A Garden in Paris by Stephanie Grace Whitson

This book left me with a lot of thoughts. Mary doesn't know who she is after her husband of twenty-six years dies. Mary has secrets and regrets. Because of the dynamics of her marriage, Liz, her daughter has no respect for her mother. Mary contemplates killing herself, but decides to write her first love in Paris. She goes to Paris to wait to see if Jean-Marc will meet her in the Notre Dame Garden. She arrives two weeks early because of a fight with her daughter. While visiting all the old places, Mary reflects on her marriage, her relationship with Liz and who she used to be before Sam. Liz has no idea of who her mother was before her father, and learns from the housekeeper some things about her mother. Liz follows her mother to Paris two days after she meets up with Jean-Marc. Liz has to deal with her feelings of the things she finds out about her mother and herself. Mary has to learn to live with herself and who she is after denying herself for over 26 years. My first thought is that when we reach the age when our spouse is gone and our children our grown. How do we go on? Is it possible to recapture the young woman I used to be? What is my relationship with my children? Will it survive, get better or worse? Although the author leaves the relationship of Mary and Jean-Marc up in the air, I leave with a sense that Mary will find her way. This book is well written and provokes deep thought.