead to join the Paris Résistance.
I gained new insight into the War and its impact through their alternating chapters, written so compelling that I found myself completely absorbed. A must-read for historical fiction fans wishing for something new on WWII, especially set in Paris.
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#TheParisShowroom #JulietBlackwell
#berkleypublishinggroup #netgalley
by Juliet Blackwell
Berkley Publishing Group
Pub Date: April 19.
This was such a fascinating twist on WWII novels, told from the alternating POVs of Capucine and her daughter Mathilde.
Capucine once made gorgeous haute couture fans with her father until both were arrested by the Nazis. She was sent to Lévitan, a Nazi camp in a Paris department store, where workers were forced to sort through, repair and sell items stolen from Jews to German customers. For all I've read on the war, Lévitan was unknown to me.
Mathilde, living with her grandparents who did well under the Nazi occupation, decides instead to join the Paris Résistance.
I gained new insight into the War and its impact through their alternating chapters, written so compelling that I found myself completely absorbed. A must-read for historical fiction fans wishing for something new on WWII, especially set in Paris.
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#TheParisShowroom #JulietBlackwell
#berkleypublishinggroup #netgalley
August 6, 2022
5.0
Betrayal, survival, hope, triumph…
The Paris Showroom is based on the Paris department store Levitan during WWII. Levitan had a satellite work camp of Drancy within the store. Inmates sorted, repaired, and “sold” confiscated Jewish property to Germans and their families. 700+ inmates lived in the department store attic and had various jobs assigned within the store. Although it was called operation furniture, prisoners also sold items such as toys, lightbulbs, clocks, linens, and picture frames.
Capucine and her father Bruno had a shop that made and sold fans to wealthy customers and haute couture houses before the war. Her daughter Mathilde has lived with her paternal grandparents since she was young. Capucine and her father are arrested because of his communist political beliefs. She is taken to Levitan and he is deported to Auschwitz.
“People had phenomenal depths and rarely were these depths discovered, much less plumbed, until they were tested. The German occupation was a test as serious as they come.”
This is a story of hope and survival. They have “survived to thrive” after WWI. Can they do it again?
Who will survive?
Will Capucine and Mathilde ever be reunited?
* 💕 it!
* I was fascinated by the description of the fans and the language of the fans. I found photos online of period pieces. They are stunning!
* I never heard of this work camp within a store. I found historical photos online. Check them out!
Betrayal, survival, hope, triumph…
The Paris Showroom is based on the Paris department store Levitan during WWII. Levitan had a satellite work camp of Drancy within the store. Inmates sorted, repaired, and “sold” confiscated Jewish property to Germans and their families. 700+ inmates lived in the department store attic and had various jobs assigned within the store. Although it was called operation furniture, prisoners also sold items such as toys, lightbulbs, clocks, linens, and picture frames.
Capucine and her father Bruno had a shop that made and sold fans to wealthy customers and haute couture houses before the war. Her daughter Mathilde has lived with her paternal grandparents since she was young. Capucine and her father are arrested because of his communist political beliefs. She is taken to Levitan and he is deported to Auschwitz.
“People had phenomenal depths and rarely were these depths discovered, much less plumbed, until they were tested. The German occupation was a test as serious as they come.”
This is a story of hope and survival. They have “survived to thrive” after WWI. Can they do it again?
Who will survive?
Will Capucine and Mathilde ever be reunited?
* 💕 it!
* I was fascinated by the description of the fans and the language of the fans. I found photos online of period pieces. They are stunning!
* I never heard of this work camp within a store. I found historical photos online. Check them out!
January 31, 2022
I have read many historical fiction books that take place during World War II; so much so that the premise really has to offer something different for me to have interest.
This story about a Nazi work camp within a Parisian department store is compelling and moving; details about wartime Paris life and the department store are woven into a story about survival and second chances. The narratives switches between Capucine and her distant daughter, Mathilde; occasionally, multiple narrators makes for a confusing and uneven narrative. In this case, Juliet Blackwell balances both women's unique stories so that the reader is drawn to both storylines.
Librarians/booksellers: Historical fiction fans will be drawn to this unique story, even if they have read many WWII stories.
Many thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story about a Nazi work camp within a Parisian department store is compelling and moving; details about wartime Paris life and the department store are woven into a story about survival and second chances. The narratives switches between Capucine and her distant daughter, Mathilde; occasionally, multiple narrators makes for a confusing and uneven narrative. In this case, Juliet Blackwell balances both women's unique stories so that the reader is drawn to both storylines.
Librarians/booksellers: Historical fiction fans will be drawn to this unique story, even if they have read many WWII stories.
Many thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2022
Historical fiction based on real events during the Nazi occupation of Paris during WWII.
Capucine Benoit becomes a prisoner of the Nazis after she and her father are arrested. She is held in a former department store, Levitan, where she is forced, with hundreds of other prisoners, to sort through furniture, art work and household goods that the Nazis plundered from Jewish households after the owners were sent to concentration camps.
Mathilde Duplantier is Capucine’s estranged daughter. She sent her to live with her paternal grandparents after her husband died even though they did not approve of Capucine and her marriage to their son. The Duplaintiers took good care of Mathilde, but they imposed their rigid, conservative way of life upon her, expecting her to behave in a proscribed way and marry who they chose for her. Mathilde went along with this until she no longer could.
The story alternates between Capucine’s and Mathilde’s POV, so you get to see how the Nazi occupation affected both the prisoners and the Parisians in general. Some just tried to get along, while others were either collaborators or a part of the Resistance. Eventually some characters in the story had to make a difficult choice, deciding what side of history they want to be on.
Capucine’s backstory is quite interesting. She and her father ran a couture fan store, where they made and sold highly specialized fans for women, decorated with exotic feathers, beads, lace and paintings She was very much a free spirit, enjoying post WWI Paris with its jazz clubs and artistic circles. After her husband died, she had an intense affair with an American jazz pianist who wanted to marry her, but she broke it off after he returned to America at the start of the Nazi invasion of France. The “why” of her decision becomes clearer as we learn more about the relationship.
The characters are very complex, and some are not quite who they seem to be. Some are just evil, and others are just trying to survive, although how they choose to do so is questionable. The story moves along at a good pace, and its interesting to watch the growth of some characters.
A compelling story about a facet of the the Nazi occupation of Paris that isn’t well known.
A definite recommend.
Capucine Benoit becomes a prisoner of the Nazis after she and her father are arrested. She is held in a former department store, Levitan, where she is forced, with hundreds of other prisoners, to sort through furniture, art work and household goods that the Nazis plundered from Jewish households after the owners were sent to concentration camps.
Mathilde Duplantier is Capucine’s estranged daughter. She sent her to live with her paternal grandparents after her husband died even though they did not approve of Capucine and her marriage to their son. The Duplaintiers took good care of Mathilde, but they imposed their rigid, conservative way of life upon her, expecting her to behave in a proscribed way and marry who they chose for her. Mathilde went along with this until she no longer could.
The story alternates between Capucine’s and Mathilde’s POV, so you get to see how the Nazi occupation affected both the prisoners and the Parisians in general. Some just tried to get along, while others were either collaborators or a part of the Resistance. Eventually some characters in the story had to make a difficult choice, deciding what side of history they want to be on.
