The Rain Watcher

Linden Malegarde was coming to Paris for a family reunion to celebrate his father's 70th birthday and parent's wedding anniversary. It is January and the rain has been coming down in buckets. The family reunion consists of his mother and father, Lauren and Paul, Linden and his sister Tilia, Why is he feeling an undercurrent of something ominous, something wrong? Why did his mother insist on the family meeting in Paris, even though Linden lives in San Francisco, his sister lives in London and their parents live in the Drome valley? His mother did mention that Paris was more convenient. And the rain keeps coming, with fears that the Seine will overflow.

This family, with its dysfunctional background, has secrets yet to be revealed and all seen through the eyes of Linden. As the rain keeps coming, and fears escalate about the Seine overflowing, a family disaster takes over the family. Linden's father suffers a severe stroke and at the same time, his mother comes down with a bad case of the flu that turns into pneumonia. Neither one can be moved and Linden is the one holding the family together and in doing so he is "deluged" with memories and emotions.

As you keep reading, each memory, each secret is divulged in what I can only say is done in slow motion. As the story unravels (and that is the only way I can describe it), the reader is filled with so many feelings...empathy, sadness and love, Layer upon layer fills you with the need to keep reading, wanting to find the hidden secret of each character. Paris will fill you with the chaos of a city submerging in a disaster that threatens to take its charm away, the very core of it. Linden and his family will bring you to a passion filled read, it might bring you to tears (as it did me). It is powerful, it is dramatic and it is emotional on so many levels. Yes, Tatiana De Rosnay has written another worthy novel. Bravo!!

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

See review http://cayocosta72.wordpress.com

Linden family are meeting in Paris for his father's 70th birthday. It has been a while since the family has all been together. This is a good time to reconnect and catch up on everyone's life.
Linden's mother, father, sister and his niece are all staying at the same motel.
The rain has been falling, and falling. The fear of flooding is spreading. And still the rain falls.
This family is in for some long awaited cleansing. From all of them. Events that haven't been addressed, but should have been. The rain falling, the river flooding, they being stuck together will help unleash these secrets. It will make them stronger as a family or break them apart.
I loved this book. A terrific story, awesome, relatable characters. Great description of the surroundings. Everything ties together for an incredible ending. And after the last word is read, you still continue thinking about about this book.
5 Stars

I started reading "The Rain Watcher" yesterday afternoon. My intent was to just dip into it to see what I might think. I did not intend to read it straight through in one sitting, but that's exactly what I did. I am head over heels in love with de Rosnay's writing. I'm a bit obsessive about "all things Paris," and this book gave me a lot of Paris, but from a perspective that needs to be given a great deal of thought today in a time when only some of our nation's leaders are seriously considering climate change. This was always in the background of a powerful book with several intertwined stories. Jenna Blum called it "Hypnotic, passionate, ominous and tender—unforgettable.” I believe that sums it up quite perfectly. I loved it.

The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay is anything but dreary despite the never ending rain and flooding that descend upon Paris just as the Malegarde family arrives for a family celebration. Disaster strikes the family not only with the weather conditions and flooding but also with the health of the parents.
There were some endless details about the rain and flooding, but these descriptions weren’t as distracting as the constant references to Paris landmarks, streets, and neighborhoods—all in French. I might have had a bit more patience with these details if I had a bit more familiarity with the setting; sadly, I do not. I got to where I did a bit of skimming when places (in French) were included.
The tense story that develops between Linden (the narrator), his sister Tilia, and their parents Lauren and Paul kept me turning the pages and slogging through the flooded Paris setting to see if/how these alienated characters would reconcile.
Some unfinished or unnecessary plot lines kept me from giving The Rain Watcher more stars: the mother’s alleged affair with a former lover and Suzette, Linden’s childhood caretaker. In fact, the reason for Linden’s trip to his parents’ home from Paris at his father’s request left me with more questions than closure. I’m still not sure of the meaning as Linden’s discovery doesn’t seem to be fully revealed.
Thank you to NetGallt for the digital ARC.

Really intense story. Family gathering in Paris.. many past stories come together with the story of a massive flood in Paris. Great read!

Thank you for the free ARC. I always like de Rosnay's books and this one did not disappoint. In short, a family reunion leads to new revelations in flooded Paris.

