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Paris, California
Ashin Asilomar is a retired dentist, living in the same California mid-coastal town where he was raised, practiced, married, and widowed. A troubled young family moves in next door, and Ashin befriends their 12-year-old son, Mateo Funk. Together, Ashin and Mateo watch as more and more outsiders move in, calling the town perfect just as it is… And then working so very hard to transform Paris into the place they recently escaped. It begins with fences, signs, and dog leashes, but soon progresses to hostility, absurdity, and then madness.
Paris, California tells a tale familiar to many people who have watched their community transformed—by those who move in and then work to change the very characteristics that attracted them there in the first place—and what happens when that phenomenon goes completely off the rails.
Paris, California tells a tale familiar to many people who have watched their community transformed—by those who move in and then work to change the very characteristics that attracted them there in the first place—and what happens when that phenomenon goes completely off the rails.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2023
About the author
Kevin St. Jarre
11 books58 followersKevin St. Jarre earned his MFA in Creative Writing, with a concentration in Popular Fiction, from University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast program. He's studied at the Norman Mailer Writers Center with Sigrid Nunez and screenwriter David Black.
He has worked as a teacher, a professor, a newspaper reporter, an international corporate consultant, and led a combat intelligence team in the first Gulf War. He is a dual Canadian and American citizen.
His most recent novels are published by Encircle Publications, his Pushcart-nominated short fiction can be found online, and he is a member of International Thriller Writers. Kevin lives on the coast of Maine.
He has worked as a teacher, a professor, a newspaper reporter, an international corporate consultant, and led a combat intelligence team in the first Gulf War. He is a dual Canadian and American citizen.
His most recent novels are published by Encircle Publications, his Pushcart-nominated short fiction can be found online, and he is a member of International Thriller Writers. Kevin lives on the coast of Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 18, 2023
I zipped through this supersonic-paced story about a town gone haywire and two people--an older man and the young neighbor who befriends him--who attempt to understand and navigate the crazy. It all starts with a real-estate frenzy. Rich people "from away" begin snapping up homes in the small, coastal town of Paris, California. It turns into an absolute tsunami of home sales with prices reaching astronomical levels way out of proportion to the actual property values. Soon "stay off my lawn" signs go up, resulting in escalating conflicts and consequences. I won't tell you how it ends. You have to read it for yourself to believe it.
The book speaks to a reality but in a kind of parable form--nothing changes (degenerates) quite as quickly as the events here, but these things DO happen in real life when people decide to move to a place and then try to "improve" it or otherwise change it. I loved the characters. The story was propulsive. St. Jarre's literary style shines. I read an ARC, but I ordered my print copy so I could have it on my shelf! It's that good.
The book speaks to a reality but in a kind of parable form--nothing changes (degenerates) quite as quickly as the events here, but these things DO happen in real life when people decide to move to a place and then try to "improve" it or otherwise change it. I loved the characters. The story was propulsive. St. Jarre's literary style shines. I read an ARC, but I ordered my print copy so I could have it on my shelf! It's that good.
January 20, 2023
Wow! I loved Paris, California on so many levels.
I felt like I was walking with my grandfather in his small hometown as he shared so many wonderful pearls of wisdom and reasonings.
I love Mateo with his insights and questions.
I cried to see how it looks so much like America right now.
I felt like I was walking with my grandfather in his small hometown as he shared so many wonderful pearls of wisdom and reasonings.
I love Mateo with his insights and questions.
I cried to see how it looks so much like America right now.
March 10, 2023
Entertaining satire. It may not be high literature, but this is a fun read, which reflects back some issue and flaws of society along with some humor.
Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!
Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!
February 12, 2023
Kevin St. Jarre has a talent for constructing complicated storylines without filling the pages with extraneous text. He keeps it simple and lets the narrative speak for itself. This is a rare talent when an author is building a new world and providing the necessary nuance to make it realistic. The pace of his narration is fast enough to move the action but in no way rushed. In fact, at times one forgets there is a rising plot. In Paris, California St. Jarre tells the tale of an ordinary man whose world is slowly and systematically turned upside down by the arrival of expats who seek to transform their new sanctuary into something entirely different. The reaction of his friends and neighbors is even more unexpected. The novel could be a metaphor for the forces of change working against the forces of entropy but there is so much more contained within the book.
