I had the lucky opportunity to be in Paris for work and visited one of my favorite bookshops in the world, Shakespeare and Company, and came upon this little gem. This novel was compared to “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” which I had read with my book club and enjoyed, so I figured it was fate.
I thought this was going to be more of a fluff book, but it actually took much darker turns that I anticipated. It was a very quick read, perfect for trying to finish my half cannonball before the year end (woo!) and the darkness actually contrasted well with the holiday season: a little schadenfreude is helpful at times.
Jocelyn lives a simple existence in France as the owner of a haberdashery. She is not a woman of wealth, but she enjoys her job, loves her husband, and is contented with her existence. On a fluke, she purchases a lottery ticket and becomes the winner of a sizable fortune: she is now a woman at a crossroads. Does she allow her life to change? Will she be happy with disrupting the status quo?
This read isn’t enjoyable per say, because of the conflict and heartache that it explores, but it is well written and the type of story that will induce self reflection. In the days following finishing it, my mind continually wanders back to it, which is the sign of a good read.