Le Festin
I kinda forgot that this was one of the books I have on my Kindle. And then I remembered.
I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the plot of Anna and the French Kiss and how seriously it took its characters. Although not always clearly focused, this coming-of-age story allows the reader to really indulge in Anna's story and how she grows as a character. It's also one of the most satisfying love stories I've read in a while (next to this). Anna and St. Clair make a fine pair, completely engrossing and sympathetic as they deal with dad issues, flirt with each other under the guise of friendship, and go about trying to untangle themselves from the mess they eventually - if not intentionally - create. For the most part, the supporting characters are used well, with a couple of surprises here and there, but no one makes much of an impression (I did find Rashmi entertaining and full of potential the author didn't exploit). There are a couple of minor subplots that receive little, if any, closure, but these are more the result of reality ensuing rather than the results of an unfinished book.
All in all, this book has more personality than the average YA fair and an organic, slightly melancholy message about the fear of lonliness and why we cling to the familiar. In addition, with its French setting, the book is about three-fifths love story and two-fifths travelogue; the use of Parisian landmarks - some famous, some not - is nicely woven into the narrative and sticks with you.
Rating: 4.5 trips to the local cinema out of 5.
An aspiring film critic, Anna doesn't know much about Paris, France, except that wearing white sneakers is a no-no. When her father unexpectedly ships her off to study at an American boarding school there, she's almost frozen with fear. But she's quickly welcomed by a clique of fellow students: the motherly Meredith, the prickly Rashmi, the brilliant slacker Josh, and Etienne St. Clair. St. Clair is charismatic, funny, generous, and incredibly handsome, and despite the fact that he's taken, Anna's crush on him is swift and inevitable. Of course, she has a sort-of-maybe boyfriend back home that she can't wait to see again, and she's not the only one in her new group of friends with a crush on St. Clair. But that doesn't stop the two of them from developing a deep, even intense bond of friendship and something more. They are there for each other during the most trying times, but when they are faced with the exact nature of their bond, will Anna be able to take the plunge? Or will she spend her entire year wondering if anything will go right for her?
I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the plot of Anna and the French Kiss and how seriously it took its characters. Although not always clearly focused, this coming-of-age story allows the reader to really indulge in Anna's story and how she grows as a character. It's also one of the most satisfying love stories I've read in a while (next to this). Anna and St. Clair make a fine pair, completely engrossing and sympathetic as they deal with dad issues, flirt with each other under the guise of friendship, and go about trying to untangle themselves from the mess they eventually - if not intentionally - create. For the most part, the supporting characters are used well, with a couple of surprises here and there, but no one makes much of an impression (I did find Rashmi entertaining and full of potential the author didn't exploit). There are a couple of minor subplots that receive little, if any, closure, but these are more the result of reality ensuing rather than the results of an unfinished book.
All in all, this book has more personality than the average YA fair and an organic, slightly melancholy message about the fear of lonliness and why we cling to the familiar. In addition, with its French setting, the book is about three-fifths love story and two-fifths travelogue; the use of Parisian landmarks - some famous, some not - is nicely woven into the narrative and sticks with you.
Rating: 4.5 trips to the local cinema out of 5.
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