Random Things Tours: The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger

I have read couple of books by New York Time bestselling author Lisa Unger and will definitely keep reading more by her. I am particularly interested in the everyday suspense and mystery that may surround an otherwise mundane life. 

The Couple in 5B offers exactly this kind of setting. Rosie and Chad are a couple working hard to meet daily ends. But their life is about to change once Chad inherits an expensive apartment in a posh part of New York city. They cannot wait to move and everything looks like a fairy tale, until as expected, things may turn wrong. Unexpectedly wrong.

Rosie is the main narrator and I´ve found her very empathic and relatable. The kind of person that just want to have a normal life and all the exceptional circumstances are shaking her hard out of the comfort zone. She is also very precise in sharing the details and a careful observer of the changing circumstances. Chad, on the other hand, seems very distant and unreliable, kind of dark character in his weakness.

There are two story lines, the other one following the story of another couple that moved in the apartment, early 1960s. At this point, the story is related by the woman from this sub-story, Willa, which gives a predominantly feminine touch to the story. 

The author dedicates a lot of time to give us insights about the characters while introducing various episodes adding more depth but also uncertainty to the story. The supernatural take to the story may make a difference compared to a classic psychological thriller, but it is used in moderate dosis and without too much Gothic kitsch. I personally loved the idea of thinking of houses as more than just real estate investments, seen as carriers of histories and recipients of feelings. 

Reading the book was sometimes like watching Hitchcock-inspired movie, and I really think that this story has also a good movie potential.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimner: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Random Things Tours: Dancing on Knives by Joanne Rush

There is so much trauma in our world, and there is no generation spared by the pain of wars. It was always like this and it looks like there is no end to the cycle of violence of trauma. How one can go away of it, succeeding to win over fears and panics, the ghosts of the past always haunting?

Dancing on Knives, the debut novel by Joanne Rush, takes a different take on how present and past can find a way to survive for the sake of a different future. 

Laura, a brilliant student who fled Bosnia during the Balkan wars, fell in love with Adam, a British diplomat that she will follow to his assignment to Serbia. There, he is set to find the war criminal Ratko Mladic, while Laura is spending her time in the capital city of the power that dislocated her and murdered her people. Family figures and episodes of the trauma are coming back to her, mixing reality and past in a fluid persistant way, distorting the reality and almost taking over her control over her own life. Will she be able to start anew and silence the dark legacy of war?

This is a very evocative and important book inspired by traumatic violent events. The wars in former Yugoslavia, a genocide taking place in the very heart of Europe, that no one was able to stop is just another shame for humanity. When I take a break and think about all the many horrors we are experiencing, reading about or directly affected, it just makes me angry. But, on the other hand, being angry is not the solution, as it destroys the future. The figures of the murdered may haunt us, but we need to make first pace with ourselves. 

Laura´s search for meaning may open up new ways to cope with such traumatic events. Dancing on Knives will, for sure, stay with me for a very long time and I am already adding it to my bibliography of books about conflicts and trauma in the XXth century.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Random Things Tours: Runaway Horses by Carlo Fruttero&Franco Lucentini translated by Gregory Dowling

 

The death of a jockey, a long time couple whose passion is ignited in the most unexpected circumstances, with a strength that may go far beyond their imagination. Runaway Horses by the legendary Italian crime writer duo Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini is published by Bitter Lemon Press in a translation by Gregory Dowling. 

Set in Siena, one of Italy´s most beautiful cities, the story is built around Palio, a horse race organised since the Middle Ages. The atmosphere, as well as particular city descriptions add a layer of authenticity to the story.

I promised myself this year to read more in Italian, but I couldn´t refuse the chance of this translation, especially after, as usual, reading about the impressive credentials of the translator. Although relatively short - a bit over 200 pages - this crime novel is bubbling with humour, unexpected turns and a course of events that no one may predict. This guarantees a perfect immersion into the story, and an almost direct communication with the characters.

The crime story is integrated into a specific ambiance, with the authors adding a lot of specific histories and details that make you feel the place in a very different way. Enzo and Valeria, the couple founding itself in the middle of the crime, may not be necessarily very relatable, but they don´t let you indifferent either. 

The book may inspire you thoughts that are far beyond the crime setting itself, with meditations about life, power and human behavior in general.

