I love France and gravitate to literature that has anything to do with France so naturally I was excited to read this book. I really enjoyed it, while I wasn't spell bound, the book held my interest. It was nicely written and well researched. The author exposes you to poverty in Paris during the late 1800s. Overall, not a great read but a good read.

Ms. Buchanan charmed me with her first book “The Day the Falls Stood Still” and she did not disappoint with this book. She researches her topics well and incorporates her historical facts into a fascinating story giving the reader a taste of the reality of the life of her characters in the Paris of 1878. The Van Goethem sisters never lived in the lap of luxury but as long as their father was alive the family managed to keep the wolf from the door. When he dies and their mother sinks further and further into the welcoming oblivion of absinthe, the girls are forced to do whatever is necessary to keep their little family together. Marie joins the Paris opera where she can earn 17 francs a week. As Marie throws herself completely into her ballet Antoinette turns to the stage. But soon their meager earnings are still not enough and Antoinette meets rakish Emile Abadie, forcing her to decide between struggling through life or choosing more profitable, but less reputable, way of earning a living for young Parisian girls of the time. As Antoinette becomes embroiled in the seedier side of Paris Marie earns a little extra money by modeling for Edgar Degas, becoming the model of choice for his little ballerina statues. The story is told by both Marie and Antoinette, their very different voices adding to the story rather than deterring from it. If, like me, you wonder about the story behind a picture or painting, this book will satisfy that curiosity. The only negative thing I can say about this book is that I am sorry Ms. Buchanan turned her talents from a Canadian story to take us on a trip to Paris.

This book was fantastic, I love historical novels that are based on factual accounts. The author did an amazing job making us fall in love with the characters. Very touching and quickly made it's way into my favourites list.

I'm giving this book 3.5/5 stars. It really was a sad story about 3 sisters struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, in 1880s Paris. I always love reading about Paris, and the parts involving Degas and the history surrounding his painting of ballet dancers was fascinating. But there wasn't much to feel uplifted about in this book. The sadness underscored the history, the fiction, and the sisters pretty much throughout.

this book was well written, but so dark and depressing. I kept hoping for light at the end of the tunnel, but all I found was another pit of depression.

This book completely swept me away!

The Painted Girls is like time travel. It sweeps you immediately out of wherever you are and deep into the heart of Paris during the Belle Epoque. This is an aspect of Paris and art history you've likely never seen before, captured in exquisite detail. I'm so glad I read this book, loved it! Couldn't put it down.

Marie and Antoinette van Goethem are 2 of 3 sisters who live with their recently-widowed mother in the late 1800s in Paris. Antoinette, the eldest of the sisters, works as an extra in the controversial play L’Assommoir and is adamant to not become a laundress like their absinthe-drunk mother. Marie and Charlotte both begin ballet classes at the Paris Opéra but while Charlotte has the angelic look and determination of a ballerina, it is Marie that captures the attention of many – including Edgar Degas. She begins modelling for the artist where she will then become the model for his famous statuette Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen. The two elder girls soon get wrapped up in a life that seems to be spinning out of control, faced with many crossroads that test their morals and comforts. I cannot sing enough praise about this book. It has everything that I love in it: Paris, ballet, a crime to solve and it’s written by a Canadian author. The Painted Girls is told in alternating points of view, switching back and forth and watching the story unfold from the eyes of Marie and Antoinette. The reader gets a fuller picture of what is going on even if the sisters themselves don’t know the whole story. The narrative was interjected at times with newspaper articles discussing the murders that were taking place in the city, and the “analysis”, as it were, of people with certain physical attributes more likely to be tied to criminal behaviour. This was a really interesting subject to broach, and eventually takes on even more relevance, but there is constant mention throughout the book of Charlotte being cute and Marie wasn’t. The idea that Buchanan brings forward on the correlation between how one looks, their status in society and how their future is to unfold closely linked was a thought provoking aspect to the overall book. The sisters don’t want to end up like their mother but, at their lowest points, wonder if they are doomed to the same fate. The Painted Girls is an amazingly researched coming-of-age story; full of mystery, determination, hope and drama – all set among the late 1800s Parisian ballet. C’est magnifique. This, and other reviews can be found on JustALilLost.com

I have to confess that initially this book held no appeal for me (aside from the beautiful cover). I don’t have much interest in Paris or the ballet but it is so well written that I was engaged from the beginning. I found myself thinking and worrying about the characters throughout the day and I couldn’t wait until the evening when I would have time to read again. Whether you know Paris or not, you will be amazed at how well researched this book is. Cathy has clearly done her homework and the details of Paris and the Opera bring the story to life. Get a copy of this book and prepare to escape to the Belle Epoque.

I was lucky enough to receive this book from a friend for Christmas. Once I started into it, I could not stop reading it. I loved the setting (who doesn't love Paris!?) and the relationship between the two older sisters was so rich and poignant. I found some of the ballet terms confusing but I loved the details, especially of the underbelly of Paris at the time. A great story well-told.