玫瑰之屋

I read several reviews about this book before I listened to the audiobook. There were several negative reviews and as I listened I tried to understand why the reviews were so bad. The predominant theme of the negative reviews was that the main character is constantly complaining, being a “Debbie Downer” etc. I hope you read what the book was about before you started reading it. This book is historical fiction based on actual events that happened in Paris in the 1860s. The main character Rose is writing letters to her deceased husband Armand as she witnesses what is going on in Paris. Her home is being threatened with demolition as well as other homes in the neighborhood. I thought the author did a good job. Rose was believable. She showed the emotions of a widow whose love and passion for her late husband never died. She has a rather rocky relationship with her daughter. She also dearly misses her late son Baptiste. She loves the home she lives in where she lived with her husband and raised her children. She makes friends and finds some comfort in the unlikeliest people. I enjoyed the book and I hope that readers will consider the setting, the political situation in Paris in the 1860s and try to imagine how you would feel if you were Rose in that situation.