There are many things I enjoyed about this novel...
....I’m absolutely glad I read it. I definitely recommend it. TRUTH IS I LIKED IT A LOT.....( gorgeous writing and vivid descriptive experiences - a very interesting story - with characters to cozy up with and become intimate rather quickly).

There are some problems however:
.....incomplete tale-add-ins....stories got dropped off. Some never got developed-barley off the ground- or they interrupted the flow of the greater issues pressing.
..... At around the 80% mark — I didn’t feel it was the right place to introduce a new character and lead-in- side- story. This could be my personal preference. I’m not a fan of bringing in new characters too close to the end of a novel unless there is a very clear distinct reason to do so .....which ties into the beginning of the book.
......’Possibly’ too many themes fighting for center stage: yet... I liked it anyway.
1- Trees and all that they teach us...2- The Seine River flooding Paris...3- The family Reunion....getting the scoop on each person and how they each relate to each other: ....communication - forgiveness - embracing each other - love.


Flaws included.......I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK .....pimples - cellulite- gray hairs and all! Did I want to change a few things - a couple!
BUT....I am still basking in the afterglow of having read it!!!!! Tatiana de Rosnay is a great storyteller. The main characters are extremely well developed. Sometimes there is nothing better than getting a great compassionate take on the characters alone.

It was only last year ....when a magazine article came out saying “France, insurers fear a major flood of the Seine”. Although the rising water was not comparable of 1910... there was extensive damage with over 19,000 houses without electricity, and 4000 evacuees. That was the REAL NEWS....
So.... Tatiana de Rosnay setting her novel in the heart of waterlogged streets - the river rising much more rapidly than normal — made for a very scary possible fascinating story.

A family reunion was planned many months before any concern of floods in Paris.
Paul and Lauren were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.....and it would be Paul’s 70th birthday.
Lauren planned the gathering. She only wanted their two adult children to attend ( not their partners or husbands)...
Talia, artist, ....oldest sibling, in her 30’s, lived in London with her 2nd husband, Colin Favell. ( he was often intoxicated)
Paul, ‘TreeMan’, and Lauren, social knockout beauty- a little self-absorbed , lived in Venozan, near Sevral, in Drome valley, France....
Linden Malegarde, famous photographer, lived in San Francisco’s with his partner Sasha Lord. (loves opera - cooking - works for a startup)

Other characters:
Candace —- Linden’s aunt. Lauren’s sister
Mistral —-Daughter of Talia
Oriel —friend/ photographer of Linden - lives in France
Hadrien- pass lover
There are a few other characters also — and a strength in Tatiana’s writing is we feel we know them all pretty well.

Everyone has withheld something from one another....
And the reunion doesn’t go as planned. There is sickness - pneumonia and a stroke- personality differences between each family member -and everyone seems rather exhausted simply by the conditions of Paris in itself. The atmosphere is not a happy festive place .... with restaurants, galleries, and theaters, etc all dwindling down to almost nothing.

For the majority of the novel Linden is the narrator. He’s a beautiful- compassionate man. I LIKED HIM AS THE NARRATOR! The ‘inserted’ narrator was predictable from the start for me....( except 1 part of it)....
We watch Linden analyze and critique his relationships with each family member in the present and a little from the past - especially wondering why he had such a hard time talking with his dad.
His dad loved trees passionately ( and David Bowie music), in the same way Linden did photography....so they share having a deep passion in common.


One night - Linden was with Oriel part of the helping team - out on a motor boat - with search lights trying to help anyone who needed it. It was dark - midnight ...
“The moon radiates in a freezing blue-black sky, illuminating the swollen watercourse. There is a higher spot at the end of rue Cognacq-Jay, just before the bridge, and they head there. As a step out of the boat, icy waters shoots up to their shins. They wade through it, teeth clenched. The place is completely deserted. The Seine is now drenching the Zouave’s shoulders. The bridge has been entirely closed off by metal barriers and it seems to be poised on top of the river”.

The atmosphere in Paris is dark - cold - wet - filthy -
Hospitals have to move patients- streets smell - PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED....
Can you imagine? Your family plans a celebration weekend together — it’s been a long time since THE FOUR OF YOU have been together—
Welcome to catastrophe after catastrophe!!!

“When nature got angry, there was nothing a man could do about it. Nothing at all”.

4.5 Stars

Thank You St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Tatiana de Rosnay

De Rosnay once again delivers a novel rich with insight into family dynamics, set against a backdrop of the world's most fascinating city.

