For those who like Hemingway

I read The Paris Wife when it was released in 2011 and loved it.  Paula McLain did a marvelous job of bringing Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, to life.  Many secondary characters in the novel were also well known figures from the time, including Sara and Gerald Murphy and the Fitzgeralds.  Settings came vividly to life including the Midwest, Paris and France, as well as Spain.  Here are some of the accolades for this novel:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
 
WINNER—BEST HISTORICAL FICTION—GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS
 
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY People • Chicago Tribune • NPR • The Philadelphia Inquirer • Kirkus Reviews • The Toronto Sun • BookPage

If, by any chance, you missed this one, pick it up now before Love and Ruin is released.

I have just started Love and Ruin which is about Hemingway and Martha Gelhorn.  First there was Hadley, then Pauline, then Martha and then…My full review will follow.  I will say for now that Paula Mclain does a masterful job of capturing Martha’s voice and experience.  Hemingway, once again, come very much to life with his complex personality.

As I write this, I am free associating to other great fiction about real people.  I would also highly recommend Loving Frank if you have not read it.  This is about Frank Loyd Wright’s early life both professionally and in terms of his personality and relationships.  SPOILER…there is tragedy but the book is so well written and involving that this just adds to its impact.

by Nancy Horan

Happy reading!