Dr. Ashin Asilomar is living a quiet retirement in the seaside paradise of Paris, California. A dentist by trade, Ashin has reached a point in life where he can’t be bothered anymore. He just wants to live out the reminder of his days in relative peace in the town in which he was born. At first, he paid little attention to the arrivals. People move into towns all the time. The changes came slowly, with a trickle of new arrivals moving into the community. Ashin befriends a young man named Matteo, who despite his youth, seems on par with the old man as a kindred spirit. Together, they witness the changes to their idyllic seaside community.
The changes to the town are revealed through a series of proposals, heated town council sessions, and the erection of fences reinforcing property rights. Its Newtonian, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The new arrivals want to feel safe in their new home and the older residents wish to keep them out. There are no good guys or bad guys in this, just people reacting to change. The author is not trying to force a parallel or weave a poetic apologia; he is simply telling a story. The theme of fences could be construed as a metaphor for the psychological walls we throw up when confronted by change. The town of Paris, California was a paradise only to the people who had lived there their entire lives, yet they could not wrap their heads around the new arrivals and their wish to have a part in that paradise.
Analysis:
Such a simple premise—presented in such a straightforward manner it almost seems as if the narrative is just a day-to-day recounting of an old man’s life. St. Jarre brings the reader into the world he has created but he does it so subtly you don’t realize what is happening. That’s real life—the changes we face don’t come with a booming voice from the sky acting as a harbinger. What makes this tale complicated is the forces of change that gradually supplant the established way of life. The author makes it clear how important the status quo is for the residents of Paris, California—using Ashin as the principal representative of their idyllic life.
The narrative sneaks up on the reader like a thief in the night. It’s almost too slow, coming off as a series of everyday events that gradually reveal the darker plot. At mid-way through the novel, it’s hard to know who to trust. The reactionary politics of the second half of the book is frighteningly real and could have been ripped from the headlines. There are aspects of plot that parallel an episode of the Twilight Zone titled “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” The slow march towards change and the revealed prejudices of the neighborhood are almost too much to take in. Paris, California could be any town in America. The rising changes within his newfound friend Matteo are also a study in the psychology of individuals who entertain their own views of the way things should be. Paris, California is the story or ordinary people, reacting viscerally to the changing world around, At times, it is almost too real and too painful to digest.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dr. Ashin Asilomar is living a quiet retirement in the seaside paradise of Paris, California. A dentist by trade, Ashin has reached a point in life where he can’t be bothered anymore. He just wants to live out the reminder of his days in relative peace in the town in which he was born. At first, he paid little attention to the arrivals. People move into towns all the time. The changes came slowly, with a trickle of new arrivals moving into the community. Ashin befriends a young man named Matteo, who despite his youth, seems on par with the old man as a kindred spirit. Together, they witness the changes to their idyllic seaside community.
The changes to the town are revealed through a series of proposals, heated town council sessions, and the erection of fences reinforcing property rights. Its Newtonian, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The new arrivals want to feel safe in their new home and the older residents wish to keep them out. There are no good guys or bad guys in this, just people reacting to change. The author is not trying to force a parallel or weave a poetic apologia; he is simply telling a story. The theme of fences could be construed as a metaphor for the psychological walls we throw up when confronted by change. The town of Paris, California was a paradise only to the people who had lived there their entire lives, yet they could not wrap their heads around the new arrivals and their wish to have a part in that paradise.
Analysis:
Such a simple premise—presented in such a straightforward manner it almost seems as if the narrative is just a day-to-day recounting of an old man’s life. St. Jarre brings the reader into the world he has created but he does it so subtly you don’t realize what is happening. That’s real life—the changes we face don’t come with a booming voice from the sky acting as a harbinger. What makes this tale complicated is the forces of change that gradually supplant the established way of life. The author makes it clear how important the status quo is for the residents of Paris, California—using Ashin as the principal representative of their idyllic life.