Wow! It's not often that I have to re-read a novel to come to an understanding of its theme. In her latest novel, The Rain Watcher, Tatiana de Rosnay draws the reader into a character study of a family who are stranded in Paris as the Seine overflows its banks. The severe flooding and disastrous drowning of the city makes an apt metaphor for a family that is drowning in secrets. As the water continues to rise to historic levels the family is both physically and emotionally trapped in Paris as their father, Paul; aka “The Tree Man”, suffers a critical medical emergency.

On the surface, the narrator, Linden, a world famous photographer, the only son of Paul appears to be the main character in the novel. He takes charge of the family's crisis while his mother is bedridden with pneumonia, his sister is trapped by her own terror of hospitals, his brother-in-law is a hopeless drunk, his gay lover is half a world away and his teenage niece appears to be the only other voice of reason.

But dig deeper, dear Reader. Reflect. Go back. Re-read. Mediate on the trees. Why has Paul named both his children after his beloved Linden tree? Why is this man so shy and reserved, only feeling truly comfortable among his beloved trees? Why is Paul such a fan of the late, great David Bowie? Your best clue is the epigraph to the novel which is, “The stars look very different today” from Bowie's Space Oddity. A song that is known to be a reflection on Bowie's dark past. The final hint I will give you, without revealing any spoilers is, “ . . . everything begins, and ends, with the tree . . .” is actually an allegory.

If you like a book that will keep you thinking for a long time then this is the book for you!

Engrossing tale about family, reconciliation, love and loss set amidst an unthinkable natural disaster in Paris.

A mesmerizing, poignant story told through the eyes of a photographer son during a disastrous inundating Paris rain. As the city streets are flooded, family secrets are uncovered and feelings surge to the forefront as a generation deals with a family set back.

Highly recommended!

This was a standout read for the cadence and ability of language to create mood, emotion, suspense and oneness with the pace of nature..
On first read the plot/narrative was not the main event, I found myself more interested in getting to the core of Lauren and her experience.
Somehow I found the less revealed characters to be the most provocative.

I have been looking forward to reading this for a while. Sarah's Key stole my heart and this new novel by de Rosnay was exactly what I hoped! I am a huge fan of historical fiction, in particular if it's set in Europe. I finished this beauty in just a few hours as it was impossible to put down. You will be able to see my full review on my blog as per St. Martin's Press guidelines.

Loved this book. Didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend.

Love love love. Incredible book. Fabulous book club pick too

4.5 stars!

Another wonderful story by Tatiana de Rosnay!

The book intertwines the story of Paris, in the midst of unimaginable flooding, and a medical crisis that develops while the Malegarde family comes together in the city for family celebrations. It starts off very simply, and gradually family secrets are revealed (and most subsequently addressed/resolved) while at the same time, the water in Paris is rising.
I found most of the family members so interesting, especially the focus on Linden (the son) and Tilia (the daughter) and their relationship. The author does a wonderful job of presenting characters who are flawed in real life ways, but also makes them realistic and capable of being likable. Some of the reveal of the secrets were a bit drawn out (ie Aunt Candy) which is why I didn't rate a full 5 stars. Also loved the role the music of David Bowie played!
Having the city of Paris as a character was also very interesting and makes me want to return (although not when there's flooding)!
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan for the opportunity to read The Rain Watcher in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness! I don’t know what to think! I want to write a review about this book while everything is sharp in my mind; while at the same time, I want to just go sit and think about it for a bit. This book is so very different from the author’s very popular novel “Sarah’s Key”. It’s as different as Elizabeth Gilbert’s first two novels—of which I also loved both. Or as different as JK Rowling’s HP series and “Casual Vacancy”. What is the same and obvious in both of de Rosnay’s novels is her command of words with the ability to enable the reader to feel the characters’ souls. Wow! I need to think for a bit.

I can’t stop thinking about this book. I’ve just raised my rating from 4 to 5 stars. It’s genius!

Thank you, Ms de Rosnay, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC free of charge.

An elegant literary novel about a family drama that plays out during the 70th birthday of the Malegarde patriarch. A momentous storm brews outside in Paris while an equally fierce emotional storm thunders inside the gathering. De Rosnay's writing is gorgeous, holding us close while family fireworks and massive floods threaten to engulf all. 5/5

Thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheRainWatcher #NetGalley

A beautiful book about the intracaies in a family and how being faced with a tradegy can open them up and change who they are and how they interact.