Reading this book I made a not to myself to explore more Italian crime novels, maybe another one from the six works of fiction Fruttero&Lucentini wrote. It promises a lot of good reading time.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own 

Rachel´s Random Resources: From Provence with Love by Alison Robertson

 

In Provence to settle a family inheritance, Laura meets Noah. It wasn´t one of those coup de foudre we may expect to happen in Provence, but a meeting of interests, as Noah is the real estate agent expected to help her set her French business. But love doesn´t wait and so it´s the romance between the two. But once their path separate, Laura keeps thinking if she would rather give up her comfort for giving instead love a chance.

From Provence with Love by bestseller romance writer Alison Robertson is sweet and heartwarming, a book that may plant the seeds of love even among the most sceptical anti-romantic humans. I adored how Laura decided to act spontaneously, opening her up to Noah and enjoying the moments of bliss. Thus she is giving a chance to life to herself and to her own love story.

Sometimes, love appears when we expect less, but we just need to open the door to let it in.

What attracts me additionally to this book is obviously the setting in the beautiful France. I am very well aware that, of course, love can also happen anywhere else and Provence may be overrated, but who stops you from dreaming. The ways in which Provence offers the perfect ambiance and background to the story is enjoyable, without risking to comform to a stereotype - of love and beautiful Provence, of course.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Les Yeux de Mona by Thomas Schlesser

 ´C´est d´ailleurs cela, l´apprentissage de l´enfance: la perte´.

More than ever, this year I am spending an impressive amount of time reading French novels and it can only get better. The Jaguar´s Dream was a pleasure for the soul, a family story wrapped in the golden threads of the Latin American magic realism. I do have some more books waiting to be reviewed and none of them disappointed.

Les Yeux de Mona - or Mona´s Eyes, translated into more than 30 languages - by Thomas Schlesser is a story of growing up surrounded by the realm of art. Mona, a teenage girl, is suddenly hit by an episode of blindness. Her grandfather, who lost an eye during the incidents surrounding the Chatila massacre in Lebanon, brings her for one year, every week, to visit works of art in different Parisian museums: Louvre, Orsay, Beaubourg. This, instead of taking her to the psychologist, as he promised to the girl´s mother. 

During those 52 weeks, they are watching and analysing together each work of art, which covers a generous timeline from the history of art, from Mona Lisa to Christian Boltanski. The works of art, reproduced on the folding cover of the book, are an opportunity to discover and understand the world, and ultimately herself. 

The author is a historian of art himself, but the ways in which he uses art in the story is far from lecturing, but as a pretexte of the story. Art, brought out of the books and galleries serves as a guidance and way of finding oneself, better understanding the world. Therefore, the encyclopedic take is just a tool to build bridges between different stages of life.

The book however develops into its own story, which is as interesting as the works of art doctly introduced. Mona´s episode of blindness, around which the story is built leads actually to another layer of story. Although we are left in suspense until the end of the story, assuming that at the end of the 52 weeks, something tragic is about the happen, the twist of the story is nonetheless deep and brings to the forefront deep philosophical questions regarding free choice and death. It is also a warning about how powerless we are when talking with children about death.

Les Yeux de Mona, shortlisted for Grand Prixc RTL-Lire, reinvents art as novel narrative tool and brings it as character in a timeless story of love and childhood loss.

Rating: 5 stars

The Write Reads Blog Tour: While We´re Young by K.L.Walther

No matter the age, a young adult novel will always have my heart and my reading time. Besides the reasons that do have to do with ´young at heart´ kind of mindset, it is also a way to realize what is really important for young people from different cultures and countries. 

The 17 something characters of While We´re Young by K.L.Walther are young, but not necessarily careless. They do experience that uncertainty of that age, the pain of being caught between two worlds, none of them kind, feeling being taking away by the wave of changes that are out of control. And what other sign of growing up can be more painful than heartbreak, the separation from friends and the quieries of a heart that will only grow up out of pain? 

Grace, Isa and Everett decide to spend a day off in the hip and delicious city of Philadelphia. I´ve heard so many good things about this city and this book confirms once again that all those things may be so true, hence my sudden desire to finally travel there. They eat all that the city offers the best, have fun and even crash a wedding. The moment is what it really matters and they do the best use of their time.

Although inspired by Ferris Bueller´s Days Off, While We´re Young has its own youngish charm. Personally, I love the title a lot, because it outlines the fast life of the young, when quantity of events and living without looking back is what it really matters. 