Capucine’s backstory is quite interesting. She and her father ran a couture fan store, where they made and sold highly specialized fans for women, decorated with exotic feathers, beads, lace and paintings She was very much a free spirit, enjoying post WWI Paris with its jazz clubs and artistic circles. After her husband died, she had an intense affair with an American jazz pianist who wanted to marry her, but she broke it off after he returned to America at the start of the Nazi invasion of France. The “why” of her decision becomes clearer as we learn more about the relationship.
The characters are very complex, and some are not quite who they seem to be. Some are just evil, and others are just trying to survive, although how they choose to do so is questionable. The story moves along at a good pace, and its interesting to watch the growth of some characters.
A compelling story about a facet of the the Nazi occupation of Paris that isn’t well known.
A definite recommend.
April 21, 2022
I wanted to love this book because I've read hundreds of books over the years, fiction and nonfiction, about WWII, including about France during the Occupation. I couldn't. The dialogue often sounds too American and too contemporary, like characters saying "Whatever." and "True that." There's a concierge who sounds like a life coach and is just way too wise and all-knowing, and one heroine who in 1944 and at 21 doesn't understand how or why the war started or what the Occupation really means. Her questions can be unbelievably naive. The author also gets some things wrong like explanations of some aspects of Judaism and, glaringly, the French name for The Phony War. Though she peppers the book with bits of French for atmosphere, she for some reason uses the English "huh?" rather than the French "hein?" which you'd get from context. And rather than use "bibelot" she uses the very popular American word from Yiddish "tchotchke"-- doesn't quite get its meaning right either. Another error that's hard to comprehend from a seasoned author: She says the Jews wore "golden stars." No, no, no: it was a Yellow Star. I suspect professional historians would find even more problems than I did.
May 7, 2022
TITLE: THE PARIS SHOWROOM
AUTHOR: Juliet Blackwell
PUB DATE: 04.19.2022 Now Available
Ahhhh to have another Juliet Blackwell
book on my hands is the feeling of pure joy for this historical fiction loving nurse!
The Paris Showroom tells the story of estranged mother and daughter, Capucine and Mathilda during the Nazi occupation of Paris. I loved the rich details in the story most especially the description of the ateliers, and the Paris Pre- occupation. Through alternating point of views and time frames, we see this story through their eyes and experiences. I always learn something new when I read about these WWII historical fiction stories. This story was heartbreaking but also a very hopeful story.
AUTHOR: Juliet Blackwell
PUB DATE: 04.19.2022 Now Available
Ahhhh to have another Juliet Blackwell
book on my hands is the feeling of pure joy for this historical fiction loving nurse!
The Paris Showroom tells the story of estranged mother and daughter, Capucine and Mathilda during the Nazi occupation of Paris. I loved the rich details in the story most especially the description of the ateliers, and the Paris Pre- occupation. Through alternating point of views and time frames, we see this story through their eyes and experiences. I always learn something new when I read about these WWII historical fiction stories. This story was heartbreaking but also a very hopeful story.
April 21, 2022
1/5 stars.
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I really really wanted to like this.
For a WW2 story, it read really slow. This book is not The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See, The Alice Network, etc. The writing is not moving, descriptive, or engaging, and overall it fell flat. There were moments that were obviously supposed to be intense or shocking but they were all either extremely unbelievable or didn't leave the impact that they were supposed to.
I really struggled with the naivete of the characters. Capu was too painfully unaware in the beginning. Being raised by and still having a close relationship with her very communist father, I cannot understand how she knew so little of what was happening. Also, how the Nazi's responded so casually to the way Capucine spoke to them was completely unrealistic and Capucine's banter and snappy comments with them were pointless, and about nothing of substance. Capucine was repeatedly described in the book as so brave and interesting but that was not shown and pretty disappointing. This may be as a way to show how much this war beat her spirit down but it wasn't done well.
My issue with Mathilde is how little she seemed to care about her mother in the beginning and how long it took for her to show more of a concern even with the glaringly obvious signs (and multiple people telling her directly) that everything was much worse than she knew.
The inaccuracies about Judaism made me really annoyed, I can't understand why those parts would have been included without solid research.
I'm going to stop here before I get too harsh but this wasn't it.
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I really really wanted to like this.
For a WW2 story, it read really slow. This book is not The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See, The Alice Network, etc. The writing is not moving, descriptive, or engaging, and overall it fell flat. There were moments that were obviously supposed to be intense or shocking but they were all either extremely unbelievable or didn't leave the impact that they were supposed to.
I really struggled with the naivete of the characters. Capu was too painfully unaware in the beginning. Being raised by and still having a close relationship with her very communist father, I cannot understand how she knew so little of what was happening. Also, how the Nazi's responded so casually to the way Capucine spoke to them was completely unrealistic and Capucine's banter and snappy comments with them were pointless, and about nothing of substance. Capucine was repeatedly described in the book as so brave and interesting but that was not shown and pretty disappointing. This may be as a way to show how much this war beat her spirit down but it wasn't done well.
My issue with Mathilde is how little she seemed to care about her mother in the beginning and how long it took for her to show more of a concern even with the glaringly obvious signs (and multiple people telling her directly) that everything was much worse than she knew.
The inaccuracies about Judaism made me really annoyed, I can't understand why those parts would have been included without solid research.
I'm going to stop here before I get too harsh but this wasn't it.
December 24, 2023
An interesting perspective on WWII from the perspective of a woman imprisoned in a wok camp in Paris. Her father had been a communist and so she was taken prisoner, and her experience as an artist making fans allowed her to be saved and allowed to work in the camp in Paris, living in a barracks within a department store and going through confiscated items from other prisoners that German officers could use in their homes. They have some typical experiences of prisoners, with guards acting cruelly, but definitely experience a less harsh experience than many prisoners.
At the same time, her daughter has been raised by her grandparents, and she finds herself questioning what she has been raised to believe, as she is drawn into the Resistance. The book touches in many interesting topics and relationships. The audiobook is well narrated.
At the same time, her daughter has been raised by her grandparents, and she finds herself questioning what she has been raised to believe, as she is drawn into the Resistance. The book touches in many interesting topics and relationships. The audiobook is well narrated.
March 19, 2023
War time work camps and life in Paris.
May 1, 2022
Thanks to Berkley for this copy of The Paris Showroom by Juliet Blackwell!
I'm pretty picky about my World War II Historical Fiction. I read a lot of it since Historical Fiction is my favorite genre and it feels like every other Historical Fiction is WWII related. Unfortunately this one was a bit of a flop for me.
I learned more about the 3 Parisian work camps especially the one within the Lévitan department store. This to me was the most interesting part of the book and I read a little bit more about this.
Both main characters seemed too naive about everything happening and overall this book was just flat. I was never super invested in the characters either.
I'm pretty picky about my World War II Historical Fiction. I read a lot of it since Historical Fiction is my favorite genre and it feels like every other Historical Fiction is WWII related. Unfortunately this one was a bit of a flop for me.
I learned more about the 3 Parisian work camps especially the one within the Lévitan department store. This to me was the most interesting part of the book and I read a little bit more about this.
Both main characters seemed too naive about everything happening and overall this book was just flat. I was never super invested in the characters either.
