Sundin is easily becoming one of my favourite WWII novelists.
Until Leaves fall in Paris follows former ballerina turned bookstore owner Lucie Girard and factory owner Paul Aubrey as they navigate the tensions of being American citizens in Paris in 1940.
Sundin provides a riveting story filled with romance, suspense, and emotion as Lucie and Paul navigate an unfamiliar France where neighbours have become résistance, collaborators, or an unknown in-between.
Lead character Lucie is young and idealistic. Like many young women she doubts herself and her abilities but she has a creative spirit, a strong heart, and a wisdom about her. I absolutely loved her scenes with young Josie as she really does gain so much confidence and surety of self in her time with the young girl. Josie was a real treat of a secondary character as well. I loved Sundin's plots around the feenie stories and the highlighting of a child's abilities.
To my surprise, it was Paul that stole the story though. Sundin wrote his grief and struggle so acutely that you couldn't help but be drawn into his tension between grief and duty, past and future.
Sundin is good at tension. While she doesn't shy away from the danger her characters would have faced in 1940s Paris she also manages to tell a story that never completely loses sight of hope. Whether it's Lucie's initial youthful optimism, Josie's childhood innocence and Feenie stories, or the elements of faith that run throughout Sundin's work there is always an element of hope. I think that's one of the more appealing elements of her writing. Sundin presents good historical context, suspenseful drama, and satisfying character development while never loosing sight of the hope underscores her work.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.
No comments:
Post a Comment