Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) -
Helpful Score: 1
I was first drawn to The Paper Palace by its beautiful cover. Then I heard rave reviews from two trusted recommendation sources. So when the audiobook became available through my library, the timing was right and I listened to it.
The novel centers on 50-year-old Elle with the primary storyline a 24-hour time period at the Paper Palace, Elle's family summer place that's been in the family for generations. Here we meet her husband Peter, their three children, Elle's mother Wallace, and various family friends, including Jonas, the man she's loved since childhood.
Through flashbacks, readers learn the chaos and damage caused to Elle in childhood resulting from her parents' numerous failed romantic relationships as well as the evolution of her relationships with Peter and Jonas.
I was grateful to read content warning that under this pretty cover was a novel that includes rape and incest involving children along with other potentially triggering events, but it was still shocking to read. For this and other reasons, this book is not for every reader.
I felt a very strong sense of place at the Paper Palace; I could picture the cabins, smell the coffee, bonfires, and marsh, and hear the water lapping on shore. However, the abrupt transition to numerous and lengthy flackbacks was often confusing and took me out of the story.
Nan McNamara did a fine job as narrator with so many characters to voice. Had I read a print copy, I would have DNFd this 400-page debut.
I thought I had a clear understanding about the novel's ending, but I may have simply been relieved the story was over. In doing a bit of research for this review, I was surprised to find several conversations that debated the meaning of the novel's final paragraphs. I don't mind ambiguous endings, but what does it say that I didn't realize the ending was vague?
The novel centers on 50-year-old Elle with the primary storyline a 24-hour time period at the Paper Palace, Elle's family summer place that's been in the family for generations. Here we meet her husband Peter, their three children, Elle's mother Wallace, and various family friends, including Jonas, the man she's loved since childhood.
Through flashbacks, readers learn the chaos and damage caused to Elle in childhood resulting from her parents' numerous failed romantic relationships as well as the evolution of her relationships with Peter and Jonas.
I was grateful to read content warning that under this pretty cover was a novel that includes rape and incest involving children along with other potentially triggering events, but it was still shocking to read. For this and other reasons, this book is not for every reader.
I felt a very strong sense of place at the Paper Palace; I could picture the cabins, smell the coffee, bonfires, and marsh, and hear the water lapping on shore. However, the abrupt transition to numerous and lengthy flackbacks was often confusing and took me out of the story.
Nan McNamara did a fine job as narrator with so many characters to voice. Had I read a print copy, I would have DNFd this 400-page debut.
I thought I had a clear understanding about the novel's ending, but I may have simply been relieved the story was over. In doing a bit of research for this review, I was surprised to find several conversations that debated the meaning of the novel's final paragraphs. I don't mind ambiguous endings, but what does it say that I didn't realize the ending was vague?
