What do you think?
Rate this book
The Paris Novel
Bestselling author Ruth Reichl takes readers on an adventure of food, art, and fashion in 1980s Paris in this dazzling, heartfelt novel
Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean... Oysters, she thought, where have they been all my life?
When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual a one-way plane ticket and a note reading Go to Paris . But Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a childhood trauma has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. When her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother’s last wishes.
Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that this dress was meant for Stella and, for the first time in her life, Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress and together they embark on an adventure.
Her first iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots, where Stella tastes her first oysters, and then meets an octogenarian art collector who decides to take her under his wing. As Jules introduces her to a veritable who’s who of the 1980s Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds, Stella begins to understand what it might mean to live a larger life.
As weeks—and many decadent meals—go by, Stella ends up living as a “tumbleweed” at famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting, and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.
Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean... Oysters, she thought, where have they been all my life?
When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual a one-way plane ticket and a note reading Go to Paris . But Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a childhood trauma has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. When her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother’s last wishes.
Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that this dress was meant for Stella and, for the first time in her life, Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress and together they embark on an adventure.
Her first iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots, where Stella tastes her first oysters, and then meets an octogenarian art collector who decides to take her under his wing. As Jules introduces her to a veritable who’s who of the 1980s Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds, Stella begins to understand what it might mean to live a larger life.
As weeks—and many decadent meals—go by, Stella ends up living as a “tumbleweed” at famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting, and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2024
About the author
Ruth Reichl
73 books2,497 followersRuth Reichl is the New York Times bestselling author of five memoirs, the novels Delicious! and The Paris Novel, and the cookbook My Kitchen Year. She was editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, and previously served as restaurant critic for The New York Times, as well as food editor and restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times. She has been honored with six James Beard Awards.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,495 reviews
July 8, 2024
The Paris Novel is about food, art, fashion, love, companionship, friendship, and yea about food, have I mentioned that already?
Find me on instagram
This is the first novel my THE one and only Ruth Reichl, known as a food writer, cook and eater. Naturally, she has embedded her passion and knowledge about food in this novel that makes it the more enjoyable!
The story is about an endearing protagonist, Stella St. Vincent, who is on her journey to find herself by breaking free from her deceased mother’s past. But it’s also her mother’s will that inquires her to leave everything behind in New York and take a trip to Paris.
Hence, I loved striding through Paris in ye 80’s with Stella whilst she discovered the meaning of fashion with Yves St. Laurent dresses, indulged in French food and made friends for the first time in her life. Stella’s obsession with Manet’s painting “Olympique»
has led me to avenues and appreciation of art.
I was positively overwhelmed by the erudite information Reichl provided about the famous Shakespeare & Co. bookstore in Paris in the 80’s, the history of the Arrondissements as well as the sociocultural hierarchy of women in art in Paris in the 19th century. Thereby, Reichl has masterfully narrated an enchanting story that appeals to all six senses of her readers as she stimulates your imagination with her impressive writing style.
Can’t wait to read more of Ruth Reichl!
Easy 5 stars 😍
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Find me on instagram
This is the first novel my THE one and only Ruth Reichl, known as a food writer, cook and eater. Naturally, she has embedded her passion and knowledge about food in this novel that makes it the more enjoyable!
The story is about an endearing protagonist, Stella St. Vincent, who is on her journey to find herself by breaking free from her deceased mother’s past. But it’s also her mother’s will that inquires her to leave everything behind in New York and take a trip to Paris.
Hence, I loved striding through Paris in ye 80’s with Stella whilst she discovered the meaning of fashion with Yves St. Laurent dresses, indulged in French food and made friends for the first time in her life. Stella’s obsession with Manet’s painting “Olympique»
has led me to avenues and appreciation of art.
I was positively overwhelmed by the erudite information Reichl provided about the famous Shakespeare & Co. bookstore in Paris in the 80’s, the history of the Arrondissements as well as the sociocultural hierarchy of women in art in Paris in the 19th century. Thereby, Reichl has masterfully narrated an enchanting story that appeals to all six senses of her readers as she stimulates your imagination with her impressive writing style.
Can’t wait to read more of Ruth Reichl!
Easy 5 stars 😍
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2024
5.0
Love this book.
Love the author
Loved the premise of this story.
Loved the art, the museums, the wine, the food, and chefs.
Loved the experiences.
Loved the depth of characters.
Loved the "hunts".
Loved the "Tumbleweeds"
And finally; I am jealous, but love the fact that Stella and Jules could drink so much fine and rare wine without the repercussions I would have.
I want to experience Paris in the same way it was written; not as a tourist.
*** SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY is a real bookstore, pretty famous and is still there. "George's bookstore quickly became a center for anglophone literary life in Paris. James Baldwin, William Burroughs, Anaïs Nin, Allen Ginsberg, Richard Wright, Julio Cortázar, and Henry Miller were early visitors and went there to read their work to "invited" guests."
Loved the "Tumbleweeds"
The authors notes were terrific and explain a bit of the fiction.
Love this book.
Love the author
Loved the premise of this story.
Loved the art, the museums, the wine, the food, and chefs.
Loved the experiences.
Loved the depth of characters.
Loved the "hunts".
Loved the "Tumbleweeds"
And finally; I am jealous, but love the fact that Stella and Jules could drink so much fine and rare wine without the repercussions I would have.
I want to experience Paris in the same way it was written; not as a tourist.
*** SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY is a real bookstore, pretty famous and is still there. "George's bookstore quickly became a center for anglophone literary life in Paris. James Baldwin, William Burroughs, Anaïs Nin, Allen Ginsberg, Richard Wright, Julio Cortázar, and Henry Miller were early visitors and went there to read their work to "invited" guests."
Loved the "Tumbleweeds"
The authors notes were terrific and explain a bit of the fiction.
October 31, 2023
Oh dear. Absolutely my favorite memoir author, so honest when she's writing about her life, such sensuality in her descriptions of food, so knowledgeable about the thing that made her famous. But this, her second foray into fiction, is not her best work.
October 6, 2023
My review is based on the advanced reader copy of this book in Oct 2023. Heads Up/Warning: not given in the blurb - an upsetting and very explicit child sexual abuse takes up most of the second chapter. I'm no prude but I found this highly upsetting! It could have been alluded to or toned down and the reader still would understand the impact it had on the primary character. I had nightmares about this chapter and have decided not to finish the book because I don't want any more nasty surprises at bedtime. Because of this, this new novel gets one star from me.
April 14, 2024
I enjoyed the aspect of this book and the rich descriptions of Paris. I really struggled with some graphic child abuse scenes that were very unnecessary to the book. It felt salacious and caught me off guard. I think that the author could have skimmed over it without the graphic scenes and it would’ve worked better. The characters were interesting and I truly enjoyed the setting. This would’ve been a four-star for me if not for the unnecessary child abuse scenes.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
February 18, 2024As much as I love Reichl’s other work, this is not for me ~ the writing is so stilted that I just could not engage with it. And I’m so glad I read another early review that mentioned the graphic description of the sexual abuse of a child that occurs in chapter 2 so that I knew it was coming. I DNF’d after realizing it’s just as descriptive and unnecessary to the story as the other reviewer claimed. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the author’s food writing, but this is not her best work.
Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss
Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss
May 2, 2024
Ruth Reichl is a brilliant food critic and cook, but she is less than competent when writing novels.
Stella, the unloved daughter of an ambitious harridan of many talents, is required to go to Paris in order to collect a small legacy following her mother’s death. She dutifully tittles off to the City of Light and spends weeks complaining, whining and squandering her time in the glorious city. Then she buys a gown, meets an intriguing old man, learns to eat divine food and viola! All is well in Stella Land.
The saving grace is the detailed descriptions of the incredible food and drink to be found everywhere in Paris. Reading these made me long to return just to dine.
So predictable. So strained and mundane. Not a favorite at all.
Stella, the unloved daughter of an ambitious harridan of many talents, is required to go to Paris in order to collect a small legacy following her mother’s death. She dutifully tittles off to the City of Light and spends weeks complaining, whining and squandering her time in the glorious city. Then she buys a gown, meets an intriguing old man, learns to eat divine food and viola! All is well in Stella Land.
The saving grace is the detailed descriptions of the incredible food and drink to be found everywhere in Paris. Reading these made me long to return just to dine.
So predictable. So strained and mundane. Not a favorite at all.
May 18, 2024
Honestly a disappointment. I expected more. Too many coincidences and story holes to be enjoyable. And a quick, abrupt ending. I just wanted to be done. Sigh.
November 22, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. The Paris Novel is a story about Stella, who’s let life pass her by and is semi-haunted by memories of her estranged mother. But, when her mother passes away and leaves her with a ticket to Paris, her life takes a fun turn and she has fantastical new experiences, meets a host of exciting people, and takes some wonderful leaps of faith.
This is a beautiful story about the unexpected pleasures of life and what happens when you open yourself up to new experiences. I am a sucker for any book set in Paris and Ruth Reichl really brings the reader straight there. I appreciated the many references to actual locations and the fleshed out Parisian characters she encounters. We were very much in Stella’s shoes throughout this trip and I was rooting for her to find some fresh meaning and excitement in her life, despite her initial reluctance. I also think it’s worth mentioning how absolutely spectacular the author describes Stella’s newly discovered passion for food and just the overall thoughts that she has while eating these dishes. I’ve never read a book that places so much emphasis on describing a characters culinary experience but, it is so well done here and I think appropriate for a book set in Paris! This book was well written and enjoyable to read, I was able to finish it quickly!
I would recommend this book to any Paris lovers or fans of self discovery fictional novels! If you’re in need of a trip abroad, this novel will certainly give you a visceral feel of Paris and will make you feel like you’re living vicariously through Stella!
This is a beautiful story about the unexpected pleasures of life and what happens when you open yourself up to new experiences. I am a sucker for any book set in Paris and Ruth Reichl really brings the reader straight there. I appreciated the many references to actual locations and the fleshed out Parisian characters she encounters. We were very much in Stella’s shoes throughout this trip and I was rooting for her to find some fresh meaning and excitement in her life, despite her initial reluctance. I also think it’s worth mentioning how absolutely spectacular the author describes Stella’s newly discovered passion for food and just the overall thoughts that she has while eating these dishes. I’ve never read a book that places so much emphasis on describing a characters culinary experience but, it is so well done here and I think appropriate for a book set in Paris! This book was well written and enjoyable to read, I was able to finish it quickly!
I would recommend this book to any Paris lovers or fans of self discovery fictional novels! If you’re in need of a trip abroad, this novel will certainly give you a visceral feel of Paris and will make you feel like you’re living vicariously through Stella!
