Review by AW121 -- VieVie La Fontaine

[AW121]

[Following is a volunteer review of "VieVie La Fontaine" by Linda Heavner Gerald.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Vie Vie La Fontaine is beautifully written story woven into the dark realities of WWII. Mark, a Jew living in the time of Hitler’s reign, is a complex protagonist that simultaneously lives in a world of tragedy, bliss,and confusion. After being sent to Paris by foreseeing parents, Mark’s life is not only spared but seems to be a dream come true. Naively he falls in love with the exciting city of Paris and with the beautiful yet married Vie Vie La Fontaine.

As Hitler begins to approach Mark’s new beloved city, he assumes a new identity as his lover's long lost nephew. As the tides of the country begins to shift, we see Mark struggle to truly grasp the reality of this nightmare. As a reader we experience the journey and thoughts of a Jew hiding in broad daylight. We see him struggle to find his place in the war and wrestle with love triangles that will prove helpful throughout his unpredictable life. Mark finally finds a purpose within the Resistance and maintains his cover until the day the Germans leave Paris.

I give this novel a 4 out of 4 stars. Linda Gerald’s ability to capture a reader’s attention is noteworthy. Gerald tactfully describes the horrors of one of the darkest moments in history while also intertwining love stories of passion and confusion.

Vie Vie La Fontaine is a beautiful novel that captures a reader from the first page. This novel is
for adults only. The explicit content is not suitable for young children. Anyone that enjoys a great historical fiction novel will enjoy this page turner. It is very well edited and captivating from the first page.

I loved Gerald’s ability to draw out the emotions and details of the time through contrasting situations. She writes on page 62, “There was no stress, none at all. The rest of the world was going to Hell, but we continued to soak up life as we faced it in denial.” The contrasting emotions and details seemed to highlight the unthinkable horror of the time and the emotions of the human heart. I was slightly confused early on by Mrs. Fontaine’s character, although the conclusion of this novel does tie up lose ends, I wish I knew more about her background in the beginning. I spent most of the novel confused by her actions and unable to trust her character. Although, this contemplation may have been exactly what Gerald intended, and did add to the suspense of this unpredictable novel.

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VieVie La Fontaine
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