Secrets of Paris: A Novel

I am actually in the process of re-reading this book for about the 4th time in as many years and came on looking for another Luanne Rice book- surprised to see the low ratings by other readers- I think this is a sincere, well-written book, it's not high art, but it doesn't pretend to be either- I seldom find that you can judge a book by it's cover, however, in this case the cover photo really has the same feeling as the novel- a little bit lonely, very pretty, good detail, and small ideas and patterns that you (I, at least) don't pick up on at your first look- like the fact that the cover photo is shot through a window and there are reflections of passersbye very faintly- that the scene is a perfect little tableau of what life should be like in an imaginged Paris- and that the main character is a set stylist. Along the same lines- Diane Johnson's Paris trilogy-l'affaire- le mariage- le divorce- are also excellent in my opinion- and are a bit more shrewd in a Henry James sort of way- than Secrets of Paris- and all excellent- regardless of whether you've been to Paris or not (or went and did not like it as I did! In my defense I was swindled by a money change guy for 50 bucks)- it doesn't really matter- this is Paris without the frustrations of travel- Personally, I think it's worth a visit- the book I mean- or 2.

A story of love,betrayal, friendships and marital realtionships