I really enjoy Linden, the main character and all of the members of his family that are introduced in this story, and how he as a photographer sees the world around him.

I do have some lingering unanswered questions, like how what happened to Susan afffected him, and what of his mother and fathers relationship? I feel like they had a lot of time spent on them but remained open and not completed.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and would have to give it 4.5 stars! Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this title in exchange for an honest personal review.

I am normally a very fast reader but I read this book slowly so that I could savor every word and marvel at the way the family secrets were brought to the light. I love Paris and felt like I had taken a wet and rainy mini-vacation after I finished it. I loved the family and they are not characters that I'll soon forget.

The Malegarde family is meeting in Paris to celebrate Paul's 70th birthday and the anniversary of Paul and Lauren. They both traveled to Paris from the Drome Valley to spend the weekend with their two children - Tilia who is an artist and lives in London with her second husband in a rocky marriage and Linden who lives in San Francisco with his lover. Linden is a world renowned photographer who sees the world best through the eye of a camera. When the family all arrives in Paris, it has been raining for days but as the rain continues, the Seine begins to rise to levels not seen since the flood of 1910, the city begins to flood and shut down. In the midst of the devastation in Paris, Paul suffers a stroke and is taken to the hospital and Lauren is stricken with pneumonia. This is a family who love each other but don't really understand each other. They are hiding secrets and resentments from each other. As they get cut off from the rest of the world in the floods, their secrets start to come to light as they learn more about the other family members.

This is a beautifully written novel about the devastation of Paris in a flood and the flood of feeling that this family must release to better understand each other. It will make you miss Paris if you've ever been there or make you want to make plans for a trip to Paris. I LOVED IT!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

The Rain Watcher is about Paris and the chilling yet beautiful rising waters of the Seine due to nonstop rains. Beautiful, that is, until the rain doesn’t let up. The Malegarde family— father, Paul, mother, Lauren, and their two adult children, Linden and Tilia — meet at the Chatterton Hotel to celebrate Paul’s birthday. As expected, problems arise, including patient, kind Paul’s stroke, self absorbed Lauren’s flu/pneumonia, the hotel being filled to capacity due to the rains, and the relentless rain.

Much of the book focuses on the rising waters of Paris, alarming flooding, shut down transportation, cancellations everywhere, and how this affects their plans. Just as much of the book is in retrospect, reflecting on the pasts of all the characters, especially Linden and his struggle with being gay, his sterile relationship with his parents, and his career in photography.

Sadness is integral to the story and weighs heavily, sadness for what might have been but wasn’t, what could be but isn’t, and what won’t ever be.

It took this flooding disaster and being trapped in Paris because of it (and lots and lots of descriptive pages) for them to see and resolve their flaws and inner conflicts. Masterfully, the author weaves past mistakes and guilt and regrets into the present along with the resolving of differences and the clarifying of feelings.

Very thoroughly and expertly described are the devastating effects of the flooding, such as water creeping higher and higher, hospital evacuations, failed electricity, problematic transportation, and so much more.

I feel the author’s whole soul was put into this book and was left exposed as well. The emotions expressed were at times dark and raw and painful, and were at times loving and gentle. In the end past times that evoked sadness and unexpressed emotions were put to rest, and memories of happiness and happy times took over. All’s well that ends well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ms. de Rosnay for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Good read. I was impressed with the way the author writes. I definitely recommend this book. I think most readers will enjoy it.

Ill never forget reading Tatiana De Rosnay’s book, Sarah’s Key. It made me cry then haunted me like nothing else! It was one of those stories where you read it and cannot stop thinking about it. Seriously, I would give this author a standing ovation for that brilliant novel, read it now if you haven’t!

Now she’s back, years after Sarah’s Key, with The Rain Watcher. Let’s all pause and look at the cover. I love it! It is moody and interesting and makes me want to snuggle up with blankets and my dogs for a full day of reading.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Rain Watcher is a powerful family drama set in Paris as the Malegarde family gathers to celebrate the father’s 70th birthday. Their hidden fears and secrets are slowly unraveled as the City of Light undergo a stunning natural disaster. Seen through the eyes of charismatic photographer Linden Malegarde, the youngest son, all members of the family will have to fight to keep their unity against tragic circumstances.

