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A review by house_of_hannah
Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This is a meandering, slice-of-life type of book. I thought that the main focus was going to be the title character, Perestroika, but it turns out to actually be about an 8 year old boy. This book felt very Disney-esque, in that people are turning a blind eye to animals acting like humans, and an unbelievable happy ending.
I live in Paris, so it was neat to see the references to places and roads I know well. One thing that bothered me though is that the book acted like Paris is completely empty at night, which is most definitely not the case. I know, I know, "suspension of disbelief", but I guess I'm just too familiar with the setting.
If you're looking for a quiet, relaxing read, then this book is right up your alley, but I would not recommend it if you're looking for a book with more substance.
I live in Paris, so it was neat to see the references to places and roads I know well. One thing that bothered me though is that the book acted like Paris is completely empty at night, which is most definitely not the case. I know, I know, "suspension of disbelief", but I guess I'm just too familiar with the setting.
If you're looking for a quiet, relaxing read, then this book is right up your alley, but I would not recommend it if you're looking for a book with more substance.
Minor: Death