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The Woman from Saint Germain
SUITE FRANCAISE MEETS THE FUGITIVE AS TWO STRANGERS GO ON THE RUN TO OUTWIT THE NAZIS IN 1941
She is a celebrated writer stranded in Paris after her French lover is killed fighting the German invasion. He is an enigmatic foreigner with a dangerous secret, fleeing Nazi-controlled Austria. Only the war could bring them together.
Armed with a precious first edition of Finnegans Wake and an even more precious stash of Chesterfield cigarettes to barter with, Eleanor Gorton Clarke joins the sea of refugees escaping the city for the Spanish frontier. But when a stranger kills two German soldiers to save her life, Eleanor is forced on the run with her mysterious rescuer, pursued by a vengeful detective from the Wehrmacht.
Two strangers from vastly different worlds, the unlikely pair despise each other at first. But as the ruthless hunt for the two fugitives escalates and they are forced to become allies to survive, a powerful attraction erupts between them.
As their relentless German pursuer begins to close the net, a heartbreaking discovery forces the great romantic novelist to experience something she was supposed to know all about – the true nature of love.
She is a celebrated writer stranded in Paris after her French lover is killed fighting the German invasion. He is an enigmatic foreigner with a dangerous secret, fleeing Nazi-controlled Austria. Only the war could bring them together.
Armed with a precious first edition of Finnegans Wake and an even more precious stash of Chesterfield cigarettes to barter with, Eleanor Gorton Clarke joins the sea of refugees escaping the city for the Spanish frontier. But when a stranger kills two German soldiers to save her life, Eleanor is forced on the run with her mysterious rescuer, pursued by a vengeful detective from the Wehrmacht.
Two strangers from vastly different worlds, the unlikely pair despise each other at first. But as the ruthless hunt for the two fugitives escalates and they are forced to become allies to survive, a powerful attraction erupts between them.
As their relentless German pursuer begins to close the net, a heartbreaking discovery forces the great romantic novelist to experience something she was supposed to know all about – the true nature of love.
12 pages, Audio CD
First published February 23, 2019
41 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Lonie
5 books9 followersI'm a Queenslander, even when I have been living elsewhere. This sense of place is very strong in me. I look out each day over the Brisbane River, watching it come to life from dawn onwards, the boys from Churchie rowing through the mist, then the little ferries and the smart rivercats. It's a town in which I know the what where and who without having to think about it. Soon we will be moving to Sydney because my partner has been head-hunted. Years ago, when first I left Brisbane, I didn't look back. Now I'm afraid that's all I do. But soon I am sure I will settle in down there. Instead of my river, will be Hyde Park with the beautifully restored war memorial, the spires of St. Mary's and also St. James which will be my parish church. May life continue to be so sweet. All I have to do now is finish the novel I'm writing. Nearly there.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 2, 2019
I was really enjoying this book, I mean really, really enjoying it. Then I got to the so called 'heartbreaking discovery' and went WHAT? NO! It wasn't the subject matter itself that was the problem. The lead up to it just made it not ring true, and it changed the whole tone of the book. Yes, I got annoyed! But then again maybe that's what the author wanted?
Anyway, to the book. We have Eleanor, an American author living in Paris at the time WW2 breaks out. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor she decides that German occupied Paris isn't the safest place to be, so tries to get out, heading south towards the Spanish border. She is with a group of others refugees including Henk, who she takes an instant dislike to. However, when they get separated from the rest, and he saves her life, they find themselves stuck with each other, and on the run from the Gestapo.
Look, I'm not going to say much more, except they, especially Eleanor, make some really stupid decisions. While I enjoyed them bickering like an old married couple, the places they decide to argue just defy logic. They seem to have no sense of place, and honestly deserved to get caught and shot early in the book. This book has many good qualities, and I did like the characters, despite their silliness. Yet 24 hours after finishing it, I'm still shaking my head, trying to figure what to make of it.
Anyway, I'll leave you with it to make up your own minds, but what I would have had as a 4 to 4.5 star book, I'm reducing to a 3 through sheer irritation.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for a copy to read and review. The opinions are entirely my own.
Anyway, to the book. We have Eleanor, an American author living in Paris at the time WW2 breaks out. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor she decides that German occupied Paris isn't the safest place to be, so tries to get out, heading south towards the Spanish border. She is with a group of others refugees including Henk, who she takes an instant dislike to. However, when they get separated from the rest, and he saves her life, they find themselves stuck with each other, and on the run from the Gestapo.
Look, I'm not going to say much more, except they, especially Eleanor, make some really stupid decisions. While I enjoyed them bickering like an old married couple, the places they decide to argue just defy logic. They seem to have no sense of place, and honestly deserved to get caught and shot early in the book. This book has many good qualities, and I did like the characters, despite their silliness. Yet 24 hours after finishing it, I'm still shaking my head, trying to figure what to make of it.
Anyway, I'll leave you with it to make up your own minds, but what I would have had as a 4 to 4.5 star book, I'm reducing to a 3 through sheer irritation.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for a copy to read and review. The opinions are entirely my own.
March 5, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
3.5 stars
J.R. Lonie is a well regarded Australian script editor, screenwriter and playwright. He also happens to be one of the writers on A Place to Call Home, a favourite television series of my mine. I was excited to receive a copy of The Woman from Saint Germain, based on my interest in the era (1941) and locale (occupied WWII France). The narration is primarily focussed on Eleanor Gorton Clarke, an American woman and writer, who has resided in Paris for many years. When Eleanor decides enough is enough, her beloved Paris is becoming overrun by the Germans, she decides to flee the country for the Spanish border. This is a perilous and eventful journey, full of obstacles and interesting figures. Eleanor becomes acquainted with a dangerous stranger and the twosome find themselves pursued by a determined Wehrmacht detective. Eleanor and Henk make an interesting couple and this story is flagged by love, survival, determination, intrigue, espionage, action, adventure and hope. Marked by a clear timeline (date, time and location) heading each chapter opening, I appreciated this historical fiction timepiece. Don’t forget to check out the insightful author’s note at the end of the book.
