I Love You Too Much

I am not a sentimental person, easily moved to tears. This book made me well up. It's beautiful and heartbreaking and so real.

This book was SO beautiful and hauntingly written. The story follows Paul, a boy growing up in Paris, with parents who want him only when it's convenient, a school life that is fraught with struggle and heartache, and a friendship that isn't what it seems. The painful wistfulness of Paris, combined with the mind of a boy trying to find his place in a world that keeps rejecting him, makes for such a wrenching read. I love stories of childhood growth and angst, and the written journey of adolescence into adulthood. And to that end this book did not disappoint me.Paul is an intensely likable character, and Drake did a wonderful job of portraying the emotional pain of being unseen and unloved. Or really, just the pain of living. The pain of breathing and walking, and making it through every day of life because you have to. It was absolutely filled with passages that broke my heart, such as this one:"You could have trusted me, but you never did. Don't you remember the wounded hearts, Paul? There are some wounds that never heal. Sometimes you die wounded."I just can't possibly express enough the wrenching agony of this book, and because of that, this is where I'd like to insert a slight caution to those readers who enjoy a read that ends on a critical lesson, or a more uplifting message... this book doesn't. It portrays life, not life with a happy ending, and the depression found within the pages is just SO persistent. I am one such reader, and would normally have awarded this book 2 or 3 stars rather than 4, but in this case, the author's breathtaking skill, and stunningly beautiful writing made me add on an extra star.I also could go no lower than 4 stars, because this book will haunt me possibly forever. Its existence makes me feel as if I am changed somehow, and not really for better or worse, just changed. It is seldom that I come across a literary work that moves me as much as this one did, and though what I got from it wasn't ultimately what I wanted, I am not sorry in the slightest to have read it!!!I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher. My opinions are my own.

A 13-year old in Paris forever fails to live up to his parents’ expectations. He never has the scholastic abilities to enter into the school of their choice—a choice that will make them socially proud, nor the physical beauty both his parents possess. His father, always training for a marathon, can’t accept his clumsy, overweight son.Lonely and unloved, Paul eats. He gobbles sweets and cookies and the special rice dishes his mother’s Filipina housekeeper, the only one who seems to care for him, prepares for him as comfort food.We meet Paul soon after his parents’ separation, with the divorce still pending, but his exceptionally beautiful mother gives birth to a baby girl her musician boyfriend has fathered.While the adults around Paul continue to move in their own self-centered universes and Paul continues to gain weight, a popular girl in his school befriends him. She’s first notices him while both families are on vacation, and unbelieving his good luck, in the coming months Paul becomes her friend and confidant. But Scarlett is fickle, disturbed, and no less self-centered than the other people in Paul’s life.The novel is well-written with sensitivity to a growing boy’s emotions and challenges. The author uses interesting and diversified ways to describe the anger, frustration and pain that are all-consuming in the world a maturing boy must navigate.

“In the sixth arrondissement everything is perfect and everyone is lonely”It is not often that a book of this binding quality arrives on our desk (in the UK, that is), beautiful ochre linen cloth and black/white photos of the Jardin du Luxembourg adorning the inner covers. You just know you are in for a treat! And a treat it is! A fairly short book, it charts one Autumn and Winter period of 13 year old Paul, who is living with his Mother Sévérine, and her newly born daughter (his step sister) Lou; plus her younger hanger-on musician lover, Gabriel. Paul’s biological father meanwhile has set up home a little way across the city.Paul is a young, adolescent boy, who has to adapt to the needs of his toxic parents who are focussed on themselves and their needs, largely at his expense. It is a lonely existence for him as he tries to understand the ways of adults, culminating in the shock of one event that shatters his teetering coming-of-age world. His confidante is fellow pupil Scarlett (whom he meets when the social elite of the 6th arrondissement decamps for Thalasso treatments to Brittany for a few days). She becomes his companion as he navigates this exceptionally trying period of his life. She is attached to an internet world that comforts her in her loneliness.Paris is beautifully observed as he wanders through the Jardin du Luxembourg from his home on the Rue d’Assas, taking in the swirling waters of the Seine, observing the people going about their daily lives, perhaps shopping at Le Bon Marché just a stone’s throw from his father’s apartment .Detail in this book is on so many levels rich and satisfying. Paul tackles his angst by eating – Pringles, Chupa Chups and chips, much to his svelte mother’s chagrin (she is very Parisian in her attention to her own looks and honed body image).The social issues of Filipina maids is also a feature of the book. Cindy, who works for Paul’s household, is an illegal immigrant. She is in an invidious position as she cannot leave France, because she could never return. She is thus denied seeing her own young children, a sad irony as childcare for others is her life. Other Parisians of social parity, also employ – if indeed that is the right word – immigrants to nanny and clean for them. It is thought-provoking content all round.So, you can guess I liked this book very much. It delivers on all levels and I highly recommend this absorbing and well written novel.

Visit a Paris no tourist sees, the details are fascinating, the story riveting. I truly wept reading this novel, with the uplift of a great story and characters you think of long after, reveling in how they found their way.

Troubled teens coming to terms with the modern world. However, a little predictably faith seems to be restored and dependent on the arrival of the new baby with little insight to the fact that she too will one day, no doubt be a troubled teen coming to terms with a modern world.

The enjoyment began way before I opened this book. The beautiful colour and texture of the cover alone gave me a feeling I was in for a good read. Alicia's descriptions and detail whisked me into and alongside Pauls world . All my senses and feelings were touched as I was drawn in. I had trouble putting it down. Left me wanting to read it again , that says loads! Thankyou !

A very moving book, and brilliant evocation of privileged Parisian tribes from the 6th to the 16th (via Neuilly). A sad story with some laugh out loud moments, this book absorbed me completely, and stayed with me afterwards.

Really enjoyed this. Hope there will be a new book by this author soon!

The narrator is 12 year old but with a language and multiple character development that was not 100% there.Especially after the reveal of the "secret" life element of one of the characters the justification-which could have propelled the storyline in great highs- was super shallow and with no real explanation.The description of the locations and the ambiance was good but sometimes it felt like a travel guide to Paris and a social experiment about the French social and cultural mentality.Which could be nice if it was an essay but as a novel it lost focus and got ll over the place until the lst 10 pages which where another narative for another story.Never the less, the previous book of this author "The Beautifull Fall" will always be one of the best books I ve ever read.so ...I ll wait for her next one as this was not in the end, for me