16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply gorgeous, December 21, 2007
This review is from: Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution (Hardcover)
This book is, quite simply, everything a reading experience should be. James Tipton has created a gem of a novel and has left me anxious for another. Work of the caliber is hard to come by and is the sort of novel that lingers with the reader, long after its last page has been read.
Set against the backdrop of the Terror in France, Tipton has created a novel that is part romance, part adventure story, and always a reflective, beautiful tale of a fascinating woman. Annette Vallon is a truly extraordinary character, a woman who is fallible yet engaging. Though she does many courageous and selfless things throughout her life, she never comes across as sanctimonious. She is always humble and true to her heart and I only wish there was an abundance of such female characters in literature. Annette is vibrant, spirited, intelligent, and loving. She is everything a good female character ought to be and Tipton did a wonderful job of capturing the perspective of his obviously beloved heroine.
I initially thought this book would detail the romance of Annette and William Wordsworth. While that's certainly one of the books central and recurring themes, this book is also so much more. Tipton has made Annette a fascinating person in her own right; she's no simple mistress of Wordsworth. The love story between the two is tender, passionate, and romantic and Tipton writes eloquently about their love. The passages with Annette and William always rang true and are a textbook example of what romance writing should be. My only quibble was with William's ultimate decision but I lay that at Mr. Wordsworth's door and certainly not Mr. Tipton's. The author has done a fine job writing a melancholy tale of two lovers who had not only their families and society against them but also the very fabric of the world in which they lived.
And yet the love story is only part of the tale. Annette has a rich and amazing life of her own and Tipton has done a simply marvelous job of conveying the fear, the anger, and the horror of France during the Revolution. Annette's bravery is singular and is driven by personal motives that Tipton details exquisitely. Though Annette suffers many tragedies, the book is never maudlin and the reader is always struck by the force of Annette's will. The book has inspired me to try to get my hands on some historical works in order to try to learn more about Annette, the Revolution, and the brave Chouans.
What struck me most about this novel was the beauty of the prose. Tipton's writing is breath-taking and the book is filled with wonderful, thought-provoking quotes and passages of great beauty. Every character is fully realized, from the main characters to the large and varied cast of secondary and tertiary characters. Tipton has breathed life into each and every one of them and the humanity of the characters is one of many great strengths of the novel. Though he is writing about the Revolution, I found a number of parallels to current events that gave the novel a truly timeless and universal quality. As one of the characters states, "Just say the words 'patriot' or 'security' and everyone will follow you." Certainly these words should strike a chord not just with those reading about the French Revolution but also today's American.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love and chaos during the French Revolution, November 5, 2007
This review is from: Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution (Hardcover)
This book is two stories in one. The first story is a love story, about the relationship between Annette Vallon and William Wordsworth. These two romantic souls found their perfect matches in each other, and Annette seemed to inspire Wordsworth's poetry. Unfortunately, events conspired to prevent them from living their dream of a life together. The second story is the story of France's struggles during the series of waves of violence that made up the French Revolution. As the the violence becomes less and less controlled and begins to strike at people who are guilty of nothing more than being at the wrong place at the wrong time, Annette uses her connections and skills to help save some of these innocent souls.
This story helps shed a bit of light on the sequence of events during the French Revolution, and reminds us of the huge toll of human suffering that was paid by the people of France. Ultimately, Annette's love for Wordsworth helps her to survive and inspires her to resist the worst abuses. Mixing tragedy and romance, readers may find themselves haunted by this story.
[This review is based on a pre-publication Uncorrected Proof copy]
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An educational read, January 25, 2008
This review is from: Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution (Hardcover)
I got this book as a Christmas present. I had just finished reading Pillars of the Earth and several Phillipa Gregory novels and my boyfriend thought I'd like this one too. I learned a great deal more about the French Revolution then I knew before and it was an enjoyable read. You really get a good sense of the society and culture of the time. As a Mother I also related to the pulls of motherhood and the balance of work through the story lines of rescue. There are many interesting plots and story lines to follow, it is an interesting read and very entertaining.
As a fan of all Austen novels and continuations, I'd recommend it to those who love these as well.
Nice job, and I look forward to your next novel.
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