The Paris Novel

Name: The Paris Novel
SKU: 78426
Availability: InStock

4.4 | 3,201 ratings

Price: 6.99

Last update: 07-16-2024

About this item

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “mouthwatering” (The New York Times) adventure through the food, art, and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris—from the bestselling author of Save Me the Plums and Delicious!

“An enchanting and irresistible feast . . . As with a perfect meal in the world’s most magical city, I never wanted this sublime novel to end.”—Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, author of Good Company

Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head, and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean. Oysters, she thought. Where have they been all my life?

When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading “Go to Paris.” Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a traumatic childhood has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. But when her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother’s last wishes.

Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store, where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that this dress was meant for Stella and for the first time in her life Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress—and embarks on an adventure.

Her first stop: the iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots, where Stella tastes her first oysters and then meets an octogenarian art collector who decides to take her under his wing. As Jules introduces Stella to a veritable who’s who of the Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds, she begins to understand what it might mean to live a larger life.

As weeks—and many decadent meals—go by, Stella ends up living as a “tumbleweed” at famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting, and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.

You will devour this hopelessly and *hopefully* romantic novel,” says Paula McLain

“A delicious feast for the senses,” says Oprah Daily

Top reviews from the United States

C. Wakefield

Food, Glorious Food

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2024

Ruth Reichl doesn’t know me but I know if she appeared in my kitchen we would continue the friendship forged through reading and living her words. Ruth is a goddess of description. Delicious descriptions of glorious food, prepared with love and the best ingredients possible. This book is a symphony of lives, love, taste, vision and the visual. Ruth’s descriptions of the clothes, the meals, the joy in living will cheer me in dark days and lift my spirits. I urge you to read it and rejoice with me in her talents.

Elizabeth Ann Wagar

Paris is always a solution for everything

Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2024

For those who love Paris, this book is just plain fun! Stella, a young woman whose mother recently died, has mysteriously been left an inheritance of a plane ticket to Paris. Stella’s relationship with her mother had been unbelievably bad and she never knew her father. She lives a quiet life as a copy editor (and we all love copy editors!) for a small publishing house in New York City.

She arrives in Paris deciding to do the usual visits to museums and city landmarks but feels unsatisfied until she buys a vintage couture dress and meets a startling older gentleman. The story swings wide open and Stella finds herself engaged in a wonder of French cuisine and mysteries regarding her possible father from her mother’s time in Paris. She also excitedly begins investigating a woman artist from the Impressionistic period whose paintings have been lost to time and a lack of recognition of women in the arts.

A great summer read! Multiple mysteries and the delicious descriptions of French cuisine are fun. The solutions play out a bit predictably but an engaging and relaxing novel.

belle gallay

Fabulous

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2024

I have not read a book like this in a long time. Every page was wonderful exciting it’s so well thought out.. Ruth Reichl well not being only a fabulous cookbook, author, is a wonderful fiction writer as well. I sincerely hope that she writes many more books to enjoy the food. Descriptions were wonderful and made me Taste the food as well.

Amy Cohen

My amazing trip to Paris!

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2024

I have been waiting fora book that could take me on an adventure and I certainly found it! The story was fascinating, the descriptions of food were delicious and the people were magnifique. This book would make a wonderful movie. I can’t stop picturing the colorful scenery and all the emotions that flowed throughout each chapter. The author made me feel fulfilled and happy. I recommend this book to anyone that needs to dream and escape to a better place for just awhile!

avid reader

A good beach novel

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2024

The Paris Novel is about Stella, a copy editor in NYC, who was raised by a self-centered single mother, and has never taken steps to explore the world or her own creativity. When her mother dies unexpectedly, Stella learns that her mother left little, other than $8,000 and instructions to go to Paris. Once there, Stella learns to breach her self-established boundaries, and try new things, in the process discovering herself. About two-thirds of the way through, all tension disappears as Stella fully commits herself to a new life in Paris. At that point, through one happy coincidence after another, Stella finds her chef father, discovers that she has inherited a talent for cooking and opens a restaurant with her father, discovers a valuable painting that is sold to a Boston museum, moves into a beautiful house, partners with a wealthy man whose father adores her. Chick lit at its finest.

Shulaka

Settle in for a delicious page turner

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2024

Ruth Reichl sumptuously combines her knowledge of food and wine with her love of France and French food. She created a most original story, conjuring foodie Paris, classic literature, vintage wine, and amazing food. I was transported to that magical city of lights, discovering the culinary life I wish I had truly experienced as a young student. A real treat.

Maureen E. Huerter

delectable

Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2024

As each chapter led to another, a new character or emotion emerged. The detailed items of culinary experiences became normal and besides the revulsion I felt when they ate the baby birds the food references were welcome. It was a nice life story with an anticipated happy ending

Barbara

Ruth Reich does it again

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2024

Love Ruth Reich's books. They are so original and full of heart (and food/cooking). She's brought her love of Paris, and real life experiences into this book. Wonderful characters, some based on real people/places and some fictional, and a fun book. Highly recommend.

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