October 28, 2022
L’uso del ventaglio vanta una particolare forma di comunicazione e Capucine ne tramanda le sfumature, nella bottega fondata da suo padre Bruno. Nonostante l’essersi perso l’uso di questo oggetto da signora, gli affari non andavano affatto male prima dello scoppio della Seconda guerra mondiale. Il mondo di pace e frivolezze, vissuto prima e dopo la Grande Guerra, sembra destinato a diventare un amaro ricordo. I tedeschi, nel ’44, ormai usano Parigi come loro città satellite, molti di loro circuiscono ragazze francesi e ne fanno le loro amanti, mentre cittadini coraggiosi, in segreto, si uniscono alla resistenza o perlomeno collaborano anche nei modi meno rischiosi. Altri tradiscono i propri vicini e li denunciano alle autorità naziste. Succede questo alla protagonista Capucine, donna affascinante e fiera, moderna per quei tempi, e a suo padre, accusato di essere un comunista.
Non era sufficiente non essere ebrei, bastavano ideali contrastanti o inclinazioni amorose diverse, che ci si ritrovava prigioniero nei campi di concentramento. La donna però subisce un destino alternativo a quello di Bruno, poichè verrà costretta a rimanere chiusa nel Levitan, un ex grande magazzino costruito dagli ebrei. Insieme ad altri prigionieri, attende ansiosa la fine del conflitto. Ma i detenuti non si limitano a restare fermi tutto il giorno, a turno vengono obbligati a svolgere lavori di smistamento. Al Levitan arrivano infatti i mobili e oggetti confiscati dalle abitazioni depradate ai giudei, ci arrivano persino documenti, foto e ricordi di una vita rovinata dalla malvagità umana.
Capucine aiuta i suoi compagni a sopravvivere mentalmente, cerca di essere sempre attiva e di non disperarsi. Possiede una mente aperta e pregna di ricordi e affetti. I suoi sentimenti si indirizzano verso Charles, l’uomo che ama e che vive in America, quello che non poteva seguire nonostante le insistenze di lui. I pensieri su Charles riportano a giorni folli e costellati di paillettes, musica jazz, leggerezza, libertà di amarsi, serate nei locali sino a notte fonda. Ma c’è un’altra persona a occupare il cuore di Capucine: Mathilde, la figlia. il punto di vista della ragazza si alterna a quello della madre: mentre l’altra è prigioniera, la seconda vive i suoi ultimi giorni nella bambagia.
Mathilde è cresciuta insieme ai nonni benestanti, genitori del padre defunto, e lontana dalla madre a causa di una serie di motivi. Dice di non essere attaccata alla madre, un’estranea, in realtà il pensiero di lei la tormenta. Cresciuta sotto una campana di vetro che inizia pian piano a sgretolarsi, Mathilde apre gli occhi quando disprezza il comportamento degli invasori e non approva le scelte dei nonni. Non solo politicamente, ma nel volerla spingere a sposare un pretendente di cui non è innamorata. Le cose cambiano ancor più quando una sua amica è costretta a sparire e Mathilde scopre che Capucine e Bruno sono stati arrestati. Sembra impossibile rintracciarli, eppure la ragazza inizia ad avvicinarsi alla madre più di quanto non abbia fatto prima. Per prima cosa visitare il negozio di ventagli Benoit.
Capucine e Mathilde sono diverse, ma in parte cominciano ad assomigliarsi. Entrambe non si danno per vinte e, nonostante le enormi difficoltà, riescono a mantenere i nervi sani, in special modo la protagonista principale. Coi suoi momenti ci trasporta tra passato e presente, in atmosfere tanto differenti quanto nitide. Romantica la figura del suo Charles, un calore che si porta dietro sino alla conclusione. Riuscirà la ragazza dei ventagli a sopravvivere? Un romanzo dallo stile raffinato che tiene sospesi in una bolla, a volte pare di trovarsi in quelle scene, si parla di moda e guerra – temi agli antipodi – ma anche di giustizia contro ingiustizia e scelte complicate per amore della libertà.
Non era sufficiente non essere ebrei, bastavano ideali contrastanti o inclinazioni amorose diverse, che ci si ritrovava prigioniero nei campi di concentramento. La donna però subisce un destino alternativo a quello di Bruno, poichè verrà costretta a rimanere chiusa nel Levitan, un ex grande magazzino costruito dagli ebrei. Insieme ad altri prigionieri, attende ansiosa la fine del conflitto. Ma i detenuti non si limitano a restare fermi tutto il giorno, a turno vengono obbligati a svolgere lavori di smistamento. Al Levitan arrivano infatti i mobili e oggetti confiscati dalle abitazioni depradate ai giudei, ci arrivano persino documenti, foto e ricordi di una vita rovinata dalla malvagità umana.
Capucine aiuta i suoi compagni a sopravvivere mentalmente, cerca di essere sempre attiva e di non disperarsi. Possiede una mente aperta e pregna di ricordi e affetti. I suoi sentimenti si indirizzano verso Charles, l’uomo che ama e che vive in America, quello che non poteva seguire nonostante le insistenze di lui. I pensieri su Charles riportano a giorni folli e costellati di paillettes, musica jazz, leggerezza, libertà di amarsi, serate nei locali sino a notte fonda. Ma c’è un’altra persona a occupare il cuore di Capucine: Mathilde, la figlia. il punto di vista della ragazza si alterna a quello della madre: mentre l’altra è prigioniera, la seconda vive i suoi ultimi giorni nella bambagia.
Mathilde è cresciuta insieme ai nonni benestanti, genitori del padre defunto, e lontana dalla madre a causa di una serie di motivi. Dice di non essere attaccata alla madre, un’estranea, in realtà il pensiero di lei la tormenta. Cresciuta sotto una campana di vetro che inizia pian piano a sgretolarsi, Mathilde apre gli occhi quando disprezza il comportamento degli invasori e non approva le scelte dei nonni. Non solo politicamente, ma nel volerla spingere a sposare un pretendente di cui non è innamorata. Le cose cambiano ancor più quando una sua amica è costretta a sparire e Mathilde scopre che Capucine e Bruno sono stati arrestati. Sembra impossibile rintracciarli, eppure la ragazza inizia ad avvicinarsi alla madre più di quanto non abbia fatto prima. Per prima cosa visitare il negozio di ventagli Benoit.
Capucine e Mathilde sono diverse, ma in parte cominciano ad assomigliarsi. Entrambe non si danno per vinte e, nonostante le enormi difficoltà, riescono a mantenere i nervi sani, in special modo la protagonista principale. Coi suoi momenti ci trasporta tra passato e presente, in atmosfere tanto differenti quanto nitide. Romantica la figura del suo Charles, un calore che si porta dietro sino alla conclusione. Riuscirà la ragazza dei ventagli a sopravvivere? Un romanzo dallo stile raffinato che tiene sospesi in una bolla, a volte pare di trovarsi in quelle scene, si parla di moda e guerra – temi agli antipodi – ma anche di giustizia contro ingiustizia e scelte complicate per amore della libertà.
April 20, 2022
Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I love WWII books. Juliet Blackwell wrote a story that intrigued me. I was entirely enthralled by this unique look at Paris during WWII. There is so much to learn from a historical fiction book, in this book I learned so much about what had been happening to those detained by the Germans. I learned that those detained were not all sent to camps, in this book they were sent to a department store. Not all the guards were horrible people, and some did what they could to help the prisoners.
