Reading The Lost Girls of Paris was a treat. It satisfied my appetite for books on covert and espionage activities during World War II. An added treat was the audio. Along with the script, the audio brought to life the characters with different tones of voices, accents and inflections.
This is my first time reading Pam Jenoff; it certainly won’t be my last. She has an engaging style, a smooth and easy flow of captivating prose. Once I started to read her book, it took a great effort to stop to do chores and keep appointments. She is such an excellent story teller. She connects easily and effortlessly with her readers’ imagination. Graphic scenes after scenes glide smoothly and continuously. It’s like watching an interactive movie. One time I’m a ringside spectator to events; at another I’m the voice that is narrating. There were times when I felt as if I was the voice in the head of the characters judging or evaluating their actions.
Jenoff’s book presents an interesting prelude. The “instigator” by chance came upon photos of several girls. Intense curiosity and unrelenting persistency opened up a window which unveiled the exploits of these girls. They were involved in extremely dangerous covert activities in France directed by the British during World War II. The discovery of the photos initiated two parallel narratives with a common quest:a search for what happened to the Lost Girls. The first narrative occurs a few years after the events; the second in real time. However, the narratives are like two independent clauses of a sentence. They each can stand alone, but are linked by a common goal.
The author allows us into the minds of two protagonist, each grappling with different facts and under different circumstances. The first protagonist is propelled by pure curiosity to uncover the truth about the fate of the girls. There is little to go on, just the haunting photos. But in the second narrative the other protagonist is troubled by mounting evidence that something is awry. Unfortunately, she is blocked by higher authorities to search for the truth. Consequently, victims point to her as their betrayer.
The Lost Girls of Paris is a book that captures real life experiences of loyalty, bravery, friendship, and love. It also includes the darker side of humanity:brutality, hate and betrayal. In this book it is women who are prominently described with such experiences. Rightfully so, because women’s role in the two world wars is marginalized. Why is this so? Because it’s a reflection of male dominated societies around the globe. This book is a much needed correction to this.
“...the notion of a woman holding a job...” should sensitize readers to bias against females that still exist today. I had a sense of history repeating itself when reading comments implying that women should stay home. In the second narrative we get a broader view of the social problem: “Getting hired had been an uphill battle:she was not just a woman, but a Polish national—and a Jew”. The underlying purpose of The Lost Girl of Paris is not to minimize the advancements made to date in gender equality. But rather to give historical context to the struggles women face. It shows that the attitudes behind their impediment to achieve equality still lingers.
Pam Jenoff has done a magnificent job in memorializing the heroic role played by women in World War II. Their contributions to the war efforts deserve to be known and remembered.
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From the Publisher
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| Code Name Sapphire | The Woman With the Blue Star | The Lost Girls of Paris | The Orphan's Tale | The Diplomat's Wife | The Ambassador's Daughter | |
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This story has it all!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Lost Girls of Paris" by Pam Jenoff. Set in the 1940s, this true spy story unfolds in Paris, London, Germany and New York, during and after WW II. It contains all of the elements to grab a reader by the lapels and not let go – espionage, intrigue, friendship, betrayal and loss. It also emphasizes what ordinary people can do when placed in extraordinary circumstances. Warning: I couldn't put this book down and you may not be able to either!
Top reviews from other countries
Mariano
Buen producto.
Reviewed in Spain on November 20, 2020
Mariano
Reviewed in Spain on November 20, 2020
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