This book is about a family that meets up in Paris to celebrate their fathers 70th birthday. As they arrive the city is being flooded by the Siene.because it has been raining for several days with no end in sight. As the story unfolds lots of secrets come to light and many truths are revealed.
This author never disappoints. I loved Sarah's Key and this is another great one.

I thoroughly enjoyed my short vacation in Paris with Tatiana De Rosnay. Granted, the incessant rain, and the flooding of the Seine were not optimal. The company of the Malegarde family had its challenges. But there is no denying that De Rosnay can evoke a place better than anyone.

Readers have commented on the disfunctions of the Malegarde family, but I though they were completely understandable. I loved the perspective of the narrator, Linden Malegarde. He is now a successful photographer, but as a closeted gay young man in a less than supportive environment, he had a lot to overcome. His sister, too, has had her challenges, surviving a horrendous accident in her twenties, then marriage to an alcoholic. They have reunited with their parents in Paris to celebrate the birthday of Linden’s parents. Despite everything that goes wrong during the celebratory weekend, I thought that a strong thread of hope buoyed up this story.

Unfortunately I didn’t connect with any of the characters and the draggy and unhappy story lost me. Although I enjoyed reading about familiar settings that I had visited and I could visualize them along with the drenching rain, the characters did not engage me.

Extremely well written book that I just could not seem to connect to. The characters just never spoke to me. I did greatly enjoy the details about the Paris flood.

The Rain Watcher | NetGalley
By Tatiana De Rosnay

NetGalley
Book 1

Spoilers...

Trees
Photography
Stroke
Pneumonia
Flooding
Suicide
Terrorist Attacks
Car Accident
Homosexuality
Infidelity
Rape
Alcoholism

So many deep things going on in this book. Yet somehow it all seemed to work magically!

The characters were so real and so raw. While there was so much sadness going on, I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to be on the journey with each one of the characters to see where they ended up by the last chapter of this crazy incredible story.

I loved Linden! He was such and amazing soul who loved with all his heart. He loved harmony and peace and tried his best to see the good in everyone around him regardless of their past mistakes. I was so inspired by his talent. I was able to see his journeys through his eyes. The details of the Seine and the darkness they saw on the boat ride. The detailed descriptions were so real as if I too was there riding along side of him!

Thank you NetGalley for my copy! I most definitely enjoyed it and highly recommend! I will be recommending it to my book club group first thing in the morning!,

5 ⭐️’s!!

Having been to Paris in my youth and loving the book Sarah's Key, The Rain Watcher is a really intense story about a family gathering during a key moment in Parisian history. I loved it and could not put it down!

Expected Publication: October 30th.

Yeesh... okay. This review is a little challenging for me to write to be honest. Not my favorite book, unfortunately. While I thought the concept was intriguing, I thought the execution missed the mark.

It's difficult to even say what this book is about. I guess the overarching story is that of Linden and his family coming to Paris for a family vacation only to find themselves in the middle of a record-breaking flood that wreaks havoc on the city. Meanwhile, there are all these little micro-stories that pop up along the way and tell of the family history and dynamic. And to top it off, there is a slightly random parallel story set in the past about a random character named Suzanne which seems entirely unrelated to the major story line (but eventually ties in).

While I enjoyed all the characters and their back stories on an individual level, the story for me really lacked that cohesiveness that brings everything together. Linden has this relationship with his Aunt and we learn a little bit about her life... only to be left hanging. Linden's mom, Lauren, has this past relationship with a man that we get a glimpse into... only to be left hanging. Linden's dad has a slightly dark past that gets minimally revealed... only to be left hanging. Linden's sister has a drunk husband and was the lone survivor of a tragic car accident.... which gets left hanging. You get the theme here. Frankly, it was kind of bizarre. Maybe I just didn't get it? *insert shoulder shrug here*

The first 80% of the book felt like back story and there was a point where I found myself pretty bored. There was no real "hook" that drew me in or kept me wanting more. But the last 10 - 15% turned around for me. I just wish the latter portion of the book had a larger presence. Because as soon as it started getting good, it ended. And the ending was not very palatable. It felt very unresolved. Like the writer just stopped writing...

Also, I felt like I needed a map of Paris while I read this book to have a good grasp on what was happening. There are lots of references to geographical locations within Paris, boroughs and bridges and landmarks and streets. I had a hard time following. That being said, if you are looking for a book that has a very Parisian feel, this is it. I could definitely feel the French atmosphere and culture resonating through the pages.

Finally, the sentence structure and writing style just weren't for me. It didn't feel natural or conversational. The sentences tended to be very short and choppy. And the way in which some sentences were phrased didn't thrill me. It seemed like the author used a lot of big words for the sake of using big words that didn't add clarity, and for me, made the book more difficult to read.

