The Paris Architect: A WWII Novel

wonderful!! Loved the story and the added humor…and most of all how lives were saved… I love your writing style…

This is a fascinating and quite believable story of how someone initially compromises on his values and in the process becomes a more principled person. The relationships while very challenging and complicated seem quite authentic. There is enough tension to keep the story engaging and the ending also seems quite plausible. Overall an enjoyable book.

Whada ya like to read? Me, I’m easy. All it takes is a strong, relentless plot, riveting characters, chair-tipping-suspense, spine-chilling bloodshed, stout hero or heroine, and unrepentant villains, proudly wearing their black hearts on their sleeves. Gotta engage me from guts to heart, and be well written. See, I’m easy to please.Just finished a book that has it all. The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure. The setting is Paris, circa 1940. The German Army owns Paris, and runs it like a combination whore house and shooting gallery. Life is so difficult that people stand in line for stale bread and watered wine. Those are the normal folks. Jews have it far worse. They’re rounded up daily by the Gestapo, men, women, and children, never to be seen again.The French can be difficult and Parisians worse. Not known as comforters of the weak, or downtrodden, as Americans who walk into their restaurant and try to speak French with a Texas accent will attest. The author was nice enough not to include any Americans.What he did include is Lucien, an architect with the soul of an artist and a one track mind. Make that three tracks. His work. His mistress. Saving his own skin. Lucien’s moral compass, while not rusted shut, is a little out of whack. He sees what’s going on, but brushes it off. Not all Germans are bad. Some soldiers give up their tram seats to little old ladies.Enter Monsieur Monet. As wealthy as an emperor’s only child. A well connected aristocratic industrialist. He has a little job for the architect, Lucien. Maybe two. In this time of hand-to-mouth living, a couple of jobs is a path to your family’s next meal.But, every deal has its price. Balancing a wife and mistress is already as stressful as an amiable chat with the Gestapo’s boys in black. Let’s tack on complications. Severe complications.Want to climb into that dark hole of a plot and wiggle around with characters that fill your dreams of best friend, best lover, worst enemy? Welcome to Lucien’s world. Welcome to The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure.Go ahead. Pick it up. Now try to put it back down.

not particularly well done.I love the concept of showing the WWII occupation of paris through a non combatant who can make money working with the nazis while protesting that he is not a collaborator.Whether he had a real choice is another question.I am no expert in 1940s colloquialisms or speech generally, but it seems the author used 21st century words and phrases in 1940s speech. It wasn't terrible, just a bit curious and therefore distracting.And multiple times the main character is in the presence of nazis or the gestapo. While they are not after him, they are "there." Each time he fears the worst and each time his knees turn to jelly, he breathing quickens and he seriously considers running away as fast as he can. Or he considers opening the car door and running as fast as he can.He is always terrified, always looking for a way to escape, but he always stays. By the end of the book, i just figured, "Here he goes again. But nothing will happen."Finally, while i am no architect, i'm not sure why it takes an architect to find or build the hiding places. Seems a good carpenter could do what is needed. Maybe not even that, as the sponsor had his own high quality workmen.Nonetheless, an interesting premise.The attitude of the french was well described and displayed. Their hatred of jews was fascinating, even while many french people risked or lost their lives helping them.The savagery of the gestapo was well described without gratuitous gore. Well done.The relationship with bette was compelling and i wish it had been developed further.The book was good. Better than three stars actually, but not in my opinion worth the fourth.

I absolutely love reading stories of people during the worst of times, helping others. I’d like to imagine I would be one of those people during the worst of times! I believe I would …

I have read a lot of WWII novels and I really enjoyed this one. Belfoure’s writing style is very good. I really liked the characters, especially Lucien. At first he lacks compassion for the Jews in German-occupied Paris. But eventually after working for a very wealthy Parisian who is sympathetic to their cause, Lucien begins to realize that all human lives are worth saving. I enjoyed this book because the plot was slightly different than most of the other WWII books. The story certainly kept me engaged! One warning: the description of torture is pretty gruesome in several parts. Not for the weak at heart! I also felt that Belfoure treated both the French and Germans fairly in the book. He shows that that there was good and evil on both sides of the war. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books about WWII or just a good tale about good triumphing over evil.

Really enjoyed this book. The characters were believable, the historical storyline of Paris during the occupation interesting. The plot twists added much.

Well written, a lot of intrigue from beginning to end.

Amazing and unreal story,well written and enjoyed every page,DEFINITELY one of my favourite books

This book puts your good life into perspective. The things people went through during that time is heartbreaking. However, the author found a way to balance the sadness of the time period with some light humour and a heart warming ending so you're not left crying yourself to sleep.

Charles Belfoure sarà sicuramente un bravo architetto ma come scrittore "di intrattenimento" mi ha lasciata molto perplessa. La storia molto tragica dei gentili parigini che cercavano di salvare gli ebrei dai rastrellamenti nazisti è un momento tragico ma anche commovente negli avvenimenti dell'occupazione tedesca a Parigi, che l'autore tratta con totale distacco e superficialità, senza metterci mai il cuore. La scrittura è quella di taglio giornalistico, tirata giù senza mai coinvolgere con una specie di penchant per le descrizioni delle torture praticate dalla Gestapo.Un libro da dimenticare...

Vraiment TRES intéressant: au plus près de la vie quotidienne sous l'occupation. Qu'a été la collaboration ? La résistance ?Un beau portrait d'homme anti-juif qui évolue au fil du récit, simplement parce qu'il est HUMAIN.

Very Good Read