*Thanks is extended to Better Reading/Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
3.5 stars
J.R. Lonie is a well regarded Australian script editor, screenwriter and playwright. He also happens to be one of the writers on A Place to Call Home, a favourite television series of my mine. I was excited to receive a copy of The Woman from Saint Germain, based on my interest in the era (1941) and locale (occupied WWII France). The narration is primarily focussed on Eleanor Gorton Clarke, an American woman and writer, who has resided in Paris for many years. When Eleanor decides enough is enough, her beloved Paris is becoming overrun by the Germans, she decides to flee the country for the Spanish border. This is a perilous and eventful journey, full of obstacles and interesting figures. Eleanor becomes acquainted with a dangerous stranger and the twosome find themselves pursued by a determined Wehrmacht detective. Eleanor and Henk make an interesting couple and this story is flagged by love, survival, determination, intrigue, espionage, action, adventure and hope. Marked by a clear timeline (date, time and location) heading each chapter opening, I appreciated this historical fiction timepiece. Don’t forget to check out the insightful author’s note at the end of the book.
*Thanks is extended to Better Reading/Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
March 2, 2019
4.5★s
The Woman from Saint Germain is a novel by Australian author J.R. Lonie (aka John Lonie, screenwriter, playwright and script editor). It’s 1941 and published American author, Eleanor Gorton Clarke has been living in Paris for over twenty years. But now Paris is occupied by the Germans, and the climate has become rather less friendly for Americans and decidedly dangerous for Eleanor’s Jewish acquaintances. Both she and her favourite English-language bookshop, Shakespeare and Company, have attracted the unwelcome attention of a certain Nazi Major, so it’s time to leave.
But leaving turns out to be more of a challenge than she had anticipated, especially as she carries in her pocket the first edition of James Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake on which Major Krolow had fixated. Then circumstances conspire to wed her fates to those of an objectionable young man, a sneering, if attractive, communist Jew named Henk. Neither is happy about the situation, but it seems they are on the run from the Nazis together.
When Secret Field Police Captain Anton Bauer hears about the disappearance of two Wehrmacht Landsers near Nevers, he quickly takes on the case. His role is Criminal Investigation and when their bodies turn up in the River Allier, he has a murder inquiry on his hands. As he treads a careful line between the Gendarmes and the Gestapo, all the while relying on virtually no sleep and heavy use of methamphetamine to keep him operating, the two dead soldiers come to represent, in his mind at least, his sons, both soldiers fighting on different battle fronts.
Initially the narrative is Eleanor’s, but a quarter of the way in, it alternates with events from Bauer’s perspective as he hunts for his killers; then there are occasional peeks into the rather enigmatic thoughts of young Henk. While he plays a significant role, the reader knows him principally through what he chooses to reveal to Eleanor.
Eleanor is a complex character, fiercely independent, but also weighed down by the burden of grief and loneliness for her dead lover. Scathingly critical, in her thoughts, of Henk with his kitten, she herself gets away with doing some incredibly stupid things, many of which point to her unrelenting vanity and American arrogance.
Bauer’s position is an interesting one, probably not often thought about, and his agenda is quite different to that of the other occupiers: the soldiers, and the Gestapo. He often reveals a more human side to the occupying force.
The story is perhaps a little slow at the start, and sometimes feels a bit repetitive; while certain parts of the plot are a little predictable, there’s a twist that will surprise even the most astute reader (and about which not all readers will not be pleased).
Because most of the story takes place over a period of two weeks during 1941, with an epilogue-like chapter in 1943, the fate of certain characters and the aftermath of some actions is never known, so the feeling of things unresolved may irritate some readers. A map showing the Vichy and Occupied areas of France and the main towns featured would have been an appreciated inclusion. As the chase hots up in the final chapters, this novel proves impossible to put down.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Simon & Schuster Australia
The Woman from Saint Germain is a novel by Australian author J.R. Lonie (aka John Lonie, screenwriter, playwright and script editor). It’s 1941 and published American author, Eleanor Gorton Clarke has been living in Paris for over twenty years. But now Paris is occupied by the Germans, and the climate has become rather less friendly for Americans and decidedly dangerous for Eleanor’s Jewish acquaintances. Both she and her favourite English-language bookshop, Shakespeare and Company, have attracted the unwelcome attention of a certain Nazi Major, so it’s time to leave.
But leaving turns out to be more of a challenge than she had anticipated, especially as she carries in her pocket the first edition of James Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake on which Major Krolow had fixated. Then circumstances conspire to wed her fates to those of an objectionable young man, a sneering, if attractive, communist Jew named Henk. Neither is happy about the situation, but it seems they are on the run from the Nazis together.
When Secret Field Police Captain Anton Bauer hears about the disappearance of two Wehrmacht Landsers near Nevers, he quickly takes on the case. His role is Criminal Investigation and when their bodies turn up in the River Allier, he has a murder inquiry on his hands. As he treads a careful line between the Gendarmes and the Gestapo, all the while relying on virtually no sleep and heavy use of methamphetamine to keep him operating, the two dead soldiers come to represent, in his mind at least, his sons, both soldiers fighting on different battle fronts.
Initially the narrative is Eleanor’s, but a quarter of the way in, it alternates with events from Bauer’s perspective as he hunts for his killers; then there are occasional peeks into the rather enigmatic thoughts of young Henk. While he plays a significant role, the reader knows him principally through what he chooses to reveal to Eleanor.