April 24, 2024
Why did her mother want her to go to Paris?
Stella liked her quiet, solitary life and her predictable job at the publishing house.
She wasn’t a spender.
She wasn’t one to be extravagant, and she definitely wasn’t someone that liked to socialize like her mother did.
After her boss forced her to go on a vacation, she decided she might as well head to Paris. She didn’t like it at all.
Or she didn’t like it until she was enticed by an eccentric woman to buy a very expensive dress created by Dior that made her feel amazing in all ways.
She didn’t know this dress would make her see things differently and meet wonderful people or was it just Paris itself?
Is this what her mother wanted her to feel and where she wanted her to be?
Besides loving how Stella is able to find herself you will love all the name dropping of fashion icons, famous artists, places in Paris, and the mystery Stella was trying to solve and a mystery she was not trying to unravel, but so happy she did.
You will love the characters - eccentric, sweet, and loving. And of course you will fall in love with Paris.
A delightful, breezy read, but don’t read this book if you are hungry. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Stella liked her quiet, solitary life and her predictable job at the publishing house.
She wasn’t a spender.
She wasn’t one to be extravagant, and she definitely wasn’t someone that liked to socialize like her mother did.
After her boss forced her to go on a vacation, she decided she might as well head to Paris. She didn’t like it at all.
Or she didn’t like it until she was enticed by an eccentric woman to buy a very expensive dress created by Dior that made her feel amazing in all ways.
She didn’t know this dress would make her see things differently and meet wonderful people or was it just Paris itself?
Is this what her mother wanted her to feel and where she wanted her to be?
Besides loving how Stella is able to find herself you will love all the name dropping of fashion icons, famous artists, places in Paris, and the mystery Stella was trying to solve and a mystery she was not trying to unravel, but so happy she did.
You will love the characters - eccentric, sweet, and loving. And of course you will fall in love with Paris.
A delightful, breezy read, but don’t read this book if you are hungry. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
December 29, 2023
Ruth Reichl has outdown herself. And that sure is saying a lot. Each book of hers is a gift through story that allows us to feel, taste, experience her world. I don't know if I could say it any better, "Bestselling author Ruth Reichl takes readers on an adventure of food, art, and fashion in 1980s Paris in this dazzling, heartfelt novel." I fell in love with Stella, Paris, Jules, art, fashion, and most of all food. This book make me laugh, cry and cheer for Stella!
October 8, 2023
Warning- sexual assault involving a minor early in book
The sexual assault in the very beginning of this book completely ruined this story for me. This was a shame because otherwise, the luscious descriptions of food were typical Reichl style and the rest of the story was decent. Probably my least favorite book from this author.
The sexual assault in the very beginning of this book completely ruined this story for me. This was a shame because otherwise, the luscious descriptions of food were typical Reichl style and the rest of the story was decent. Probably my least favorite book from this author.
January 22, 2024
I have loved Ruth Reichl’s previous books but this one fell flat in every way. The plot in no way gripped me and it was a struggle to finish
April 25, 2024
I will be brutally honest here. I have read everyone of her books. I waited with great anticipation for this one. I was so repulsed by the second chapter that I literally stopped reading. Why was that necessary? And there should have been some kind of warning about it. The description sounded so exciting and then you start reading and I wanted to throw up. Terribly disappointing.
April 17, 2024
this was too predictable for me! i knew how it would end within the first 50 pages, was able to guess every plot point, and was left wanting more. the food descriptions were gorgeous though ! felt like i was reading the script for ratatouille
March 25, 2024
Ruth Reichl is one of my favorite food writers and memoirists. I have read all of her books. Although The Paris Novel is fiction it transported me to Paris in the 1980's. In this book she incorporates the most important artists, writers and culinary figures of the time, their characters spring to life. I loved feeling like I was in the famous Paris bookstore Shakespeare and Company. I was charmed.
The book begins with Stella and her lackluster life in New York. Her self absorbed single mother has died and left a conditional will that sends Stella to Paris. I have only one complaint, very close to the beginning of Stella's backstory is a description of her experience of child molestation, an incident that was overlooked by Stella's mother. I am not sure why this was included, it didn't seem relevant, but if this is a trigger it is disturbing. In spite of this issue I grew to love this book and Stella's adventure.
My thanks to Random House and Netgalley for an advance copy
The book begins with Stella and her lackluster life in New York. Her self absorbed single mother has died and left a conditional will that sends Stella to Paris. I have only one complaint, very close to the beginning of Stella's backstory is a description of her experience of child molestation, an incident that was overlooked by Stella's mother. I am not sure why this was included, it didn't seem relevant, but if this is a trigger it is disturbing. In spite of this issue I grew to love this book and Stella's adventure.
My thanks to Random House and Netgalley for an advance copy
December 19, 2023
I have been a huge fan of Ruth’s since I first read Garlic and Sapphires ages ago. I received an advance copy of this from Netgalley and the publisher and I was beyond excited to get started. Unfortunately, I had to stop reading very early into this as a major trigger warning happens in a flash back to the main character. As this is brought up in detail at the start of the 2nd chapter, most likely it will be brought up again later in the book and I really can’t get past it. I couldn’t finish this. This was not a book for me.
May 22, 2024
Story of Stella, who is given money and one request from her dead mother- go to Paris. So off she goes and falls into some amazing chance encounters along the way. The story is pure historical fiction. James Baldwin and Allen Ginsberg make appearances.