Capucine Benoit had an interesting life before the war. She was a fan maker, she lost her husband, had a daughter, had in-laws that did not appreciate the life she was living, and had a boyfriend that was from the US. I enjoyed seeing how all the before war life choices would play into her war life choices. Capucine’s strength was immense as she was held prisoner. She was a leader within her pod of inmates, she was willing to make choices that pushed her into dangerous territory but never beyond what she could handle, she stayed true to her friends both inmates and non-inmates, and her family was the most important to her. I love Capucine. She was a soft spoken, behind the scenes hero of WWII Paris.
The Paris Showroom gave me a unique look at WWII as told by Capucine and her daughter, Mathilde. I was entirely absorbed into the store and excited to continue reading their story. Capucine is a hero prisoner. She was a leader within her pod of inmates, she was willing to make choices that pushed her into dangerous territory but never beyond what she could handle, she stayed true to her friends both inmates and non-inmates, and her family was the most important to her. Mathilde is someone who grew up with a privileged life with her strong opinionated grandparents. As she goes out in the world and sees what is happening, she realizes that her grandparents opinions are not always the same as hers.
There is so much to learn in The Paris Showroom. Your heart will break at the horrors of WWII but it will soar at the strength of the characters.
Capucine Benoit had an interesting life before the war. She was a fan maker, she lost her husband, had a daughter, had in-laws that did not appreciate the life she was living, and had a boyfriend that was from the US. I enjoyed seeing how all the before war life choices would play into her war life choices. Capucine’s strength was immense as she was held prisoner. She was a leader within her pod of inmates, she was willing to make choices that pushed her into dangerous territory but never beyond what she could handle, she stayed true to her friends both inmates and non-inmates, and her family was the most important to her. I love Capucine. She was a soft spoken, behind the scenes hero of WWII Paris.
The Paris Showroom gave me a unique look at WWII as told by Capucine and her daughter, Mathilde. I was entirely absorbed into the store and excited to continue reading their story. Capucine is a hero prisoner. She was a leader within her pod of inmates, she was willing to make choices that pushed her into dangerous territory but never beyond what she could handle, she stayed true to her friends both inmates and non-inmates, and her family was the most important to her. Mathilde is someone who grew up with a privileged life with her strong opinionated grandparents. As she goes out in the world and sees what is happening, she realizes that her grandparents opinions are not always the same as hers.
There is so much to learn in The Paris Showroom. Your heart will break at the horrors of WWII but it will soar at the strength of the characters.
April 18, 2022
A wonderfully written story of a mother and daughter both in the same city in France during WWII and the Nazi occupation, but not together. Each chapter is told one by the mother, who is a prisoner of the Nazi’s and one told by the daughter who has been living with her paternal grandparents.
The story is told in such a way that you continue turning the pages hoping for the best outcome but wondering if it will ever come. Mother and daughter are estranged, but can what’s happening in France, somehow bring the back together again?
Juliet Blackwell has given us a story that holds your attention and keeps you holding on for the end.
Thank you to #netgalley and #berkleypublishinggroup for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.
The story is told in such a way that you continue turning the pages hoping for the best outcome but wondering if it will ever come. Mother and daughter are estranged, but can what’s happening in France, somehow bring the back together again?
Juliet Blackwell has given us a story that holds your attention and keeps you holding on for the end.
Thank you to #netgalley and #berkleypublishinggroup for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.
April 30, 2023
Juliet Blackwell pens novels filled with heart and history. In this chapter, she tackles WW2 and forced imprisonment. The former 'fan girl' is locked away in a Parisian showroom due to her father's beliefs.
Leaving behind a daughter to be raised by her grandparents, Capu is charged with a crime she didn't commit. Due to a 'friend' whose become a Nazis collaborator, Capu is able to venture outside the hellish work conditions to help design the woman's home.
Putting use to the skills she used in her designs, Capu sets her designs on making sure her fellow prisoners are safe. While she is struggling to survive, her daughter receives an eye-opening lesson regarding the occupation. Will her gilded cage swing open to reveal the truth?
Leaving behind a daughter to be raised by her grandparents, Capu is charged with a crime she didn't commit. Due to a 'friend' whose become a Nazis collaborator, Capu is able to venture outside the hellish work conditions to help design the woman's home.
Putting use to the skills she used in her designs, Capu sets her designs on making sure her fellow prisoners are safe. While she is struggling to survive, her daughter receives an eye-opening lesson regarding the occupation. Will her gilded cage swing open to reveal the truth?
March 21, 2024
Mathilde is brought up in the care of her grandparents, after her mother is convinced that her bohemian way of life is not a good way to bring up a child. When the war breaks out, Mathilde is well-cared for and lives a relatively luxurious lifestyle whilst others are starving. Her lifelong friend helps her to understand what is going on around her and, as she matures, she wants to help the resistance. She finds out that her mother is a prisoner in an old department store nearby, sorting through the furniture and possessions taken from Jewish houses. They manage to make contact and Mathilde joins the resistance. This is the story of war, love, survival and hope.
March 13, 2023
The paris show room is such a heart wrenching book. It tells the story of a mom, daughter and her grandparents. It tells about the horrors of what happened to those the Germans saw is no good. May need a box of tissues. 5💫
Won this from goodreads giveaways, all my opinions are my own:)
Won this from goodreads giveaways, all my opinions are my own:)
June 20, 2022
Ended up really enjoying this book. I was a little worried at first that it was falling into the trap that a lot of WWII novels fall into wherein the author is hyper focused on how bad the nazis are instead of writing an actually story, but that was not the case here. I also always appreciate stories where people have to find different ways to resist and be heroic
October 23, 2024
Capucine has been taken prisoner by the nazis and forced to work in a department store where other nazis can shop looted goods. (This actually happened!) We follow her journey at the same time as her estranged daughter Mathilde joins the resistance. Really unique plot and I loved the back half, the beginning was just a bit slow for me.
October 9, 2022
*3.75 Stars*
The Paris Showroom was a fascinating look at the not-so-well known prison camp located in the middle of Paris, where prisoners worked extremely long hours sorting out furniture, works of art, and other paraphernalia confiscated from the homes of those who were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Knowing that prisoners were kept in Paris, I am glad to see the spotlight put on those people who were forced to work countless hours sorting plundered items, often recognizing items from friends and family, helpless to do much about it. Furthermore, the prisoners were requested to clean and repair the items so they could be sold to German soldiers to furnish their confiscated apartments while in Paris.
The story alternated between Capucine and Mathilde's POV, and while I enjoyed both of them, I did prefer Capucine's simply because I was fascinated by the inner workings of the Lévitan prison camp while Mathilde's story led her in the direction of the resistance network in Paris, something with which I was much more familiar.
Capucine has quite the backstory, and she is quite the character. A wild and free spirit who embraced the liberties of the 1920s and 1930s, she was definitely unconventional, preferring the night clubs, jazz bars, and artistic pursuits that were available during this time period, but all of this came at a great cost as she lost her precious daughter to her prim and conventional in-laws who didn't approve of her behaviour. She has an intense love affair an American jazz pianist during this time period, but refuses to marry him, but you figure it out easily enough when she gets arrested although it takes a long time for it to be said on the page. I did have a hard time putting the Capucine who worked in the concentration camp together with the free-spirited one, as they were so different. The war has definitely broken more than one spirit, and you can see how much of an affect it has on Capucine as she reflects on her earlier days and more carefree ways. I did like the way she encouraged the prisoners to rebel however, in their own ways, and I found it interesting to learn about the many ways prisoners would go about trying to sabotage things and protect things the Nazis tried to destroy.
