The Paper Palace (Reese's Book Club): A Novel

I loved this book. I loved the characters- excellent dialogue! And the lush descriptions and the propulsive plot-and the great writing--which makes this book fire on all levels. And the details-- some really odd, which I LOVE. It adds to the layers of character. There are so many stand out moments. One thing that comes to mind--when Elle is picking at the nasty grime that has built up in the holes of the ancient table, like earwax--so unusual and real and revealing. You wouldn't call this book funny--but there are some very clever humorous moments--and this is how I like my humor. With wry intelligence. Her sister telling her "fat thighs are like a phantom limb--years later you can feel them rubbing together." There is a balance between humor and pathos and the author hits it out of the park. The way the her husband interacts with the mother, making fun of her memory as if she has dementia is classic. Oh I could go on. Thank you Miranda Cowley Heller for this wonderful book! As a writer of fiction, I love to read something that makes me excited about writing!

I bought this book based on recommendations/ratings and seeing it was one that was a part of Reese's Book Club. I don't want to give too much away - I liked the story, but also thought it got to be too much and ended up dragging on. It's one of those where I wanted the characters to just figure their "stuff" out and get on with it! :) It's a longer book and I thought it could've been cut down by at least 1/4. I had not read anything by this author before so perhaps that's her MO and I won't count her out and will certainly try reading another one of her books.

This book is filled with poetic and lyrical descriptions of people and places. Very beautifully written. The subject matter is rather intense, however, dealing with highly emotional matters. The adults in Elle's life were consumed with their own narcissistic endeavors, which are ongoing throughout her life. Having known only that, she lives her life putting others' happiness above her own. Elle endures an horrific situation as a pre-pubescant and winds up making decisions from a stunted child's perspective and understanding of life. But Elle has one person with whom she transcends these sorrows. Her life becomes a journey towards discovering what true love is really about. Highly engrossing, highly entertaining, as well. Multi-dimensional.

This novel had a lot of promise but ended up feeling disappointing. It moves at a snail's pace, packed with so many words that it often loses focus. The flowery language distracts from the story, making it hard to stay engaged. As a love story, it really misses the mark. The chemistry between the main characters feels rushed and shallow, overshadowed by lengthy descriptions that don't add much to their relationship. Instead of building up the romance, the author just skims over the meaningful moments. The climax falls flat, leaving you wishing for a more exciting conclusion. It wraps up too quickly and leaves many questions unanswered, making you feel a bit let down. Overall, it’s just an “okay” read. If you enjoy detailed writing and don't mind a slow plot, it might work for you. But if you’re looking for a captivating love story with depth, you might want to pass on this one.

This was a great book! The ending fell a little flat in my opinion. But I really enjoyed the book.

4.5 wth stars!! I absolutely loved this book (other then the end). This was a book with so many lessons and so many hardships. While going through the past you get to enjoy watching characters blossom. With that there was a lot of pain in so many characters lives throughout. It was necessary. I can see why this book was chosen as a book of the month club book there is ALOT to discuss. Shoot I am discussing with myself nonstop. I think my favorite part is jumping from past to present. I needed that. It was all perfectly placed as well. It gave you background on why you ended up here with these characters. I mean I was in the Paper Palace with all the girls and I grieved with them. It was not all about negative stuff there was a lot of growth and love. It felt like a true story. Like was this someone’s life because I’ll be damned if it didn’t feel like it. And so I give you my second favorite thing is the characters. Omg I love everyone of them and despise many others too. You cheer them on and you cry with them. You second guess everything and wonder what could have been as well. This book was deep for me. Be aware there is a lot triggers and that comes with people writing all these negative reviews. What I say to that is know your boundaries and what you are comfortable with. There are warnings and people say I can’t handle child sexual trauma and that’s understandable. But it’s a part of a story. It builds this story. The pain, the strength, the hopelessness leads to the growth. I don’t think it was done poorly either this is real to some peoples life and I think it felt like it could have happened to anyone. Sadly it has. Now my only critique and the reason I could not give this 5 stars is because the damn ending. She left me. She has me mind boggled. And in some case that’s good. I guess it made me think non-stop about this book, so yea, that’s good. But I need more!! I told my hubby about it because even the next day I am frustrated. He says “is there a part two?” No dang it there is not!!! Get ready to ride the rollercoaster of emotions with this book. I think it is a fabulous summer read.

A escritora confundi o leitor com tanta falta de objetividade

This book brings up childhood memories and envelops you in sun and sand 😌

Excellent roman. Finesse psychologique et suspense !

Very interesting book, throwing up many topical issues ranging from patchwork families, to abuse and rape. Apart from these disturbing issues there are some beautiful descriptions of nature and fascinating facts about wildlife. The author is a screen writer so there is a tendency to very dramatic situations. The open ending is very thought provoking - could lead on to a sequel?

The quality of this book is unreal