Brokedown Palace

I have two words for The Paper Palace, a Reese's Book Club pick I recently read: false advertising. Reese led me astray. As did the reviewers featured on the novel's back cover. When I skimmed it I saw "summer landscape, love story, humor, intoxicating, luminous." Not so much.

I would describe The Paper Palace as deeply disturbing. A family saga with so many deplorable behaviors and horrible scenarios that I cringed as I read. The content was quite painful to read. "A love story that shimmers with desire?" I don't think so. Try, "A love story set against grotesque circumstances."

Is The Paper Palace a well-written book? Absolutely. Author Miranda Cowley Heller knows what she's doing. Is this novel for the faint of heart, i.e. me? No. If you want an escape from the indecencies of the world, pass on Paper Palace. The story-telling is superb, but I couldn't wait to be done with this book. Unfortunately, even the ending was a let down. Spoiler alert... It was completely ambiguous. Hopefully Reese won't steer me wrong again.

AES