I really enjoyed Mathilde's character development, but I have to say that I did not like her at all for the first two-thirds of the book. Reflecting the conservative views of the grand-parents who raised her, you got to see the other side of the affect of Nazi occupation in Paris during this time period; the focus was on those who got wealthy by helping the Nazis, and their subsequent falls from grace when the war ended. Mathilde was quite naive in the beginning, but as she learned, she grew on me. And she soon learned that her grand-parents' viewpoints did not necessarily have to be hers.
As much as I enjoyed learning about the showroom concentration camp and the intertwining lives of Capucine and Mathilde, I did feel like the plot lost focus and there was a lack of real drive / purpose to the story. There were times when the story fell flat, or relied on coincidence to further a plot point, something of which I am not a fan, no matter how well-written or how beautifully descriptive the scene may have been. And while I love good resolutions to books, when you learn about the relationship between Capucine and her new husband, and the fact they are returning to the United States to live, there was a small part of me that wondered how that was going to work out.
The Paris Showroom was a very enjoyable book, and I loved learning about the fans and the artistry that went into them as I don't think I've ever given it a thought before. I was glad the focus was on the department store concentration camps as there aren't too many books that mention them, so I was fascinated by the men and women who laboured and suffered there for years, with few people knowing they were there. The character development in this book was good, although I'm not sure a reconciliation subplot was needed here, and I did think the plot fell flat at times, and sort of meandered around. That being said, if you are interesting in learning more about the Paris prison camps, this book may be of interest to you.
The Paris Showroom was a fascinating look at the not-so-well known prison camp located in the middle of Paris, where prisoners worked extremely long hours sorting out furniture, works of art, and other paraphernalia confiscated from the homes of those who were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Knowing that prisoners were kept in Paris, I am glad to see the spotlight put on those people who were forced to work countless hours sorting plundered items, often recognizing items from friends and family, helpless to do much about it. Furthermore, the prisoners were requested to clean and repair the items so they could be sold to German soldiers to furnish their confiscated apartments while in Paris.
The story alternated between Capucine and Mathilde's POV, and while I enjoyed both of them, I did prefer Capucine's simply because I was fascinated by the inner workings of the Lévitan prison camp while Mathilde's story led her in the direction of the resistance network in Paris, something with which I was much more familiar.
Capucine has quite the backstory, and she is quite the character. A wild and free spirit who embraced the liberties of the 1920s and 1930s, she was definitely unconventional, preferring the night clubs, jazz bars, and artistic pursuits that were available during this time period, but all of this came at a great cost as she lost her precious daughter to her prim and conventional in-laws who didn't approve of her behaviour. She has an intense love affair an American jazz pianist during this time period, but refuses to marry him, but you figure it out easily enough when she gets arrested although it takes a long time for it to be said on the page. I did have a hard time putting the Capucine who worked in the concentration camp together with the free-spirited one, as they were so different. The war has definitely broken more than one spirit, and you can see how much of an affect it has on Capucine as she reflects on her earlier days and more carefree ways. I did like the way she encouraged the prisoners to rebel however, in their own ways, and I found it interesting to learn about the many ways prisoners would go about trying to sabotage things and protect things the Nazis tried to destroy.
I really enjoyed Mathilde's character development, but I have to say that I did not like her at all for the first two-thirds of the book. Reflecting the conservative views of the grand-parents who raised her, you got to see the other side of the affect of Nazi occupation in Paris during this time period; the focus was on those who got wealthy by helping the Nazis, and their subsequent falls from grace when the war ended. Mathilde was quite naive in the beginning, but as she learned, she grew on me. And she soon learned that her grand-parents' viewpoints did not necessarily have to be hers.
As much as I enjoyed learning about the showroom concentration camp and the intertwining lives of Capucine and Mathilde, I did feel like the plot lost focus and there was a lack of real drive / purpose to the story. There were times when the story fell flat, or relied on coincidence to further a plot point, something of which I am not a fan, no matter how well-written or how beautifully descriptive the scene may have been. And while I love good resolutions to books, when you learn about the relationship between Capucine and her new husband, and the fact they are returning to the United States to live, there was a small part of me that wondered how that was going to work out.
The Paris Showroom was a very enjoyable book, and I loved learning about the fans and the artistry that went into them as I don't think I've ever given it a thought before. I was glad the focus was on the department store concentration camps as there aren't too many books that mention them, so I was fascinated by the men and women who laboured and suffered there for years, with few people knowing they were there. The character development in this book was good, although I'm not sure a reconciliation subplot was needed here, and I did think the plot fell flat at times, and sort of meandered around. That being said, if you are interesting in learning more about the Paris prison camps, this book may be of interest to you.
August 13, 2022
This book tells the story of the Lévitan department store and prison in the heart of Paris during WW2. I found this read sad but enlightening, the first time I have read about this prison. The author has researched well in order to write a beautiful and moving story.
WW2 France during the Nazi occupation. A rather involved story of three generations of women, Capucine who works with her father creating elaborate and intricate fans for the wealthy. She has never had much to do with her mother who disappeared out of her life completely while she in turn has little to do with her own daughter, her circumstances soon after Mathilde's birth meant that she had no choice other than to reliquinshed her to the care of her conservative paternal grandparents, who have done well under the Nazi occupation.
After the Germans invade Paris, Capucine and her father are betrayed to the secret police. Unlike her father, she is able to save herself from being deported to a concentration camp by highlighting with sheer tenacity her vast experience and connections to Parisian high fashion and interior design, she is sent to a prison camp located in the heart of Paris, the Lévitan department store. Here she encounters a nemesis of her's who has all the qualifications that Capucine claims to have herself. Fortunately, her secret is kept safe.
At the Lévitan all sorts of household goods, clothes, jewellery, artworks etc that have been looted from Jewish homes and businesses after cleaning or repairs are made by the prisoners they become available for German officials, wives and lovers to purchase.
Mathilde begins to grow tired of her grandparents and their opinions of her mother and to learn more of the reality of the occupation she goes to her mother's shop where she encounters the concierge. Here she learns many things about her mother and the reason why she had to give her up.
Mathilde joins the resistance and along with a major transport strike as well as with the Allies making progress the Germans begin to move more people. Along with many others Capucine is shoved into a bus where she remembers from her childhood that if you pulled the wire to sound the bell, the bus would stop for which magically it does, releasing the prisoners to the shock of the guards who by the time they act many have made it to freedom. Capucine isn't that lucky but through the action of one of her guards she runs to freedom.
Finally Capucine and Mathilde are reunited. Capucine learns of her betrayer and is told of the circumstances of an old feud. She searches for her American soldier she met before the war, finally tracking him down and after her experiences of deprivation and brutality during her imprisonment, realises the joy of life and accepts his previous many requests for them to marry.
WW2 France during the Nazi occupation. A rather involved story of three generations of women, Capucine who works with her father creating elaborate and intricate fans for the wealthy. She has never had much to do with her mother who disappeared out of her life completely while she in turn has little to do with her own daughter, her circumstances soon after Mathilde's birth meant that she had no choice other than to reliquinshed her to the care of her conservative paternal grandparents, who have done well under the Nazi occupation.
