Sep 28 2012
The Triplets of Belleville -Les triplettes de Belleville (2003) Genre: Animation dramedy Grade: B If you haven’t seen this film or any stills from it, prepare yourself for a surrealistic animation style radically different from Disney or Pixar. Not better, not worse but very different. Things are heightened, elongated, exaggerated and unforgettable. My personal feeling(…)
Aug 31 2012
Le Doublure (The Valet) (2006) Genre: RomCom Grade: B I’ve enjoyed lots of Francis Veber’s movies (and laughed at the nod to “Le dîner de cons” that’s mentioned here) but this one has romance as well as comedy. It’s a charming French farce that is very approachable. The actors are enjoyable, the action keeps moving(…)
Aug 30 2012
Dear Ms. Wein, I had not heard of your book before one of our posters mentioned it in glowing terms. In a way that managed to catch my attention yet not sound like fawning praise, she described it and urged people to try it. I bought it but then set it aside as I had(…)
Apr 13 2012
Peau D’ane (Donkey Skin) (1971) Genre: Romantic Fairy Tale Grade:B+ Last year after I had reviewed a series of Cinderella movies, a friend recommended that I try this French fairy tale called Donkey Skin – or Peau D’ane. I was game and rented it from Netflix. Talk about beautiful European WTFery. Holy heck. This one(…)
Mar 26 2012
Dear Ms. Neville, I should probably preface this review by saying that I’ve chatted with you on Twitter and what I know of you, I really like. Ever since they met in The Dangerous Viscount, book two of your Burgundy Book Club series, I’ve wanted to see Minerva Montrose and the Marquis of Blakeney (known(…)
Feb 14 2012
As Napoleon pursues his plans for the invasion of England, English operative Augustus Whittlesby gets wind of a top secret device, to be demonstrated over the course of a house party at Malmaison. The catch? The only way in is to join forces with that annoying American socialite, Emma Morris Delagardie, who has been commissioned(…)
Jan 30 2012
Dear Ms Willig, I always seem to be behind in keeping up with this series but I think it’s because I want to be sure I have a Pink Carnation book on hand. And in this instance it worked beautifully for me. You see, I’ve been in a reading slump for it seems like ages(…)
Jan 23 2012
Dear Ms. Carey, Kushiel’s Dart, your fantasy novel, is the story of Phedre, who begins life in the Night Court of Terre D’Ange. The Night Court is peopled by prostitutes, known in this world as Servants of Naamah, the goddess of such things. Terre D’Ange is modeled on Renaissance France, but with some substantial differences,(…)
Jan 19 2012
Fruitcakes and Other Leftovers by Lori Copeland – cute name, right? I loved it too but the kooky aunt finally did me in. A little kook here and there in a story is fine but ‘all kook all the time’ wore on my nerves. They make medication for people like this. I also had issues(…)
Nov 3 2011
Reader Christine sent me this beautiful review of Joanna Bourne’s book, The Black Hawk, and I am honored to share it with the DA readership. ****** The novel “The Black Hawk” begins in 1818, six hundred yards from number saeven Meeks street where Justine, a former member of the French “Police Secrete,” long estranged from her(…)
Sep 22 2011
Dear Ms. Lawrenson, I happened to read a review of this, your debut novel, in People a month or so ago. I was intrigued by the description of the novel as an homage to Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca. Imagine my surprise when, the very next day, while sifting through my big drawer o’ books Jane has sent me, I(…)
May 27 2011
Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (The Young Girls of Rochefort) (1967) Genre: Musical/Romance Grade: B- Cate mentioned this one in comments on the review of “Moliere” and described the plot as “barking.” Oh, yeah, I agree with that. Another way to phrase it might be wondrous European WTFery. Singing and dancing and romancing and a gruesome(…)
May 23 2011
Dear Ms. Cach, You are an author I keep an eye out for and when I saw that there would be a new novel from you after a bit of a wait, I felt a frisson of anticipation. I’ve loved to liked several of your previous books and have admired the risks you’ve taken and(…)
Apr 20 2011
Two of my favorite Harlequin authors published novels with somewhat similar characters, so I thought I’d write a combined review. Dear Ms. Hardy, I am a big fan of your Harlequin Presents Extra/Modern Heat novels, and when I saw that you had two linked books set in France I was intrigued. The second in the(…)
Apr 7 2011
Sydney entrepreneur Sebastien Castellano is used to women falling at his feet-’not vice versa! But flat on his back, after an encounter with some overexcited hounds, he meets quirky housekeeper Ella Martinez. Ella’s been dusting photos of Seb for years, and is skeptical about why he’s suddenly arrived at his childhood home in France. But(…)
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