Read Time:1 Minute, 47 Second
I came across this book while doing a little shopping in preparation for my trip to Paris. It had the word “Paris” in the title, so I couldn’t pass it up. Let’s call it research. And while I probably didn’t learn all too much about the Paris that I’d be visiting in a matter of weeks while reading the book, I did find myself caught up in a fascinating story.
Paris Requiem takes place in Paris in 1899. Boston law professor James Norton has been sent to Paris on his mother’s orders — to bring his younger brother and sister home to America. Rafael and Ellie have been gone too long, and their letters have been cryptic. Ellie is sick, and Raf is seeing a woman who’s not only an actress but is a Jew as well. It’s time for them to come home.
Once James arrives in Paris, he finds himself caught up in a murder investigation — the woman his brother loved, an actress known as Olympe Fabre, has been found dead. Raf is convinced that the death wasn’t a suicide, and he becomes obsessed with finding her killer. Before James realizes it, he, too, becomes obsessed with finding Olympe’s killer. James’ investigations take him through Paris high-society and the city’s dark underbelly, and he uncovers information that makes him realize that there’s more involved than just murder.
Though it’s far from a quick and easy read, Paris Requiem is nonetheless a captivating one. Appignanesi takes the reader through the most intriguing circles of turn-of-the-twentieth-century Paris — and explores the colorful world of the theater, the sophisticated dinner-parties of the wealthy, the terrifying starkness of the city hospitals and the local asylum, and the darkness of the city’s multitude of brothels. While the writing style is a bit awkward and could have used another run-through by the editor, the story itself is entrancing. Pick up a copy, and before long, you, too, will find yourself obsessed with the mysterious Olympe and the circles in which she traveled.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
Happy
0
0 %
Sad
0
0 %
Excited
0
0 %
Sleepy
0
0 %
Angry
0
0 %
Surprise
0
0 %
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
0
0