All of that being said, there were glimmers of success sprinkled throughout (the only reason I'm giving this book 3 stars rather than 2). Each of the individual mirco-stories were interesting on an individual level. I enjoyed learning about the family and their history. The Parisian undertones shined through. And honestly, the last 15% of the book I would consider a success. I just wish it had all worked together a little bit more as a cohesive unit.

-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Tatiana de Rosnay, and St. Martin's Press (still my faves!) for the opportunity to review-

3 1/2 ⭐️‘s
This was a slow burn of a book and took me a while to get into. As a family gets together in Paris, storms literally rage, both in and outside. Secrets unfold as the story progresses and we understand the family dynamics a bit better as regrets are turned into forgiveness. The writing is disjointed at times and I would have liked more at the end, but Tatiana de Rosnay does know how to write about family and Paris!

I loved this book! I felt like I was in Paris during the rain and floods right along with the family during the weekend gathering. I was intrigued by the family dynamics and as secrets unfold I loved the flashbacks to life before the reunion in Paris and the bit of mystery I felt as the past was uncovered bit by bit. I felt the pain and struggle of Linden and his family and I didn't want to stop reading or for the story to end. Another amazing book by Tatiana de Rosnay This author always impresses me and transports me to another place as I read. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this great book.

De Rosnay had made the Seine into another character in this family drama narrated by Linden, son of Paul and Lauren and sister of Tilia. It's a reunion story where everyone finally reveals their secrets. It's also a sad one, as there has been much tragedy. You might have read the basic bones of this plot before but De Rosnay has expanded on it by setting it in Paris during an epic rain. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Not my favorite of her novels but it is written in her classic style and is a tale well told.

"The first new novel in four years from the beloved superstar author of Sarah's Key, a heartbreaking and uplifting story of family secrets and devastating disaster, set against a Paris backdrop, fraught with revelations, and resolutions.

Linden Malegarde has come home to Paris from the United States. It has been years since the whole family was all together. Now the Malegarde family is gathering for Paul, Linden’s father’s 70th birthday.

Each member of the Malegarde family is on edge, holding their breath, afraid one wrong move will shatter their delicate harmony. Paul, the quiet patriarch, an internationally-renowned arborist obsessed with his trees and little else, has always had an uneasy relationship with his son. Lauren, his American wife, is determined that the weekend celebration will be a success. Tilia, Linden’s blunt older sister, projects an air of false fulfillment. And Linden himself, the youngest, uncomfortable in his own skin, never quite at home no matter where he lives―an American in France and a Frenchman in the U.S.―still fears that, despite his hard-won success as a celebrated photographer, he will always be a disappointment to his parents.

Their hidden fears and secrets slowly unravel as the City of Light undergoes a stunning natural disaster, and the Seine bursts its banks and floods the city. All members of the family will have to fight to keep their unity against tragic circumstances. In this profound and intense novel of love and redemption, de Rosnay demonstrates all of her writer’s skills both as an incredible storyteller but also as a soul seeker."

After this past summer stories set amongst floods just draw me in.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Tatiana de Rosnay for the opportunity to read and review her latest book. Tatiana de Rosnay is a wonderful writer - Sarah's Key is one of my all time favorite books - so I was very excited to read her latest. 4 stars for a good read!

The Malegarde family (father Paul, mother Lauren, son Linden, and daughter Tilia) have made plans to meet in Paris for a celebration of Paul's 70th birthday as well as the parents' anniversary. Unfortunately, their trip coincides with the Seine River flooding to unprecedented levels. Each of the family members has a secret that they have held close. When Paul suffers a stroke and Lauren gets pneumonia, the family is faced with their demons. Told entirely from photographer Linden's point of view.

The descriptions of the weather, the flooding and the devastation are amazing - you will feel like you are there. I just never felt quite as connected to the characters as I wanted to.

This is one of those books that I'd love to be able to give 3.5 stars to. The author is excellent at describing the setting, in fact, you could almost say that the rain is one of the main characters.
Linden is a famous photographer who is meeting his family in Paris for his father's birthday. A steady rain threatens to flood the city causing great concern. As the waters of the Seine continue to rise, Linden's parents both become ill. It seems as though all family members are harboring (no pun intended) secrets.
The ending seemed rushed and somewhat confusing. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I would definitely read her writing again.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from netgalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

To state that this book is a disappointment is an understatement. I really struggled to finish it; were it not for the fact that I felt obligated to review it because I received a digital galley, I would have abandoned it.

