We Can´t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon

´I´m no longer the girl who always says ´yes´ ´.

I am always interested in discovering books with a multicultural topic, therefore We Can´t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon, an author whose name often appeared on my bookish feed, sounded like a good recommendation.

To my shame, I´ve started the book five years ago, abandoned it - although was considering resuming the reading every few months, and was only able to finish it last week. I am a very compulsive reader and even though I am trying to keep my overactivity under control - including in its bookish manifestation, I often embrace my limitations.

Quinn, who is Jewish - her name isn´t though - is trying to part ways with her family´s wedding company, while finding out herself in playing harp and being tormented of the idea of comitting to a relationship with Tarek, the son of an Egyptian family owning a catering company. There are few, but not enough identity markers of the two main characters so for me it looked a bit make up. It sounds good to have inter-racial love, but it is not enough as long as the characters do not really belong. 

However, other details regarding the characters are more fulfilling rendering them and their stories more relatable. Quinn´s transformation and the acknowledgement of her interests and need to follow her own dreams, happening at the same time with her fully acceptance of her feelings for Tarek, are important story pivots. 

Better placed and developed than the inter-racial story, the struggle of the characters with mental health issues like OCD, chronical illnesses and family trauma do relate to topics of interests for the younger generation.

I think this book brings a lot of contemporary topics and I am very much glad of being able to finally finish it. In the meantime, would be more than happy to give more than one chance to this author in the coming months.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Random Things Tours: 138 Main Street by Gavin Bell

I love a good crime story, but I love even more a fantastic premise for creating a story. Each story has a start but some do have a greater spring priviledge.

138 Main Street by Glasgow-based Gavin Bell created such an unique reading encounter. An unknown killer is picking up his victims from the same address: 138 Main Street. And, not surprisingly, there are 7,000 such addreses in the US. As the corpses pile, the killer is issuing a manifesto of social justice to the media, warning of a continuation of the killing spree. 

Personally, I couldn´t stop reading this book, because it sounded both authentic and scary. I went thinking that although it is important catch the killer, but nevertheless sounded more intellectually challenging to guess if there will be any reasons why - except being killed - the crimes may stop.

The professional team assigned to find the killer - Ben Walker and Zoe Hill, especially Zoe Hill who is playing a terrific role in catching the killer - deserves a special place in the evolution of the plot - with an interesting dynamic, personalities and character threats. 

Both the original premise and the well-structured story itself - with mounting tension as the terror threat continues - were outstanding, and the ending was equally interesting. 

A recommended read if you are looking for a strong unexpected thriller.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

A famous mysterious library in New York hosts a legendary book many do have reasons to see, and maybe to have it too. A group of curious among which, an architect, a journalist, a bookseller, a famous author and a professor, taking part to a special after dark tour of the aptly named Daedalus Library. And a potential killer on the run who must be found as soon as possible. 

The Library after Dark by Ande Pliego  is an alert thriller, with a sense of emergency. I love books sets in libraries, but don´t remember to have read a looked room thriller set in one. For all the right reasons, it was a stellar choice and I was clearly caught into the story web from the very beginning.

The details of the plot are very important for the further development and so is the chain of different points of views reflecting the story. The multiple voices sharing their own version of things echoes the facts, without offering us however enough information for sharing a conclusion of our own. I love books with a generous cast of characters, especially thrillers, because it challenges me more to trace the mystery solution.

Ande Pliego weaved a captivating story, where personal and historical stories are brought together in a puzzle dominated by powerful emotions and hidden family histories. 

A recommended read if you are looking for a very eventful thriller story, happening in an unexpected Gothic setting.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Tous mais pas Beyrouth by Mathieu Diez illustrated by Jibé

´Le pays de la guerre des autres´.

French embassy in Lebanon and one of the most important abroad, which shows still French´s interest in the region, although politically speaking French politics internationally aren´t at their best. French soft power however still plays an important role, not only from the linguistic point of view.

Mathieu Diez, founder of Lyon BD Festival, spent four (very) eventful years in Beyrouth working at the embassy´s cultural section, where he was involved in organising important cultural events like book fairs and literary prizes awards, swimming through the trouble waters of a country forced to restrain its cultural potential while serving as arena of other people´s wars.

Tous mais pas Beyrouth/Anything but Beirut, illustrated by Jibé, is his graphic memoir covering time spent in the diplomatic service, between 2021 and 2024, very intense years for the country and the region in general. With an acribie and empathy not always expected from this genre, he is not only serving as a chronicler of his times, but also is doing his best in understanding the history, current challenges and culture of Lebanon. 

This book is another example of the potential of graphic novels, allowing their authors to play the role similar with the journalist: taking notes of their times, and putting it into words and images. It is a humorous, yet subjective take, that may help you get to know a topic through its main actors, their interactions and last but not least their feelings.

A recommended read for anyone curious about personal experiences from a conflict zone.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Les Enfants de la Nuit by Eva Ionesco

 

The perception of childhood changed through ages, with our Western times, in my opinion, enjoying the most generous definition of it, extending the age of childhood - and implicitly, of consent - until late teens. The legal protection - from abuse, forced labour or marriage - in the Western world goes far from the previous approaches. Sexualisation of young girls, that we no need to go too far than the glorious rebelious 1970s. Personally, I experienced it much later, in the 1990s, but those are stories for another time.