After the Germans invade Paris, Capucine and her father are betrayed to the secret police. Unlike her father, she is able to save herself from being deported to a concentration camp by highlighting with sheer tenacity her vast experience and connections to Parisian high fashion and interior design, she is sent to a prison camp located in the heart of Paris, the Lévitan department store. Here she encounters a nemesis of her's who has all the qualifications that Capucine claims to have herself. Fortunately, her secret is kept safe.
At the Lévitan all sorts of household goods, clothes, jewellery, artworks etc that have been looted from Jewish homes and businesses after cleaning or repairs are made by the prisoners they become available for German officials, wives and lovers to purchase.
Mathilde begins to grow tired of her grandparents and their opinions of her mother and to learn more of the reality of the occupation she goes to her mother's shop where she encounters the concierge. Here she learns many things about her mother and the reason why she had to give her up.
Mathilde joins the resistance and along with a major transport strike as well as with the Allies making progress the Germans begin to move more people. Along with many others Capucine is shoved into a bus where she remembers from her childhood that if you pulled the wire to sound the bell, the bus would stop for which magically it does, releasing the prisoners to the shock of the guards who by the time they act many have made it to freedom. Capucine isn't that lucky but through the action of one of her guards she runs to freedom.
Finally Capucine and Mathilde are reunited. Capucine learns of her betrayer and is told of the circumstances of an old feud. She searches for her American soldier she met before the war, finally tracking him down and after her experiences of deprivation and brutality during her imprisonment, realises the joy of life and accepts his previous many requests for them to marry.
May 21, 2022
This is not a mystery, but an historical novel by the talented Juliet Blackwell, who has two cozy series to her credit as well as several novels. This novel is set in a now very familiar time period: WWII. Blackwell’s story takes place in occupied France, and she has a slightly different and original twist to her story. The main characters are Capucine, a fan maker, and her estranged daughter, Mathilde. The two live lives that haven’t intersected much, but this is not only the story of Mathilde’s growth from a callow, privileged young woman into something much more, but the story of Capucine, a true flapper in every way, who is now being held prisoner by the Nazis on the top floor of a Paris department store.
Mathilde, who has been raised by her conservative grandparents, is starting to chafe a bit under their house rules, which include marriage to a man she finds exceedingly dull. Early on she discovers that her mother and her grandfather have both been arrested, and she starts to take an interest in her mother’s life and to try and understand what drove them apart. Her grandfather, arrested as a Communist, is unfortunately deported to somewhere called Auschwitz.
Because Capucine was mostly guilty by association, she’s kept captive in France. I had never heard of the camps the Nazis set up in Paris itself. The men and women in the store have the heartbreaking work of sorting through the crates and crates of belongings delivered by German soldiers, belongings confiscated from Parisian Jews. The Nazis seize everything, down to the lightbulbs. All the items are carried into the store by the men, and the women sort them to be sent on to Germany. Some of the higher end items, furniture and art, are kept in the store for higher up Nazi officers to use in their Paris apartments.
One of them lives with a woman Capucine had known (and not liked too much), and she ends up being their decorator, by virtue of her work in her father’s high end fan shop and her connection with design and fashion. This gets Capucine out of the store and into the homes of Nazi wives around Paris where she selects items for them to use. It’s a very strange and uncomfortable half-life, but she also realizes she is lucky because unlike most of the people she lives and works with, she is allowed to see daylight and Paris itself, which all of them miss.
Meanwhile, Mathilde is discovering her two best childhood friends have taken very different paths – one is dating a Nazi officer, and one is apparently a part of the resistance. While Mathilde is sorting through her feelings, she’s also sorting through the wreck of her grandfather’s fan store and, discovering love letters written to her mother, discovering more about her mother as well. The language of fans and the feathers used to make them are a fascinating part of the book. Mathilde is slowly becoming, as we would say today, woke.
I liked the characters in the book, I loved the joyous and chaotic liberation of Paris scenes, and I was interested to learn more about the occupation of Paris. But I have a bit of a caveat – the book is slightly wander-y and lacks any real drive. There are many interesting bits and details but ultimately the story was a little flat, though I was happy enough at the end as the characters find some resolution in their lives.
Mathilde, who has been raised by her conservative grandparents, is starting to chafe a bit under their house rules, which include marriage to a man she finds exceedingly dull. Early on she discovers that her mother and her grandfather have both been arrested, and she starts to take an interest in her mother’s life and to try and understand what drove them apart. Her grandfather, arrested as a Communist, is unfortunately deported to somewhere called Auschwitz.
Because Capucine was mostly guilty by association, she’s kept captive in France. I had never heard of the camps the Nazis set up in Paris itself. The men and women in the store have the heartbreaking work of sorting through the crates and crates of belongings delivered by German soldiers, belongings confiscated from Parisian Jews. The Nazis seize everything, down to the lightbulbs. All the items are carried into the store by the men, and the women sort them to be sent on to Germany. Some of the higher end items, furniture and art, are kept in the store for higher up Nazi officers to use in their Paris apartments.
One of them lives with a woman Capucine had known (and not liked too much), and she ends up being their decorator, by virtue of her work in her father’s high end fan shop and her connection with design and fashion. This gets Capucine out of the store and into the homes of Nazi wives around Paris where she selects items for them to use. It’s a very strange and uncomfortable half-life, but she also realizes she is lucky because unlike most of the people she lives and works with, she is allowed to see daylight and Paris itself, which all of them miss.
Meanwhile, Mathilde is discovering her two best childhood friends have taken very different paths – one is dating a Nazi officer, and one is apparently a part of the resistance. While Mathilde is sorting through her feelings, she’s also sorting through the wreck of her grandfather’s fan store and, discovering love letters written to her mother, discovering more about her mother as well. The language of fans and the feathers used to make them are a fascinating part of the book. Mathilde is slowly becoming, as we would say today, woke.
I liked the characters in the book, I loved the joyous and chaotic liberation of Paris scenes, and I was interested to learn more about the occupation of Paris. But I have a bit of a caveat – the book is slightly wander-y and lacks any real drive. There are many interesting bits and details but ultimately the story was a little flat, though I was happy enough at the end as the characters find some resolution in their lives.
January 3, 2023
Historical fiction beginning in 1944 Paris during WWII and German occupied France. The soldiers and Nazi officials have worked with the French and are arresting French citizens for political violations and for speaking out against Hitler. The Jews are also targeted just for being Jewish,
The storyline goes between a mother and daughter’s early relationship, war years and after.
Capucine Benoit was raised by her father, a known communist supporter, after her mother abandoned her at the age of 5 to return to Spain after she decided motherhood is not for her. They work together in a high end fan shop taking custom orders for the elite and wealthy. Her father allows her to model for artists when the demand for fans begins to fade. She is exposed to the jazz world of music and free thinkers. She meets a wealthy and handsome man who wants to be a sculptor instead of an executive in his fathers automobile business for Renault. They marry after discovering a baby is on the way.
A very young widow after a ladder accident forces mother and child to live with the parents. Capucine continues to help her father in the fan shop and party at night, meeting famous artists, writers and jazz musicians. The grand parents take full custody of Mathilde sending her to Catholic schools and grooming her to be a lady with hopes that her mothers reputation will not tarnish her marriage prospects. They are living profitable lives under German occupied France with servants and no lack of food and inconveniences.
