Title: The Rain Watcher
Author: Tatiana De Rosnay
Published: 2018
Call #: FIC Rosnay
Four years after Sarah's Key, author Tatiana De Rosnay has come out with another beautifully written story about the complexities of family and the impact that secrets have on everyone.
“I will start with the tree. Because everything starts and ends with the tree.”
The story of the Malegarde family is told from the point of view of the eldest son, Linden, who is named after his arborist father's favorite tree. The story is set against the backdrop of Paris in the middle of a natural disaster. The endless rain has led to the river Seine reaching flood levels and complicating the reunion between Linden and his family, who have been estranged for some time. When his father, Paul, has a medical emergency, everyone's secrets come to the surface.
The writing is everything you would expect from De Rosnay, fluid and very descriptive. Paris and the rain are almost the main characters in the story, nearly eclipsing the story of the Malegardes. Unfortunately, the ending falls short of the rest of the novel, seemingly cutting off a story that still had something to say to the reader. Despite the lackluster ending, the story is engaging and the reader feels fully immersed in it. Recommended for fans of Sarah's Key.
Jill B
Popular Materials Manager