The narrative sneaks up on the reader like a thief in the night. It’s almost too slow, coming off as a series of everyday events that gradually reveal the darker plot. At mid-way through the novel, it’s hard to know who to trust. The reactionary politics of the second half of the book is frighteningly real and could have been ripped from the headlines. There are aspects of plot that parallel an episode of the Twilight Zone titled “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” The slow march towards change and the revealed prejudices of the neighborhood are almost too much to take in. Paris, California could be any town in America. The rising changes within his newfound friend Matteo are also a study in the psychology of individuals who entertain their own views of the way things should be. Paris, California is the story or ordinary people, reacting viscerally to the changing world around, At times, it is almost too real and too painful to digest.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 17, 2023
Paris California
Kevin St. Jarre
Encircle Publications May 2023
This was a very disappointing novel. What can ruin a book is when a writer has a point to make that supersedes all the elements that can give a book depth and interest. While I have no issue with the premise and political points St. Jarre was making, the longwinded speeches and rush of destructive events did not serve the interest of the story.
Paris California is a small coastal town. There had been little change there for years. As in many small towns, Paris's mom and pop stores slowly went out of business. However, the longterm residents were content, the beach was open to everyone, children played freely, the old carousel building was at its heart, and it had the friendly feel of small town America.
Paris is suddenly overcome by the rush of new wealthy residents willing to pay extraordinary amounts for the old houses. They want to change the character of the town by restricting freedom and the way of life that may have drawn them there in the first place.
At the center of the book is the relationship between an older, retired resident and a boy who has just moved in. Ashin Asilomar, a recently widowed, retired dentist, has a very mild personality and is content with his shrinking life as it is now. The boy, Matteo, is a lonely, recent transplant from Texas, with parents who let him be. His mother is the breadwinner. She can work from anywhere as a computer analyst who creates algorithms; his father is a former journalist who rages about what the world has become.
In the short time since Matteo has arrived, most of the houses have been sold to out of towners displacing the old residents who can no longer afford to live there, fences have cut off the beach, dogs are no longer allowed out of their yards, proposed new businesses and building further attempt to ruin the town. The town council is, not surprisingly, ineffectual.
The characters are one dimensional which is a pity because there was much possibility. The obstructionists seem to be place holders, some farcical, as a way to forward the book’s agenda. The crazy men cutting off the beach, the woman who threatens law suits to put her restrictive ideas in place, and the shallowness of the new owners could have potentially been developed. But, they remained stick figures.
While the relationship between Ashin and Matteo was needed to push the story forward, the dialogue between them felt stilted and untrue.
I think this writer has some good ideas that could make an interesting story if he set his soapbox aside and created people we cared about.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Encircle Publications for the opportunity to read this advanced reading copy.
Kevin St. Jarre
Encircle Publications May 2023
This was a very disappointing novel. What can ruin a book is when a writer has a point to make that supersedes all the elements that can give a book depth and interest. While I have no issue with the premise and political points St. Jarre was making, the longwinded speeches and rush of destructive events did not serve the interest of the story.
Paris California is a small coastal town. There had been little change there for years. As in many small towns, Paris's mom and pop stores slowly went out of business. However, the longterm residents were content, the beach was open to everyone, children played freely, the old carousel building was at its heart, and it had the friendly feel of small town America.
Paris is suddenly overcome by the rush of new wealthy residents willing to pay extraordinary amounts for the old houses. They want to change the character of the town by restricting freedom and the way of life that may have drawn them there in the first place.
At the center of the book is the relationship between an older, retired resident and a boy who has just moved in. Ashin Asilomar, a recently widowed, retired dentist, has a very mild personality and is content with his shrinking life as it is now. The boy, Matteo, is a lonely, recent transplant from Texas, with parents who let him be. His mother is the breadwinner. She can work from anywhere as a computer analyst who creates algorithms; his father is a former journalist who rages about what the world has become.
In the short time since Matteo has arrived, most of the houses have been sold to out of towners displacing the old residents who can no longer afford to live there, fences have cut off the beach, dogs are no longer allowed out of their yards, proposed new businesses and building further attempt to ruin the town. The town council is, not surprisingly, ineffectual.
