Map of the Heart: A Compelling Historical Fiction Story of Romance and Secrets from WWII France to the Present Day

Heart warming story with good characters. Set in two different time periods with a twist in the tale. Usual high standard of writing from Susan.

Dive into history and romance with this novel from Susan Wiggs, a heart-warming tale of family history and the hope of adventure and love around the corner. Photography plays a big part in this novel, which I found fascinating! As we all know a picture is worth a thousand words, and Wiggs' imaginative way of using photography as a theme to help connect modern life to that of the people who lived during World War II, is brilliant. While we can't see the photos, we can imagine them in great detail, and they add an extra depth to this sweet tale of love and loss, and the importance of history. Some of the most precious treasures a family may hold can be hidden under a shroud of dust in the attic of the ancestral home...delve into Map of the Heart to find out what Camilla and her family uncover, and maybe find the motivation to learn something new from your own ancestors too. Full of intriguing characters, a hint of adventure, and a glimpse into the past, Map of the Heart is a mesmerising story that you won't want to put down. **** stars from me! I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I loved the tiers of the story. Each part intriguing and exciting. The build of the story was interesting and enjoyable. Thank you

Another amazing story frim Susan. Could be living through events along with characters, flows beautifully along. Highly recommend. Quick delivery and well packaged. Happy happy happy customer

I loved this book. The plot was very well written. A great sit by the fire with a glass of wine, and don't pester me book.

Great read yet again can't wait to read the next one saving it for my holiday to the states this year

Lovely

Map of the Heart: What i loved about this book is that it steered me into different directions for my next read: Provence, photography and World War Two in the south of France. The author is the first I’ve read that highlighted US landing from the Med into various villages along the coast of France, the chaos of Italian and then the German occupation and the huge cost to the local population. Even now in 2017, there have been only a few ‘symposiums’ on ‘the war’ and the ongoing consequences to communities. Even now, questions about collaborators are still the main focus - mostly coming now from the children of those who suffered; it still doesn’t feel likes it’s been resolved. The French chapters were evocative and conjured up images of light, delicious scents and Cezanne/Van Gogh. Bories still exist - I walk amongst them all the time, wondering how they’re still standing after all these years. I was lucky enough to go one Cartier Bresson’s last exhibition but am curious about Willy Ronas: is he a real person? The story of Camille, her father and Julie cocooned within a small community with all its comforting familiarity but also its vicious teenagers was well portrayed. Enter Finn and the dynamics of how Julie’s loss can ever reconcile her with a future and new love. For an author as experienced and as well-connected with a bevy of editors, copy-editors and proof-readers, I can’t understand how quite often the transition from one scene to another was clumsy. Nor can i understand what appears to be Americanisms: what is an ‘incredible tool’ [sounds derogatory]; what are ‘dark and stormies’? how can Bandol wine have the scent of grapefruit [the terroir would say ‘no’]; what is a ‘flat white’? In Aix, ‘colorful booths lining both sides of the street’ [no, only at Christmas]; ‘the day you shared your PB and J with me …’ [what’s this?]; what’s a ‘hall tree’?

