The first new novel in four years from the beloved superstar author of Sarah’s Key, a heartbreaking and uplifting story of family secrets and devastating disaster, set against a Paris backdrop, fraught with revelations, and resolutions. “An absorbing tale of family secrets from the author of Sarah’s Key.” – People magazine “Hypnotic, passionate, ominous and tender–unforgettable.” –Jenna Blum, … ominous and tender–unforgettable.” –Jenna Blum, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Those Who Save Us
Linden Malegarde has come home to Paris from the United States. It has been years since the whole family was all together. Now the Malegarde family is gathering for Paul, Linden’s father’s 70th birthday.
Each member of the Malegarde family is on edge, holding their breath, afraid one wrong move will shatter their delicate harmony. Paul, the quiet patriarch, an internationally-renowned arborist obsessed with his trees and little else, has always had an uneasy relationship with his son. Lauren, his American wife, is determined that the weekend celebration will be a success. Tilia, Linden’s blunt older sister, projects an air of false fulfillment. And Linden himself, the youngest, uncomfortable in his own skin, never quite at home no matter where he lives–an American in France and a Frenchman in the U.S.–still fears that, despite his hard-won success as a celebrated photographer, he will always be a disappointment to his parents.
Their hidden fears and secrets slowly unravel as the City of Light undergoes a stunning natural disaster, and the Seine bursts its banks and floods the city. All members of the family will have to fight to keep their unity against tragic circumstances. In this profound and intense novel of love and redemption, de Rosnay demonstrates all of her writer’s skills both as an incredible storyteller but also as a soul seeker.
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The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay is focused on a family’s life long secrets and tragedies. The family gathers to celebrate and everything falls apart due to illnesses and a natural disaster. The book focuses on everyone‘s personal problems and how much they care for each other despite these problems. Nice thoughts but not very entertaining. I persisted reading hoping something would change to make it worthwhile. Unfortunately the story continued the same way and the ending was disappointing because it did not connect all the storylines. I have enjoyed Tatiana de Rosnay‘s other books and hope to read more in the future. My thanks to the author, the publisher and netgalley for making this book available to me to read and review.
I am normally a very fast reader but I read this book slowly so that I could savor every word and marvel at the way the family secrets were brought to the light. I love Paris and felt like I had taken a wet and rainy mini-vacation after I finished it. I loved the family and they are not characters that I’ll soon forget.
The Malegarde family is meeting in Paris to celebrate Paul’s 70th birthday and the anniversary of Paul and Lauren. They both traveled to Paris from the Drome Valley to spend the weekend with their two children – Tilia who is an artist and lives in London with her second husband in a rocky marriage and Linden who lives in San Francisco with his lover. Linden is a world renowned photographer who sees the world best through the eye of a camera. When the family all arrives in Paris, it has been raining for days but as the rain continues, the Seine begins to rise to levels not seen since the flood of 1910, the city begins to flood and shut down. In the midst of the devastation in Paris, Paul suffers a stroke and is taken to the hospital and Lauren is stricken with pneumonia. This is a family who love each other but don’t really understand each other. They are hiding secrets and resentments from each other. As they get cut off from the rest of the world in the floods, their secrets start to come to light as they learn more about the other family members.
This is a beautifully written novel about the devastation of Paris in a flood and the flood of feeling that this family must release to better understand each other. It will make you miss Paris if you’ve ever been there or make you want to make plans for a trip to Paris. I LOVED IT!
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
3.5 Stars. If you love Paris, this book is for you. Brother and Sister meet in Paris to celebrate their parents 40th anniversary and Father’s 70th birthday. What should be a beautiful weekend, turns into a harrowing time for all. Secrets come to light, but I feel are never really explored, just touched upon. I did enjoy the characters…Brother and Sister Linden and Tilia, and Parents Paul and Lauren. The descriptions of a Paris under water are heartbreaking.
I so wanted to love this book. Sarah’s Key remains one of my favorite books. This book left me flat, I wish there was so much more to this family story.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.