I´ve found that the characters may need a bit more development, but it compensates with the dynamics set by the dialogues - a serious strength of the book - as well as the plot development.

While We´re Young is an enjoyable book, with a story and characters to remember.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

The Vegan by Andrew Lipstein

When I´ve read The Last Resort by Andrew Lipstein I felt a certain attraction for the writing, therefore I jumped without too much hesitation and got The Vegan, his latest. I do enjoy once in a while reading about start-up weird stories, and this one promised an extra reading entertainment.

The character of the book Herschel Caine - on the way of Cohen - is part of the startup realm as hedgefund built around algorithmic trading, and suddenly had a sudden realization that he can communicate emotionally with random animals. First a dog, afterwards a red panda. He purchased for himself two anoles and turned into a vegan. 

It uses the fancy language of hedgefunders and investors, and although the story do have some potential, it didn´t convince me at all. The sentences are long and unrequestedly vague, the fragments of the story do not come together well at all and the topic as such is interesting in name only. It is also predictable and stereotypical therefore, another ´no go´ for me.

I waited until the end, although every other page just wanted to give up and I still haven´t been convinced. Maybe the next time will try to read some few extracts and more reviews before starting to read a book. My experience of the last books was not very satisfying but wait until will finally share some good bookish recommendations. Last week was simply not my week.

Rating: 2 stars

Hohle Räume by Nora Schramm

 

Today I continue my never-ending journey through the world of contemporary German literature. 

Hohle Räume - in my translation, Hollow Spaces - by Nora Schramm is just another book about family and daughter´s emancipation. Helene visits her parents but what looks like a normal Christmas family visit turns to be a moderately painful acknowledging of moderately estranged family life.

If in the case of many contemporary books written by authors with a migration background it is recurrent to mention a criminal past and the complete teenage alienation, before refugiating in some artisty habits or even professional endeavours - my latest example is Als wir Schwäne waren by Behzad Karim Khan that writes well but insists in following a stereotype that as every stereotype eliminates a big chunk of reality; not all immigrant children are ending up in prison or as drug dealers and even in Neukölln who is by the way very gentrified people may do Abitur and go to law school - for the books written by German authors, expect to find a divorce-driven family and children refusing to have any contact with their parents. Love is alienating, parents are alienating, the separation is easy but during the year during which people are supposed to keep being married before separating they are haunted by unhappy holidays and sexless years. That´s why I love German crime stories much much more.

In Hohle Räume Helen is also faced with the divorce of her parents. Her father has an affair, her mother fell down the stairs and needs to hospital. The Pflegeschwester - in Germany one can partially adopt someone else´s children if the social services notice that their natural families are unfit to educate them - disappeared. She has her own life - in Berlin, where else ? where her mother wants to relocate too after divorce - in her countryside place of birth everything stays the same.

During the reading we are just brought from one hollow space to another, wandering through the memories and family stories. 

While the story development is minimal, the turns of the sentence and their structure is interesting, probably the only elements of the book that may really shake my interest once in a while.

I´ve read many appreciative reviews of the book and the book is not bad if you follow the narrative mindsets, but I will keep looking for more fiction that may really light my literary fire. Still waiting for.

Rating: 2.5 stars

Random Things Tours: The Antique Hunter´s Death on the Red Sea by C.L.Miller

A legendary antiquities thief. A glamorous antiques cruise to Jordan. Lots, literally lots of lots of stolen antiquities. And one and only antique-hunting business, co-owned by another legendary women duo. With humour, detective curiosity in the classical British style and a very solid documentary ground, The Antique Hunter´s Death on the Red Sea by C.L.Miller captivates the readers with a topic that never gets out of fashion.

The theft of antiquities and of art in general shares an important slice from the overall volume of illicit trade, and given its perpetrators and clients, offers a very exclusive mix of bizarre encounters. All those characters would be more or less present at the glamorous cruise, where curious Freya and Carole were expecting to find a way and some reliable solutions for promoting their agency. How would you feel being on a ship full of stolen art? Also, does it sound a bit like Agatha Christie´s or I am wrong?

The cast of suspects - as in addition to the stolen art, we deal also with a crime or two - is very diverse and colourful even, and the plot is complex, with a good distribution of suspense every once in a while. The story is atmospheric, with characters that reveal in their complex human interaction that goes beyond their limited role in the crime mystery. 

