The Paper Palace

A Novel

De: Miranda Cowley Heller

Narrado por: Nan McNamara

REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

OVER 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

THE PAPER PALACE IS:

“Filled with secrets, love, lies and a summer beach house. What more could you ask?”—Parade

“A deeply emotional love story…the unraveling of secrets, lies and a very complex love triangle.” —Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club July ’21 Pick)

"Nail-biting." —Town & Country

“A magnificent page-turner.” —Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author

“[An] irresistible placement of a complicated family in a bewitching place.” —The New York Times

A story of summer, secrets, love, and lies: in the course of a singular day on Cape Cod, one woman must make a life-changing decision that has been brewing for decades.

“This house, this place, knows all my secrets.”

It is a perfect August morning, and Elle, a fifty-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at “The Paper Palace”—the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: last night Elle and her oldest friend Jonas crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside. Now, over the next twenty-four hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn’t forever changed the course of their lives. As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity. Tender yet devastating, The Paper Palace considers the tensions between desire and dignity, the legacies of abuse, and the crimes and misdemeanors of families.

Thoughtful and well-written, but Needs a warning

This was a good read, and a very insightful perspective. It made me think, and see things in new ways. But the explicit description of the sexual grooming and rape may be triggering for some, and may serve as pornography for abusers. I’m glad it didn’t stop me, because it was a good book, with a lot to say. But I would’ve liked the editors to push the author’s thinking there.

A little sad and leaves you wanting…

The book was well written and did keep me entertained but it’s over all sad and a bit depressing. The realistic aspect of the book is desirable but overall just not inspiring or happy. The sexual abuse was a bit much for me so if you are sensitive to this you may want to pass on this book.

Overall I did enjoy the characters and the book was well put together.

Dragged the first 1/3 of the book. Finally got to the meat

The story was good although some the flashbacks could have been edited out entirely. A simple description of what occurred would have been enough.
The second 2/3 of the book was good with, for a change, an ending that held up.

Loved it!

The author takes you from present day to way back in Eleanor’s childhood and forward. It’s earthy and raw but very true to life and authentic. The frequent references to urinating are the only criticism I can think of.

Not for me

Some good descriptive prose but other sections are written in a way that made me cringe. Also just not enough of a plot and no characters to really root for. I also prefer a more clear ending. Overall, not for me.