Registration opens:
November 10th, 2026 at 9:00am

Tuesday Night Book Club

"The Paris Novel" by Ruth Reichl

Stella finds herself in Paris following the last wishes of her recently deceased estranged mother.

This meeting will be held IN PERSON and ON ZOOM. Those unable to attend in person, can join us via Zoom simultaneously.

Join us to discuss The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl:

When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual a one-way plane ticket and a note reading Go to Paris . But Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a childhood trauma has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. When her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother’s last wishes.

Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that this dress was meant for Stella and, for the first time in her life, Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress and together they embark on an adventure.

Her first iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots, where Stella tastes her first oysters, and then meets an octogenarian art collector who decides to take her under his wing. As Jules introduces her to a veritable who’s who of the 1980s Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds, Stella begins to understand what it might mean to live a larger life.

As weeks—and many decadent meals—go by, Stella ends up living as a “tumbleweed” at famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting, and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past. 

In order to participate, please click one of the REGISTER buttons. 

If you have any questions, please email: tuesdaybookclub@westlakelibrary.org

This book club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. View and print the list of books and check out our Book Discussion page for more book and movie clubs!

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