The Malegarde family meets in Paris in January of 2018 to celebrate the 70th birthday of the family patriarch Paul who is a world renowned arborist. Paul and his wife Lauren arrive in Paris where their son Linden and their daughter Tilia are waiting. The family reunion does not go as planned; much of Paris is experiencing flooding and Paul suffers a medical emergency that requires his hospitalization. While they are together, various family secrets are divulged.

The narrator is Linden, a celebrated photographer who is gay but has never actually discussed his sexuality with his father. Of course, communication seems not to be the métier of any of the family members. Lauren keeps a secret from her husband; Tilia never speaks of an accident in which she was injured; and Paul has a secret which he has hidden “where it won’t be found. No one knows. No one will.” It is Tilia’s secret that seems contrived. Linden might not have heard personal details from his sister but there would have been information easily available online.

The book needs extensive editing. Over and over again, there are detailed descriptions of the flooding and a comparison to the 1910 flood which is repeatedly mentioned. Then there are the constant references to Paris streets and arrondissements. Words referring to street (“rue” or “avenue” or “boulevard”) are used over 100 times!

Even the style is tedious. There is very little dialogue; instead, Linden just recounts conversations so there is no sense of immediacy. So much telling, as opposed to showing, leaves the reader feeling detached. What’s with the obsession with years? Besides the 2 dozen references to the floods of 1910 and 2016, various years between 1997 and 2016 are specifically identified 58 times! There is little variety in sentence structure. So many of the sentences are short, choppy, simple sentences (“Tilia halts. Her trembling hands cover her face like a mask. Linden and Mistral do not move. The only sound is the gush of rain . . . Suddenly the phone rings . . . Mistral answers it. She nods, murmurs a few words, then hangs up. Linden asks her who it was. She whispers that it’s not important.”) as if the author cannot write a compound or complex sentence. Then there are the long series of interrogative sentences: “What does Paul know? How long has it been going on? . . . Is this a recent affair? Or one of those long-lasting clandestine ones, like Candice and J.G.’s? . . . Are his parents happy? Have they always been happy?” and “Why her? Why them, and not her? Why had all her friends died? Why had she been the one left behind? The only one?”

The author often seems to toy with the reader. At the beginning, she avoids using gender-specific pronouns to refer to Sasha as if to later shock the reader about Linden’s homosexuality. The same is done with the opening passages of the chapters when it is not made clear who (Linden or Paul) is writing the flashbacks.

Symbolism usually adds depth to a novel. In this case, however, the symbolism is clumsy and heavy-handed. Paris is being flooded and the reader is to understand that the family is drowning in secrets and a storm is brewing as they gather for their reunion which arouses a flood of emotions. As the Seine dredges up what has been buried, so are the family’s secrets dredged up. It’s impossible to miss the metaphor: “It seems his father’s life is slowly ebbing away, with the same stealthy pace as the rise of the Seine, as if the two events are intertwined and preordained.” As Paris is deluged by water, Linden is inundated with memories of his time in the city. After the waters recede, will the family emerge cleansed?

Much of the narrative is disjointed. Much is made of Tilia’s speaking about the accident which left her with mental and physical scars, but then it is never mentioned again. The backstories of characters are supplied but they serve little purpose. Linden is placed in positions that make little sense. Why does he go on the second boat trip since he is not allowed to take photos and his presence would serve only as a hindrance to rescuers? Likewise, he is asked to be at an evacuation though he would become one more person for those in charge to worry about? And what’s with unexpectedly dropping characters into the story? Three different people arrive unannounced.

Sometimes things just seem thrown into the plot mix. Linden leaves Tilia to get some medication for his mother: “He leaves Lauren in Tilia’s care. She’ll deal with getting the prescription.” Then later we are told that “medication has been the subject to avoid with his sister ever since her accident. She harbors profound skepticism about doctor’s prescriptions” and “It had been complicated enough getting her to approve of the treatment Lauren was receiving for her pneumonia.” This complication was never mentioned! And don’t get me started on that ending with its great reveal. It’s anticlimactic and explains little. Is it supposed to explain the reason for Paul’s preference for trees over people? It does not connect to the rest of the storyline except to suggest that Paul decided he should share his secret.

A repeated message is that people need to care more for each other. One woman dies because of “the lack of caring.” One character “hates this egocentric world where selfies rule, where no one bothers to find out if their neighbor is all right.” We are told that in the 1910 flood, “people were kinder to one another . . . They watched out for their neighbors; they made sure everyone was dry and safe. Solidarity ruled, and this, sadly, is no longer true in our modern selfish world.”

Despite the many references to deep waters, I found the book rather shallow. It does not flow; rather, it is disjointed. Many scenes lack purpose. I hate being so negative, but I honestly found little to admire in this book. Reading it was like wading through the detritus of a flood.

