Tiny Little Thing and Suite Francaise

Happy 4th of July weekend to all those in the U.S. I hope you enjoyed some fireworks and barbecues. We had a nice Canada Day here on July 1, hiking in the mountains, see photo at left. On Sunday, we plan to go for a bike ride and then watch the U.S. women’s soccer team hopefully win the World Cup against defending champs, Japan. Go team!

Meanwhile this week, I did some “beach” reading, though I live no where near the ocean. I wanted to lighten things up with a good summer read, so I snapped up an e-copy of Beatriz Williams’s latest novel “Tiny Little Thing” from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and though it was fine, I wasn’t overly taken with it. Maybe I had heard so much about this author and how her novel “A Hundred Summers” is a favorite beach read of so many people that I was expecting beach magic. Or alas, maybe this genre of fiction isn’t exactly my cup of tea? Would you call it commercial historical fiction or historical romantic fiction or something else? Whichever, I have a feeling that Williams’ fans, despite any of my misgivings — I am likely in the minority here — will like this novel just as well.

Set in the 1960s, “Tiny Little Thing” is about a woman (Christina “Tiny” Schuyler) who thinks she’s doing the right thing by marrying Frank Hardcastle, a man from a wealthy Cape Cod family who’s apparently destined for political greatness. He’s running for Congress and Tiny is the perfect “trophy” wife. They make an attractive power couple and have a promising future.

But as the campaign gets underway, various occurrences lead Tiny to doubt her life’s direction and the relationship with her husband. Her volatile sister arrives for a visit, as well as her husband’s cousin, Caspian, who became close to Tiny two years before. Tiny’s also being blackmailed by somebody who has incriminating photos of her. It appears everyone has a secret of some sort which plays out toward the end.

The characters felt a bit dopey to me in this “Mad Men”-era tale, but after awhile enough was happening to keep me going. I typically like political novels, and this one had a Kennedy-esque feel of a privileged wealthy family gone wrong. “Tiny Little Thing” was all right as a beach read — I liked how Tiny questions her identity of always having to be the good girl and doing what’s right because of her family’s expectations — but I felt the story seemed sort of contrived at times with not a great deal of depth.

I didn’t realize it’s one of three novels by Beatriz Williams about the Schuyler sisters — the first being “The Secret Life of Violet Grant” about Vivian Schuyler, then there’s “Tiny Little Thing” about older sister Tiny, and in November the last one will be about sister Pepper Schuyler called “Along the Infinite Sea.” I probably just need to go back sometime and read Williams’s bestseller “A Hundred Summers,” which everyone seems to talk about.

Meanwhile our small artsy theater in town is playing the film “Suite Francaise,” which we enjoyed seeing last night. Do you remember the novel of it by Irène Némirovsky, which was published in France in 2004 and became an international bestseller? It’s incredible that the story was written during the Occupation of France in 1940 and ’41 and was only read and published by the author’s daughter some fifty or sixty years later. Nemirovsky tragically died at Auschwitz in 1942, but her writing carried on and made quite a mark.

In the film, American actress Michelle Williams plays Lucile Angellier, a French villager who’s husband has gone off to fight in the war. Lucile lives with her well-off mother-in-law (played by Kristin Scott Thomas) who’s a landlord of several properties. As Germany takes over, they are billeted with a German soldier who shows them kindness. Over time, Lucile and the soldier start to fall for one another, but harsh wartime events intercede.

It reminded me a little of the recent novel “All the Light We Cannot See,” since it involves a young French villager and a German soldier, but “Suite Francaise” takes place earlier in the Occupation and is more involved in ways. You get an idea of how villagers snitched on one another, stole, and did what was necessary to stay alive under the scary circumstances. It’s a pretty powerful movie with a bit of action that’ll put you on edge. I didn’t realize this important book had been made into a movie, but I’m glad it did. It broadens my horizons once again on WWII events and made me feel the humanness of people even under war.

What about you, have you seen or read “Suite Francaise” and what did you think? Or what did you think of “Tiny Little Thing” or other Beatriz Williams’s novels?

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20 Responses to Tiny Little Thing and Suite Francaise

  1. Molly says:

    I am unfamiliar with Beatriz Williams, probably because this particular genre is not my favorite. But… I am intrigued by the idea of three books, each telling the story of a different sister. I might try A Hundred Summers and see how I fare…

    • Susan Wright says:

      Yeah it’s interesting that the author’s chosen to write about three sisters over three books. I think it’s working for her, but I still hear A Hundred Summers is perhaps the author’s best. Thx for stopping by Molly.

