ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White
Team W, as they are called, is composed of novelists Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White. Each is an accomplished writer in her own right and as a team they have had much success with their collaborative efforts. The team produced the acclaimed novels THE FORGOTTEN ROOM and THE GLASS OCEAN. ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE is their third novel together and it is their best. That is saying a lot indeed as the first two books were highly entertaining.
ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE is a story of three women each living in a different time period. Aurelie de Courcelles’ story begins in Paris in 1914. Also in Paris in 1942 is Daisy Villon. Finally the third woman, Barbara Langford arrives in Paris in 1964. All three women are connected through their pasts and the location of the incomparable Paris Ritz. This is one of the most elegant hotels in Paris and has been so for many, many decades.
It is to be assumed that each of the three authors told one woman’s story, but who wrote what and how has not been revealed by the authors. And though I have read singular works by each of the three I have to admit I have no idea who wrote which part of the story. To say it is seamless is too simplistic. The book evolves in an ordinary fashion with each woman being centerstage equally throughout the tale.
In past books, where there have also been three distinct female characters, I have to admit I favored one over another. Not so in this story. I admired and enjoyed learning of Aurelie, Daisy and Babs equally. Aurelie is caught up in the fury of World War I while Daisy is enmeshed in the status of occupied Paris in World War II. Babs comes to Paris seeking information about her deceased husband who was stationed in Paris during World War II. So there is a linking theme throughout the story.
The stories are told in a grand and epic manner. Aurelie’s story brings to mind Hemingway’s FAREWELL TO ARMS, while Daisy’s evokes traces of Follett’s EYE OF THE NEEDLE. But to say they “bring to mind” and “evoke” does nothing to diminish the book’s originality and haunting beauty. The reader gets immediately caught up in all the horrors of war and its consequences. How these dire days are dealt with provides the core of the story.
Each war story is also a love story. These formidable women give their love to courageous men in the passion of the moment. They are caught up by circumstances that increases their inner strength but also allows them to grasp love, beauty and comfort when it arises.
If you like to be totally absorbed by a book then ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE is the novel for you. There are three distinct stories to grab your mind and your heart and they come together to create a novel that is a masterpiece of storytelling as an art.
ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE is published by William Morrow. It contains 448 pages and sells for $28.99.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
