Left Bank

This book possibly has the least likeable characters in it than any book I've ever read. It covers adultery, vanity, neglect and the worst facets of human character. At least Madison, the Texas film star who is self absorbed and trying to cling to her youth & career in the beginning of the story manages to redeem herself and gain some perspective in life after her daughter goes missing. Unlike her husband Olivier, the French philosopher she's married to who wants to be famous but who has never met a woman he doesn't find sexually alluring and who has no interest in any sort of monogomy or Anna, the English nanny who cheerfully carries on an affair with Olivier in the same house she lives in with the family.



When I was in University part show more of the sylabus was to read a book called [b:Money|6853|One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1)|Janet Evanovich|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266449300s/6853.jpg|1486401] by [a:Martin Amis|11337|Martin Amis|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206469248p2/11337.jpg] and at the time I thought it involved the least likeable protagonist in history yet for whatever reason, Kate Muir seems to have made an attempt at trying to rival him. show less

A mix of French, American and British cultures come to a clash in Paris. Muir has a good grasp of the "gauche caviar" and some of the French idiosyncracies. The development of characters, especially of the heroine Madison, is compelling as are their interests. The book ends elegantly on a sweet and sour note. Overall an enjoyable light read.

I'm not sure how this book would be categorised. It stands just the right side of chick-lit, and the characters are just about the right side of being caricatures, but unfortunately the story stands just the wrong side of interesting.

Built around a rather trite storyline involving some pretentious characters getting a kick up the backside from their seven year old child, I'm presuming the story is intended to satirise philosophy-spouting tarte-crunching Parisian society, but all it seemed to do in the end was showcase a bunch of characters whose personalities changed on a daily basis.

Featuring a variety of unusual concepts (it manages to bring together Chechnya, wet-nursing and Tetra-paks) the plot constantly wanders up blind alleys, show more introducing elements that could have made interesting reading if developed, but they never were.

Kate Muir certainly writes well, and the images conjured by her prose were always spot-on, but I finished the book wondering what the point was. Her later novel, West Coast was much, much better. show less

I rather enjoyed this book. Which shows us an interesting insight into the Parisian life. The book switches between three people. Olivier Malin - the much loved philosopher, Madison Malin - the beautiful actress from Texas and Anna - Who becomes the Malin's babysitter/au pair. The coming of Anna in to the Malin's life, turns their lives upside down.

Towards the end I found myself wanting to know a bit more about how Anna was feeling, but other than that, I really enjoyed this. The changes in Madison at the end are great, but all I have to say for Olivier is "ugh"!! Very enjoyable, even if I probably missed some of the nuances of French culture.

Quite good. Firecracker start when little daughter is lost at amusement park. Characters are all slightly unappealing, yet you are drawn in by the sweetness of Sabine, the daughter. You want things to turn out well for her sake.

Interesting and well-written character study in the lives of philopsopher and pompous Olivier and Texas born beauty, actress, Madison Malin, and their spolied daughter Sabine. A triangle develops with English nanny Anna Ayers.