The Paper Palace

A Novel

De: Miranda Cowley Heller

Narrado por: Nan McNamara

Reese's Book Club Pick

“A magnificent page-turner...as intoxicating as a summer night by the sea.” (Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times best-selling author of Good Company)

"It's been ages since I was so absorbed in a contemporary novel. I loved it." (Nick Hornby, New York Times best-selling author of Just Like You)

"A soulful debut that plumbs the depths of a midlife Sophie’s Choice." (People)

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 July morning, and Elle, a 50-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 24 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.

©2021 Miranda Cowley Heller (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Captivating debut...full of lush atmospheric details. This will keep the reader guessing all the way to the end.” (Publishers Weekly)

“The moody and atmospheric setting of the shadowy paths and ponds of the Back Woods is described in lush detail that makes a sharp contrast to the colder, sharper elements of Elle’s story.... From the first pages of her debut novel, Heller pulls no punches. Some of them just sneak up on you later on.” (Kirkus)

"Tightly woven and immediate, The Paper Palace takes us deep into a vivid summer landscape, a family, and a private, longstanding love story, and holds us there from start to finish." (Meg Wolitzer, New York Times best-selling author of The Interestings and The Female Persuasion)

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.

Wasted

This was a good book up until the end. I feel it wasted my time with mundane characters and lacked any real climax-pun intended.

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.

Best book I’ve read in a long time

So, so good. Get it! The narration was fabulous, the story was captivating. Great characters, love this book!

Reese has done it again!

Good luck by Reese on this one but once again the ending has left me wanting so much more.

great story

really good book, enjoyed the book from beginning to end, I will look at other books the author has written

Entertaining

I liked the way this book stayed real, a little raw, and believable. There was no sparing the lust, the love, and relationships. A good read