The characters are one dimensional which is a pity because there was much possibility. The obstructionists seem to be place holders, some farcical, as a way to forward the book’s agenda. The crazy men cutting off the beach, the woman who threatens law suits to put her restrictive ideas in place, and the shallowness of the new owners could have potentially been developed. But, they remained stick figures.
While the relationship between Ashin and Matteo was needed to push the story forward, the dialogue between them felt stilted and untrue.
I think this writer has some good ideas that could make an interesting story if he set his soapbox aside and created people we cared about.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Encircle Publications for the opportunity to read this advanced reading copy.
December 30, 2022
The basic premise of this book is phenomenal, hands down. This reminds me so much of 'Bowling Alone' and the content is absolutely on point with the "new" American way. The content is great. Unfortunately, the most well written section is the Afterword.
The rationale is simply the usage of: "he said," "he asked," "he said" in such a repetitive pattern. While this makes for a quick banter, the volley of the verbiage makes for a strange read.
I'm a big fan of the utilization of full names for each character, it's the type of writing that makes me giggle, because it's something I do myself. This part is fun.
The relationship built between a retiree and a young boy who needs distraction and guidance is truly fantastic. The mere fact that generational gaps still focus on right and wrong and a lot of "why?" gives this a perfect jumping place.
Also, I wish my city had as many council meetings! Overall, has the potential to be a five star with some linguistic changes!
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 8, 2023
Paris, California isn't an easy book for me to review. Some characters felt exaggerated and the quick pace of events happening in just one summer vacation didn't convince me. However, I still found value in the story.
Ashin, a retired dentist and widower, battles diabetes by taking long walks. One day, Mateo and his family move into the house next door to Ashin. Mateo starts joining Ashin on his walks, initially to explore the town, but soon out of habit. Together, they witness the community of Paris, California being destroyed by newcomers who quickly buy up properties, build high fences around them, and put up signs all over the place.
I enjoyed the relationship between Ashin and Mateo, but the fast pace of change and the dramatic ending left me uncertain.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. These opinions are solely mine.
Ashin, a retired dentist and widower, battles diabetes by taking long walks. One day, Mateo and his family move into the house next door to Ashin. Mateo starts joining Ashin on his walks, initially to explore the town, but soon out of habit. Together, they witness the community of Paris, California being destroyed by newcomers who quickly buy up properties, build high fences around them, and put up signs all over the place.
I enjoyed the relationship between Ashin and Mateo, but the fast pace of change and the dramatic ending left me uncertain.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. These opinions are solely mine.
April 29, 2023
Ashin is a retired dentist whose small town he's lived in his whole life is becoming unrecognisable. Outsiders are desperate to buy property in the area, and the community creates bizarre rules that completely change its way of living.
Unfortunately, I didn't like this book. It's mainly a series of unconvincing dialogues between Ashin and his new twelve-year-old neighbor Mateo where they reflect on the way people act and why. The writing is very literal and unnatural and Mateo speaks like an adult in a child's body. The plot had a lot of potential but for the most part it felt like what I was curious about just wasn't addressed and instead I got more philosophical exchanges between the two characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I didn't like this book. It's mainly a series of unconvincing dialogues between Ashin and his new twelve-year-old neighbor Mateo where they reflect on the way people act and why. The writing is very literal and unnatural and Mateo speaks like an adult in a child's body. The plot had a lot of potential but for the most part it felt like what I was curious about just wasn't addressed and instead I got more philosophical exchanges between the two characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2023
Through the unlikely friendship between a retired dentist and his neighbor's son, we see Paris, California's descent into madness. This book pokes fun at so many societal issues dominant in American society today, from displaced priorities, to overcrowding, to small towns becoming busier and more unsafe as time progresses. Growing up in a small town myself and seeing it become unsafe and overcrowded made this story truly hit close to home for me.
This book was very short, it left me craving a bit more depth, madness and craziness (like the stuffed dogs? Let's get more of that insanity… push the boundaries more!!), but overall a must-read to hold a mirror to the world we live in today.
This book was very short, it left me craving a bit more depth, madness and craziness (like the stuffed dogs? Let's get more of that insanity… push the boundaries more!!), but overall a must-read to hold a mirror to the world we live in today.
