Customer Reviews

French Postcards

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I buy lots of lesbian romance novels, and have read more than I can mention online. I bought this novel from a book shop (shucks, sorry about that, Amazon). This is my first ever review, and even though I've bought this book elsewhere, I need for you to know how wonderful it is - quite simply, I love it.

The novel is beautifully written. It is told from the point of view of Elinor, an American who moves to France with her husband and two children. There, a beautiful Frenchwoman, Beatrice, catches her attention and she finds herself inexplicably drawn to her.

This is a novel of substance. There is great insight and observational irony as the story weaves through the difficulties of being an American abroad on the eve of the Iraq war. In the industrial town of Cherbourg, the American expat community is tight and conformist and Elinor finds herself making friends with the expat wives out of convenience rather than desire. Fully aware that Cherbourg, a bleak, industrial town is nothing like Paris where she spent a year as a student, Elinor slowly develops a friendship with Beatrice, and is confronted with the strictures of living a conventional life while desiring another. The growing but subtle attraction throughout this story is powerful and exquisitely told. Here's a little taster:

"But that day, at the beginning of Alexi's third school year, Elinor looked past Harriet Randall's head, momentarily distracted by something extraordinary. A tall, dark-haired woman, bent down and effortlessly lifted her small daughter up onto her shoulders and carried her past them, out of the courtyard and onto the street. The woman led with her free hand another tiny boy and her two older, beautiful daughters followed behind. At once, everything about the woman was vigorous, strong and fine, nothing like Elinor had ever seen before. There is never anything so startling as a beautiful woman rendered more obvious among a great many dull and tedious members in the crowd of the school yard that day, and Elinor tried not to gape. She tried to pretend to Harriet she was listening to her, reluctantly taking her gaze from the woman and settling in on Harriet's very ordinary features. She said something, "you're absolutely right, they should do something," and turned back to look in feigned concern for any other wayward child, past the gate after the woman, walking it seemed in slow motion, her long strides, carrying her up the sidewalk, her mane of dark hair loose to her shoulders. Elinor would not admit then that she had chosen her as decidedly as if she had stated out loud to Mrs Randall, "she's the one.""

This book is the gem in my collection. It is the one I turn to often because it has passages that simply stop me in my tracks. Like I said, it isn't your typical lesbian romance story - it's not designed to make you sizzle as it builds toward a climactic moment. But, it might make you run a forefinger gently over a line that challenges you to think about your own life and your own desires.

I love lesbian romance, have read hundreds of them but knew this would be something different because Spinsters' Ink doesn't do the typical lesbian romance. Did I get a surprise? I could not put down this book, had to read it at one go! It is an inner monologue, as one reviewer wrote, but written in a way that just swallowed me whole! Elinor's quiet ruminations, observations, tightly held feelings - they are completely captivating, and I really enjoyed the undercurrent of gentle irony that coloured it all. A "lesbian romance" it is not, but a beautiful love story nevertheless! Love the cover too!

When I ordered this book, I expected to receive a lesbian romance. What I actually received was a lonely woman's retelling of her unrequited love affair with another woman. Elinor and her family have moved to France. She begins to notice one of the other mothers at her kids' school and starts to fantasize about having a romance with the elusive woman. Over time, the two near-strangers begin to develop a fragile friendship. Elinor can't decide if the other woman is interested in a romance, nor can she decide if she herself would be willing to take that next step.

The simple fact is this book is rather boring. The entire story is told via a conversation in Elinor's head. The other woman's name isn't even revealed until the last chapter or so. There is only one kiss. There are no declarations of love or forever.

Although it is very light on romance and wasn't what I expected. The story is well-written, but is not engaging. Once I readjusted my expectations, I was able to finish the story. However, I feel the description on the book is misleading and does not accurately reflect what is between the covers.

An unusual and entertaining novel, French Postcards by Jane Merchant is the engaging story of Elinor and her husband's decision to move their family to France. As Elinor adjusts to the life among the French, French Postcards creatively depicts the progression of her unexpected attraction and relationship to a woman named Beatrice. French Postcards is an exotic narrative story of two women who betray their life with husbands and children for a love never before discovered or imagined, and is very highly recommended for its unique and diverse perspective on intimacy and passion, as well as love at its most pure and true state.

June 10, 2007
French Postcards by Jane Merchant
A perfect summer read! I'm still thinking about it. If you love Jane Austin you will love this modern, intelligent book. American Elinor is as real as Emma and the Frenchwoman is as inscrutable as Miss Fairfax. It is the best comic novel I have read in a long time. France, in Elinor's imagination, is romance personified and when she sees the tall Frenchwoman in the school yard hoist her little girl onto her shoulders, she is smitten. The foolishness that ensues is laugh out loud and yet very touching. If you want to be taken to another place, read this book. Indulgent Summer