Eleanor is a complex character, fiercely independent, but also weighed down by the burden of grief and loneliness for her dead lover. Scathingly critical, in her thoughts, of Henk with his kitten, she herself gets away with doing some incredibly stupid things, many of which point to her unrelenting vanity and American arrogance.
Bauer’s position is an interesting one, probably not often thought about, and his agenda is quite different to that of the other occupiers: the soldiers, and the Gestapo. He often reveals a more human side to the occupying force.
The story is perhaps a little slow at the start, and sometimes feels a bit repetitive; while certain parts of the plot are a little predictable, there’s a twist that will surprise even the most astute reader (and about which not all readers will not be pleased).
Because most of the story takes place over a period of two weeks during 1941, with an epilogue-like chapter in 1943, the fate of certain characters and the aftermath of some actions is never known, so the feeling of things unresolved may irritate some readers. A map showing the Vichy and Occupied areas of France and the main towns featured would have been an appreciated inclusion. As the chase hots up in the final chapters, this novel proves impossible to put down.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Simon & Schuster Australia
April 6, 2019
I was so excited to read this book and then I started reading it... I was expecting it to be action-packed, with taut and tense writing but I just didn't get that feeling. My response was "Okay, when is something going to happen?" I kept reading because even though it was moving slowly, I did feel like the story was going somewhere... and then the ending killed it for me. The writer's agenda became so clear and overtook the story in a sense that did not agree with me, particularly the climax and resolution for the main character. I don't like reading 75% of a book and then a tangent becomes the main storyline, it is very offputting. I was hoping to love it, I have loved the author's work on TV series (but even then there is an agenda), but sadly, it left me rather empty and disappointed. 3 stars.
July 17, 2019
I cannot give this book a higher rating than one star. There is just too much in it that is unlikely, illogical or just downright stupid.
The "heroine" is waiting to cross the Pyrenees and regain her freedom. Her stash of US dollars is dwindling rapidly but what does she do? She buys a large bottle of luxury perfume then goes to get her hair done. Really? When the French and German police are already on your tail?
She has a large supply of American cigarettes but often smokes only half a cigarette, throwing away the remainder. And, of course, the butts are found by those who are trying to capture her...
She spends most of the book detesting the young man she is travelling with then suddenly, in an about face that would do credit to a Harlequin/Mills & Boon romance novel, falls in love with him.
No, this book is really not a good read and I would not recommend it.
The "heroine" is waiting to cross the Pyrenees and regain her freedom. Her stash of US dollars is dwindling rapidly but what does she do? She buys a large bottle of luxury perfume then goes to get her hair done. Really? When the French and German police are already on your tail?
She has a large supply of American cigarettes but often smokes only half a cigarette, throwing away the remainder. And, of course, the butts are found by those who are trying to capture her...
She spends most of the book detesting the young man she is travelling with then suddenly, in an about face that would do credit to a Harlequin/Mills & Boon romance novel, falls in love with him.
No, this book is really not a good read and I would not recommend it.
February 12, 2019
Thank you Better Reading for my ARC. This books is interesting in that the story is told from several view points, Eleanor, an American stranded in Paris when Germany invades, a young German soldier on the run, and the German policeman trying to track the pair down as they try to escape France. I'm not sure if the author wanted to show what Eleanor, as an ordinary person, would do in an extraordinary situation, or whether I just didn't warm to her, but I found her vain and unconvincing as she falls in love with her fellow escapee, and makes the most ridiculous decisions given that she is on the run. I did, however, enjoy the historical aspects of the book.
February 21, 2019
Thank you #BRPreview for this advanced copy to review.
It has taken me some time to be able to find the right words to honestly review The Woman from Saint Germain. I was so excited to grip my teeth in to this book
and unfortunately, I started to lack enthusiasm quite early.
The Woman from Saint Germain follows Eleanor and Henk trying to escape Paris whilst on the run from police after the death of two Germain Soldiers.
In my opinion Lonie has cleverly written on this time from a new angle, focusing on different relationships and characters but unfortunately it was a slow burn for me.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction. I just hope they warm to the character of Eleanor better than I did.
2.5 stars.
It has taken me some time to be able to find the right words to honestly review The Woman from Saint Germain. I was so excited to grip my teeth in to this book
and unfortunately, I started to lack enthusiasm quite early.
The Woman from Saint Germain follows Eleanor and Henk trying to escape Paris whilst on the run from police after the death of two Germain Soldiers.
In my opinion Lonie has cleverly written on this time from a new angle, focusing on different relationships and characters but unfortunately it was a slow burn for me.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction. I just hope they warm to the character of Eleanor better than I did.
2.5 stars.
April 17, 2020
I really liked it. I thought the fact that Eleanor was so vain and arrogant just made her a rich, entitled fully formed character. I liked seeing ww2 through the eyes of an Amercian loving in Paris, a French policeman, and the German outcast. I loved Bauer, haven’t we all made bargains with God...I really felt the atmosphere of suspicion and desperation that would have been present in 1941 German occupied France. I felt it really captured survival in wartime. I also really loved seeing Shakespeare and Company, a nice nod to book love. It was a great book to read now, comfortable and feeling sorry for myself because I’m social isolating.
February 15, 2021
Very difficult to review this book! The characters were flat and hard to engage with or care about. The plot twist felt clumsy and I really struggled with the authenticity of the story. Some of it grabbed me but sadly a book I wouldn’t recommend.
Read
March 6, 2019I'm not going to rate this, I dnf at page 311, this was not the right book for me. I did skip to the end just to see what happened, but I couldn't bring myself to continue reading.