The Antique Hunter´s Death on the Red Sea is everything you need for a company after long working hours. Cosy, intelligent, documented and well written, your invitation to a classical timeless British crime novel.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own 

Compulsive Readers Book Tour: I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl

 

When Ashley, the mother of a 4-year old, and the partner of a successful local journalist is found murdered, no one expected such a tragedy. Roman Grady, her partner though, remains first and foremost a journalist, and is trying to solve the riddle of her unexpected death. Soon, the questions will overwhelm him, and shortly will trouble the entire society of the apparently friendly Hudson Valley Town.

I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl  explores the idea of vulnerable small places and well-hidden secrets. The author is offering a multi-faceted perspective that encompasses feelings and frustrations, abuse and poverty. 

The story is following a moderately-paced pace, allowing in slow motion to have a glimpse into the interior life and dynamic of the place, but also the complex relationship between Roman, Ashley and her troubles girlfriend. However, when it comes to finding Ashley´s murderer, Dahl is maintaining the suspense until the very end, which makes the reader even more entinced.

I loved Dahl´s prose and the strong temptation towards introspection. She decides to change the flow of the story and continue with the next stop only the aspect(s) envisoned was clarified. Each step looks very well prepared and elaborated.

I Dreamed of Falling is a recommended book if you are looking for a bit of suspense with a deeply psychogical depth.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Rachel´s Random Resources: New Arrivals on West India Dock Road by Renita D´Silva

´Her colour is all anyone sees and it is an impediment. A scourge´.

With no future in India, recently orphaned, Divya accepts to accompany the family for whom she worked as a nanny to England. But as she is abandoned and left behind with no sources of revenue, she is forced to struggle for her survival. She will make new friends, will start working and use her fantastic cooking skills at work by opening a sought-after curry house. But the WWII is about to ignite, and she may be faced with a difficult choice: should she stay or should she give a chance to her burgeoning love with the sailor Raghu?

New Arrivals on West India Dock Road by Renita D´Silva is a story of resilience and survival in a hostile world. Divya is just about to enter my collection of brave women characters, decided to fight for her life at any honorable price. But Divya is not only fighting for her survival, she  is also making a difference in the her community, through her delicious cooking and her well-spirited attitude. After the stories about the enchanted menu she prepared every day, I just wanted to have a warm curry with a spicy dessert and a cup of tea. Her friendship with Charity, an Irish young woman with a demanding family life outlines the role of women solidarity, that heart melting moment of kindness giving us the illusion that everything is possible.

I am no stranger to Renita D´Silva writing, and I am always captivated by her wordings, embracing the reader with the smells and colours of another world. From the very beginning, we are about to enter an ambiance that we are strongly convened through the strength of words. 

The ambiance of the East End at the brink of the WWII resonated with similar stories and personal accounts I´ve been shared. The language plays an important role in building an authentic ambiance. 

The ending is an open question about Divya´s future, and I really liked the idea, because after all, she found her home and from now on, she can trust the universe for what will happen to her. As an immigrant for most part of my adult life, I felt the character´s challenges and hardships, due to her different appearance. However, I felt comfort and encouragement in her achievements, despite the everyday racism. From the naive girl who just arrived in London to the adult gazing the skies, there is a dramatic transformation that took place in between, and not because she had an easy life.

New Arrivals on West India Dock Road is the first in the series of a new historical novel by D´Silva. Personally, I cannot wait to keep reading the continuation, and in general everything by this author. Her writing is beautiful and inspiring.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Rachel´s Random Resources: Careful What You Hear by Helen Dunlap Newton

As I am swiftly switching from preschool/preteens to-read lists for my son, looking forward to discover the adventures who await in midgrade, I am enjoying lately the first reads of some fantastic books that are a pleasure to discover  at any age.

Careful What You Hear by middle grade writer and speaker Helen Dunlap Newton kept me busy for two hours few mornings ago. Not the usual kind of being busy an adult may experience while reading, focusing on fundamental questions and everyday-life related questioning. Instead, I got into the skin of an adventurous child, whose calls for action cannot wait.