Meribeth Meixner Reed, PhD 20 August 2017 Wiggs, Susan. (2017). Map of the Heart. New York, NY: Harper Collins. This exciting new work of fiction was so enjoyable I quickly ordered additional copies. Susan Wiggs chronicles individual and family journeys, leading to a love story bolstered by older love stories. It is also a tale of intrigue, unmasking unlikely ancestors from two generations past. Many key characters have a secret, and each avoids revealing the truth, sacrificing personal happiness for sorrow. Map of the Heart is a complex account that explores many dimensions of discovery and revelation: Discovering old film and developing it meticulously to reveal photographs; discovering photographs and revealing the moments captured; discovering new relationships and mending old ones; and discovering one's ancestors, revealing the rich heritage they bequeathed. Camille's story begins on a day filled with trauma and joy, a pivotal event in her life and her daughter Julie's. The detailed description of that day fills the first four chapters, establishing a platform for glimpses back into the past and a springboard for events to follow. Many threads are woven through the narrative, such as the interaction of light and dark to create visual images, including photographs. Note how often those terms are used. Another thread is the evolution of photography and imagery interpretation. Camille's passion and avocation (not hobby!) combines these threads, bringing to life the images captured on found film, often half a century or older. She loves "opening forgotten time capsules with a single act of light." (p.4) This unique expertise brings together Camille and Finn, an historian who specializes in identifying deceased combatants and who teaches historical inquiry, methods of discovery and interpretation of findings from the past. There is great symmetry in Camille and Finn's different perspectives on congruent areas of interest and mastery. The hard-cover edition is 345 pages, with endpapers featuring maps of the Delmarva Peninsula (Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia) and southern France. The author's blog provides an illustrated description of designing the book cover art, which is fun to follow. The narrative is divided into seven parts, by geographic location, internally by time period. Two time periods establish the settings for current and past events. The contemporary love story begins in Bethany Bay, Delaware, incorporating today's technologies. But the antecedent love story -- an origin story -- takes place in occupied Provence during World War II, 1941-1945, when the French resistance worked tirelessly against German and Italian forces, despite the hardship of stolen and destroyed resources. Our history and heritage are our cultural DNA, intrinsic to our identity, so discovering our ancestors changes the way we think about ourselves. While such observations are clear in life, former educator Wiggs realistically chronicles the same growth and development of individuals and families in the story. Her meticulous research rewards readers with many areas of new knowledge. It was my pleasure to attend the book launch at The Inn at Port Ludlow, Washington, where we imagined an evening in Provence. This delightful, intimate event was complete with dinner and scented by stalks of lavender, reflecting the cover art. Wiggs is approachable, warm, and totally charming. Her speaking and writing style are articulate and witty, and her descriptions are so clear I could picture myself in the settings. As a reader, I grew to love the characters, and it doesn't get any better than that. Each individual's dialogue is distinctive and true, so there is no confusing characters from the contemporary Delaware shore with those from the southern France countryside during the war-torn 1940s. As hidden truths are exposed to light and reunions replace broken relationships, I visualized concentric hearts in their family trees. Camille's father Henry (Henri) provides an exquisite précis of their family's journey toward discovery and revelation that efficiently summarizes their story: "Life as it reveals itself is filled with riches." (p.337) Enjoy the riches!

I liked the book. Well written. The only thing was that the printing of the various pages seemed to be a bit sloppy. i.e. with many printed lines the first and last letter was incomplete, I could figure out if the word was supposed to start with a "b" or "d", etc. but generally the printing appeared sloppy. That was the first time I ever came across anything like that in any of Susan Wigg's books - and I have, and keep for re-reading, at least 20.

Map of the Heart: A Novel is by Susan Wiggs. After having written more than fifty novels, you would think her writing would get stale and old; but it definitely does not. Susan writes with a freshness and energy that is amazing. Her writing takes you into the book until you are right beside the characters as you read. It is very realistic and deals with a very old mystery and with the discovery of love. It takes place alternatively in the present and in the past during World War II. Camille Adams develops film which is so old it might be lost. She is utterly fascinated by bringing seemingly lost pictures back. It suits her just as life near the Chesapeake. Here with her daughter, Julie, she can be alone and dream about her life with Jace. She tried dating; but nothing seemed to click with anyone. At least she has her work. Now she is trying to rescue a roll of thirty-five-millimeter film for a history professor names Malcolm Finnemore. This is a rush job but she likes deadlines. Today, she is interrupted by a phone call from Julie’s school stating Julie was taken to the hospital after a head injury in the surf rescue team. As she takes off for the hospital, she exposes the film without thinking. With her hands full with a teenager, Camille’s life seems to be full; but as her friendship with Finn grows and as she and her Father and Julie spend the summer in France trying to find out his lineage, she comes to realize how she is shortchanging her life and Julie’s. Can she change though?

Good story and lovely characters. I love that the US president was a woman and that the Nazi was named Drumph. I hope that was done on purpose.

Started out slowly but a very surprise ending. Well done!!!