Didn’t hate this book, but definitely didn’t enjoy it either. While it reads as the ultimate travelers guide to Paris, it also has a lot of French language in it, and I had to do manual translation to decipher what was happening. The book jumped from random character to a really good meal, to another character, all while Stella who is still dealing with a horrible encounter from her childhood (trigger warning), and has woven her life to the routine to give herself a safe space in life.
I couldn’t tell if this was an art history mystery or a family discovery, as it packs a TON of story in a short period of time. The food was written beautifully, however. (I would still never eat a horse).
Didn’t hate this book, but definitely didn’t enjoy it either. While it reads as the ultimate travelers guide to Paris, it also has a lot of French language in it, and I had to do manual translation to decipher what was happening. The book jumped from random character to a really good meal, to another character, all while Stella who is still dealing with a horrible encounter from her childhood (trigger warning), and has woven her life to the routine to give herself a safe space in life.
I couldn’t tell if this was an art history mystery or a family discovery, as it packs a TON of story in a short period of time. The food was written beautifully, however. (I would still never eat a horse).
May 13, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of The Paris Novel. As someone who has read other Ruth Reichl books and loved them, I was so excited to read her new novel. I could not have been more disappointed. This book was a struggle for me to even finish.
First of all, the child molestation that occurs at the beginning of the book is a HUGE trigger for so many people and it, clearly, was supposed to indicate why the main character has so many issues with having friendships or, even, a life while living in New York. The fact that this was made a part of the story, yet never addressed later seems like a big miss.
Second, the main character is someone who has never had an interest in food and specifically says she eats the most basic meals. Then she goes to Paris, where she meets an older man who pays for all of these expensive meal. Within one meal, she suddenly has the most incredible taste buds known and can pinpoint specific ingredients. HOW?!?! This felt ridiculous. I love the descriptions of the food, which felt like the only reason this book was even written. If this is what the author loves writing about, it shouldn't be in the form of a novel.
Finally, everything in the book just seemed to always fully right into place for her. Goes to Paris, meets people, is gifted free apartments to stay, meals to dine on, couture clothing and, as it seems, leading to romance. There is no struggle. You just knew it was going to go her way and it made the book boring.
While it pains me to give such a low review for a talented author, this book did not show her off in the best way possible.
First of all, the child molestation that occurs at the beginning of the book is a HUGE trigger for so many people and it, clearly, was supposed to indicate why the main character has so many issues with having friendships or, even, a life while living in New York. The fact that this was made a part of the story, yet never addressed later seems like a big miss.
Second, the main character is someone who has never had an interest in food and specifically says she eats the most basic meals. Then she goes to Paris, where she meets an older man who pays for all of these expensive meal. Within one meal, she suddenly has the most incredible taste buds known and can pinpoint specific ingredients. HOW?!?! This felt ridiculous. I love the descriptions of the food, which felt like the only reason this book was even written. If this is what the author loves writing about, it shouldn't be in the form of a novel.
Finally, everything in the book just seemed to always fully right into place for her. Goes to Paris, meets people, is gifted free apartments to stay, meals to dine on, couture clothing and, as it seems, leading to romance. There is no struggle. You just knew it was going to go her way and it made the book boring.
While it pains me to give such a low review for a talented author, this book did not show her off in the best way possible.
December 1, 2023
I did not finish this. Trigger warning for child sex abuse. That turned me off completely and I didn’t want to read anymore. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
Read
December 9, 2023While I completed this novel, it was certainly not on my Must Read List. It was interesting to see how Stella changed not only her life but also, her self-perception. However, I found the plot line quite contrived.
It also contained one of my pet peeves: phrases in foreign languages with only the reader’s ability to get the nuance from contextual clues.
It also contained one of my pet peeves: phrases in foreign languages with only the reader’s ability to get the nuance from contextual clues.
October 3, 2023
This book is going to stay with me for a while, which is the very best kind…review to follow soon.
June 22, 2024
This is a captivating adventure set in 1980s Paris, following Stella, a young woman who leads a quiet life as a copy editor in New York City. After her mother's passing, Stella inherits a plane ticket to Paris. There, she discovers a vintage store, tries on a stunning Dior dress, and meets an older gentleman who introduces her to the real Paris. Stella becomes immersed in French cuisine and unravels mysteries about her possible father from her mother's time in Paris. She also delves into the life of a female artist from the Impressionistic period whose work has been overlooked due to societal attitudes towards women in the arts.
I admire Stella's decision to take the dress and negotiate until she can borrow it for the night, especially as a plot device. Her encounter with someone who changes her life sets her on an entirely new path. She transforms from a timid individual to someone open to embracing everything the world has to offer, including food, art, music, literature, and people.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
I admire Stella's decision to take the dress and negotiate until she can borrow it for the night, especially as a plot device. Her encounter with someone who changes her life sets her on an entirely new path. She transforms from a timid individual to someone open to embracing everything the world has to offer, including food, art, music, literature, and people.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
April 25, 2024
I love her memoirs but this novel was a DNF for me
June 13, 2024
Ruth Reichl has had an amazing career in the food industry. The former editor of the late great Gourmet Magazine, and author of many non-fiction books, has now written a gloriously delightful story in The Paris Novel. It is uplifting, charming and magical and ripe for the picking!