A sequel of Do You Hear What I Hear? - that I haven´t read yet, but whose facts and actions are smoothly integrated into the current story without bothering the first time reader - follows the adventures of Noah Baker and Lena Robinson, as they are about to get a special training in cyber knowledge - and not only - part of a special governmental program. 

Due to a surgical mix-up, Noah got an accidental cochlear implant, allowing him to read other people´s thoughts. As he is slowly going through a boring school program, he may use this super power but there is nothing worth to think about though. But once he is hearing about  a plot to steal some top secret documents, he hurries up to stop it. 

The book follows the expected teenage dynamics, entertained by short dialogues and fast-forward action. Packed with unexpected twists, it keeps the attention awake while adding new details on the story as it unfolds in the front of our eyes. This book has everything your bored teen may dream about while forced to spend some time home. For teens learning English, this book provides as well important vocabulary that may help during eventual interactions with other teens.

A special mention for the cover, for its visually appealing choice of vibrant colours drawing the portraits of the main book characters.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Orenda Books Cover Reveal: Kill Them With Kindness by Will Carver

 

Dear bookish supporters of Will Carver, I have a great news to share with you! His next book, Kill Them With Kindness will hit the shelves as soon as 19th of June 2025. Here ist the link to pre-order it: https://geni.us/9dsY Just in time for your summer vacation, you are guaranteed a great read for the sunny days. 

While the book may still need some steps before being sent to the printing press of my favorite edition house around the web, Orenda Books, whose top titles I often introduced to my readers, including Carver´s, the cover at least it is ready and I am delighted to share it with you.

As usual in Carver´s books, expect a great mixture of irony and science-fiction, all set on the canvas of stories that you cannot live without, inspired by the everyday life´s occurrences.  

In Kill Them With Kindness a horrible virus that infected and killed half of the population in China is heading to the UK where the infinitely creative government in London decided to distribute ´Dignity Pills´ to their citizens, allowing to spend one more night with the loved ones before going to sleep. Yeah, the situation is as bad as it looks.

But there is still a chance to reverse everything, including the virus, as a Japanese scientist may create a mutation whose side-effect would be to make people nice. Also, compassionate and empathic, while operating at the level of brain. But, not surprisingly, the Government doesn´t want people to turn this way thus the scientist´s efforts to support his solution although heading in a slightly different direction. Kindness can kill as well.

The cover looks unexpectedly funny, with a serious strain of psycho. The contrasts between the yellow and black do create an idea of the eternal conflict between good and evil, with an ethereal chance of  Expect laughs and brutally hilarious takes on life.

With such a cover and blurb, I cannot wait to get my eyes on Carver´s book. Hopefully I will be able to share my impressions soon.

Many thanks to the awesome team of Orenda Books, especially to Danielle, for the opportunity! The opinions are, as usual, my own

Otto by Dana von Suffrin

A story about an aging father, Jewish of Romanian origin living in München, Otto by Dana von Suffrin is a novel about parents and children, about life as it is and the gentle touch of history. Compared to the other book by Von Suffrin I´ve read, this is her debut.

The narrative is relatively simple, as it is telling a story built around Otto´s personality, as related by Timna, one of Otto´s daughters. We are shared about his family, fragments of his life in Kronstadt/Brașov in Romania and his life in Israel. It feels we are invited in the family house, told about Otto so he can remain in the memory. 

In the Jewish tradition, we keep the memory of someone departed by keeping his or her memory alive. Otto is such a story. Maybe there is nothing special about his life, except that he was once alive and this may be more than enough. The fact that Dana von Suffrin features a Jewish story that may not enter the usual catchy representations of Jews in literary contexts - Otto is not looking for religion or want to leave it, he is just living his identity as he was born with, in a nonproblematic anti-dramatic way.

Although I was not necessarily caught up too much into her story this time - her other novel I´ve appreciated way more - Otto has nevertheless its own specific narrative charm. It took me a bit longer than usual to finish the book, but every time I immersed into the pages, I could feel the ambiance and representation of the characters. 

The Art Nouveau-inspired cover deserves an extra mention as well.

Dana von Suffrin is definitely a voice in the German speaking literature I would follow in the next years.

Rating: 3 stars

Panique en Armorique by Dominique Sylvain

An unlikely duo, a trip to remember and some crimes to solve in between. Lola, a retired cop and Ingrid, a burlesque artist travel from Paris to check the stage of Ingrid´s house renovations in Bretagne. Instead of enjoying a great time away from their busy homes, they got involved - partly willingly - in solving crimes with an ecological motivation. Greed, crimes with an ecological message, Covid realities and intricated local envies. But also more than one funny intermezzo that may even bring some love sparkles into the story.

