If you looked at the bicycles one way, they looked very solid, like sculpture, with afternoon light glinting cleanly off the chrome handlebars–one, two, three, all in a row. If you looked at them another way, you could see just how thin each kickstand was under the weight of the heavy frame, and how they were poised to fall like dominos or the skeletons of elephants or like love itself.
The Paris Wife, Paula McLain
I didn’t know much about Ernest Hemingway or his wives before I started The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. This is the story of his first wife, Hadley; of how they met, the depth of their love, and how it came to wither away. Set mainly in Paris during prohibition, McLain paints us a picture of two newlyweds on the cusp of greatness. Perched to seize the world by storm, Hadley and Ernest rock on the edge of several lives: that of the happily married couple, that of the poor writer trying to make a living, and that of disaster brought on by depression and angst.
The positive aspect of Paula McLain’s writing is that I forgot this book was about Hemingway’s first wife. Meaning I was able to sink into Hadley’s mind and Ernest’s love and then feel emotional heartbreak as their marriage fell apart. The dialogue for the time period is authentic; quick, sharp, witty and sassy. We are very much inside Hadley’s mind and our emotional connection with her is strong, we feel her passions and pains, her desires and needs. We support her entirely. But I also grew sick of her simpering passiveness, waiting for something to happen as she struggles to find her role in Ernest’s life. Upon discovering this annoyance half-way through the novel, I was pulled out of it entirely. It made me question how much of what I was reading was actually fact. Was this really how Hem’s first wife felt? Was he really this big of an ass?
Beneath my questions of the authenticity of Hadley is Ernest himself, and his pain and waywardness is what drives the story, as it drove their life together. As much as I grew to dislike him, and even Hadley at times, their story is tragically beautiful; so even though there were moments when I felt a lackluster performance from McLain’s writing, the story of these two lovers carried me through to the end, like a good love story should.
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy Hadley’s story, but Hemingway fans will bypass The Paris Wife in favor of his memoir, which I plan to read now that I know a bit more about the tragedy and triumph of this man, and his wife.
3 stars
(I received an advance copy for review)
loved your review–sounds like an interesting book. Kaye—the road goes ever ever on
I loved your review of this book!! I’m not a huge Hemingway fan and I have heard some people’s dislike of him. Although I do enjoy reading about real people, I tend to get annoyed about half way through when it is combined with historical fiction because I want to know what is fact and what is not. Sometimes I feel dooped for believing something that didn’t really happen. It’s hard for me to keep the two separate. This does sound like an interesting book though. Brava! on the review!
The best part of the book for me was reading about the writers in Paris during this time. Hadley annoyed me too for her passiveness. She felt very flat to me and the writing was too much “tell me”‘ and not enough “show me”.
I was curious about this one, so I appreciate your honest review…great job.
I actually LOVED this one, but you’re right that it’s frustrating not to know how much is actual truth and how much fiction. I decided at one point to just go with the story and not worry about that….
I’m sure great liberties were probably taken in telling the story, but it probably has equal doses of fact in order to keep some semblance of credibility. After all it is fiction–shall we say based on a true story.
Lee
Tossing It Out
What a great review of the book. I don’t think this is a book I will buy, however that said, I will be keeping an eye out for it at my library. I may have to have them order it for me. Whatever the case, I look forward to reading the book.
Being a fan of historical fiction first, I think this is one I could actually enjoy! And maybe, like you, it will peak my interest enough that I’ll then want to learn more on the man and his life.
Yeah. I’ve had mixed luck with fictionalized books about real people. sometimes they work for me and sometimes they don’t. I’m not sure about this one yet!
I just finished this and loved it…and have since checked out two more biographies about Hadley, because she got under my skin, so to speak…
Thanks for the review. I read an excerpt in a magazine in February, and I couldn’t wait to read it. I’ll look forward to your review of his memoir.
This is not normally the type of book that I read or look for, I read it for a book club and don’t know that I ever would have picked it off a bookshelf, I’m glad I did. I just finished it and I agree with EVERYTHING you said. I found your review when I googled to find out how much of the book was based on fact because I, like you, found myself several times throughout the book, wondering “did this really happen?” I now plan to read many more of the books and articles that were mentioned in the book.