Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific romance of two musicians in the glittering world of 1920's Paris. But there are obstacles to their love thanks to social class and the prejudices of the time. The Paris setting and the inclusion of real-life figures, such as the Fitzgeralds, Picasso, Stravinsky, and others, made the story richer and drew me deeper into the book.
Eliza is the daughter of wealthy New Yorkers who is expected to make a good marriage and limit her musical efforts to entertaining friends and family. But for Eliza, music is her heart and soul, and marriage is the last thing on her mind. She is ecstatic when she receives an invitation to study at the Paris Conservatoire and convinces her parents to allow her to go alone. On the trip to Paris, she encounters Jack, a talented jazz musician whom she met at a club in New York.
Jack is excited to return to Paris. He spent some time there after the war and remembers the pleasure of being seen for himself, not for the color of his skin. Back in New York, the prospect of being a successful musician is slight, while the opportunities in Paris are vast. I loved the owner of Club d'Or, his support of Jack, and his plans for Jack's future at the club.
I liked Jack and Eliza's first couple of encounters. They met first as children, their joy in music forming an instant connection. Their second encounter was at a club in New York, where Jack was playing his trumpet. They recognized each other, and a brief conversation cemented their earlier connection. Neither expected to see each other again but discovered they were on the same boat to Paris - Eliza as a first-class passenger and Jack as a member of the ship's band. Once again, they are drawn to each other by their mutual love of music and their forbidden attraction.
I loved watching Eliza and Jack's relationship develop. Eliza is surprised and happy that life is very different in Paris. She is befriended by the Comtesse Chloe, who shows her a new world free of the restrictions and prejudices found back home. She and Jack spend as much time together as possible, learning about each other's lives and dreams. Eliza is sweetly naïve, and I loved witnessing her fascination with everything around her. Jack is more worldly and cynical yet determined to protect Eliza from the harsher realities.
Their relationship progresses happily until visitors from home bring reminders of the obstacles they face. Jack's cousin Leo brings trouble with him that spills over onto Jack. Meanwhile, Eliza's mother unexpectedly shows up after getting "disturbing" letters from a friend in Paris, determined to remind Eliza of family expectations. Even Eliza's cousin Mamie gets into the act, using her experiences to appeal to Jack's fears for Eliza. Everything comes to a head during a frightening scene at the club. I loved how Eliza's newfound confidence allowed her to stand up for herself and what was right for her. I liked the epilogue but would have enjoyed something a little further into the future to see how their lives are going.
Eliza is the daughter of wealthy New Yorkers who is expected to make a good marriage and limit her musical efforts to entertaining friends and family. But for Eliza, music is her heart and soul, and marriage is the last thing on her mind. She is ecstatic when she receives an invitation to study at the Paris Conservatoire and convinces her parents to allow her to go alone. On the trip to Paris, she encounters Jack, a talented jazz musician whom she met at a club in New York.
Jack is excited to return to Paris. He spent some time there after the war and remembers the pleasure of being seen for himself, not for the color of his skin. Back in New York, the prospect of being a successful musician is slight, while the opportunities in Paris are vast. I loved the owner of Club d'Or, his support of Jack, and his plans for Jack's future at the club.
I liked Jack and Eliza's first couple of encounters. They met first as children, their joy in music forming an instant connection. Their second encounter was at a club in New York, where Jack was playing his trumpet. They recognized each other, and a brief conversation cemented their earlier connection. Neither expected to see each other again but discovered they were on the same boat to Paris - Eliza as a first-class passenger and Jack as a member of the ship's band. Once again, they are drawn to each other by their mutual love of music and their forbidden attraction.
I loved watching Eliza and Jack's relationship develop. Eliza is surprised and happy that life is very different in Paris. She is befriended by the Comtesse Chloe, who shows her a new world free of the restrictions and prejudices found back home. She and Jack spend as much time together as possible, learning about each other's lives and dreams. Eliza is sweetly naïve, and I loved witnessing her fascination with everything around her. Jack is more worldly and cynical yet determined to protect Eliza from the harsher realities.
Their relationship progresses happily until visitors from home bring reminders of the obstacles they face. Jack's cousin Leo brings trouble with him that spills over onto Jack. Meanwhile, Eliza's mother unexpectedly shows up after getting "disturbing" letters from a friend in Paris, determined to remind Eliza of family expectations. Even Eliza's cousin Mamie gets into the act, using her experiences to appeal to Jack's fears for Eliza. Everything comes to a head during a frightening scene at the club. I loved how Eliza's newfound confidence allowed her to stand up for herself and what was right for her. I liked the epilogue but would have enjoyed something a little further into the future to see how their lives are going.