The story from Panique an Armorique - yes, you read it right, not Amérique Ingrid´s country of origin, but the French territory between Manche and Golf de Gascogne - by bestseller French crime writer Dominique Sylvain is a story with a predominant ecological touch, and a strongly layer of Breton identity.

The storyline is very busy, with many characters of all types and events that may lead to unexpected culprits, and even a bit of thrill as one of the culprits is violently trying to escape. 

I´ve read the book in the original language and there are many Bretagne-related turns of phrase as well as slang which makes the book an useful guide to anyone interested in expanding the French vocabulary, in addition to discovering a different story from Bretagne. 

I loved to discover different crime settings in France, and also the topic itself made me curious, although this journey through the ecosystem may be sometimes messy and there were too many small stories and facts for a relatively short novel. However, it was fun and I´ve learned a lot about Bretagne.

Rating: 3 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: Murder in the Tuscan Hills by T.A.Williams

A murder is the last encounter one may expect to have in the paradise-like setting of the Tuscan hills, but when it happened, retired DCI Armstrong and his smart canine companion Oscar had to cut short their uneventful relaxation time dreaming about the freshly harvested grapes. The body found near a prestigious winery could have been a hit-and-run accident, but it may be a little bit more than that. A mission for the curious duo that may shake a bit the happy-go-lucky mood of the place.

Murder in the Tuscan Hilly by bestseller author and Italy-passionate T.A.Williams is a smartly-paced cosy mystery, with an interesting duo, that are working perfectly in sync to solve the case. The additional personal note to the story, with Armstrong facing someone from his past while trying to solve the mystery, contributes to an important layer into the story development. Expect some delicious tasty references, but also some eventful Mafia and gangster-like mentions. 

It is a riddle kind of story, with clues spread through the story, although it is relatively hard to bet on a solution or another for solving the crime. Which makes the book even more challenging for the crime-solving mind. As tasty as a glass of Chianti.

Although we are dealing with a serious crime that should be solved as soon as possible I loved how the author developed as well the ambiance and other secondary characters, such as the members of the local community. 

It was my first book in the series, and it was easy to understand the book and the characters without any further connection. However, I would be more than happy to continue my journey  with Amstrong and Oscar, preferable around the Tuscany as well. 

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Random Things Tours: The Cleaner by Mary Watson

She is supposed to be invisible, left alone with her chores and politely ignored with her modest appearance and her foreign accent. But Esmie is not just a humble cleaner, entrusted the keys of the houses and ready to fill up her duties. She is a woman with superpowers. Actually, one of the strongest superpower: revenge.

The Cleaner by South-African author Mary Watson takes us to a very elaborated story of revenge and class priviledge, a journey across the social division lines of the Irish bourgeoisie. Revenge and social disparities may be a good match for a novel, but in the context of a psychological thriller it acquire a completely new meaning and I love how the author explores this unique angle. 

The main character, Esmie has a very intriguing profile and through the story development, we are able to seize her qualities and shortcomings in various ways. The story construction is very minutious, particularly in building the tension, that may lead us to expect an even more spectacular ending. I didn´t feel so, but nevertheless, the tensed twists and change of perspective in the book were equally valuable.

The Cleaner is very atmospheric as well, with so many specific details that do allow the projection of a specific environment and social standards, so important for the overall understanding of the book.

This is my second book this year with a cleaner character playing a key role in the story and I find interesting such a recent interest in this particular professional category. In Mary Watson´s book I liked how Esmie is a mirror of the inner conflicts and tragedies of the families whose homes she is expected to clean. Some dirt though, will never be cleaned.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, as well

Le rêve du jaguar/The Jaguar´s Dream by Miguel Bonnefoy

The beauty of storytelling overpasses any other literary beauty. One beautiful sentence is not enough. One beautiful paragraph is not enough. But a story that takes me to the wings of dreams, that´s what I am looking for. 

Le rêve du jaguar/The Jaguar´s Dream by Miguel Bonnefoy was my favorite book I´ve read in January. It was that kind of moment when I just focus on anything else, not necessarily because I was expecting some spectacular revelations, but because I just wanted to be in the story, to be shared its mystery.

