The Paper Palace will take you to unexpected places. The writing is strong and the story-telling is intense. The love triangle is just the icing on the cake! Here are four reasons you need to read Miranda Cowley Heller's debut novel, The Paper Palace:
Strong Writing: I enjoyed the storytelling a lot. Miranda was spot-on with the storytelling and especially the voice of Elle's mother. This is a slow-building drama that is told in a 24-hour type format as Elle contemplates her love of her husband and childhood friend. There are multiple timelines as Elle thinks back to certain parts of her childhood and life. The backstories are engrossing.
Multiple Layers: This book is not just another love triangle. It initially may come off as so, but as past unfurls, the book takes a darker turn which keeps you engaged. In one of the initial paragraphs, Cowley Heller, cracks open the human heart and exposes her character's choices: the paths not taken and the devastating consequences. I smelled the old cabins and the backwoods, felt the pond water lapping around my ankles, experienced the love and loss of family. The book is a perceptive and powerful story that will stay with you for quite some time.
The Character Development: Honestly, I see this book as a movie starring Meryl Streep as the protagonist. As a debut novel, Cowley has done an excellent job building the characters over a span of almost four hundred pages. When I read about the author, it turned out that she was the Head of Drama at HBO. No wonder!
Quotes: The beauty of the book is that from the first pages of Cowley's novel, she pulls no punches. However, once you're done reading the book, they're just going to sneak up to you. The metaphors are beautiful and the words are simply effective. I couldn't ask for more!
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