I am intrigued and can’t wait to start this one. There’s a Goodreads Giveaway happening right now, go here to enter the contest. Hurry, it ends today!

Tatiana de Rosnay writes beautiful novels, usually set in Paris, that capture the hearts and minds of readers.

I read Sarah’s Kay back in 2011 and wasn’t terribly as impressed as I had hoped. I find that I am in the minority when it comes to this opinion. But since then I’ve seen a number of her books climbing the bestseller lists with speed—though I haven’t read any others.

Could it have been the mood I was in at the time that made me not love her book? Sure. So while I kept an open mind about her other books, I wasn’t moved enough by their descriptions to pick any of them up. But that all changed then I got the pitch for this one.

The Rain Watcher is a powerful family drama set in Paris as the Malegarde family gathers to celebrate the father’s 70th birthday. Their hidden fears and secrets are slowly unraveled as the City of Light undergoes a stunning natural disaster. Seen through the eyes of charismatic photographer Linden Malegarde, the youngest son, 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 (summary from Goodreads).

Who doesn’t love a family drama set in Paris? The setting immediately sucks readers in with its beautiful landscapes, rich history, and romantic setting. It makes for an excellent location and I loved how well it worked within the novel itself. The weather also plays a big part in this story and helps highlight different moods/tones of this book. While part of me felt like this was a little cliche and obvious, I still liked how the weather worked in the narrative.

De Rosnay writes with a lot of heart in her novels and this was no exception. It is clear that this book is going to be a bit of an emotional roller coaster with complex relationship and plot points. While it is that, there is something about the ending that feels unfinished to me. I remember thinking that about Sarah’s Key—it just felt unfinished and abrupt for me when it came to the ending and I felt the same thing in this book. By the end I was just sitting there musing over the fact that that was it—-and that I was wanting so much more.

This isn’t a fluff read—so if you are hoping for something lighter, then look elsewhere. This book has the feel of a heavier steak dinner. There is a lot for the reader to sink their teeth into. The plot is full of rich prose and well written plot points and characters.

Linden, the main character, was easily my favorite and he is very well developed and easily relatable. The main plot was intriguing but the side stories didn’t seem to be adding much to the greater story. At times I felt distracted by the side stories and wanted to abandon them in favor of the main story because it was much more substantial.

Mechanically this is a great book. Beautiful setting, likable characters, moody weather related backdrop in Paris, and powerful family drama. The writing is practiced and well executed, quick/fast paced and readers will see De Rosnay’s signature style immediately. But the ending is abrupt and some of the other side stories were a distraction for me. I thought about giving this one 3.5 stars but ultimately bumped it up to 4 because I liked Linden so much.

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay

Kindle Edition, 240 pages
Expected publication: October 23rd 2018 by St. Martin’s Press
ASIN B079DW43L6
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: Historical fiction

Memorable lines/quotes:

4 atmospheric stars!

From the first page of this story, I felt as if I was transported into the rain drenched city of Paris, France. The pitter-pattering of the rain against windows, the splashing through endless puddles, the droplets of rain dripping from umbrellas, the constant measure of the waters’ rise. I was entranced by the intensity and beauty of the atmosphere of this novel. The scenes felt so real and vivid that my imagination didn’t have to do much work at all.

This novel follows Linden Malegarde, famous photographer and youngest son of the Malegarde family. He is meeting his parents, sister and niece in Paris to celebrate his father’s seventieth birthday. While in Paris, a natural disaster strikes, causing extreme flooding and devastation.

Told with exquisitely beautiful writing, Tatiana de Rosnay, captures a family gathering full of love, angst, fear, secrets and uncertainty. Each character adds a deeper layer of intrigue to the family dynamic. This novel has an intense sense of sadness and melancholy, but is deeply touching and emotional. I highly recommend this book, but warn readers to pick it up only when ready for a slower, emotional journey.

A big thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Tatiana de Rosnay for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Expected Date of Publication: October 23, 2018.

LOVEDLOVEDLOVED this spellbinding tale - couldn't put the book down and I read it in record time. This story is incredibly sophisticated and well written. A family is together for a week in Paris during one of the worst floods in history. It shifts between first person and third person, and it is this facet of the book that keeps the reader somewhat confused, but in a wonderful way. The lives of all family members are full of unique sufferings, and this story illuminates how we all need saving.

I would recommend this book for those of us readers who enjoy an emotional ride, and and who love to empathize with the characters and relationships.