Vintage 1954

I loved this book..one vivid vignette after another and 1954 Paris flashes into existence...magic realism at its best.All the characters grow into your liking during your course of reading, and the cameos are splendid fun.

Considering it's translated, the book is very good. Sometimes when a book isn't in the original language, it's not as good. I really enjoyed the creative time travel story and paranormal plotline (not a spolier) Lots of likeable characters.Super quick, feel good read. I hope you enjoy it too.

This book made me want to forget my troubles, grab a baguette, and settle down in the warm summer grass with a bottle of Beaujolais. It had everything: laughs, tears, friendship, and even a hint of sci-fi mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Now purchasing all of Antoine's other books. C'est fantastique!!!

What a cute, if crazy, story with cute characters and cute writing. If you like that kind of thing. Which I do. Sometimes. Like now.

Great book!

I'm not sure what I expected but I know I didn't expect what I got and that's a very good thing. I really enjoyed this story that starts out in the 2000-teens with an eclectic group of 4. Three Parisians and one American. After an unfortunate incident of one of them being locked in a cellar and subsequently rescued by another in the group, they all get together to share a cellar find, a rare bottle of 1954 Beaujolais. The next morning, one by one, they each realize that they have been transported back to the year of the wine, 1954. Comical, whimsical, magical, perhaps a miracle, and a bit of mystery and romance. Since Beaujolais is traditionally released on the third Thursday in November, this was the perfect November pick for our book club (Cheers to 2023, all wine themed books). Cheers to book club, Cheers to wine themed books, Cheers to Vintage 1954 🍷

Laughed out loud, delighted in the characters, enjoyed being in 1954 Paris. Cried near the end. A delightful read of friendship. I will read this again

Love this book! Truly love the way he writes, it made me feel like I was right there with them.

Totally different spin and a great French book

Even with the translation into English, the reader is transported into France and the cultural differences. I really enjoyed this.

The experience of reading "Vintage 1954" is akin to that of drinking a glass of good red wine - enjoyable, multi-textured and satisfying, leaving you very slightly tipsy in a good way.Four 21st century characters are transported back to the Paris of 1954 with the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and personalities of that era, from Edith Piaf to Salvador Dali to Francois Truffaut to Jean Gabin.The city of the past works its magic on the people from today in a fairytale-like, light-hearted and charming story.The only part I felt jarred a little was the sci-fi element which did not sit easily with the atmosphere. Overall, this is a nostalgic, escapist and entertaining book for relaxed holiday reading.

It’s wonderful to read a novel that fascinates, intrigues and buoys you up. I don’t normally care for fabulist elements but here they flow so naturally that you sail along in their wake. Four very disparate people meet in a Paris apartment, drink a special bottle of wine from 1954 and find themselves transported back to that time. This is a great excuse to meet all sorts of famous people from 1954 and to experience a Paris where the huge produce markets of Les Halles are still operational, Harry’s Bar is much younger, Cocteau, Dali, Piaf and other famous creatives are still alive and miracles happen. Lest we become too nostalgic, Laurain finds a way to remind us that it wasn’t all marvellous: women had only had the vote since 1944, for instance and there were many men who thought it was wasted on them. The problem of meeting a younger/older version of yourself is blithely handled and all turns out well. It does involve flying saucers. :-) A lovely story.

This was the first book I have read by this author and I did enjoy it. Its an easy read and fun to "see" 1954 Paris through modern eyes. The time travel aspect was charmingly portrayed ( though I did worry about the dogs ! ). I will definitely read another of his books as they are a perfect antidote to real life / murder dramas etc