The Lost Girls of Paris
Book Review - The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Reading The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff at City Hall in St. Louis, MO
2019 is off to such a good start! I heard about this book from an author I follow on social media. I reached out to the publicist to request a review copy, something I don’t do very often since I already have a backlog of books to get through. But dang, that was a really good decision on my part. You might remember Pam Jenoff from her last book: The Orphan’s Tale. Let me tell you, The Lost Girls of Paris is going to be a hit, too. I absolutely loved reading this book.
Reading The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff at City Hall in St. Louis, MO
About the Book
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff, a New York Times Bestseller, is about a group of British female spies sent into occupied France to help the resistance. The young women were recruited single-handedly by Eleanor Trigg, a relatively unknown woman within the SOE (Special Operations Executive), but who ran the entire operation of female secret agents, and to whom the suitcase belonged. The story jumps around in time a bit, starting part-way through the war and ending a few years after the war had ended. Grace finds an abandoned suitcase with a stack of pictures belonging to Eleanor at the Grand Central Terminal in New York. She begins piecing the story together to find out who Eleanor was and who the girls are in the stack of pictures. During her quest, Grace is drawn to a young mother turned spy named Marie, who helps her find answers. You’ll love this book if you’re interested in WWII and want to know more about the female radio operators who contributed to the war efforts.
Reading The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff at City Hall in St. Louis, MO
You probably know by now that I read a lot of World War II books. I particularly enjoyed this one because it focuses on the role women played in occupied France. I liked the jumping back and forth through time - which is done quite a bit in historic novels, but author Pam Jenoff chose to keep the timeframes pretty tight. Grace finding the suitcase wasn’t 50+ years later, it was just a few years after the war had ended. So she was compelled to find out the stories of girls that would have been her contemporaries. I liked that little twist on a typical approach to historical fiction. The Lost Girls of Paris is published by Park Row Books.
Reading The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff at City Hall in St. Louis, MO
Click here for my literary travel guide of St. Louis
I took photos for this book at the St. Louis City Hall.
As you might suspect from its name, St. Louis was founded by a French man (Pierre Laclede Liguest) so there is a lot of French influence today. For example, St. Louis City Hall French-style architecture was inspired by Paris’ Hotel de Ville (their city hall) along with “architectural elements of the Chateau de Chambord on the Loire River in France.” Thus I chose to take pictures here, the most Parisian place in St. Louis, for The Lost Girls of Paris.
St. Louis City Hall, located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, Missouri, is a stunning example of the city's rich history and architectural prowess. The building, which was completed in 1904, was designed by architect Harvey Ellis in the Renaissance Revival style.
One of the most notable features of St. Louis City Hall is its impressive clock tower, which stands at 180 feet tall and is topped with a copper dome. The tower is visible from miles around and has become an iconic symbol of the city.
Click here for a list of bookstores and coffee shops in St. Louis.
Inside, visitors can marvel at the intricate marble work, stained glass windows, and ornate woodwork that adorn the building's interior. The City Council Chambers, in particular, are breathtaking, with their soaring ceilings and grand chandeliers.
Over the years, St. Louis City Hall has served as a hub of government activity, hosting countless meetings, hearings, and ceremonies. Today, it continues to be a beloved landmark and a testament to the city's enduring legacy.
Click here for my St. Louis Restaurant Guide.
St. Louis, Missouri has a rich French history that dates back to the late 17th century when French explorers first set foot in the area. The city was named after King Louis IX of France and was a major trading post for French fur trappers and traders. The French influence can still be seen today in many of the city's architectural landmarks, such as the iconic Gateway Arch, which was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen but pays homage to the city's French heritage with its sleek, curved lines reminiscent of the St. Louis skyline. Additionally, the city's cuisine is heavily influenced by French cooking techniques, with many restaurants offering French-inspired dishes such as escargot and coq au vin. St. Louis' French history remains an important part of the city's identity and continues to be celebrated through various cultural events and festivals.
Reading The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff at City Hall in St. Louis, MO
Reading The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff at City Hall in St. Louis, MO