February 15, 2019
The Woman from Saint Germain is a tautly paced cat-and-mouse chase, with the main protagonists, Eleanor Gorton Clarke and her enigmatic rescuer, fleeing across France to Spain in a bid to escape the Nazi occupation. Eleanor and her mysterious companion are hunted down by a dogged detective from the Wehrmacht - the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany. Touching on themes of relationships, family, religion, politics, society, bigotry and love the book takes you on a journey.
I found The Woman From Saint Germain to be a slow burn and it took me several starts to get into the story - mainly because I found it hard to connect with Eleanor, finding her vain, insensitive, frivolous and entitled. I had to mull over this review for a couple of days because I didn’t love the book, mostly because I didn’t like the characters and was undecided how to rate it. However upon reflection, ultimately I did enjoy the book as I found myself rooting for these unlikeable escapees, becoming invested in how their story would end - which is a testament to J.R. Lonie’s writing. I enjoyed the use of alternating perspectives of the hunted and the hunter and the changes in chapter lengths that added to the tension of the chase. There were some unexpected twists which I thought played out well and I enjoyed how the enigmatic rescuer’s background was slowly revealed layer-by-layer, which helped to reel me in and keep me intrigued until the very end. The author captured vivid details of the landscape and various stopping points allowing the reader to be swept up on the treacherous journey, sympathising with how rough people were living as a result of the perilous times and appreciating how danger lurked at every corner and down every path and how some people were more than eager to take advantage of other people’s misery and misfortune, while the good in others was also brought to light.
I found myself throwing my hands up in the air in protest and frustration at how baffling Eleanor and her fellow escapee behaved at times and some of the seemingly illogical choices they made, but I suppose they were ordinary people and ordinary people make mistakes - especially under pressure. Having to leave their old lives behind and experiencing what they have already survived through, you could probably forgive them (a little) for trying to retain some of their old comforts, vanities and habits. Parts of the book I found initially unconvincing, in particular the unlikely connection that struck up between Eleanor and her fellow escapee, but by the end of the book it made a bit more sense. The character development made the book a lot more enjoyable. I thought the transformation that the three main characters - Eleanor, Henk and Bauer - underwent was quite interesting. Whereas Eleanor redeemed herself in some ways and Henk became more relatable, Bauer started to unravel.
Despite not warming to any of the characters and starting off slow, I found The Woman From Saint Germain a good read in the end and appreciated the historical references and character evolution and for this reason rated it 3.5-4 stars
Thank you Better Reading for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
I found The Woman From Saint Germain to be a slow burn and it took me several starts to get into the story - mainly because I found it hard to connect with Eleanor, finding her vain, insensitive, frivolous and entitled. I had to mull over this review for a couple of days because I didn’t love the book, mostly because I didn’t like the characters and was undecided how to rate it. However upon reflection, ultimately I did enjoy the book as I found myself rooting for these unlikeable escapees, becoming invested in how their story would end - which is a testament to J.R. Lonie’s writing. I enjoyed the use of alternating perspectives of the hunted and the hunter and the changes in chapter lengths that added to the tension of the chase. There were some unexpected twists which I thought played out well and I enjoyed how the enigmatic rescuer’s background was slowly revealed layer-by-layer, which helped to reel me in and keep me intrigued until the very end. The author captured vivid details of the landscape and various stopping points allowing the reader to be swept up on the treacherous journey, sympathising with how rough people were living as a result of the perilous times and appreciating how danger lurked at every corner and down every path and how some people were more than eager to take advantage of other people’s misery and misfortune, while the good in others was also brought to light.
I found myself throwing my hands up in the air in protest and frustration at how baffling Eleanor and her fellow escapee behaved at times and some of the seemingly illogical choices they made, but I suppose they were ordinary people and ordinary people make mistakes - especially under pressure. Having to leave their old lives behind and experiencing what they have already survived through, you could probably forgive them (a little) for trying to retain some of their old comforts, vanities and habits. Parts of the book I found initially unconvincing, in particular the unlikely connection that struck up between Eleanor and her fellow escapee, but by the end of the book it made a bit more sense. The character development made the book a lot more enjoyable. I thought the transformation that the three main characters - Eleanor, Henk and Bauer - underwent was quite interesting. Whereas Eleanor redeemed herself in some ways and Henk became more relatable, Bauer started to unravel.
Despite not warming to any of the characters and starting off slow, I found The Woman From Saint Germain a good read in the end and appreciated the historical references and character evolution and for this reason rated it 3.5-4 stars
Thank you Better Reading for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
March 21, 2019
I liked this cat and mouse historical fiction story set in France during WWII. It was engaging and the pace picked up about a quarter of the way through so that I really wanted to know if Bauer was going to catch Eleanor and Henk. The idea and the story were really good, but I did find the writing a bit clunky at times, particularly in the first 100 pages or so. I didn't find .
I also found it ridiculously frustrating how often Eleanor pulled out her Chesterfield cigarettes...hiding from the Nazis, I'll just have a cigarette because the smoke isn't going to attract their attention at all...trying to hide that she's American, I'll just wave around my American cigarettes for everyone to see...surely no-one could be that foolish, especially during wartime, but I guess she did also waste most of her money on perfume and getting her hair done, so frivolity was part of her nature.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I also found it ridiculously frustrating how often Eleanor pulled out her Chesterfield cigarettes...hiding from the Nazis, I'll just have a cigarette because the smoke isn't going to attract their attention at all...trying to hide that she's American, I'll just wave around my American cigarettes for everyone to see...surely no-one could be that foolish, especially during wartime, but I guess she did also waste most of her money on perfume and getting her hair done, so frivolity was part of her nature.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2019
I’m a big lover of WWI & II fiction, even if the subject is one we’ve all heard many times before, but unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. The book spans a few days in the life of Eleanor and it flits between her point of view to others. I usually like this way of writing but I didn’t find this book overly clear as to who was talking at each point and I got a bit lost. Although, I did enjoy hearing the perspective of an American born person being in German-occupied France having to bury her way out of the occupied zone to seek safety, it’s certainly not a point of view that I’ve read about before. I had a really good month of reading which included ‘The Book Thief’ so I’m wondering if reading this book at the same time as others that I loved has affected my opinion...