Note: I received a digital galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the story of the Malegarde family, told through Paul(the father)'s written account and Linden(the son)'s memories. There is a terrible flood in Paris where the core of the family is convened for Paul's birthday. As the waters rise, so does the tension as the family deals with illness, tragedy, and coming to terms with past traumas.

Once I figured out the flow of who was narrating at what time, this became a lovely read. Paul's voice is so unique, here is a brief quote just because I love it:

" I played with the trees. They were like living things to me, as alive as humans. They seemed to whisper secrets. Maybe I was the only one who heard them . Trees were at the heart of things. I was four years old, but I sensed that already." - from Paul's transcript.

While I was not fully engaged in the story at times, the writing is truly b. Linden's descriptions of people, places, and the flood are amazingly vivid. I would have enjoyed the story more if I knew Paris - I skimmed some of the tales about the city but I could see French people truly loving this book.

The characters are very real, well developed, and likeable. Each Malegarde faces and comes to terms with a past or present trauma in the novel. The dialogue is also very well done except some times the book switches from conversation to a third person telling, right in the middle.

As a nurse I also really liked the hospital evacuation scenes, how cool would it be to work disaster relief!

I would 100% recommend this to anyone with even a vague knowledge of Paris, lovers of language, and a good fiction. 4/5 stars only because the author lost me at times in the pages of stories!

This review also appears on my blog at https://onenursereader.wixsite.com/onereadingnurse-1/home/the-rain-watcher-by-tatiana-de-rosnay

This is an interesting book. Well-written but slow moving, it paints many word pictures of the flooding in Paris. I liked Linden, the main character, though the story sometimes seemed to get off track with things that had happened to him. I never could figure out exactly why Lauren wanted just the family there to celebrate Paul's birthday; and I still don't know what her secret had to do with the whole story. Did Paul know her secret? We never find out. And why was what was in the box so important to Paul?

The scenes at the hospital are vivid and realistic as are those of the flooded streets of Paris. The flashbacks sometimes seem to add little to the story. I was frustrated that my memory of high school French was of little use in translating the French quotes at the beginning of chapters.

Overall, I felt this was a solid book about a family. The ending was so abrupt, though, that I felt let down. It left me with more questions than answers.

This is a slow, character driven book with way too much setting descriptions for me. At times I thought the weather details overruled the story and I would've preferred more of a chance to get to know the characters. There were times we are just told important info of what happened between characters and I would've liked to have conversations and dialogue so I could've connected with the story

Dramatic family reunion takes place in the dramatic flooding even in Paris in the new book from Tatiana de Rosnay " The wain watcher" As all the books of this author, this book dives deep into family relationship and misunderstandings between family members. Linden, the main protagonist discovers he doe snot really know his sister or even his parents. Only traumatic events of the flood and medical problem with the parents helps them all to see each other in different light and understand the hidden family problems.

The mood of the book is a bit dark and wet, with constant rain pounding of the city of Paris and the river water slowly creeping up the statue of Zuave, he "rain watcher", the flood descriptions start mild and getting more and more vivid and graphic with each passing day of the endless rain. The LIndens"s family suffering also intensifies with the rain and the events that follow...

" The Rain Watcher" is a book you may enjoy slowly as it requires getting into many details, not a quick read. Preferably not in the rainy day, as the pictures getting disturbing later in the book and one can almost see the gray murky water raising up the Zuave..

I would like to thank Net galley and the publisher for free preview electronic copy of the book

This was such a beautifully written novel. I felt like I was right there in the midst of rainy Paris with this family who are gathered for two celebrations. Things don’t go as planned but the discoveries that were made were worth their time and the read.

I recommend this book to lovers of family drama, beautiful settings and richly written characters. This was a lovely read.

A book that centers around a family who has come together to celebrate in Paris, but the weather and circumstances make this celebration a little more dramatic that it should be. Paul and Lauren wanted a weekend in Paris with their two children and no one else, so Talia and Linden meet them in Paris.

The weather was almost a character of its own in this book. With rain and a threat of flood, the weekend goes downhill fast. I had a hard time getting into the setting of this book, I kept having to look up pictures to really picture how this rain and flood could affect the city and these characters.

The writing was just ok for me in this book. There were times when I was hooked on the story and loving it, but then the story would go somewhere and I couldn't figure out how that worked with the bigger picture. There seemed to be moments where I didn't feel as though it added anything to the central story of Paul and Lauren and their children. The long chapters and long paragraphs made the pacing not work for me and I couldn't get completely hooked on the characters or the story.

It has been awhile since I read Sarah's Key, so I will say my view may be a bit flawed, but this book felt so different from that one. I remember not being able to put Sarah's Key down and this wasn't the case with this one.

If you are a reader who likes more lyrical less literal then you could disagree with my view and love this one.