The Paris Novel
On behalf of: Kathy Robbins - The Robbins Office, Inc.
A New York Times Bestseller
A Best Book of The Year: Saveur, Food & Wine, Bookreporter, The Charlotte Observer
Bestselling author Ruth Reichl takes readers on an adventure of food, art, and fashion in 1980s Paris in this dazzling, heartfelt novel.
Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean… Oysters, she thought, where have they been all my life?
When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading Go to Paris. Like many who come to the City of Lights, Stella is searching for something; she just doesn’t yet know what.
Alone in a new city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store and finds a dress—a sumptuous cloud of black fabric designed by Yves Saint Laurent in his first collection for the house of Dior—that unlocks her spirit of adventure. And so, we join her on her quest, walking with Stella through the winding cobblestone streets of Paris arrondissements; sitting with her for delectable meals; and even living with her among the shelves at Shakespeare & Company, redolent with the smell of old books and George Whitman’s famous gingerbread. As weeks go by, Stella uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past.
Anyone who has so much as seen Paris on a movie screen knows its magic and Reichl captures that sparkle perfectly on the page. But perhaps the most enchanting part of The Paris Novel is the way Stella finds herself—through the passions she discovers, the people she befriends, and the self-love she finally allows to flourish. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.
Reviews
“What joy to discover 1980’s Paris alongside Stella through fashion, food, art all wrapped up in a tantalizing mystery. This is a sumptuous book that I simply could not put down. C’est formidable!”—Julia Louis-Dreyfus
“Savor Paris through this story of a lost young woman who finds herself in a city she never knew she’d love, let alone feel finally at home in. It’s all here: Les Deux Magots, Dior, L’Ami Louis and Shakespeare and Company. And there is no better guide than Ruth Reichl.”—Padma Lakshmi
“This is nothing less than an absolute enchantment.”—Nigella Lawson
“[E]nticing . . . Reichl keeps the wine—and mouthwatering prose—flowing…an enthusiastic and undeniable knack for describing food and its attendant thrills.”— The New York Times
“A rollicking tour of 1980s Paris with culinary legend Reichl as the consummate guide.”— People
“Ruth Reichl captures the flavors of France through the eyes of a young woman who discovers the city via a mysterious inheritance—and through a chance encounter with a seasoned gentleman, whose passion for fine dining (and good wine) awakens her to the glories of French cuisine. The Paris Novel is a movable feast through France in the 1980s, with stops in memorable bistros, markets, and Left Bank cafés; pieces of an evocative tale of personal discovery; and finding one’s true calling in the most delicious city in the world.”—David Lebovitz, author of Drinking French and My Paris Kitchen
“In Ruth Reichl’s singularly capable hands, how could Paris be anything less than completely delicious? And yet in this enchanting story about a woman’s unexpectedly transformative journey to the City of Light, Reichl also has us rooting for and completely charmed by an entire cast of delightful characters—and most particularly for Stella, who gradually discovers the larger, bolder life hidden just inside her timid, wary shell. Hopelessly and hopefully romantic—you will devour this novel.”—Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife
“I love everything Ruth Reichl writes and not only is The Paris Novel no exception, it is, page after page, an enchanting and irresistible feast. What a joy to encounter Stella and follow her through the streets of Paris as she immerses herself in all the city has to offer, finally discovering how to claim her own desires. Much like the perfect meal in the world’s most magical city, I never wanted this sublime novel to end.”—Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, author of the New York Times bestselling novels The Nest and Good Company
“A splendid novel of family, food, and all things French, by one of the world’s best food writers at the top of her game.”—J. Ryan Stradal, author of Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club
“Food critic and novelist Reichl serves up a delectable story of an introverted copy editor’s life-changing visit to Paris in the 1980s… The expressive prose makes tangible Stella’s awakening as she develops a passion for French culture and cuisine like foie gras: ‘The flavor grew richer, rounder, louder with each passing second.’ Reichl serves a feast for the senses.”—Publishers Weekly
“In this rich, colourful and seductive novel, Ruth took me on a journey to “my Paris”, as well as to the ‘savoir vivre’ of France. Her story reminds you of the good things in life – enjoyment, friendship, immersing yourself in fine arts. If you do not have time to go to Paris: get yourself some cheese, baguette, red wine, and let The Paris Novel take you on a remarkable holiday for the soul.”—Nina George, author of The Little Paris Bookshop
“[A] love letter to a world city…Reichl crafts a cozy atmosphere full of lavish meals–escargots, foie gras, ortolans, and fine wines… Francophiles and armchair travelers alike will relish the chance to tour Paris’s famous churches, museums, and restaurants.”—Shelf Awareness
“Reichl, the last editor-in-chief of the defunct Gourmet