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GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

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Description

A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.

Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill prepared for the hard-drinking and fast-living life of Jazz Age Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history, pouring all the richness and intensity of his life with Hadley and their circle of friends into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises. Hadley, meanwhile, strives to hold on to her sense of self as the demands of life with Ernest grow costly and her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Despite their extraordinary bond, they eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for.

A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.

About the Author

Paula McLain received her M.F.A. in poetry from the University of Michigan and has been awarded fellowships from Yaddo, the MacDowell Colony, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is the author of two collections of poetry; a memoir, Like Family: Growing Up in Other People’s Houses; and a first novel, A Ticket to Ride. She lives in Cleveland with her family.

Details

  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 22, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345521307
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345521309

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

I was never a fan of Hemingway, but have always intrigued by his larger than life personality.  Paula McLain has weaved a wondrous blend of fact and fiction to bring the story behind Hemingway’s first wife and love Elizabeth Hadley Richardson.  If you look at pictures of Hadley from her youth, you can see her looks very clearly in her granddaughters, Mariel and Margaux.  I imagine she must have been stunning with an amazing personality and sense of humor to capture Hemingway’s heart so thoroughly.  McLain’s theorizes these ideas fully in this fictional account of their romance based on letters, written accounts and Hemingway’s story, The Sun Also Rises, based on his own experiences.

This book is for anyone looking to revisit The Cafe Society in Paris during the 1920’s.  I got the feeling that while Hadley loved her husband dearly, she didn’t really fit in with Cafe society since the lax morals didn’t suit her upbringing.  It is fascinating to read how she dealt with Hemingway’s affairs and the fact that he brought his soon to be mistress, Pauline, into his home life.  Hemingway must have been like a rock start in that world.  It must have been amazing to live through such a time period.

I am such a huge fan of books like this, that take fact and work out the details so a story can unfold.  It reminded me of Loving Frank by Nancy Horan which I adored.  It even makes me want to go back and reread Hemingway’s work.  Of course, this story couldn’t have been written without the famous characters and it is a fascinating romantic tale. I received this book from the publisher at no expense in exchange for my honest review.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Contest is open to anyone with a US mailing addresses (no PO Boxes)

Contest ends on 3.4.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 3.5.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by  Ballantine Books and up to five copies of the book will be available.
Only one winner per household address!

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Comments

  1. I just read this and I have a review coming myself next week. Although I can appreciate your perspective I was ultimately disappointed by the book… it just felt too much like a biography with dialogue and not truly the novel I was craving, with all the heart that implies.

    Reply

  2. I thought Paula’s Q&A at her website about the book was very interesting. And her comments about Hadley referring to herself as Victorian vs. modern, especially in the 20’s, is a very interesting detail of her character.

    Reply

  25. I agree completely with Paula McLain that the time she writes about in The Paris Wife, Paris in the Twenties, is a completely fascinating time. It must have been a daunting but also very satisfying task to immerse herself in that amazing era.

    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    Reply

  27. I’m a big fan of Hemingway and I really got a kick out of seeing the photos that the author posted of him on her website.

    Tony
    rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  35. When I was in my 20s, I read all of Hemingway’s books. I was in awe of his brilliant writing. This book, I believe will bring back good memories of when I read Hemingway.

    susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

    Reply

  49. I think this book would be a great way to learn more about this part of Hemingway’s life.
    Tony rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com
    Daily comment for 02/28

    Reply

  56. Sounds like a terrific examination of Papa’s expat life in Paris.
    Tony
    rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com
    daily comment for 02/27

    Reply

  68. This Hemingway fan would really like to win.
    Daily comment for 03.01
    Tony
    rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  84. Just remembered this morning that Hemingway would sometimes stop writing midsentence. He said it was a great way to ensure that he picked up his writing with the same amount of intensity the next day.
    Daily comment for 3.04
    Tony
    rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  87. JESSICA — frellathon

    TONY — rositatony

    JULIA — JHolden955
    An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

    Thanks to all who entered.

    PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

    Reply

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