Just finished...

What a story! A Parisian attorney named Chaumont is absolutely addicted to collecting objects (it started with erasers when he was a kid) and selling them for a higher price.  Of course, he does keep a lot of the items he collects.  His wife thinks his addiction is akin to hoarding, so she has relegated his collection to one room in their house - nothing can leave that room!  One day, while walking about the local auction house (where he made sure to open his law practice across the street from), he finds a painting.  A painting of a man who looks exactly like him.  Say what?! Yep, he finds his doppelganger staring back at him.  So, what's Chaumont to do?  Bid on the item - no cost is too high!
Once the item is his, he eagerly takes it home and stares at it (after all, its like looking into a mirror).  Of course, he can't wait to show it to his wife and hear her exclaim over the man in the painting looking just like her husband.  Except, that doesn't happen.  In fact, she acts like he's crazy to even think such a thing and dismisses the painting as more junk to add to his collection.  Talk about a major letdown.  Chaumont is not pleased.  He becomes even more frustrated when everyone else he shows the painting to does not see the resemblance he shares with its subject.  So, he spends his time researching the painting - searching for answers to find the connection that he must have with it.  He searches and searches until he finds a name. The name leads him to a little town.  Once there, his life is never the same again.  And that is all I will write about this delightful short novel.  It is simply too good to miss out on - you must read it and experience Laurain's whimsical storytelling for your self.  Believe me, you are going to fall in love with his writing, his characters, his story, and France.  All in all, a perfect summer time read.  I absolutely LOVED The Portrait and can't wait to read more of Laurain's works.

Now, I'm off to start devouring Party Girls Die in Pearls by Plum Sykes. Hope you're reading something delicious.  Happy reading!!