I´ve first heard about Eva Ionesco as she was mentioned in Vanessa Springora´s book, with her very sharp insights into the French literary afterwriting debacle, as a case of young girl in the attention of social services. Ionesco´s story however, is even much cruel and her struggle with sexual abuse continues until today. 

Eva´s mother - Irène/Irina - who died at the beginning of 2020s, was a Romanian-born photographer famous for her sexualized portraits of young girls, for whom her daughter was forced to pose from the very early age of four. Before being a photographer, Irène born from an incestuous relationship, used to play in a circus, until being partially incapacitated for this type of work from an accident. 

In the autobiographical novel by Ionesco, read in the original French language - part of a series of three - Les Enfants de la Nuit/Children of the Night - her mother is portrayed in very cruel, sadistic even terms: manipulative, narcissistic, self-absorbed. Her daughter, in her very early teens, became aware of being used for purely financial purposes, as a free-model for her mother sexual photographic fantasies. Although she despised Irène, she is not cutting her out completely, even accepting a little dance of lies with the representatives of the social services. Her silent scream of abuse is her self-destructive night life, wasting herself out with drugs and illicit sex during the nights spent with her hard-partying band of dysfunctional teens, among which Christian Loboutin.

Without excusing her mother´s fundamental role in her traumatic story - until today Ionesco is fighting in court for her right to taking out of circulation her sexualised pictures - the amplitude of her case was facilitated by the so-called esprit du temps. In other words, it was a public open to the consumption of the media her mother produced; or the society accepted the picture of an 11-year old in Playboy; or a bunch of teenagers were accepted to roam the best of the Paris´ dubious clubs. It is the same world where Brooke Shields played the role of a 11-year old prostitute. 

The topic of the book is not easy to digest, but it mirrors an age, an episode from the last century French world, introduced in its cruelest possible way. It is not an easy read, at times the writing is raw and traumatic - if it´s for the reader, spending some hours only with this book, think about how does it feel for Eva -, but necessary. As parents or just humans, it is vital to understand how to protect our children - from themselves and the others.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered for the publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Collector by Rae Devine

Lucien, a billionaire art dealer is tasked -- by the Devil - with the recovery of a forbidden artifact stolen centuries ago by a rebelious Gatekeeper. Curious, he wants to know more and may found the task challenging, but the dangerous pathway to Hell may threaten the hierarchies and provoke loyalties.

The Collector by Rae Devine is dark, may belong to the paranormal genre while adding some spicy romance to the already packed plot. Paranormal isn´t my genre, but I´ve found the combination literarily attractive and Devine´s writing kept me engaged from the very beginning. There is a lot of ´sin and shadow´ into this story, but the ambiance is skillfully built. An important element in the plot are the detailed descriptions creating perceptive environments so important for the paranormal genre. 

The book is relatively short and it can be easily read in one sitting. This was my reading choice, and it was very helpful to keep a fast track of the characters and the very action-packed story. 

The Collector is the second installment of the paranormal romance series The Seven Gates. 

A special word of appreciation of the cover, with both lettering and the images are in a tensed sync. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Work Love Balance by Sophie Loxton

Romance is being rewritten, over and over again. Each generation, its love stories. As much as I love romance - without being too much of a Romantic myself - I´m usually drawn to contemporary stories I can actually relate to.

From this point of view, Work Love Balance by Sophie Loxton was a great read to start the week with. The author is a romance writer with a sharp, witty voice, and her story was such a fun and relatable read, especially if you love influencers characters and stories from the world of art. The main female character, Lizzy, seems to have everything under control...until a few work-related encounters bring her closer to a charming young man who threatens the delicate balance she´s built between her career and her love life. Her boss however, doesn´t mind too much keeping those limits and this may challenge Lizzy in unexpected ways. 

From the very beginning, Lizzy became my favorite character. As the main storyteller, she is sharing her own - very vivid and humorous - interpretations of things. Through her experiences, she learns what she expects from herself, from others and from her work. The story keeps the reader entertained, with unexpected situations twists that not only make you want to keep reading, but also reveal new and engaging details about the characters. The book itself starts with a surprise - an unexpected wedding between Esme and Ajax and the meeting of Olly - and keeps entertaininng the reader until the very end. The fact that it also includes travel - clearly of the work-related kind - and influencer-related episodes, was definitely a big plus for me as well.

I loved that the characters who give the tone of the book - Lizzy and Esme - are women, successful in their own professional areas. The mention of Esme´s dyslexia is noteworthy, as one may rarely associate successful people with such issues, which is far from being the truth. 

Work Love Balance is a great book to start - or end - your workweek, with or without the counter-balance of love.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

 

Random Things Tours: Call of the Isles. A Scottish Anthology

 

Scottland has not only a high literary potential, as source of inspiration and literary background but it does as well write literary history, through the diversity of the voices identifying themselves as ´Scottish´. 