  2. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz says:

    I adored Suite Francaise (the book) so much that I pushed it off on several people, including my brother who loved it as much as I did. No idea a movie of it had been made. Off to add this to my queue.

    readerbuzz.blogspot.com

    • Susan Wright says:

      Yep Deb it’s a fascinating book. I didn’t realize a movie had been made either, till I saw a review in the paper. Keep your eyes open for it.

  3. Anne says:

    Did you have a nice Canada day? We often are in Canada on the 1st and love joining in the celebrations but we miss the fireworks if we aren’t home on the 4th. I think our neighborhood just about blew up last night. Everyone was setting off their own fireworks.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Thanks Anne. Yes it was a nice Canada Day here. Though our town doesnt have the same fireworks that July 4th brings. Hope your neighborhood is still in one piece 🙂

  4. Reading the description of Tiny Little Thing, I also thought about the Kennedy era.

    But anything political is on my radar right now, as I just finished watching all the seasons of House of Cards on Netflix. Have you seen that? The ending left me wondering….is there another season, perhaps? Wishing….

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Laurel, Yeah I usually like political stories and have watched Season 1 of House of Cards. We liked it but it’s so dark and Machiavellian, each character seems bad. We took a break from it but will likely get back to see Season 2.

  5. I’m not exactly sure how to classify Beatriz Williams, but A Hundred Summers was my idea of a perfect beach read. Would never want a steady diet of that type of book, but I turned the pages quickly and was totally immersed in the story. Recently picked up a copy of The Secret Life of Violet Grant to read this summer and will be curious to see how it compares. I didn’t realize Tiny Little Thing was about another member of the same family.

    How did I miss hearing about a film version of Suite Francaise? The book was a favorite many years ago.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Thanks JoAnn, Yeah see if you can find that Suite Francaise movie. I still plan to read A Hundred Summers sometime. I take your word for it — that’s it’s a perfect beach read 🙂

  6. Michelle says:

    I wouldn’t classify Tiny Little Thing as a beach read, or any of the books about the sisters. One Hundred Summers definitely is. I do hope you try out The Secret Life of Violet Grant. It is MUCH better than Tiny’s story, and the historical element of World War II is so interesting.

    Speaking of, I am definitely going to be searching for a copy of Suite Francaise now. That sounds like the type of story I would love!

    • Susan Wright says:

      Thanks for clarifying her books, Michelle. I do plan to give Beatriz Williams’s books another shot … after awhile. You should check out Suite Francaise, I think you’d like it!

  7. Ah, sorry to see Tiny Little Thing was a disappointment to you. I’ve only read one of Williams’ books but I loved it.

  8. Such an amazing final game, wasn’t it? Yep, I enjoy commercial fiction and literary historical fiction but commercial historical fiction wouldn’t be my genre. You are reminding me to read Suite Francaise, a gift from my mom. I may need a bit of break since I just finished, and loved, All the Light We Cannot See.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Oh yes, the U.S. team played terrific, especially in the final game! What a great World Cup it was. I know what you mean about not being your genre; I’m not sure it was mine either. The Suite Francaise is worth the read when you get to it. I can’t believe the author wrote the novel while the Occupation was happening. thanks Sarah

  9. Jillann says:

    I read Beatriz Williams “A Hundred Summers” recently and was a little disappointed. I think it was the genre for me, more than the story or writing – good but not great!

    • Susan Wright says:

      Thanks Jillann. Good to know. I won’t overhype it whenever I try out “A Hundred Summers.” I think I’ll take a break from Williams for awhile.

  10. Brona says:

    I read Suite Francaise when it first became available and sadly I remember very little about it. I hope to catch the movie soon and attempt a reread sometime after (actually I just reaklised it wont be until after our move, as I’ve already packed up the bookshelf that SF was on!)

    Actually I’m hoping to catch several movies this w/e. The boys will be away and the weather is meant to turn atrocious cold again. Madame Bovary and Far From the Madding Crowd are also in my sights! Any thoughts?
    🙂

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Brona, Yeah I think you’ll like the Suite Francaise movie if you can find it. I definitely still want to see Far From the Madding Crowd movie … but I also would like to read the Hardy novel too.

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