Last Christmas in Paris: Book Review
- Authors: Hazel Graynor and Heather Webb
- First Published: 2017
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Rating: ★★★★★
Have you ever wondered what letters to loved ones and friends on the battlefield during the great and tragic wars were like? What about their correspondence back? How is it that over such great distances, love can blossom during tragedy? Well, this book is the one for you if you've answered yes to any of these, and if you haven't, then it's about time you stopped lying to yourself.
Both Hazel and Heather did a fantastic job weaving this story using letters to depict what World War 1 was really like for those involved. I love that they didn't get too gory with details, but instead let the reader have a taste of what this war did to those involved, from being naive and optimistic to bruised, broken and psychologically damaged. As the characters progress and as the war progresses you get a sense of just how desperately those involved wanted the war to end, and of the guilt that everyone involved had when they were allotted even a brief moment of rest and reprieve while their mates were still in the thick of it. This also tackles, in a very tasteful way, the ways that censorship and propaganda were used from the war; often times we only read about it as a negative thing that the German forces used, not how the Allies also used it to keep up morale and hope.
The characters were also dealt with very well. Despite there not being a ton of detail about them in terms of looks and how they hold themselves, by the end you feel as if you know their very soul because of how they open themselves up in letter form. It also gives us a glimpse into what are the things from back home, wherever that may be, that helped comfort soldiers and those on the front. What would one expect? Booze, a tin of their favourite chocolates or treat, and maybe a pack of their favourite tobacco, right? Well, I won't spoil it, but it goes beyond that, far beyond that, into things that help to trigger nostalgia and longing for home, and puts fire in their blood to protect those that means the most to them, even though that may not be the conscious intention.
Everything about this, the writing style, the characters and how they're presented, the choices in details included and the ones intentionally omitted, everything played a part in creating a fantastic book. This is one that I highly recommend you add to your reading list this holiday season; fair warning, it did make me cry a couple of times, to make sure you have tissues on hand!
What do you like to read during the holidays? Do you like to read war-based historical fiction?
Happy holidays everyone!
Cheers!
The characters were also dealt with very well. Despite there not being a ton of detail about them in terms of looks and how they hold themselves, by the end you feel as if you know their very soul because of how they open themselves up in letter form. It also gives us a glimpse into what are the things from back home, wherever that may be, that helped comfort soldiers and those on the front. What would one expect? Booze, a tin of their favourite chocolates or treat, and maybe a pack of their favourite tobacco, right? Well, I won't spoil it, but it goes beyond that, far beyond that, into things that help to trigger nostalgia and longing for home, and puts fire in their blood to protect those that means the most to them, even though that may not be the conscious intention.
Everything about this, the writing style, the characters and how they're presented, the choices in details included and the ones intentionally omitted, everything played a part in creating a fantastic book. This is one that I highly recommend you add to your reading list this holiday season; fair warning, it did make me cry a couple of times, to make sure you have tissues on hand!
What do you like to read during the holidays? Do you like to read war-based historical fiction?
Happy holidays everyone!
Cheers!
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