February 5, 2020
After a slow start, the intensity, the drama, the race all picked up. Another original story woven around WWII. Lots of emotional complexities, a few leaps of faith and a good dollop of good luck (or bad depending on your perspective) keep you turning the pages.
3 1/2 stars
3 1/2 stars
August 4, 2019
4.5 Stars! A slow start but stunning!
February 15, 2019
Thank you Better Reading for this ARC.
Refugees trying to escape from occupied France into Spain during WWII is an interesting topic, and it's obvious Lonie has done his research in regards to this aspect of the story. Unfortunately, the potential for an outstanding story is somewhat lost because of book's protagonist. I understand that Lonie wanted to make Eleanor an over-confident American with a temper, used to getting her own way, but I found no depth of character there, no nuance, so that Eleanor is instead no more than a caricature of the Ugly American, with unbelievable dialogue and behaviour that would have gotten her shot in no time. This is not the case with other characters – I found Bauer, for example, particularly well-drawn.
Interestingly, once the characters reach Pau, I noticed a marked difference in the way Eleanor is portrayed, so that Lonie is able to successfully build up the tension to a satisfying ending. Three stars because of those last chapters.
Refugees trying to escape from occupied France into Spain during WWII is an interesting topic, and it's obvious Lonie has done his research in regards to this aspect of the story. Unfortunately, the potential for an outstanding story is somewhat lost because of book's protagonist. I understand that Lonie wanted to make Eleanor an over-confident American with a temper, used to getting her own way, but I found no depth of character there, no nuance, so that Eleanor is instead no more than a caricature of the Ugly American, with unbelievable dialogue and behaviour that would have gotten her shot in no time. This is not the case with other characters – I found Bauer, for example, particularly well-drawn.
Interestingly, once the characters reach Pau, I noticed a marked difference in the way Eleanor is portrayed, so that Lonie is able to successfully build up the tension to a satisfying ending. Three stars because of those last chapters.
April 18, 2019
This is quite a tense book, an 'on the run' and 'on the road' book, as an American woman tries to flee Nazi occupied France to get back to America after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. At first she thinks she will find it relatively easy, given Germany isn't at war with America, but shortly after that Germany does declare war on America. The race is now on for Eleanor Clarke to find passage out of France by whatever means she can. She inadvertently partners up with a younger man, Henk. They become uneasy allies, not really liking each other, sometimes irrationally so IMHO, but two are better than one and they end up depending on each other.
There were a few weaknesses in the story. Eleanor persists in smoking Chesterfields at a time when the Gestapo are searching for an American woman who smokes American cigarettes, at times using them as bribes and currency. She also wastes precious money on perfume when funds are vital for bribes and such to purchase their passages. I thought something like that would be too ridiculous for the vainest woman to even contemplate - even though she is labelled as vain. Then she wears the perfume, liberally, and the Gestapo also pick up on that clue. When the search for them reaches the mountains, Eleanor doesn't seem to realise she shouldn't scent herself or smoke, as both things would be smelled by their pursuers. She also asks the waiters openly at cafes and hotels and such about buying passages/hiring guides to leave. She seems here quite reckless, and it does lead them into peril a few times, only staying one small step ahead of their hunters.
Henk has rescued a kitten, and so they become quite a distinctive pair: the man with the kitten and the American woman who really does stand out.
Still, against the odds, it is a tense race against time and the Gestapo, who become incredibly dogged about keeping on their trail.
There's a pretty good twist towards the end I certainly didn't expect, and that upped the odds even more. Very exciting to read throughout. I did like the initial nod to the bookshop Shakespeare & Company in Paris, and then the interesting addition of a rare first edition of 'Finnegan's Wake' by James Joyce to Eleanor's essential luggage. Thankyou to Beauty & Lace Book Club and Simon & Schuster for the review copy.
There were a few weaknesses in the story. Eleanor persists in smoking Chesterfields at a time when the Gestapo are searching for an American woman who smokes American cigarettes, at times using them as bribes and currency. She also wastes precious money on perfume when funds are vital for bribes and such to purchase their passages. I thought something like that would be too ridiculous for the vainest woman to even contemplate - even though she is labelled as vain. Then she wears the perfume, liberally, and the Gestapo also pick up on that clue. When the search for them reaches the mountains, Eleanor doesn't seem to realise she shouldn't scent herself or smoke, as both things would be smelled by their pursuers. She also asks the waiters openly at cafes and hotels and such about buying passages/hiring guides to leave. She seems here quite reckless, and it does lead them into peril a few times, only staying one small step ahead of their hunters.
Henk has rescued a kitten, and so they become quite a distinctive pair: the man with the kitten and the American woman who really does stand out.
Still, against the odds, it is a tense race against time and the Gestapo, who become incredibly dogged about keeping on their trail.
There's a pretty good twist towards the end I certainly didn't expect, and that upped the odds even more. Very exciting to read throughout. I did like the initial nod to the bookshop Shakespeare & Company in Paris, and then the interesting addition of a rare first edition of 'Finnegan's Wake' by James Joyce to Eleanor's essential luggage. Thankyou to Beauty & Lace Book Club and Simon & Schuster for the review copy.
