Harris revisits characters from 1999's bestselling Chocolat in this equally delectable modern fairy tale. More than four years have passed since Vianne Rocher pitted her enchanted chocolate confections against the local clergy's interpretation of Lent in smalltown France; since then, Vianne has renounced magic, changed her name to Yanne Charbonneau and moved with her two daughters to Paris's Montmartre district. There, Yanne embraces conformity and safety, much to the dismay of her increasingly troubled older daughter, Anouk.
A shocking murder calls forensic scientist Simon St. James and his wife, Deborah, to an isolated island in the English Channel. An old friend of Deborah’s, China River, stands accused of killing the island’s wealthiest benefactor, Guy Brouard. Forced as a child to flee the Nazis in Paris, Brouard was engaged in his latest project when he died: a museum in honor of those who resisted the German occupation of Guernsey.
Similar in plot, style, and setting to Balzac's The Chouans, Delors' uneven second novel (following Mistress of the Revolution, 2008) bogs down under the weight of a mixture of French terms, tangential details, and a large cast of characters, most of whom are referred to by nicknames, titles, proper names, and surnames. Readers who persevere, however, will be struck by the author's evocation of eighteenth-century Paris: the physical descriptions of post-Revolutionary life, the unsavory and treacherous political climate, and the blatant injustice and corruption perpetrated under Napoléon Bonaparte.
Crocheted accessories are all the rage—and these stylish hats, created by top-notch designers, will appeal to readers of all skill levels. Even the simplest ones feature great color combinations and irresistibly textured yarns. Not only that: the stunning photography and unique presentation will enhance their appeal. All the backgrounds, from a Paris train station to an art deco building, are in evocative black and white, while the models appear in full color.
Added by: naokokt | Karma: 186.54 | Fiction literature | 11 January 2011
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The Paris Enigma: A Novel
Discriminating general readers as well as whodunit fans will enjoy this outstanding puzzler, winner of the first Casa de las Americas prize for best Latin American novel. Argentine author De Santis conjures up a veritable Justice League of 19th-century master sleuths--the 12 Detectives--who meet for the first time in Paris, at the 1889 World's Fair.