Set in the Venezuelan port of Maracaibo, it has from the very beginning the tone of a magical story, in the vein of Garcia Marquez. Antonio, an orphan found on the stairs of a church by a mute woman, growing up on the streets and initiated to life in a brothel, will become Venezuela´s most important doctors. Alongside with Ana Maria Rodriquez, his doctor wife, they will navigate the changing waters of Venezuela´s politics and recent history. The personal events enfold in the global panorama with the elegance of butterfly wings.

I´ve read the book in the original French language and was an extraordinary choice allowing me to sip the poetry of the words and the poetic background of the story.

Bonnefoy, born in Paris in a Venezuelan-Chilian family, confessed in some interviews being inspired by family stories, Antonio sharing common features with his own grandfather. 

As I started the year with many beautiful books in French lined up, I cannot wait to share more stories that break the everyday lives into sparkles of magic. I feel more than grateful for the chance of being able to read and review such novels.

Rating: 5 stars

Die Sanftmütigen by Angel Igov translated into German by Andreas Tretner

 

Last year, I´ve promised myself to discover more Bulgarian authors, but in over a year I only had the chance to read Theodora Dimova, in a French translation. It is not easy to find quality translations from Bulgarian, also due to the relative limited number of translators. However Germany does have a slightly different situation, with a culturally active Bulgarian Institute in Berlin and a highly sought after translator of Bulgarian literature into German in the person of Andreas Tretner. 

Thus, my great chance to get to know a young author, university teacher and publicits, Angel Igov, with an interesting creative portfolio, approaching a topic that is rarely talked about in some Eastern European countries: relationships with Nazi Germany and the Jewish citizens and the People´s Trials in the first years of the communism. 

The Meek - translated into German as Die Sanftmütigen from the original Krotkite in Bulgarian- is a relatively short novel, with a clear focus on the sudden change of political circumstances and human behaviors. 

It is a time of metamorphosis when simple people were given power and chose to use it radically. Those people, the meek ones, exist in every dictatorship. The circumstances bring them to the upper echelons and they will never disappoint. They will do their best to convince everyone and themselves that they were really worth the trust. Sounds a lot like the new converts to belief who hurry up to judge and accuse the older brethen into faith for a less orthodox pathway. 

The predominant voices from The Meek are those of the instruments of power, the new voices of the people. The victims of the purges are mentioned but as in real life, they have no way to pledge their cause, being taken over by the wave of the revolution. However, there is no empathy expressed towards the victims either. 

The predominant legal language, with a high degree of official vocabulary - for the non-native German readers, the holders of C1-level knowledge will feel relatively comfortable - is circumvening the territory of the revolution, the new classes divisions and the balance of power represented by the Communist People´s Court. 

I´ve found the angle and the topic very interesting, and only opened my appetite for more Bulgarian literature. Luckily, I got another two titles that will review soon.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Soulmate by Rona Halsall

It was supposed to be a love story. One unlucky girl, ´a magnet for unfortunate events´ accidentally met her soulmate. He, a romantic looking for love, playing love songs met his soulmate. Love at first sight, do you believe in?

However, the reality proved differently. Mark, the kind and selfless piano player proved to hide a dark merciful soul. While Holly, always on the run, had the profile of the perfect victim for abusive men looking to control her at any price.

The Soulmate by best selling author Rona Halsall takes the reader to the most unexpected thrilling journey from Scotland to the beautiful Wales. Approaching very sensitive topics such as violence against women, parental abuse and mental health, it is playing so many tricky games with us, the readers, that at the end of the book you are left completely confused. 

The story unfolds as a game of masks that are switching from one stage of the story to another. The naive musicians that selflessly followed Holly trying to save her from an violent and controlling boyfriend was in fact a cute psychopats whose only real true friend was a parrot. Holly may be a victim, but her ambiguity may be confusing and her flaws irritating. Mark´s mother was indeed abusive, but does it excuse his game of playing God with her?

The Soulmate not only tells a story with spectacular twists and unexpected changes of situations, but also compells us to answer fundamental questions about life and the train of things - or rather their distorsion. Big questions rarely receive THE answer, but stories may challenge our minds to keep thinking about fundamental life&death choices.

A book to remember and an author would be happy to come back soon.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own