When Stella's mother Celia dies, she sadly is not very upset. Estranged from her and never having been pleased with her life choices, along with some terrible childhood memories, she barely has any feeling for the woman who raised her. Stella never knew who her father was and quite frankly was embarrassed by her mother's lifestyle.
So, when Stella receives her inheritance from her mother, a one-way ticket to Paris, she immediately decides this is just Celia trying to control her from the grave. But when Stella's boss convinces her to try and accept the ticket and maybe live outside of her very strict and routine oriented life, Stella agrees to go.
So as Stella arrives in France and is roaming the streets, she sees finds a vintage shop and sees a black Dior dress. She is somehow mesmerized by it. As she walks in the owner looks at her and say this dress has been waiting for you! And Stella does something she never would have ever done. She tries the dress on and buys it for an extraordinary amount of money. But...there's something about this dress that makes her feel different.
And with that in mind, she goes to dinner with the dress on and has the most incredible experiences of her life eating oysters and enjoying a meal she never imagined existed. There, she meets an elderly gentleman named Jules who is a wealthy art collector who has lost his wife. He begins to tell her imaginative stories of his and his late wife's lives. Stella is spellbound. They become friends and Jules begins taking her to place she never imagined going, eating at restaurants she had only heard about and looking at art she witnessed only in books.
Jules introduces her to the owner of a famous bookstore where writer's and such work there, assist at the shop and sleep and eat for free. He calls then his "tumbleweeds". There, she meets famous writers including some who knew her mother. She then begins to go down the rabbit whole of her mother's life and even though she didn't know she was really searching, discovers answers to questions she never even though about.
The Paris Novel is a one of kind extraordinary read. The reader is taken on a delicious journey of food, art, life and love. The backstory as to why Reichl wrote the book is just as incredible and heartwarming as the story itself.
Thank you #NetGalley #RandomHouse #RuthReichl #TheParisNovel for the advanced copy.
When Stella's mother Celia dies, she sadly is not very upset. Estranged from her and never having been pleased with her life choices, along with some terrible childhood memories, she barely has any feeling for the woman who raised her. Stella never knew who her father was and quite frankly was embarrassed by her mother's lifestyle.
So, when Stella receives her inheritance from her mother, a one-way ticket to Paris, she immediately decides this is just Celia trying to control her from the grave. But when Stella's boss convinces her to try and accept the ticket and maybe live outside of her very strict and routine oriented life, Stella agrees to go.
So as Stella arrives in France and is roaming the streets, she sees finds a vintage shop and sees a black Dior dress. She is somehow mesmerized by it. As she walks in the owner looks at her and say this dress has been waiting for you! And Stella does something she never would have ever done. She tries the dress on and buys it for an extraordinary amount of money. But...there's something about this dress that makes her feel different.
And with that in mind, she goes to dinner with the dress on and has the most incredible experiences of her life eating oysters and enjoying a meal she never imagined existed. There, she meets an elderly gentleman named Jules who is a wealthy art collector who has lost his wife. He begins to tell her imaginative stories of his and his late wife's lives. Stella is spellbound. They become friends and Jules begins taking her to place she never imagined going, eating at restaurants she had only heard about and looking at art she witnessed only in books.
Jules introduces her to the owner of a famous bookstore where writer's and such work there, assist at the shop and sleep and eat for free. He calls then his "tumbleweeds". There, she meets famous writers including some who knew her mother. She then begins to go down the rabbit whole of her mother's life and even though she didn't know she was really searching, discovers answers to questions she never even though about.
The Paris Novel is a one of kind extraordinary read. The reader is taken on a delicious journey of food, art, life and love. The backstory as to why Reichl wrote the book is just as incredible and heartwarming as the story itself.
Thank you #NetGalley #RandomHouse #RuthReichl #TheParisNovel for the advanced copy.
April 29, 2024
This is very tropey in that Eiffel Tower poster on your dorm room wall kind of way, but it was better than I expected from an entertainment standpoint, and I liked it better than the overly saccharine Delicious, Reichl’s first novel.
I have always adored Reichl as a food critic and have been now twice-surprised by the slightly schlocky quality of her fiction. That said, where Delicious felt sappy and somewhat cringey, this is cute and fun, and perhaps a good reminder that sometimes a book can be read purely for pleasure and for immersing oneself in the story rather than for the sake of learning something.
Reichl’s Paris is very much a tourist’s Paris (an Emily in Paris’ Paris, perhaps), but I don’t think that’s all bad. The foodie aspects of this are, unsurprisingly, very well-rendered, and though the Olympia “mystery” and the Shakespeare and Company stuff feels a bit obvious and surface-skimming, it’s also satisfying and charming and makes for a lovely—if predictable—feel good read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange in exchange for an honest review.*
I have always adored Reichl as a food critic and have been now twice-surprised by the slightly schlocky quality of her fiction. That said, where Delicious felt sappy and somewhat cringey, this is cute and fun, and perhaps a good reminder that sometimes a book can be read purely for pleasure and for immersing oneself in the story rather than for the sake of learning something.
Reichl’s Paris is very much a tourist’s Paris (an Emily in Paris’ Paris, perhaps), but I don’t think that’s all bad. The foodie aspects of this are, unsurprisingly, very well-rendered, and though the Olympia “mystery” and the Shakespeare and Company stuff feels a bit obvious and surface-skimming, it’s also satisfying and charming and makes for a lovely—if predictable—feel good read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange in exchange for an honest review.*
June 1, 2024
3.5⭐️ This was delightful to read on the way to and in Paris! It felt like a Paris travel guide in novel form. Plus getting to see the painting central to the story and go to Shakespeare and Co was so fun. The plot felt a bit too convenient but the food descriptions and Paris setting made for a charming story overall!
