The Light of Paris

Listener Reviews

1. 5.0(1)

   Paris - how I miss you.

   More than anything, I wish the younger me had read this. So beautiful. So rich.

   Phoebe Lund · April 9, 2025

2. 3.0(1)

   Oui! Grand mère!

   I loved Margie's story. She was such a fascinating character. I did not want to put her story away to read Madeline's. Margie makes one long for Paris in the 1920s. I want to know more about her.

   basicindiebro · September 12, 2024

3. 5.0(1)

   A delightful escape

   I have always love Paris and have been there 4 times. One of the times was a Summer school session in collage which allowed for brief but deeper immersion into the culture. This book brought those memories alive again eve. Tough it too place in a much earlier time.

   Bernadette Knowles · August 31, 2024

4. 5.0(1)

   A love story within finding ones identity throughout generations and the romanticism of Paris.

   Smartly written book, full of beautiful prose and sensory details. It felt like I was on the streets of Paris, tasting the air, the food and living a life longed for.

   Cortney Haines · November 16, 2023

5. 3.0(1)

   What a drag of a read

   Boring, repetitive whining and self pity for the whole book. Two full generations of whining. Aghhh. Allow me to repeat. Aghhh

   Cayla Cross · October 13, 2023

6. 4.0(1)

   A beautiful book!

   I truly enjoyed this novel. It's not an easy thing to jump back and forth between old characters of the past and current characters in the present, but this author does a fantastic job of it. I was just as interested in listening to Madeline's parts as I was Margie's parts, and vice versa. I adored the descriptions of 1920s Paris, and the love story entertwined throughout the book made for great family drama and romance. If I had any critique of the story, it's that Madeline's character was a little tough to swallow. It was hard get behind a character who was so mousy and felt so much insecurity and self-loathing. I didn't think she was anything like her grandmother, who was brave and independent and who understood her physical flaws without hating them or being a doormat. I enjoy strong characters much more than weak ones. All in all, though, it was a great listen. Cassandra Campbell did a fantastic job, as always. Amazing how she pulls off a male French accent flawlessly.

   Clara Pierce · July 19, 2023

7. 4.0(1)

   If you are looking for a light and easy read, this

   Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

   Yes! The Light of Paris is a simple story and is written very elegantly. It explores the self-discovery of two women in two very different time periods. It shows the courage it takes to be who we really are. But also that the end result is not always picture perfect. The two stories mirror each other, and that was beautifully written.

   Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

   The story seamlessly oscillates between early 1920’s with Madeleine grandmother, Margie’s rebellion to live the life she never dreamed she could have and late 1990’s where Madeleine is fighting herself for wanting to walk out on a marriage that has kept her stifled for so long.

   Any additional comments?

   I enjoyed Eleanor’s writing, this being my first of her books. Cassandra Campbell’s narration of the audio book was brilliant. She did an excellent job of finding different voices for the women in this book that captured the character’s essence very well.

   Justice Mcneill · July 31, 2022

8. 5.0(1)

   Parallel stories of security versus freedom

   The Light of Paris follows the parallel stories of Margie in post WWI Paris and her granddaughter, Madeleine in contemporary America. The book looks at the questions of security and conformity versus living the life your spirit wants to live. I loved both characters and could identify with both their dreams and their choices in life. And there's the point--it all comes down to choices. What a wonderful book. I wish it could've gone on longer. I hadn't realized that Eleanor Brown, the author, was also the author of The Weird Sisters--another of my favorite books. Such well-drawn characters and a compelling story. Loved every second of it.

   Jenifer Rutledge · July 20, 2021