Capucine and her father are arrested by the secret police and sent to a little known camp in the heart of Paris within a Parisian department store. Her father is deported.
Hundreds of prisoners work to sort and repair furniture, jewelry, paintings, dishes and household goods looted from Jewish homes and businesses. They live in the attic and the surrounding neighborhood is forced to keep the shutters closed. Any protest is met with deportation to a “work camp” called Auschwitz.
German officials and Nazi officers, mostly with their French mistresses, shop in the elegant showrooms to furnish their confiscated apartments.
Mathilde turns 21 and is being courted by a young man approved of by the Grandfather because he is like minded. She and her 2 close friends are longing to make their own decisions.
Choices are made, lives are changed forever and previous opinions are re-evaluated.
The storyline goes between a mother and daughter’s early relationship, war years and after.
Capucine Benoit was raised by her father, a known communist supporter, after her mother abandoned her at the age of 5 to return to Spain after she decided motherhood is not for her. They work together in a high end fan shop taking custom orders for the elite and wealthy. Her father allows her to model for artists when the demand for fans begins to fade. She is exposed to the jazz world of music and free thinkers. She meets a wealthy and handsome man who wants to be a sculptor instead of an executive in his fathers automobile business for Renault. They marry after discovering a baby is on the way.
A very young widow after a ladder accident forces mother and child to live with the parents. Capucine continues to help her father in the fan shop and party at night, meeting famous artists, writers and jazz musicians. The grand parents take full custody of Mathilde sending her to Catholic schools and grooming her to be a lady with hopes that her mothers reputation will not tarnish her marriage prospects. They are living profitable lives under German occupied France with servants and no lack of food and inconveniences.
Capucine and her father are arrested by the secret police and sent to a little known camp in the heart of Paris within a Parisian department store. Her father is deported.
Hundreds of prisoners work to sort and repair furniture, jewelry, paintings, dishes and household goods looted from Jewish homes and businesses. They live in the attic and the surrounding neighborhood is forced to keep the shutters closed. Any protest is met with deportation to a “work camp” called Auschwitz.
German officials and Nazi officers, mostly with their French mistresses, shop in the elegant showrooms to furnish their confiscated apartments.
Mathilde turns 21 and is being courted by a young man approved of by the Grandfather because he is like minded. She and her 2 close friends are longing to make their own decisions.
Choices are made, lives are changed forever and previous opinions are re-evaluated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2022
In 1944, Capucine is arrested by the Nazis as a communist, then put to work sorting stolen goods in a requisitioned department store. Her estranged daughter, Mathilde, searches for her, and both become embroiled with the Résistance as the occupation of Paris comes to a dangerous conclusion.
There are so many WWII historical fiction novels available, so I thought I had read about all of the specifics of what went on in Paris during that time. This novel, however, brought to light another kind of “camp” utilized by the Germans throughout the war. Specific types of prisoners (including wives of POWs, antisocials, Jewish spouses of Aryans) were housed in large buildings, where their task was to sort through and clean looted items brought in by the truckload. These items were then displayed in a mockery of a retail store, made available to German officers and their wives or mistresses.
This story is told from Capucine’s first-person POV and Mathilda’s second-person POV. Both women experience so much growth in the short time spanned by this narrative, something Juliet Blackwell excels at, in my opinion! All the characters are relatable in some way, and I especially loved Ezra and Antoinette. Even the “bad” characters are just flawed people that you hope will grow and learn from their mistakes.
I very much enjoyed the inclusion of the beautiful fans and the bits of information about their language, something I had no idea existed! This story is beautiful, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at once. I thought I knew what I was getting with a WWII Paris novel, but I learned many new things and found it an extremely enjoyable bit of literature. The Paris Showroom has a publishing date of April 19, and I highly recommend it!
Many thanks to Berkley, Juliet Blackwell, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
There are so many WWII historical fiction novels available, so I thought I had read about all of the specifics of what went on in Paris during that time. This novel, however, brought to light another kind of “camp” utilized by the Germans throughout the war. Specific types of prisoners (including wives of POWs, antisocials, Jewish spouses of Aryans) were housed in large buildings, where their task was to sort through and clean looted items brought in by the truckload. These items were then displayed in a mockery of a retail store, made available to German officers and their wives or mistresses.
This story is told from Capucine’s first-person POV and Mathilda’s second-person POV. Both women experience so much growth in the short time spanned by this narrative, something Juliet Blackwell excels at, in my opinion! All the characters are relatable in some way, and I especially loved Ezra and Antoinette. Even the “bad” characters are just flawed people that you hope will grow and learn from their mistakes.
I very much enjoyed the inclusion of the beautiful fans and the bits of information about their language, something I had no idea existed! This story is beautiful, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at once. I thought I knew what I was getting with a WWII Paris novel, but I learned many new things and found it an extremely enjoyable bit of literature. The Paris Showroom has a publishing date of April 19, and I highly recommend it!
Many thanks to Berkley, Juliet Blackwell, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
April 15, 2022
Two stories of a mother and a daughter. Both beautiful and both journeys to grow and find where they fit within the new world. Capucine Benoit has worked alongside her father for years creating beautiful fans. Yet when his beliefs cause him to be taken under the Nazi agenda, Capucine is taken as well. Some quick thinking allows her to stay in Paris and work within a department store as a poisoner of war. Mathilde has next to zero ties to her mother. All she knows is that her mother was a wild artist and that at a young age she left her with her grandparents to be raised. Luckily for her her grandparents have maintained their status during the German occupation so unlike others in Paris she wants for very little.
Together mother and daughter work towards finding out who they are and what do they truly believe in a world where everything is at stake and a tomorrow is not always promised. Can they both keep themselves safe and reunite? And what type of paths might they take in order to survive?
This is just a lovely book. I really enjoyed being able to go back and forth between both mother and daughter. I also loved that this was a new look at the German occupation. I have not come across many books that deal with people who were not placed in concentration camps and instead were forced to help the German agenda. I have already started talking up this book with patrons who love historical fiction.
Thank you so very much to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
Together mother and daughter work towards finding out who they are and what do they truly believe in a world where everything is at stake and a tomorrow is not always promised. Can they both keep themselves safe and reunite? And what type of paths might they take in order to survive?
This is just a lovely book. I really enjoyed being able to go back and forth between both mother and daughter. I also loved that this was a new look at the German occupation. I have not come across many books that deal with people who were not placed in concentration camps and instead were forced to help the German agenda. I have already started talking up this book with patrons who love historical fiction.
Thank you so very much to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
December 8, 2022
If I'm reading historical fiction, it tends to either fall into the turn-of-the-prior-century category or WWII. Despite reading So Many books that take place during WWII over the years (including non-fiction books as well), I had not realized what was happening in France until this book. I have since read more into it afterwards.
Despite words like "Germans invade" and "Auschwitz" and "Nazi occupation", I had focused primarily on "art salons," "jazz clubs," and "rare feathers," when perusing the book jacket online. Thus, I was surprised by just how wonderfully engrossing this book was, while also providing me with a much needed primary on the German occupation in Paris during WWII. (There are no spoilers in my review. You can glean this bit from the book description, unless, like me, you only skimmed it!)
