The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson

I enjoyed this book.  The story follows Eve who meets Dom and, after a whirlwind romance, moves with him to the crumbling hamlet of Les Genevriers in Provence.  As they settle in to their new home all is rosy until Eve starts to question what happened to Dom’s ex-wife Rachel.  At the same time, strange things start to happen in the house.  The story also follows the life of Benedicte, a former inhabitant of Les Genevriers.  The chapters, which are very short, alternate between the present day with Eve and the past with Benedicte.    For me Benedicte’s story didn’t flow as well.  I found Eve’s story much more interesting and was thoroughly engrossed as she searched for the answers to Dom’s secrets.  The descriptions of Provence and perfume are rich and evocative.    

Foreign Bodies By Cynthia Ozick

Hmm not sure what I thought about this. The novel was shortlisted for the Orange Price for Fiction 2012.  The story is set in the 1950's and switches between New York and Paris.  It follows Bea Nightingale as she goes to Paris to “rescue” a nephew she barely knows at the request of her estranged brother.  Cynthia Ozick has a unique style and her characters all have distinct voices.  It is well written with lots of descriptive prose.  I liked the character of Bea, although at times I wanted to shake her.  There are rave reviews for this book, but I’m not sure her particular style is for me.