What Was Being a Female Correspondent Like During World War II?

 The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester was her second book.  In this book, she explores the life of Leigh Miller through the fictional character of Jessica May.  Women making strides during this time were still treated differently from their male counterparts.  I saw a great presentation by Meg Waite Clayton on the same topic.  

Synopsis: 


“A "rich and riveting" New York Times bestseller based on the true story of a female journalist who defied all the rules while covering World War II (Publishers Weekly, starred review). New York City/Paris, 1942: When American model Jessica May arrives in Europe to cover the war as a photojournalist for Vogue, most of the soldiers are determined to make her life as difficult as possible. But three friendships change that. Journalist Martha Gellhorn encourages Jess to bend the rules. Captain Dan Hallworth keeps her safe in dangerous places so she can capture the stories that truly matter. And most important of all, the love of a little orphan named Victorine gives Jess strength to do the impossible. But her success will come at a price... France, 2005: Decades after World War II, D'Arcy Hallworth arrives at a beautiful chateau to curate a collection of famous wartime photos by a reclusive artist. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but D'Arcy has no idea that this job will uncover decades of secrets that, once revealed, will change everything she thought she knew about her mother, Victorine, and alter D'Arcy's life forever. Includes a reading group guide! "An emotional and sweeping tale set against the backdrop of World War II...Rich detail, compelling characters, and an interwoven dual timeline make this an engrossing read for historical fiction fans." (amazon.com)


My Thoughts: 


I really enjoyed this story.  While this story is historical fiction that takes place during World War II, it also chronicles the journey of Women’s rights.   I found aspects of  Leigh Miller’s story hard to read.  The discrimination against the female war correspondents was awful.  I loved the character of Dan the soldier!  Also, the character of Victorine was very special. The dual timeline was great because of how linear the storyline was.  I look forward to Natasha Lester’s next book, The Chateau on Sunset.


Buy Options for Paris Orphan: 


Amazon   Barnes and Noble   Bookshop.org


Preorder options for The Chateau on Sunset : 


Amazon   Barnes and Noble   Bookshop.org

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