The House I Loved by Tatiana De Rosnay

"I think of our happiness, I think of the happy, simple life that is woven through these walls, the fragile tapestry of our existences. I think of the long, tall windows glowing out to me into the night when I used to make my way home from the rue des Ciseaux, a warm, beckoning light. And there you used to stand, waiting for me. I think of our doomed neighborhood, the simple beauty of the little streets stemming from the church that no one will remember."
                                           from Rose's letter, the novel, page 220

I chose this book for our Page Turners group to read and discuss this month because some of us had read Sarah's Key by this author and loved it. Also the novel was available as a Book Bundle, multiple copies from our public library. It did not disappoint me. I can't really say I liked it quite as much as the other but I did enjoy it.

The time and place were not terribly familiar to me---Paris in the mid-1800's. European history is not a strength, to say the least. The story takes place at a time when Napoleon III and his prefect, Baron Haussman, are carrying out a plan to modernize Paris. The whole plot is carried by letters written by the main character, Rose Bazelet, to her late husband, Armand, centered around the possible destruction of their family home. Occasionally letters TO Rose from Armand, her late son, her daughter, brother, mother-in-law, and friends appear, some providing flashbacks and revealing much about the characters.

I believe the clearest theme of the book is reaction to change. It is interesting to get into the heads of those who see the "progress" or "improvements" others are making as destructive and sad.

My favorite parts of the novel are when Rose is introduced to flowers by Alexandrine and to books by Zamaretti, particularly the description of Rose's first experience with a "page turner," Madame Bovary by Flaubert (see pp.147-50).

I look forward to hearing what my friends thought of The House I Loved. I will rate it a 4. In the Author's Note we are told just where to go and what to look for if we should go to Paris. Wouldn't it be lovely if our group could take a field trip there?

***
Our group met today and gave The House I Loved mixed reviews. The average rating was 3.0 but 4 people of 12 gave it a 2 and there was only one rating of 5. During the discussion, several members commented on what they thought was a lack of character development. None of us could relate to Rose's obsession with the house. Those of us who have also read Sarah's Key by this author agreed it was a much better read than The House... Luckily one member provided mini-quiches and petit fours as refreshments! Another member sent us background on the setting of the story from an encyclopedia and even shared with us the poem that Rose particularly liked.
The group thought my idea of a field trip to Paris sounded great. Now we just have to come into bundles of money to make that happen!