i liked Le Divorce better. i did not like any of the characters in this book. and the murder mystery was such an afterthought making this reader wonder why she needs it, as if she could not carry the novel on social/national stereotypes alone. her books do that: a little mystery, little love and angst, little social commentary and always americans in France, usually Paris. i like the way she writes, she is smart and witty, but i didn't feel like hoping for any of the characters and i need that in a novel. also i think she hates marriage. it seemed that way in Le Divorce, too. like she (the author) doesn't believe in it or something.

3.5. At first annoying and (seemingly) lightweight, but ultimately très charmant.

I really don't know what to make of this book.

It was well-written...I guess. I mean, I have no idea if its portrayal of French people is correct, so I have nothing to say on that level. It was hard to tell where the story was going at times, and I didn't really care about any of the characters, or even about what was happening.

I suppose I sympathized the most with Clara, simply because going to jail for such a bullshit reason would be traumatizing, and because her husband was verbally abusive. But even she wasn't so interesting that I was actually rooting for her.

The whole thing about the stolen manuscript was boring with no sense of urgency or suspense. Same with the murder. Even though I finished the book today, I can't even remember if the murderer was someone who had been mentioned during the story or not. There were also some weird subplots about Clara's mother, some millennialist cult, and a woman with bipolar disorder, but they were confusing and, in my opinion, lacked resolution.

I didn't find the story to be terribly sexy, either. The sex scenes weren't terrible, but I've read better. It doesn't help that all the men, save for Cray, felt interchangeable to me. And Cray was just a self-centered, pseudo-intellectual sourpuss, although he was still entertaining to read about.

I did sort of like the ending for its honesty, since I think that's how marriage is for a lot of people. But in the end, this book didn't interest me very much.

I have been in a Jane Austen mood and needed a break. Well, this was just about as far from Jane Austen as I could get. I had a hard time getting into the book, but by about chapter 5, I was somewhat interested. There were a lot of cultural stereo-types, which were funny at times, but also somewhat naive or shallow. The story-line was unbelievable, but still somehow managed to entertain. A good book if you don't want to think or dig deep. A light summer read.

http://www.bookpage.com/0004bp/diane_...

Fun. French culture. Well written. Relationship- ey.

really not interesting enough to finish.

All these characters are totally dead inside and self-obsessed to boot. Is it a mystery? Is it a sad commentary on marriage? Is it the story of "Americans in Paris?" It is all of these things and yet none.

I tried to start this book and I just haven't been able to get into it. It kinda throws you in with no real idea of whats going on or any background. Puttin in back on the shelf for a later date.

Gosh, I hate giving up on books. I always remember how I thought A Tale of Two Cities was so boring till I reached the final section of the book, and then I didn't put it down for HOURS till I finished it.

This? Is not that. There wasn't a single interesting character, and the dialogue was written in such a way that I could barely follow the conversations. It was as if much was being communicated through meaningful looks and body language, but the author never bothered to tell us what they might have been. It will go back to the library unfinished.

Was hoping for a some good chick lit, but this was mostly just silly.

Enjoyable, light read, but the ending was dull and unsatisfying.