Skylark

A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel

By: Paula McLain

Narrated by: Alexa Davalos, Michiel Huisman, Paula McLain

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK!

The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time.

1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette's efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated. But within its grim walls, she discovers a small group of brave allies, and the possibility of a life bigger than she ever imagined.

1939: Kristof Larson is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized.

A spellbinding and transportive look at a side of Paris known to very few—the underground city that is a mirror reflection of the glories above—Paula McLain’s unforgettable new novel chronicles two parallel journeys of defiance and rescue that connect in ways both surprising and deeply moving.

Critic reviews

"A rich performance by two talented narrators."

Parallel stories

Parallel stories of two women one in the 1660s another in the 1940s, connected by the
underground tunnels of Paris.

Paris then and now

I have read lots of WW II books , this was special! Thanks to the author and narrator for bringing this story to life. I knew about the underground tunnels in Paris and been in the catacombs in Rome so could visualize the tunnels and the darkness

Intriguing historical fiction from uncommon perspectives.

Enjoyed the intertwined histories, all very well written. Fascinating exploration of little-known aspects of history.

Beautiful audio

I loved listening to this beautifully written historical fiction. The narration was superb. The stories were intense and will stay with me. I think this should have been two separate books because the two separate time periods and characters did not connect other than being about strong women, strong men hard times, hope and love. So perhaps I just missed something ! Still this book is my favorite of the year

Mediocre Story, great writing

I absolutely loved the prose/ writing, but the story was slow moving weak and difficult to follow. Cannot recommend