Unlike some of the books I've read recently, this is not only one that I absolutely enjoyed and would recommend to anyone interested already in said book enough to pull it up on GoodReads, and stumble upon my review, The Paris Showroom is one that I feel I can recommend to so many of my friends / family and feel pretty sure they'll enjoy it too!
I listened to this as an audiobook via my library's Libby. I am writing this Dec 2022, but read in early Oct 2022. I vividly remember the book still, and thus cannot yet reread it. I definitely cried more than a bit while reading it, but still Hugely Recommend!
Despite words like "Germans invade" and "Auschwitz" and "Nazi occupation", I had focused primarily on "art salons," "jazz clubs," and "rare feathers," when perusing the book jacket online. Thus, I was surprised by just how wonderfully engrossing this book was, while also providing me with a much needed primary on the German occupation in Paris during WWII. (There are no spoilers in my review. You can glean this bit from the book description, unless, like me, you only skimmed it!)
Unlike some of the books I've read recently, this is not only one that I absolutely enjoyed and would recommend to anyone interested already in said book enough to pull it up on GoodReads, and stumble upon my review, The Paris Showroom is one that I feel I can recommend to so many of my friends / family and feel pretty sure they'll enjoy it too!
I listened to this as an audiobook via my library's Libby. I am writing this Dec 2022, but read in early Oct 2022. I vividly remember the book still, and thus cannot yet reread it. I definitely cried more than a bit while reading it, but still Hugely Recommend!
December 15, 2025
Libro di compagnia a tratti quasi inutilmente lungo, anche perché non succede niente di particolare fino alle ultime 50 pagine. Non ha davvero l'intenzione di mortificare mostrando la crudeltà dei nazisti, perché nel libro non ci viene mostrato neanche la metà di ciò di cui erano capaci. Apprezzo però il fatto che tutti i personaggi non sono stati etichetti come "team buoni" e "team cattivi" per esempio ci sono personaggi vicini ai nazisti o apertamente nazisti a cui è stata data una caratterizzazione umana e che hanno anche una sorta di redenzione nel corso della storia. Le due protagoniste (Capucine e Matilde) non fanno niente per quasi tutto il tempo, Matilde è il tipo di personaggio che mi sta antipatico, per il suo bigottismo (che supera in 2 secondi, senza il minimo dubbio o conflitto), il suo essere passiva, la sua ingenuità e il suo piangersi addosso per qualsiasi cosa. Capucine invece ci viene descritta come coraggiosa, forte, indipendente ecc., ma ha solo la stupidità di rivolgersi a guardie armate (che, ricordiamo, potrebbero sbatterla in un campo di concentramento senza problemi) come se fossero i suoi vicini di casa.
Ci sono libri migliori sul tema del nazismo a Parigi? Si (es. "Tutti i fiori di Parigi" che non sarà perfetto, ma è almeno due grandini sopra questo libri).
Ve lo consiglio? Dipende: Si, se volete una lettura scorrevole e poco impegnativa. No, se volete un libro con la forza di affrontare temi forti.
3 ⭐️ per avermi tenuta impegnata.
Ci sono libri migliori sul tema del nazismo a Parigi? Si (es. "Tutti i fiori di Parigi" che non sarà perfetto, ma è almeno due grandini sopra questo libri).
Ve lo consiglio? Dipende: Si, se volete una lettura scorrevole e poco impegnativa. No, se volete un libro con la forza di affrontare temi forti.
3 ⭐️ per avermi tenuta impegnata.
July 29, 2022
This is familial reconciliation novel set in WWII. It is not a WWII novel. In fact, you could set it just about anywhere in which a woman might rebel against the strictures of her society.
Viewed from that prism, the book was typical of its genre. In fact, it's not a bad little book wherein both mother and daughter mature and, as a result, reconnect. Oh, and bonus--HAE. Double bonus--I didn't know about the labor camps in Paris.
That said, I would prefer it not be set in WWII. The horrible events of that war are not to be used so lightly. Perhaps if we had a Resistance mother & a daughter raised by pro-Nazi collaborating grandparents, this would sit better. but to use the prisoner experience as a mere backdrop for a reconciliation novel doesn't sit well.
How could characters be so naive in 1944? That naivete--necessary for the maturation--proved too difficult for me. There are other aspects that don't ring true.
At first, I thought this was a covert analogy of the political climate in the USA--the right-wing grandparents v the woke daughter in law with Mathilde have to either reconcile the two sides or make a heroic choice. That turned out not to be the case, although I would have preferred that overt plot to the WWII setting.
I preferred Letters From Paris.
Viewed from that prism, the book was typical of its genre. In fact, it's not a bad little book wherein both mother and daughter mature and, as a result, reconnect. Oh, and bonus--HAE. Double bonus--I didn't know about the labor camps in Paris.
That said, I would prefer it not be set in WWII. The horrible events of that war are not to be used so lightly. Perhaps if we had a Resistance mother & a daughter raised by pro-Nazi collaborating grandparents, this would sit better. but to use the prisoner experience as a mere backdrop for a reconciliation novel doesn't sit well.
How could characters be so naive in 1944? That naivete--necessary for the maturation--proved too difficult for me. There are other aspects that don't ring true.
At first, I thought this was a covert analogy of the political climate in the USA--the right-wing grandparents v the woke daughter in law with Mathilde have to either reconcile the two sides or make a heroic choice. That turned out not to be the case, although I would have preferred that overt plot to the WWII setting.
I preferred Letters From Paris.
September 21, 2022
We meet and follow Capucine and her daughter Mathilde during the Paris occupation.
Recently widowed, Capucine makes a difficult decision to allow her late husband's parents to raise and take care of her daughter. Capucine worked with her father Bruno making gorgeous fans in his tiny shop apartment. In 1940 Bruno and Capucine are arrested and separated. She is taken to a camp within Paris to sort all the items taken from home of the deported by the Nazis. As Methilde grows older and starts to question her grandparents support of the occupation, her relationship with her family and some friends change as she changes. She joins the resistance and starts doing deliveries in spite of all the soldiers and the curfew. She makes her way to her former home at the shop and eventually makes a new life for herself while searching for her mother and working in the resistance. As both women try to survive long enough for the Allies to liberate Paris we watch them go through new and old friendships, loss and see them reunited again.
It took me a few chapters to really get into this book, but once I did I couldn't put it down. The research that was done for this is amazing. It is such a wonderful story full of emotion.
I won this book through a goodreads giveaway!
Recently widowed, Capucine makes a difficult decision to allow her late husband's parents to raise and take care of her daughter. Capucine worked with her father Bruno making gorgeous fans in his tiny shop apartment. In 1940 Bruno and Capucine are arrested and separated. She is taken to a camp within Paris to sort all the items taken from home of the deported by the Nazis. As Methilde grows older and starts to question her grandparents support of the occupation, her relationship with her family and some friends change as she changes. She joins the resistance and starts doing deliveries in spite of all the soldiers and the curfew. She makes her way to her former home at the shop and eventually makes a new life for herself while searching for her mother and working in the resistance. As both women try to survive long enough for the Allies to liberate Paris we watch them go through new and old friendships, loss and see them reunited again.
It took me a few chapters to really get into this book, but once I did I couldn't put it down. The research that was done for this is amazing. It is such a wonderful story full of emotion.
I won this book through a goodreads giveaway!
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