Perestroika in Paris

Praise

“A sparkling screwball-comedy treat . . . If ever there were a year when we could use some light relief, 2020 is it. Perestroika in Paris couldn’t have come at a better time . . . It’s hard to imagine anyone not enjoying this wistful charmer of a book.” —Seattle Times
 
“Sprightly, fun . . . A lighthearted spree of a novel . . . Here Smiley stretches her talents even further.” —Washington Post

“Wholesomely timeless, full of good intentions and happy endings that feel far removed from the problems of the moment.” —Wall Street Journal
 
“A cozy, fairy-tale trot through the City of Light . . . Delightful, heartwarming . . . An appealing balm for harsh times . . . It’s such a joy when an author whose work you’ve been reading for decades surprises you with something unexpected . . . An especially welcome reminder of the bright spots even in dark times.” —NPR.org
 
“In an era beset by polarization and even violent tribalism, it feels like a gift to find a novel in which characters of different species—with different desires and instincts—come together to build a community.” —Los Angeles Times
 
“After writing some of the most brilliant and ferocious fiction of the past 40 years, Jane Smiley takes a gentler approach in Perestroika in Paris . . . Her tone may be genial, but she’s as tough-minded as ever . . . Underpinning the novel’s abundant humor is a pervasive atmosphere of loneliness and longing for companionship felt by humans and animals alike.” —Boston Globe
 
“A beautifully done story . . . An absolutely extraordinary tribute to Paris.” —NPR’s Weekend Edition
 
“An immersive fable . . . Beguiling . . . A comforting read at the end of a difficult year—a winter’s tale full of wit, warmth, and charm.” —The Economist
 
“A remarkable novel that splits the difference between Charlotte’s Web and Animal Farm . . . Perestroika in Paris takes its place alongside the likes of Through the Looking-Glass, in that it will reward both precocious young readers and their parents with a sense of wonder and whimsy.” —BookPage (starred)
 
“This is the perfect book for those for whom the real world, wracked with pandemic and politics, has become something to avoid.” —Publishers Weekly

“The life-affirming grownup fable we all need right about now . . . It might just be the perfect antidote for 2020 . . . Jane Smiley has created a world where kindness is king, and that’s exactly where I want to be.” —Washington Independent Review of Books