If you don’t mind a bit of chick lit mixed with a touch of fashion faction (fiction and fact combined), may I recommend to
you Heaven, Hell & Mademoiselle? It
follows a small cast of characters set in the world of Parisian haute couture.
Thrillingly, Coco Chanel features prominently. If you are a fan of Chanel, and a fan of
Paris, this is a fun book. To me it’s a
cross of chick lit, chic lit and faux history.
Set in the late 1960s, Heaven, Hell & Mademoiselle by
Harold Carlton follows the lives of a group of young people who have moved to
Paris and are starting out. It also
shows Chanel at work. One of the young
women has started work in Chanel’s workroom and one wants to be a designer.
I read it on our summer holiday a few Christmases back, but
I remember the descriptions of Paris, the petite apartments they lived in
(petite but chicly decorated, on a budget of course), the aloof discipline of
one of the main characters, all intertwined with a mystery surrounding one of
the girls which somehow linked her to Mademoiselle Chanel.
I read it in about a day and a half because it was so
readable and enjoyable. There were a few
sensually sexy love scenes too. They
were so well written and different to other chick lit love scenes. The book transports you to Paris, and you can
imagine you live among the characters.
Since I have such good memories of this book, I have just
reordered it from our library to read again.
It’s been long enough that it will be like a brand new read to me!
Gosh I love a good read, and even more so when it has chic
details that I can soak up and take away.
Have you read this book?
Do you have a favourite that is along these lines? Please let me know so I can add it to my
wishlist.
Thank you for the 'book review', it sounds like a fun read. I've just requested it from the local library.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend.
If you say it's worth reading, I'm getting it! Thanks so much for sharing, and have a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Janice
ReplyDeleteOh I hope that our local library has a copy. I live a good book and when it comes with such a high rating I will be sure to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the review.
Thank you for the book review. This book sounds interesting, I've addedit to my reading list.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting it from my library. Thank you, Fiona!
ReplyDeleteDear Fiona, I know your inner French girl will enjoy this:
http://www.boredlion.com/lost-parisian-apartment-is-an-unmatched-time-capsule-from-the-40s/?utm_source=ob&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Lost-Parisian-Apartment-Is-An-Unmatched-
Merci for this book recommendation. I loved it! I also reviewed it on my blog. Here's the post: http://italiagal.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-review-heaven-hell-mademoiselle.html
ReplyDelete