April 28, 2024
A PARIS NOVEL by Ruth Reichl
Published: April 30,2024 by Random House
Page Count: 288
Part fairy tale …and an enchanting journey of personal actualization in 1980 France. This is a delightful feast for the eyes, nose and ears as two mysteries will be investigated and somehow magically be intertwined. The origin and deeper meaning behind the magnificent painting of “Olympia” and it’s model Victorine-Louise Meurent (not its painter Manet) …. her accomplishments at a time when women had no rights, and search for her “lost paintings.” Food will achieve almost mythical stature, in its description , enjoyment and presentation. All your senses will be necessary to explore the interlinked nature of food, culture, and the arts. This is not a book just for women, but for all who can open their minds and enjoy the wonder of self discovery. This will transcend the genre of mystery.
Stella St. Vincent is essentially estranged from her beautiful mother, Cecilia (nee Constanza Vicente of Brooklyn ), who at age fifteen left home and forged a life of privilege based upon her wiliness, and skills of self invention. Upon graduation from Vassar, Stella has settled into a life of routine blandness. She has become a copy editor for the small Vanguard Press, Most of time you will find her at home reading, and on the weekends exploring the halls of the Metropolitan Museum. It has been six months since she last saw her mother, when she receives a phone call telling her of her mother’s death after being struck by a taxi. She is contacted by a lawyer ( and probably a former lover of her mother) and informed she has a small inheritance and a message from her mother. He presents a single sheet of paper, that says: “Go To Paris.” Apparently she will be given a ticket to Paris along with her inheritance.
She arrives in Paris in the 1980s with little in the way of initiative or drive or worldly experience. Her plan is to visit all the sights in her guidebook and continue her frugal life in obscurity without confrontation. However, in one of her overly scheduled walks, she stumbles across a strange little dress shop, enticed by an enchanting black dress in the window. As the shopkeeper helps her into the dress, she seems to transform into another person. Looking into the mirror; the slim, boyish Stella was gone … in her place stood an exotic creature .. she now looked sensual with mysterious eyes, rather than the drab mundane Stella. A deal was struck … she would buy the $4000 dollar dress and follow the shopkeeper’s detailed plan of activity for the day and night … where to go, to eat and what to see … If she wasn’t satisfied she could return the dress in the morning for a complete refund. As a result she embarked on a magical journey fit for a Cinderella. She would make the acquaintance of the octogenarian art collector Jules Delatour… charming and delightful who appears to know a bevy of renown people (most are denizens of real life), at her scheduled first stop at the famous restaurant, Les Deux Magots. He will essentially be her tour guide for the rest of her enchanting journey.
He will introduce her to the literary, culinary and art world of 1980s Paris. She will discover that she possesses a remarkable gift .. the imagination and ability to appreciate food and art. He will provide her introduction to the painting and mystery behind Manet’s painting of “Olympia” and the model, Victorine-Louise Meurent. Suddenly Stella has a purpose: to find out about Victorine and her lost paintings.
Ruth Reicht proves to be a masterful storyteller as she weaves together Stella’s intriguing and convoluted path to self actualization. Along the way, the reader is treated to the delights of Paris… not only its historical and tourist sights, but more its interwoven immersion in the literary, art and culinary worlds. This vivid portrayal of Paris is a testament that the city is capable of savoring the present, while appreciating its past. This charming tale is populated by real life culinary figures (like Richard Oldney and Alain Passard), restaurants and litterary figures like John Ashbery, James Baldwin and even Allen Ginsberg. We will visit the famous bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, and encounter the renown bookseller, George Whitman, and discover what it was like to become involved in its storied past.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House who provided an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This gem will be enjoyed by not only foodies, but more so by those who love all things about Paris. A joy to all who have visited that great city in the past, or plan a journey in the future.
Published: April 30,2024 by Random House
Page Count: 288
Part fairy tale …and an enchanting journey of personal actualization in 1980 France. This is a delightful feast for the eyes, nose and ears as two mysteries will be investigated and somehow magically be intertwined. The origin and deeper meaning behind the magnificent painting of “Olympia” and it’s model Victorine-Louise Meurent (not its painter Manet) …. her accomplishments at a time when women had no rights, and search for her “lost paintings.” Food will achieve almost mythical stature, in its description , enjoyment and presentation. All your senses will be necessary to explore the interlinked nature of food, culture, and the arts. This is not a book just for women, but for all who can open their minds and enjoy the wonder of self discovery. This will transcend the genre of mystery.
Stella St. Vincent is essentially estranged from her beautiful mother, Cecilia (nee Constanza Vicente of Brooklyn ), who at age fifteen left home and forged a life of privilege based upon her wiliness, and skills of self invention. Upon graduation from Vassar, Stella has settled into a life of routine blandness. She has become a copy editor for the small Vanguard Press, Most of time you will find her at home reading, and on the weekends exploring the halls of the Metropolitan Museum. It has been six months since she last saw her mother, when she receives a phone call telling her of her mother’s death after being struck by a taxi. She is contacted by a lawyer ( and probably a former lover of her mother) and informed she has a small inheritance and a message from her mother. He presents a single sheet of paper, that says: “Go To Paris.” Apparently she will be given a ticket to Paris along with her inheritance.
