By request, Santa gave me this book for Christmas, but for a time, I denied myself the pleasure of reading it, utilizing it instead as a motivational tool: When you finish this draft, you’ll get to read Anna. The reviews (so many good reviews!) I’d seen made it that enticing. For me, Stephanie Perkins' Anna and The French Kiss lived up to all my high hopes and then some. It’s a delightful book, and even if you’re somehow not a fan of witty romances set in gorgeous places (Paris!), you’ll like it. Nay, you'll love it!
Anna Oliphant’s father has decided his daughter should get some culture, so he ships her off to boarding school in Paris for her senior year. There Anna befriends a group of smart, interesting kids including Étienne St. Clair, now rising in the ranks of my favorite fictional male characters of all time. Aside from being "ridiculously beautiful," St. Clair is funny, intelligent, and also short -- must point out how much I adore Perkins going against type and casting her lead as a guy confident enough not to care that the girl he likes has a good three inches on him.
St. Clair is so enticing that readers can absolutely sympathize with Anna falling for him against her better judgment. See, St. Clair already has a girlfriend. Plus, over the course of the year, he and Anna become best friends.
Did I mention that Anna is entirely lovable as well? The story is told from her P.O.V., and she’s no dippy love-struck girl needing a boy to complete her. But at the same time, she’s vulnerable, sometimes insecure, empathetic and funny. She’s the kind of girl you’d want as your best friend.
Bertrand Russell said, “Love is a little haven of refuge from the world.” Getting lost in the pages of Anna and The French Kiss was a heavenly haven for me. In fact, I reread it a few nights ago when I was in need of solace, in need of getting a well written but terrifying dystopia out of my mind (I'll be reviewing that scary page-turner soon).
P.S. I highly recommend you check out Stephanie Perkins' web page. The links in her On Writing section will lead you to some excellent writing advice.
4 comments:
French kissing, eh? You have my complete attention.
"...not to care that the girl he likes has a good three inches on him."
Phew! Size doesn't matter. I'm relieved.
Sincerely,
Vertically Challenged
I've heard so many wonderful things about this book. It sounds like a fun read. I think I'll have to get it at the library. I've been spending too much at the bookstores lately! :-)
Pen and Ink: Funny you say that because the title alone definitely doesn't do it for me. Makes it seem more like a romance, which I guess it is, but it's so much more.
Melissa: Yep. I definitely wanted this one as a result of all the great reviews. Hope you get to read it soon!
Anything set in Paris entices me to read. This book sounds delightful.
It also reminds me that I had a boyfriend named Etienne once upon a time...
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