The Paris Dressmaker

GIVEAWAY

CAMBRON, KRISTY

THE PARIS DRESSMAKER

Based on true accounts of how Parisiennes resisted the Nazi occupation in World War II -- from fashion houses to the city streets -- comes a story of two courageous women who risked everything to fight evil they couldn't abide.

Paris 1939. Maison Chanel has closed, thrusting haut couture dressmaker Lila de Laurent out of the world of high fashion as Nazi soldiers invade the streets and the City of Lights slips into darkness. Lila's life is now a series of rations, brutal restrictions, and carefully controlled propaganda while Paris is cut off from the rest of the world. Yet in hidden corners of the city, the faithful pledge to resist. Lila is drawn to La Resistance and is soon using her skills as a dressmaker to infiltrate the Nazi elite. She takes their measurements and designs masterpieces, all while collecting secrets in the glamorous Hotel Biz -- the heart of the Nazis' Parisian headquarters. But when dashing Rene Touliard suddenly reenters her world, Lila finds her heart tangled between determination to help save his Jewish family and bolstering the fight for liberation.

Paris, 1943. Sandrine Paquet's job is to catalog the priceless works of art bound for the Furrier's Berlin, masterpieces stolen from prominent Jewish families. But behind closed doors, she secretly forages for information from the underground resistance. Beneath her compliant facade lies a woman bent on uncovering the fate of her missing husband...but at what cost? As Hitler's regime crumbles, Sandrine is drawn in deeper when she uncreates an exquisite blush Chanel gown concealing a cryptic message that may reveal the fate of a dressmaker who vanished from within the fashion elite.

Told across the span of the Nazi occupation, The Paris Dressmaker highlights the brave women who used everything in their power to resist darkness and restore light to their world.

My Review:

True confession: I tried reading this book twice in both print (first try) and audio book (second try) and ended up DNFing both times because I found it really confusing. The timeline jumps around within the span of the war but in no logical order and I had a really hard time making sense of it.

I hated giving up though, so I decided to try again -- this time listening to the audio book while following along with the paperback and that helped a lot! 

At first I had to keep referring to the book in hand but eventually, once I got used to the non-chronological date hopping from two different characters' POVs I was able to anchor myself in the story and could leave off reading along and just listen. I've read a few reviews from readers who had the same struggle but many more reviews from readers who didn't. I guess it's just a preference thing? 

But if you're hesitant like I was, I'd suggest keeping an open mind and giving yourself a chance to settle into the rhythm of the storytelling (I didn't get very far my first two tries) because this really is a remarkable story -- harrowing and beautiful and sad and stirring and...gah...so many emotions and so many talking points for discussion. Would definitely make a meaty choice for a book club selection.

Cambron's historical details are exacting. She really brings this era to life. It's gritty and raw and hopeful and inspiring. Two heroines who had the courage to sacrifice everything in order to make a difference. I've come away with an appreciation for the women who found ways to fight the Nazi occupation by drawing upon their unique talents to aid the resistance. 

There's more I want to say, but it would be better left for a book discussion instead of review, since I'd have to post spoilers. Let's just say that The Paris Dressmaker highlighted some aspects of the war that I wasn't aware of as well as exposing some surprising (to me) dissensions among the Parisienne women. Does that have you intrigued? :-) And I was touched by the enduring romances and the day to day struggles of life at one of the most horrific times in history. Puts our 21st century North American struggles to shame. 

A book that I found both enlightening and thought provoking.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Paris Dressmaker, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 18 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck