The Paper Palace (Reese's Book Club)

This book brings up childhood memories and envelops you in sun and sand 😌

The Paper Palace is one of those books I admired more than I enjoyed. The writing is genuinely beautiful, very atmospheric, very show, don’t tell. That said, I found the story a bit unsure of itself. At times it felt like it couldn’t quite decide whether it wanted to be a love story or a deeper exploration of trauma and the long shadow it casts. Eleanor is clearly the centre of the book, but there are a lot of side characters, some of whom are described in detail and then don’t really go anywhere, which left me feeling a little disconnected. Eleanor herself is a character I felt for, even when she frustrated me. Her passivity and confusion make sense when you consider her background, and in that way she feels very real. This book isn’t romantic in the traditional sense. It is much more about how our pasts shape us, and how the choices we make are often rooted in experiences we can’t fully escape.

Excellent roman. Finesse psychologique et suspense !

Great book, twists and turns and shocking family dynamics

I’ve already passed this along to my sis with the recommendation to put down whatever she’s reading to read this book. This novel was so well written and grabs you from the start. I was unaware of the subject matter and there were times where I literally gasped out loud, growled at one of the characters and used a few tissues when things became really emotional. This is an excellent read and one where I think the characters struggle and strength will stay with me.

Very interesting book, throwing up many topical issues ranging from patchwork families, to abuse and rape. Apart from these disturbing issues there are some beautiful descriptions of nature and fascinating facts about wildlife. The author is a screen writer so there is a tendency to very dramatic situations. The open ending is very thought provoking - could lead on to a sequel?

The quality of this book is unreal