The Light of Paris would like to remind you, in the most unsubtle of ways, that doing things because other people expect you to – or because you think other people expect you to – is bad. You should follow your heart and become a writer or a painter and not go into boring family business just because it’s safe and stable. Which – it’s not that that’s not true, you should do what makes you happy, but what if business makes you happy? Not to mention, do you know how hard it is to tamp down a passion? I mean, for decades at a time? It never works. But we all do need to eat and pay rent, too.
There’s a balance to be had between what you want to do and what you have to do.
The story is charming, despite its heavy-handed-ness. I enjoy reading a light book about a person remembering or figuring out who they really are. And when Paris is involved? That really does make it better. The city is beautiful that way.
Recommended for a beach read.