I just completed The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay. The book was a quick and delightful read (a weekend read at the gym...and a few cups of tea after).
The story is historical fiction set in Paris in the late 1800s. Baron Haussmann, under the orders of Emperor Napoleon III, is redesigning the city of Paris into the modern metropolis it is known as today. In school one learn about the redesign of the city as part of the industrial revolution. The positive outcome is that the city becomes the center of the world as a result of these changes. During WWI New York overtakes Paris due to the strife on European soil.
The book is a wonderful tale of a woman who does not want to leave her family home despite the financial incentives given by the Parisian government. It gives the readers a glimpse of the human cost of modernization. After reading the book, one realizes that they must stop and think about all of the people involved when they read about historical events.
The home in which someone is raised has a strong emotional connection with them. This book reminds readers that, walls might not be able to speak, but that walls are like a sponge, they hold in the memories of the family that lived within them. What is progress for some, is a heart-wrenching set back for others.
Transport yourself to Paris for a few hours. You'll love the journey!
