If you haven’t heard of this story, it will shock you. If you have, it likely still shocks you.
Gisele Pelicot, is the woman whose husband had drugged If you haven’t heard of this story, it will shock you. If you have, it likely still shocks you.
Gisele Pelicot, is the woman whose husband had drugged her to the state of unconsciousness and allowed her to be sexually abused by dozens of men for over a decade.
This is written by Caroline Darian’s, Gisele’s daughter. It will make you uncomfortable and cringe.
Gisele, the incredible brave woman she became, opted to make this a public trial rather than private. In doing so, she shifted the shame from the victim to the abuser.
Caroline is now an advocate. Calling attention to the violence being committed with the use of drugs to chemically subdue victims.
Both courageous women who have turned a private tragedy into a collective fight for justice. 5⭐️...more
We are taken back to 1347. Eleanore is of an age to be married but she doesn’t want to be caged. She’s a herbalist and midwife, having learned the skiWe are taken back to 1347. Eleanore is of an age to be married but she doesn’t want to be caged. She’s a herbalist and midwife, having learned the skills from her late mother. A chance opportunity arises to be an apprentice to the physician of the pope and leads her to be the midwife for Queen Joanna of Naples. But the dreaded black plague arrives. The infectious disease knocks out thousands and has now settled in Avignon, along with the evil that rises among zealots threatening her, and a witch-hunt begins.
This was an amazing debut into the foray of HF. However, even though DeRozier has created this brilliant character, she diminishes her with the musings of a dramatically love sick female. This I could have done without. Hey a little romance is ok but having it laid out so descriptively and flowery was not. Sigh. So close to being a 5 star read. 4.5⭐️
The Black Death wiped out 40% of the European population during this time. Wow. And we thought Covid was bad....more
I feel I’ve been wrapped in a dark cloak and taken back to the 1500’s where women didn’t have a voice and decisions were made by a male in the family.I feel I’ve been wrapped in a dark cloak and taken back to the 1500’s where women didn’t have a voice and decisions were made by a male in the family.
Marguerite, an orphan & heir to a fortune, discovers her uncle has squandered it away for his adventurous expedition to New France, which she has been forced to join him on. Her uncle, upon learning of her forbidden love she has found, is enraged and takes drastic steps to punish her by exiling them to a remote isle.
From woman to warrior; Surviving the rough terrain and the frigid winters; evolving from selfish to selfless. This was a transformative journey. One of loss, love, despair, overcoming adversity and finding faith. The writing: lush. 5 ⭐️
**This was based on the historical figure of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval**...more
Justine is a nursing assistant at a long term care facility. She meets Helene, a resident there. Helene, in her world, is always at the beach. She observes people there, can feel the sun and its warmth, hear the waves as she sits and watches the seagull who stays close to her. It is here where she shares her story with Justine of her past love, Lucien, how they met, how they lived, how they loved.
Also, during this time, mysterious calls begin to happen weekly from the nursing home. A resident, who has not had a visitor for months or years, suddenly is reunited with family. All on Sundays.
Perrin magically weaves Justine's story within. Both stories reflecting the complexity and dynamics of a family; the regrets; the memories; the joy and the grief.
I am gutted again, Perrin…and how appropriate for today to be Sunday.
Perrin’s debut at last translated. My love and adoration for her beautiful stories continue ❤️ 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️...more
Three is the story of 3 childhood friends. Bound together from grade 4. The bestest of friends. Adrienne, EtienThis may have been"Three" but it's a 5!
Three is the story of 3 childhood friends. Bound together from grade 4. The bestest of friends. Adrienne, Etienne & Nina with the same dream: to escape their province outside of the city and together venture to Paris and never part.
But tragedy strikes one life, shattering their threesome and childhoods dreams. And like dominoes, the three fall. A car is dredged up in the local lake that reunites the 3 back again decades later.
Beautiful, intimate characterizations. This is a story about life. The choices we make; the relationships we have; the endurance of those relationships throughout long gaps and life events. The complexity and dynamics of friendships.
There is something magical and lyrical in Perrin’s writings. Nothing lost in the actual translation.
I have an affinity to France now having been there recently. But also an affinity to animal shelters. I adored Fresh Water for Flowers and this one also successfully yanked at my heart strings. Be still my heart ❤︎ Hands down - on my all time favourites and favourites for 2022!...more
Magnificent! I literally hugged this book and sighed when I finished.
This story is as exquisite as flowers that bloom year after year; season after sMagnificent! I literally hugged this book and sighed when I finished.
This story is as exquisite as flowers that bloom year after year; season after season. Violette is a caretaker of a cemetery in France. She has stories of almost all the graves she’s nurtured with love and grace over the last twenty years. She tells of lovers who Visit by night to avoid family and wives by day. Of women who come to visit and leave their stories of love and life with her. The story is interspersed with her own tragedy of loss and regaining her strength to carry on. A beautiful story of love, death, grief and hope.
A character to be cherished and remembered. Such beautiful language. I’ll hold this one close to my heart as it goes on my all time favourite list ❤️ 5⭐️...more
Canadian Jen
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Books:
france
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