She arrives in Paris in the 1980s with little in the way of initiative or drive or worldly experience. Her plan is to visit all the sights in her guidebook and continue her frugal life in obscurity without confrontation. However, in one of her overly scheduled walks, she stumbles across a strange little dress shop, enticed by an enchanting black dress in the window. As the shopkeeper helps her into the dress, she seems to transform into another person. Looking into the mirror; the slim, boyish Stella was gone … in her place stood an exotic creature .. she now looked sensual with mysterious eyes, rather than the drab mundane Stella. A deal was struck … she would buy the $4000 dollar dress and follow the shopkeeper’s detailed plan of activity for the day and night … where to go, to eat and what to see … If she wasn’t satisfied she could return the dress in the morning for a complete refund. As a result she embarked on a magical journey fit for a Cinderella. She would make the acquaintance of the octogenarian art collector Jules Delatour… charming and delightful who appears to know a bevy of renown people (most are denizens of real life), at her scheduled first stop at the famous restaurant, Les Deux Magots. He will essentially be her tour guide for the rest of her enchanting journey.
He will introduce her to the literary, culinary and art world of 1980s Paris. She will discover that she possesses a remarkable gift .. the imagination and ability to appreciate food and art. He will provide her introduction to the painting and mystery behind Manet’s painting of “Olympia” and the model, Victorine-Louise Meurent. Suddenly Stella has a purpose: to find out about Victorine and her lost paintings.
Ruth Reicht proves to be a masterful storyteller as she weaves together Stella’s intriguing and convoluted path to self actualization. Along the way, the reader is treated to the delights of Paris… not only its historical and tourist sights, but more its interwoven immersion in the literary, art and culinary worlds. This vivid portrayal of Paris is a testament that the city is capable of savoring the present, while appreciating its past. This charming tale is populated by real life culinary figures (like Richard Oldney and Alain Passard), restaurants and litterary figures like John Ashbery, James Baldwin and even Allen Ginsberg. We will visit the famous bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, and encounter the renown bookseller, George Whitman, and discover what it was like to become involved in its storied past.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House who provided an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This gem will be enjoyed by not only foodies, but more so by those who love all things about Paris. A joy to all who have visited that great city in the past, or plan a journey in the future.
April 17, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this novel. We follow our main character, Stella, on a journey of self-discovery through the streets of Paris. She meets famous people, tries a lot of fancy food, and indulges herself in a life of adventure and luxury.
There was a plot, but it felt like filler. When I was reading the book, it felt like the author just wanted to write descriptions of delicious food and beautiful clothes, and decided to make that a story. I later found out it was actually exactly the truth--an editor had read a previous novel of Ruth Reichl's and fixated on a paragraph about her trying on a dress and wanted her to make a novel with more just like it.
And I'm not going to lie, she delivered on that front. The prose WAS good. I was mostly reading this on an empty stomach and there were at least seven different pages-long eating experiences that were written deliciously well. I also loved all the descriptions of art, literature, fashion, and French culture. The writing was so good, I was completely immersed in all of those scenes and it honestly kind of made me long for a trip to Paris.
But the rest of it....
The characters were meh. Stella was honestly a pretty good character and I loved her development from a rigid wallflower who always has a plan for everything to confident, ambitious, and free. But she was also, unfortunately, written as a complete Mary Sue.
She'd never cared about food before in her life, but suddenly she's discovered to be a food connoisseur who can identify every ingredient in a dish with a taste and all of the fancy high-class French people think she's the shit! She's never cooked before, but suddenly she's the best chef in the world and even people raised on caviar and escargot say she's fucking amazing, a prodigy. And why does everyone around her love her or say she's special immediately after meeting her? The woman in the boutique. Jules. George Whitman. All of the chefs, artists, writers, and famous celebrities that the author name-dropped throughout the novel that Stella met.
Everything about her personal life either resolves too quickly or is left with loose ends. The romance at the end came out of nowhere. Daddy issues brought up and resolved immediately in the last 20 pages. And let's not forget the extremely graphic childhood trauma written in at the very beginning of the story that served NO purpose for the rest of the book and was only referenced once. Why, why???? At least the mommy issues were handled somewhat okay, but like. Stella felt more like a lens for the readers to view the story through than an actual character.
So yeah. Food was definitely the highlight of this story, and it was good. And I DID learn a lot about art history, cuisine, literature, and France in general which was really interesting. Definitely still going to plan that trip.
There was a plot, but it felt like filler. When I was reading the book, it felt like the author just wanted to write descriptions of delicious food and beautiful clothes, and decided to make that a story. I later found out it was actually exactly the truth--an editor had read a previous novel of Ruth Reichl's and fixated on a paragraph about her trying on a dress and wanted her to make a novel with more just like it.
And I'm not going to lie, she delivered on that front. The prose WAS good. I was mostly reading this on an empty stomach and there were at least seven different pages-long eating experiences that were written deliciously well. I also loved all the descriptions of art, literature, fashion, and French culture. The writing was so good, I was completely immersed in all of those scenes and it honestly kind of made me long for a trip to Paris.
But the rest of it....
The characters were meh. Stella was honestly a pretty good character and I loved her development from a rigid wallflower who always has a plan for everything to confident, ambitious, and free. But she was also, unfortunately, written as a complete Mary Sue.