February 26, 2019
I feel I need to preface this review by stating I read my advanced copy of The Woman from Saint Germain from #BRPreview immediately after finishing The Book Thief, which I loved. Unfortunately, I was immediately challenged by my immense dislike of J.R. Lonie’s main character Eleanor and feeling a strong lack of engagement with the story. Eleanor’s brash, vain and egotistical Americanisms was intensely irritating and Lonie gave her very few redeeming characters until almost the end of the book. He did redeem himself however with his other main characters, Henk, Eleanor’s travelling companion and fellow fugitive, and Detective Bauer, who is driven to track down the killers of the 2 German soldiers. Both characters were likable and believable, and I weirdly wanted both to succeed in their respective goal to outwit each other.
I’m glad I persevered with the book despite the number of times it felt like more like an advertisement for Chesterfield cigarettes and Lancôme perfumes than a historical novel based in my favourite time and place for reading. The last few twists and turns were intriguing and I felt slightly more at ease with the book in the concluding chapters.
I’m glad I persevered with the book despite the number of times it felt like more like an advertisement for Chesterfield cigarettes and Lancôme perfumes than a historical novel based in my favourite time and place for reading. The last few twists and turns were intriguing and I felt slightly more at ease with the book in the concluding chapters.
February 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and I grew to love the two main characters, Henk & Eleanor. I also admired his portrayal of the Nazi Bauer; not a one sided personality but a man with love and also evil intent existing together in the one complex man. At first I found Henk & Eleanor both very annoying and somewhat self centred. The fact that Henk kept a kitten hidden with him on his escape actually annoyed me just as much as it did Eleanor. I kept a map of France close at hand as I followed their escape attempts. Like many great historical fiction novels, this fine novel taught me so much about life in WW2 France. I could almost smell the Lancôme perfume bought by Eleanor with her quickly evaporating dollars. Without giving anything away, the final few chapters were incredibly poignant and well thought out. I do hope JR Lonie is working on his next novel.
March 30, 2019
I received this book from Simon & Schuster as a Good Reads giveaway. Pleased I read it as I like reading books that take place during WWII.
Eleanor Gordon Clarke is a writer stranded in Paris who is thrown together with Henk. They are forced on the run among many other refugees. I particularly liked the importance of books and bookshops through out the story, as well as the items that became valuable (to barter in life or death situations).
The story becomes very cat and mouse as they are chased from trains to hiding places as they attempt to escape into Spain. There are a few surprises along the way.
Eleanor Gordon Clarke is a writer stranded in Paris who is thrown together with Henk. They are forced on the run among many other refugees. I particularly liked the importance of books and bookshops through out the story, as well as the items that became valuable (to barter in life or death situations).
The story becomes very cat and mouse as they are chased from trains to hiding places as they attempt to escape into Spain. There are a few surprises along the way.
June 23, 2019
Blurb from web:
She is a celebrated writer stranded in Paris after her French lover is killed fighting the German invasion. He is an enigmatic foreigner with a dangerous secret, fleeing Nazi-controlled Austria. Only the war could bring them together.
Armed with a precious first edition of Finnegans Wake and an even more precious stash of Chesterfield cigarettes to barter with, Eleanor Gorton Clarke joins the sea of refugees escaping the city for the Spanish frontier. But when a stranger kills two German soldiers to save her life, Eleanor is forced on the run with her mysterious rescuer, pursued by a vengeful detective from the Wehrmacht.
Two strangers from vastly different worlds, the unlikely pair despise each other at first. But as the ruthless hunt for the two fugitives escalates and they are forced to become allies to survive, a powerful attraction erupts between them.
As their relentless German pursuer begins to close the net, a heartbreaking discovery forces the great romantic novelist to experience something she was supposed to know all about – the true nature of love.
My views:
This book gave me the shits. The writing was clunky - I kept Re reading paragraphs to see who was talking.
I found the storyline and protagonist irritating. Eleanor was a conceited American without any sense whatsoever. Always bringing out her chesterfield cigarettes giving away her nationality. When I didn’t think it could be more annoying, she then spends most of her remaining francs on expensive perfume and getting her hair done?! So unlikely in this time period, and so risky in what was meant to be a tense moment of the novel.
I did like Henk and the German police officer/captain Bauer as they had 3 dimensional characters unlike Eleanor.
It was almost as though the author hated women and thought them as silly.
THEN Henk turns out to be gay.
And Eleanor at the end returns to America with his baby.
Please.
Disappointing book and a frustrating read.
She is a celebrated writer stranded in Paris after her French lover is killed fighting the German invasion. He is an enigmatic foreigner with a dangerous secret, fleeing Nazi-controlled Austria. Only the war could bring them together.
Armed with a precious first edition of Finnegans Wake and an even more precious stash of Chesterfield cigarettes to barter with, Eleanor Gorton Clarke joins the sea of refugees escaping the city for the Spanish frontier. But when a stranger kills two German soldiers to save her life, Eleanor is forced on the run with her mysterious rescuer, pursued by a vengeful detective from the Wehrmacht.
Two strangers from vastly different worlds, the unlikely pair despise each other at first. But as the ruthless hunt for the two fugitives escalates and they are forced to become allies to survive, a powerful attraction erupts between them.
As their relentless German pursuer begins to close the net, a heartbreaking discovery forces the great romantic novelist to experience something she was supposed to know all about – the true nature of love.
My views:
This book gave me the shits. The writing was clunky - I kept Re reading paragraphs to see who was talking.
I found the storyline and protagonist irritating. Eleanor was a conceited American without any sense whatsoever. Always bringing out her chesterfield cigarettes giving away her nationality. When I didn’t think it could be more annoying, she then spends most of her remaining francs on expensive perfume and getting her hair done?! So unlikely in this time period, and so risky in what was meant to be a tense moment of the novel.
I did like Henk and the German police officer/captain Bauer as they had 3 dimensional characters unlike Eleanor.
It was almost as though the author hated women and thought them as silly.
THEN Henk turns out to be gay.
And Eleanor at the end returns to America with his baby.
Please.
