I’ve only read one Antoine Laurain novel, the delightfully charming The Red Notebook. It was the closest I’ve come to finding a book that felt like watching the film Amélie, one of my favourites of all time. Laurain is a master at capturing details of character and setting that bring the story to life and make you feel fully immersed in the reading experience. There is something magical about his writing, and it is perfect when you need to escape a depressing reality for a little while.
I went into this book not really knowing anything about it other than that it was written by an author I’d previously enjoyed. I wanted something full of sunlight and a rosy glow. I wanted some Parisian charm, some cock-eyed optimism. This book delivered on all fronts.
This is the story of four people who happen to live or be staying in a heritage building in Paris. One is the heir of the family who originally built and owned the entire building before it was divided into flats and sold piecemeal. Another is a restorer of broken objects whose goth appearance has earned her the nickname Abby, after the character on NCIS. The third is a young bartender with a creative streak and deep-seated crush on Abby. And the fourth and final character is an American motorcycle enthusiast staying in the building as an AirBNB guest on his first trip to Paris, a trip he planned with his wife before she became gravely ill.
The four end up sharing a drink after they all become involved in the aftermath of a robbery in the cellar of the building. This drink, a bottle of vintage wine found in the cellar, ends up changing all of their lives in ways they never could have imagined. Each wakes up the next morning in a world that is not the one they went to sleep in. Instead, it is Paris of 1954, and they each must figure out what has happened and find one another so they can work towards home and their own time.
I normally hate time travel in books, and because I didn’t know this was a time travel story, I was less than thrilled when that’s where the story went. My issue is the inconsistencies that are rarely addressed adequately and the ripples sent through history by any small change made in the course of that time travel. I have a hard time overlooking any little details that don’t fit, and it’s exceedingly difficult to make all the details fit when one small change in history can have unforeseen consequences well down the line.
I persevered because I had already become invested, and dammit I wanted to know if they were going to make it back in one piece! (There was also mention of a treasure, and who can resist finding out if the treasure will actually be in the cross marked spot?)
I’m very glad I gave Laurain’s version of time travel a chance. He drew a 1950s Paris that was full of bonhomie, miracles large and small, and a glittering version of the city that would charm the most jaded reader. There were also cameos that would have been much more exciting if I were better versed in famous Parisians of the time – Edith Piaf, Salvador Dalí and Audrey Hepburn were the only ones I had heard of, but there were several others. He draws a Paris that exists in the imaginations of anyone who has dreamed of visiting the city of light but has not yet made it there. It was mesmerizing and intoxicating.
The time travel works because of this beautiful Parisian dream Laurain creates, and the sense of magic it imbues the setting with. Time travel seems much less anachronistic in this Paris than it would in any other setting. He also manages to navigate the usual pitfalls by neatly side-stepping them. He doesn’t focus on details or historical events, and anything that is changed during their visit to the past affects only those immediately involved in the families of the main characters, and nothing makes a major change in events that affect the course of history. He resists the urge to change major historical tragedies or use future predictions to make a fortune. He focuses on only on his story, and because of that it works.
I loved the characters in this book. Each is drawn with a sensitivity and empathy that makes them feel real. They aren’t perfect, but their foibles are forgivable and they redeem one another through their forced intimacy. There is a sweetness to Laurain’s character portrayals that makes you root for them and care deeply about what will happen to each of them. There are friendships, family connections and even a budding romance – plenty of versions of love. There is joy, humour and a deep community pride that will make you care as much about Paris as the characters do.
The book isn’t perfect – it doesn’t always feel realistic, and though I appreciated Laurain’s decision to side-step the effects of time travel rather than digging a deeper hole by trying to account for every change, it does mean you are left wondering what effects their temporal journey may have had beyond what we know of. Some of the plot points are implausible, but that’s part of the territory with a book so heavy on charm and whimsy. If you want to pick at loose threads, there are some. But if a cynic like me can choose to stand back and enjoy the complete tapestry, you can too, and I highly recommend doing so. There is a lot to love here, and it’s a very quick and easy read. It’s a great one to take to the beach or on holiday, and if you are a fan of Parisian tales, or of the film Amélie, you will definitely love this book.
‘The very quintessence of French romance…’ The Times
When Hubert Larnaudie invites some fellow residents of his Parisian apartment building to drink an exceptional bottle of 1954 Beaujolais, he has no idea of its special properties.
The following morning, Hubert finds himself waking up in 1950s Paris, as do antique restorer Magalie, mixologist Julien, and Airbnb tenant Bob from Milwaukee, who’s on his first trip to Europe. After their initial shock, the city of Edith Piaf and An American in Paris begins to work its charm on them. The four delight in getting to know the French capital during this iconic period, whilst also playing with the possibilities that time travel allows.
But, ultimately, they need to work out how to get back to 2017, and time is of the essence… – Goodreads
Book Title: Vintage 1954
Author: Antoine Laurain
Series: No
Edition: Paperback
Published By: Gallic Books
Released: June 18, 2019 (First released April 4, 2018)
Genre: Fiction, Paris, Time Travel, Relationships
Pages: 208
Date Read: July 3-7, 2019
Rating: 8/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.88/5 (176 ratings)