She'd never cared about food before in her life, but suddenly she's discovered to be a food connoisseur who can identify every ingredient in a dish with a taste and all of the fancy high-class French people think she's the shit! She's never cooked before, but suddenly she's the best chef in the world and even people raised on caviar and escargot say she's fucking amazing, a prodigy. And why does everyone around her love her or say she's special immediately after meeting her? The woman in the boutique. Jules. George Whitman. All of the chefs, artists, writers, and famous celebrities that the author name-dropped throughout the novel that Stella met.
Everything about her personal life either resolves too quickly or is left with loose ends. The romance at the end came out of nowhere. Daddy issues brought up and resolved immediately in the last 20 pages. And let's not forget the extremely graphic childhood trauma written in at the very beginning of the story that served NO purpose for the rest of the book and was only referenced once. Why, why???? At least the mommy issues were handled somewhat okay, but like. Stella felt more like a lens for the readers to view the story through than an actual character.
So yeah. Food was definitely the highlight of this story, and it was good. And I DID learn a lot about art history, cuisine, literature, and France in general which was really interesting. Definitely still going to plan that trip.
March 14, 2024
3.5⭐️ - Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this digital advance copy in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on April 23, 2024.
Some of my favorite memoirs are by members of the culinary world, so I’m a fan of Ruth Reichl’s work. I read her most recent memoir, Save Me the Plums, in 2023, and enjoyed it. For me, one of the most memorable parts of that book was her story about finding a mysterious dress while visiting Paris. When I read the description of this novel (her second work of fiction), I figured she had drawn on personal experience. “Write what you know,” right?
Reichl’s gift for descriptive writing is obvious. If you love vivid depictions of food and atmosphere, you’ll enjoy this. The plot, however, left me unsatisfied. To expand on my thoughts, I’ll start with the good stuff.
WHAT I LIKED:
The masterful food writing: Reichl is a former food critic, so this is unsurprising. My advice is to keep snacks nearby. You’ll need them.
The setting: it’s a tall task to make an iconic city seem even more alluring. Setting this in 1980s Paris was a refreshing take on historical fiction. In this case, you should judge the book exactly by its cover; it’s The Paris Novel through and through.
Shakespeare & Company sounds like a bibliophile’s fever dream.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:
The pacing: for a 288-page book, the plot started to drag towards the middle, suffering from too many side quests and a lack of focus. What’s Stella’s main goal – to reconnect with her late mother? To identify her father? To uncover the truth about an artist’s muse? We never get the chance to fully dive into any of these. And the timeline is all over the place. We skip around from week to week, month to month, before flashing forward near the very end, with many ends left untied.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second half, and I felt the ending was so abrupt. Too many life events happen in the final 12 percent of the book.
Like the side plots, I felt that many of the side characters were underdeveloped, arbitrary, and difficult to keep track of. It was interesting to learn about the Tumbleweeds, but ultimately, they didn’t bring much to the table (so to speak).
ALSO: I think this would benefit from a trigger warning placed in the beginning of the book, so readers can take care before starting it. The second chapter includes a graphic description of child SA, and to be frank, I don’t think it was necessary to the plot. It was jarring.
Overall – I would recommend this to Francophiles who enjoy stunning descriptions of food. In terms of writing, though, I think nonfiction is more her bread and butter (pun intended).
Some of my favorite memoirs are by members of the culinary world, so I’m a fan of Ruth Reichl’s work. I read her most recent memoir, Save Me the Plums, in 2023, and enjoyed it. For me, one of the most memorable parts of that book was her story about finding a mysterious dress while visiting Paris. When I read the description of this novel (her second work of fiction), I figured she had drawn on personal experience. “Write what you know,” right?
Reichl’s gift for descriptive writing is obvious. If you love vivid depictions of food and atmosphere, you’ll enjoy this. The plot, however, left me unsatisfied. To expand on my thoughts, I’ll start with the good stuff.
WHAT I LIKED:
The masterful food writing: Reichl is a former food critic, so this is unsurprising. My advice is to keep snacks nearby. You’ll need them.
The setting: it’s a tall task to make an iconic city seem even more alluring. Setting this in 1980s Paris was a refreshing take on historical fiction. In this case, you should judge the book exactly by its cover; it’s The Paris Novel through and through.
Shakespeare & Company sounds like a bibliophile’s fever dream.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:
The pacing: for a 288-page book, the plot started to drag towards the middle, suffering from too many side quests and a lack of focus. What’s Stella’s main goal – to reconnect with her late mother? To identify her father? To uncover the truth about an artist’s muse? We never get the chance to fully dive into any of these. And the timeline is all over the place. We skip around from week to week, month to month, before flashing forward near the very end, with many ends left untied.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second half, and I felt the ending was so abrupt. Too many life events happen in the final 12 percent of the book.
Like the side plots, I felt that many of the side characters were underdeveloped, arbitrary, and difficult to keep track of. It was interesting to learn about the Tumbleweeds, but ultimately, they didn’t bring much to the table (so to speak).
ALSO: I think this would benefit from a trigger warning placed in the beginning of the book, so readers can take care before starting it. The second chapter includes a graphic description of child SA, and to be frank, I don’t think it was necessary to the plot. It was jarring.
Overall – I would recommend this to Francophiles who enjoy stunning descriptions of food. In terms of writing, though, I think nonfiction is more her bread and butter (pun intended).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,495 reviews