Disappointing book and a frustrating read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2020
At first I thought Eleanor was nothing but a stuck up, arrogant and privileged American who thought her money could buy anything and get her anywhere!!!! Her feelings towards Henk (and his cat) were nothing more than some snob looking down their nose at someone less fortunate than they.
The book is set in German occupied Paris. The Americans are about to join the war. Eleanor is stuck after the death of her lover, she is alone. She must flee Paris and head south. A dangerous journey to get across the demarcation line and then into Spain. A young man saves her life when she becomes lost in a fog and is discovered by two German soldiers. Now both their lives are in great danger and plans must change. Enter in the scenario Bauer, a German detective he’ll bent on finding the murderer of the two young German soldiers. This is a tale of cat and mouse. It is also a tale of two opposites who are thrown together by fate and do what ever it takes to survive. Once I got over the initial dislike of Eleanor, this book became absorbing. War torn France was a harsh place to live. You learnt not to trust anyone as even your neighbours turned on you. This book is well written And well worth the read.
The book is set in German occupied Paris. The Americans are about to join the war. Eleanor is stuck after the death of her lover, she is alone. She must flee Paris and head south. A dangerous journey to get across the demarcation line and then into Spain. A young man saves her life when she becomes lost in a fog and is discovered by two German soldiers. Now both their lives are in great danger and plans must change. Enter in the scenario Bauer, a German detective he’ll bent on finding the murderer of the two young German soldiers. This is a tale of cat and mouse. It is also a tale of two opposites who are thrown together by fate and do what ever it takes to survive. Once I got over the initial dislike of Eleanor, this book became absorbing. War torn France was a harsh place to live. You learnt not to trust anyone as even your neighbours turned on you. This book is well written And well worth the read.
February 27, 2019
When we meet Eleanor, she is an American novelist who has chosen to stay in German-occupied Paris, trying to write her next novel. However before long it is made clear to her that she would be wise to leave France and return home, something which she soon finds is easier said than done, in spite of having an American passport, American dollars and boxes of Chesterfield cigarettes to barter with. On a train packed with other refugees she crosses swords with a young man also seeking to escape the Germans, and they become unwilling partners as they try to find their way across France and into Spain.
I thought the book took a while to gain momentum, but once Eleanor and the young man start moving, so does the book. The author has obviously done his research and I found the information brought to light about Vichy France, where the Germans left France nominally in full sovereignty, fascinating. The German captain Bauer, chasing our refuge-seekers, is an interesting and complex character, especially in contrast to his corporal, your standard Nazi villain.
Thank you #BRPreview for this advanced copy to review. I recommend this book.
I thought the book took a while to gain momentum, but once Eleanor and the young man start moving, so does the book. The author has obviously done his research and I found the information brought to light about Vichy France, where the Germans left France nominally in full sovereignty, fascinating. The German captain Bauer, chasing our refuge-seekers, is an interesting and complex character, especially in contrast to his corporal, your standard Nazi villain.
Thank you #BRPreview for this advanced copy to review. I recommend this book.
March 5, 2019
Thank you Better Reading for my ARC.
World War 2 novels are my favourite genre so I was quite excited to read this book but was somewhat disappointed. Starting in Paris with an American novelist, Eleanor as the central character who is surviving German occupied Paris quite well until Pearl Harbour happens. Eleanor decides to flee to Spain and then travel home to the US. Along the way she meets Henk, a half Jewish German also wanting to flee France to Spain. Eleanor and Henk help each other through many dangerous situations that ultimately make them the focus of a German officer who is an ex-policeman and is hunting them down before they escape to Spain.
The book is divided between the German officer and Eleanor’s point of views. The chapters are quite short as they cover very short time periods which seem to draw the story out and became a little tedious. I liked Eleanor’s character but found it hard to empathise with her motivations to help Henk who was a continual thorn in her side. Eleanor turned to her religious faith many times when her actions were questionable, making an interesting contrast in her character.
World War 2 novels are my favourite genre so I was quite excited to read this book but was somewhat disappointed. Starting in Paris with an American novelist, Eleanor as the central character who is surviving German occupied Paris quite well until Pearl Harbour happens. Eleanor decides to flee to Spain and then travel home to the US. Along the way she meets Henk, a half Jewish German also wanting to flee France to Spain. Eleanor and Henk help each other through many dangerous situations that ultimately make them the focus of a German officer who is an ex-policeman and is hunting them down before they escape to Spain.
The book is divided between the German officer and Eleanor’s point of views. The chapters are quite short as they cover very short time periods which seem to draw the story out and became a little tedious. I liked Eleanor’s character but found it hard to empathise with her motivations to help Henk who was a continual thorn in her side. Eleanor turned to her religious faith many times when her actions were questionable, making an interesting contrast in her character.
March 6, 2019
Two of my favourite things…… historical fiction about WW2 and written by an Aussie author.
I did find the beginning of the book a bit hard to get into and restarted reading but once Major Krolow (a German) wanted to buy the first edition of James Joyce’s ‘Finnegan’s Wake’, and it was not for sale….. I got hooked. I was yelling in my head “Give him the book…. your going to die….what are you thinking woman”.
And so the adventure begins of the arrogant American woman, Eleanor trying to escape France by heading south into Spain. And along the way she meets Henk with his little kitten and they become a team.
All up I enjoyed the book and thought both Henk and Bauer (the German officer chasing the main characters) my favourites. The narrative by Eleanor and Bauer kept the pace of the book flowing.
I didn’t think their adventures were believable but I wasn’t there during the war. I enjoyed reading how the locals along the way help Eleanor and Henk escape the Germans through France.
All up, it was an easy read that got you thinking about the past and how people survived during a very dangerous time in our past.
