Breathing Paris - Tapa blanda

Shy, artistic Margaret Braither inhabits a world of color created by her synesthesia. Experiencing sounds and smells as colors is inspiring for an artist, but it doesn't help her lead the "normal" existence her mother desires for her. Desperate to get away from her parents and become her own person, she seizes her opportunity to study art at the prestigious École des Beaux Arts in Paris. While there, she struggles to adjust to a new culture, but eventually finds a place for herself, first through friendship, and then through love. Just when she's learned to live fearlessly, everything crashes in on her, and she must choose between mending her relationship and turning to the man who's loved her from afar. Facing her dilemma forces her to face herself, as well as her troubled relationship with her mother, showing her that life, like art, requires perspective and grace. Born and raised in California, Erin Headley fell in love with the French language and culture while in high school. She went on to major in French at Mills College, spending part of her junior year in Paris. She was fortunate enough to live with a French family, as well as study Art History (straight out of the museums), French Drama, and French Civilization. She kept a copious journal while there, which provided much of the background detail for her novel.