May 14, 2023
An unexpected friendship develops between Ashlin, a retired dentist, and his new neighbor, Mateo, a 12-year-old boy who's filled with questions. Everyone is moving to Paris, California, a perfect little town. And then they proceed to try to "make it better". I enjoyed seeing Ashlin and Mateo become friends. I felt that the ending seemed a bit rushed. Overall, I liked the book, and look forward to more from the author. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2023
Ashin has lived in the same neighbourhood for a long time and Mateo is a recent resident. Together they follow the change of the area as further newcomers have decided to live in a close community only to fall back into their old ways of distancing themselves from neighbours. The story is dialogue-driven and, while a quick read, the majority of the story focuses more on the interaction between Ashin and Mateo than on the change in the community.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 23, 2023
Once again the author has given us a book to think about. the steps taken and the characters involved in making a community anything but was compelling. I received this ARC from BookSirens and am happy to leave this reveiw .
May 30, 2023
This is one of those books that you want to talk about as soon as you're done reading! It's a quick read that echoes with truths.
May 21, 2023
Paris, California scored big in my book for several reasons. Firstly, it’s a relatable coming-of-age satire that could easily have gone the literary fiction route. Instead, the author stays grounded, writing a story that’s easy to comprehend, so you can focus on the characters and the meat of the story that centres around change and holding on to our pasts.
Moreover, Kevin seems to have a pretty solid grasp of relationships, and the one between Ashin and Matteo, which forms the novel's crux, is outstanding in every way possible.
Most importantly, the book mirrors our society, wherein the idea of this beautiful utopia often takes people to extremes, resulting in a community that is miles away from the dreamy livable escape that one initially plans for.
Interestingly, while the book takes place in the US, a similar state of commercialization is now evident across the world, where smaller, idyllic towns are becoming increasingly crowded, changing the lives of those who have lived there for decades. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Moreover, Kevin seems to have a pretty solid grasp of relationships, and the one between Ashin and Matteo, which forms the novel's crux, is outstanding in every way possible.
Most importantly, the book mirrors our society, wherein the idea of this beautiful utopia often takes people to extremes, resulting in a community that is miles away from the dreamy livable escape that one initially plans for.
Interestingly, while the book takes place in the US, a similar state of commercialization is now evident across the world, where smaller, idyllic towns are becoming increasingly crowded, changing the lives of those who have lived there for decades. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 19, 2023
The story opens simply with Ashin, a kind-hearted retired dentist and widower, living in an idyllic, sun-splashed, coastal neighborhood. Do not be fooled. This provocative story examines our need for control when it bumps up against our perceived helplessness. When a new family moves next door to Ashin, he befriends their intelligent and curious twelve year-old. Young Mateo is an intriguing character, a foil to the methodical Ashin. Soon, Ashin becomes more concerned with the changes around him as he sees the town through Mateo’s eyes during their daily walks to the park or beach, aware of newly erected fences, a multitude of silly rules and no-trespassing signs. He also has concerns about Mateo after hearing fierce arguments between his mother and paranoid father. Ashin is unsure how to affect any meaningful change in the boy’s life, or in the disturbing world around them. As the beautiful town succumbs to fears, conspiracies, and the vocal minority who disrupt town council meetings, what will Ashin do when an impressionable Mateo takes matters into his own hands? What can any of us do?
March 26, 2023
I love novels that observe human behavior through a high magnification lens, especially when you don’t know you’re looking through one. Paris, California is one of those books that reminds us how small, seemingly benign actions can add up to catastrophe, and how we often don’t see it coming. The story is about ordinary people whose lives are turned upside down by outsiders who try to transform their dreamy town into a utopia—with tragic consequences. It’s a cautionary tale with a warmth and humility to it, thanks to Kevin St. Jarre’s insight and strong, natural writing. His characters are alive with flaws, and they get under your skin with their humorous observations and simmering grudges. Paris feels like a town you’ve lived in, where the rules and regulations are familiar and sometimes absurd, and the big players are followers, making it up as they go along. St. Jarre has written a poignant novel that successfully bridges the gap between drama and satire.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews