So slow ( )

Contemporary fiction about a family of four getting together in Paris for a family reunion in honor of his father’s seventieth birthday, told from the point of view of the son, Linden Malegarde, an acclaimed professional photographer. The father is a French arborist, the mother an American, the daughter a painter married to an alcoholic. This family reunion has gone terribly wrong, involving medical issues and a natural disaster. Each family member holds at least one secret, and each has experienced trauma.

The plot is rather slow building and the tone is sorrowful. The desire to find out the hinted secrets kept me interested. The sympathetic main character is well-developed, and the family interactions were believable. The author explores issues around what it is like for a gay man struggling to feel accepted. At times it felt too detailed and repetitious, but overall, I found it a solid story with tender moments. Recommended to readers that enjoy family dramas or those familiar with the city of Paris, as it prominently features many Parisian sites and landmarks.

I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway with a request for a candid review. ( )

THE RAIN WATCHER is the first book I've read by Tatiana de Rosnay and I'm impressed by how the story got under my skin. I watched the movie version of SARAH'S KEY a couple of years ago and it was fabulous. For some time I have wanted to read Tatiana de Rosnay's work, and I am glad to have started with THE RAIN WATCHER
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
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Buono

Extremely well written book that I just could not seem to connect to. The characters just never spoke to me. I did greatly enjoy the details about the Paris flood. ( )