I really enjoyed (if you can use that term for such a brutal story) the begiunning of this book. The harshly realistic lifestyle these girls lived was fascinating and the author kept me reading. I can't say the same for the scond half of the book. For whatever reason, the aspects of the story that had intrigued me during the France section of the book were completely absent from the later part. I found Laure's story suddenly unbeleivable and overlly simple and spent more time annoyed with her as a character than not. Overall, not a bad book, but not one I can solidly recommend either.

This was a difficult book to 'enjoy' in the sense that the time period was brutal, life was grim and the main character, although strong, was difficult to like. I did appreciate the attention to detail in the story - the author, an historian of the period, describes the appalling conditions at the Saltpetriere Hospital in Paris, the Atlantic crossing and the grinding hardship and isolation of Laure's life in New France as a 'filles du roi', married to a man she did not love or respect. I felt that the novel ended rather abruptly, and would love to see a sequel. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical detail and a strong female character. If you couldn't put The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor down, this novel would be an excellent choice.

Certainly one of the least compelling books I've read. Found the characters to be weakly portrayed. Also hoped to find more indepth information about the times back then. Wouldn't recommend it.

A piece of Canadian history made far more interesting than High School Social Studies.

This novel follows a young girl, Laure, from the Saltpêtrière Hospital in Paris, a orphanage, school and poorhouse, to the early town of Ville-Marie in New France. Laure was taken to the Saltpêtrière when she was very young, grabbed from the arms of her begging parents by the city's archers. She was lucky to be taken in by a sponsor, but now that lady has died and Laure is back in the Saltpêtrière being trained as a seamstress. She is luckier than most, as she can read and write and has skill with a needle, but when she displeasures the Mother Superior, she is sent to be a bride to the men of New France. She is among many others sent for this duty, but she feels very isolated. As she adjusts to life in the new world, she discovers things about herself and what she is willing to do to survive. I can't say I really liked Laure, she always seems to think herself superior to the others, whether in Paris due to her sewing and lacemaking skills, or in the new world. But she is definitely a survivor and accepts what she must agree to in order to find a life for herself. She is still young when the book ends, and one hopes she finds herself a life she can enjoy in the future. The history was interesting.

Interesting first novel, but I felt that there wasn't enough plot for the story, perhaps a short story or novella would've fit better. I would love to read more fiction based on the 'Filles de Roi'. Reading the historical notes at the end of the book gives some idea of the progression, or lack of plot. The origins of girls like Laure were not the best, and their fate was not necessarily an improvement on what they left behind. Hardly the stuff to make great stories from. But then, not every good novel has a happy ending.

This book would have been much better, if only the plot was paced a bit better and the character development had been stronger. Unfortch, parts of the book which were supposed to be "significant" went by at a breakneck speed without proper attention. other, meaningless points are described in detail. Laure (the main character) seems to be in a perpetual identity crisis. I felt like the author didn't know who she was and I certainly didn't either. She contradicts herself all the time, and at the end of the day, is simply a poorly thought out character.

I have yet to read it because I feel it will be like watching the movie Titanic, knowing much of the details of the actual story. For the first time today on the CBC, the author qualified that she was only dealing with one of the groups of women who emigrated to New France-those housed in La Salpetière, Paris' catch-all hospital / home for the disavantaged ladies. In fact they were the second wave of of women shipped out. The first wave comprised of upper class women who were destined for the Carignan Soldiers, Officers and government officials. Most came with hefty dowries. They were poorly suited to life in New France. So a third wave was recruited by the Catholic Church from the farm parishes of Normandy. They were hard workers and more suited to the lifestyle. There are even stories that some women, some of whom were married, just showed up at the ship and got on board! Of interest, there were gilrs called the "filles-a-marier" that preceeded the Filles-du-Roi - but that's another story!

I could not put this book down it was so intriguing and I was disappointed to find no other books written by this author. A "must read" for human interest fans.

My rating is quite generous considering how disappointed I was with this book. Considering the author's field of study I expected lush detail, some universal social commentary and, basically, to learn something. I didn't feel Laure's despair, anger, sense of betrayal or fear at any point. The plot, although it definitely has potential, moves with a detached air, and so lacks real movement. Things just kinda happen. It is, however, useful as an intro for those interested in Canada's beginnings and the difficult (crappy) lives early immigrants/pioneers led.