I did find the beginning of the book a bit hard to get into and restarted reading but once Major Krolow (a German) wanted to buy the first edition of James Joyce’s ‘Finnegan’s Wake’, and it was not for sale….. I got hooked. I was yelling in my head “Give him the book…. your going to die….what are you thinking woman”.
And so the adventure begins of the arrogant American woman, Eleanor trying to escape France by heading south into Spain. And along the way she meets Henk with his little kitten and they become a team.
All up I enjoyed the book and thought both Henk and Bauer (the German officer chasing the main characters) my favourites. The narrative by Eleanor and Bauer kept the pace of the book flowing.
I didn’t think their adventures were believable but I wasn’t there during the war. I enjoyed reading how the locals along the way help Eleanor and Henk escape the Germans through France.
All up, it was an easy read that got you thinking about the past and how people survived during a very dangerous time in our past.
February 18, 2019
Thanks to Better Reading for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Eleanor Clarke an American writer living in Paris tries to escape France when the Americans enter the war. A first edition of James Joyce’s ‘Finnigans Wake’ and a German Major from the security service who wants it. Eleanor with her first edition pays to escape Paris with a group of refugees. She ends up on the run from the Germans after one of the refugees, Henk, kills two German soldiers saving Eleanor’s life. An unlikely chemistry between the two develops as they attempt their escape to Spain.
I found Eleanor a hard character to bond with as she is vain, makes rash decisions without thought or consequence to anyone else even in life death situations.
I love reading historical fiction and I did enjoy the historical aspects of the book but unfortunately I found it a little fanciful in some of the situations Eleanor gets herself into. Rating of 3.5
Eleanor Clarke an American writer living in Paris tries to escape France when the Americans enter the war. A first edition of James Joyce’s ‘Finnigans Wake’ and a German Major from the security service who wants it. Eleanor with her first edition pays to escape Paris with a group of refugees. She ends up on the run from the Germans after one of the refugees, Henk, kills two German soldiers saving Eleanor’s life. An unlikely chemistry between the two develops as they attempt their escape to Spain.
I found Eleanor a hard character to bond with as she is vain, makes rash decisions without thought or consequence to anyone else even in life death situations.
I love reading historical fiction and I did enjoy the historical aspects of the book but unfortunately I found it a little fanciful in some of the situations Eleanor gets herself into. Rating of 3.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2019
Set in December 1941, The Woman from Saint Germain, is a novel blending an American woman in Paris, a mysterious younger man with a deadly secret and a cast of interesting and unexpected characters. I didn’t think I’d enjoy this book as much as I did. Eleanor isn’t someone I typically enjoy reading about. She’s a little snobby, slightly naïve and her history as being ‘the other woman’ didn’t sit well with me. At first. It wasn’t long before I was captivated by Eleanor, Henk and the other people we met along the way. This book is written in such a way that it feels like these could be real people. The dangers they face as they try to escape from Nazi occupied Europe felt authentic and I was anxious as I read their story – the way a good book draws you in and leaves you hanging with anticipation. This is one of those books that will keep you guessing but leave you feeling satisfied when you reach the end
April 15, 2019
I was estatic to read this book the moment i read the back cover. I am obessed with books set in this time period and i thoroughly enjoy them. However this book was found wanting in many aspects which ultimately led me to not finish reading the book (something i rarely do).
1) The book is a very slow read. Despite the dramatic story it promised, it was rather plain and dull.
2) No romance occurs until 80% into the book, which for a romance novel is quite disappointing.
3) Once Henk is discovered to be gay, i lost interest dramarically. The book just lost its purpose and it honestly didnt fit the storyline and it appeared sort of random and misplaced for Henk to turn out gay.
4) The greatest disappointment is that i was mislead to believe this would be a ww2 romance of a hero and heroine that ultimately fall in love despite getting on in the wrong foot. But that doesnt happen. At all.
I had great hopes for this book, but i turned out thoroughly disappointed and decieved.
1) The book is a very slow read. Despite the dramatic story it promised, it was rather plain and dull.
2) No romance occurs until 80% into the book, which for a romance novel is quite disappointing.
3) Once Henk is discovered to be gay, i lost interest dramarically. The book just lost its purpose and it honestly didnt fit the storyline and it appeared sort of random and misplaced for Henk to turn out gay.
4) The greatest disappointment is that i was mislead to believe this would be a ww2 romance of a hero and heroine that ultimately fall in love despite getting on in the wrong foot. But that doesnt happen. At all.
I had great hopes for this book, but i turned out thoroughly disappointed and decieved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2021
I have just finished listening to 'The Woman from Saint Germaine' on audiobook, I read the book a couple of years ago but forgot about it. Listening to the narrator as Eleanor brought her to life in all her fragility, selfishness and stupidity but she was also courageous, generous and compassionate. In other words she is as complex as anyone. Slowly all the characters unfold as the journey progresses and the suspense builds. Yes some of it seemed unlikely but fact is stranger than fiction. Many people did escape WW2 Europe even though many didn't. This is the tale of two weeks in the lives of two people on the run who come together in desperate times with the hope of escape. And yes the end is a bit corny and open ended but being left with something thats a bit unsatisfying in okay, I liked it.
March 5, 2019
Thanks to Better Reading I had the chance to experience an amazing book I probably otherwise would never have looked at twice (The Woman From Saint Germain): Eleanor, a glamorous romance novelist still living in France after the death of her French lover, finally decides to leave when life under German occupation becomes dangerously difficult. Due to circumstances she finds herself on the run from the Nazis (and a dogged German detective) with an unlikely (and at first unlikeable) foreigner, trying to make it across the Spanish border. He has a lot more to his story, and through their journey acrimony turns to attachment. There's a twist toward the end that I never saw coming, and this intriguing book just leaves me wanting more (I keep wondering - what happened next?)
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