A  collection published recently by Glasgow-based edition house Tantallon Tir, carefully curated by John Gerard Fagan features one - if not the - best literary voices made in Scotland. In a bit over 100 pages, this collection is an impressive overview of the topics and ideas inspired by life on an island. Even when they are not explicitly referring to it, talking about experiences in other realms, the personal experience of having lived here continue to shape their literary influences and writing in general.

Initially I was very curious about this collection, as I am sharing a Scottish interest for some time already and I felt rewarded in terms of the quality of the writing and topics. The ideas shared and impressions collected will definitely nurture any incoming trip to the island. 

A recommended read to anyone interested in literary travel or just looking for some well-curated lists of quality authors. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

London Falling. A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family´s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe

Zack, grand nephew of Shoah survivorrs seemed to be just another 19-year old troubled teenager, but as he disappears and found dead in the Thames, his middle class parents may discover in horror that their belovoed son was leading his very own secret life. 

At first, Zack seemed to be a slightly more dangerous masculine version of Anna Delvey: he built up an identity as the son of a fictive Russian billionaire with connections as high as Roman Abramovic, mixing up with the London underworld. 

In any of the details meticulously shared in the well-documented and well-written true crime story of his case by Patrick Radden Keefe - London Falling. A Mysterious Death in the Guilded City and a Family´s Search for Truth, there is no mention that Zack didn´t love his family, or was alienated in any possible way from them. Swallowed up by social media, trying to show off and build a satisfactory identity. An identity that everyone seemed to take it seriously, until something may have been revealed and put himself into danger in relationship with his entourage. There is a new world, with new expectations and trusting your child is not enough; one needs also to understand what the actual dangers and illusions luring ahead may be. 

Patrick Radden Keefe is going so much into the deep details of the case, from social to family history, in a curious yet empathic way. As a mother of son, was often thinking of the deep drama his parents are going through. Lovely parents with a sense of justice who just wanted to understand what actually happened to their son, and maybe also why did he followed this path, or at what extent they were sharing a responsibilty. 

This book - that I had access to in the audiobook version - is a complex investigation where parenting meets true crime, in a contemporary episode in a city with a century-old personal history of crime. A recommended read for understanding the world our children are living in. 

Highly recommended.

Rating: 5 stars

 

Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

A mother-daughter trip to Japan turns into a memory journey through unsettled memories. With allusions and suggestions of impressionist nature, Cold Enough for Snow by Australian-based author Jessica Au  was a minimalistic, although too short - 90-page length - read.

There is no plot or proper story, but memories within memories prompted by the encounter. There is not too much proper communication between the two, not the expected empathy that you may show as a mother towards your child you haven´t seen in a while or as a child towards the mother you haven´t see in a while. The encounter itself creates the context for unclear memories and unsettled endings.

It enfolds as an episode, as the fragment of a dream, as a memory of the memory. Sometimes, as the angle of the story is changing, there are details added, that are soon after abandoned due to the next shift of memory. 

The writing is seamless and powerful, and from the beginning to the end it was a full immersion, with many hours of afterthought afterwards.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rachel´s Random Resources: Murder in Rome by T.A.Williams

 

Long time no news from DCI Armstrong and his sweet Oscar canine assistant! I am happy to share some good news, as the newest book from the series Murder in Rome is ready and it was really worth waiting for it.

After 30 years in the Murder Squad, Dan Armstrong is nowadays based in Florence, but this time, shortly after his wedding with history professor Anna his investigative steps are taking him to the historical city of Rome, where he is requested to help finding the murderer of a rich UK financier, the uncle of a famous TV personality Tamsin Goodfaith, settled in a Roman castle. And who can say upfront ´no´ to a famous and beautiful TV star? Soon after though, there is a second murder taking place, and Dan has to find who is behind it, until it is not too late. It seems that getting to know Rome took him - and the curious Labrador Oscar who is accompanying him - into a completely new unexpected direction.

Cosy, smart and very well connected to the daily realities and Italian history, Murder in Rome is well planned and written with humour that may not affect the seriousness of crime investigations. As usual, the environment is well depicted, and the ambiance is very specific, as you almost feel yourself transported into old castles and Rome´s historical sightseeings. Add to this some lavish food descriptions, worth the fame of a Roman banquet.

The story unfolds within less than a week, in diary-like entries, with well-observed characters. It is relatively impossible to fathom what will really happen until the end, and I liked how T.A.Williams spread various hints at specific moments, most of them being nothing more than hints.  

A recommended read if you love Italy and want to discover it, especially Rome, with different eyes and in a more unique, history-seasoned and crime-related way.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Hotel by the Sea by Julie Caplin

I love Portugal for its sense of privacy and calm, and for the warm and friendly people. A romantic novel set in this beautiful country can only promise good things, in addition to some more inspiration for the coming summer holidays.

The Hotel by the Sea by bestselling author Julie Caplin is an invitation to relax, and spend some romantic adventurous hours in the company of Rebecca and the handsome Felipe and his bubbling family. 

Disappointed in love, Rebecca decided to take a temporary job at a family hotel in Algarve. But love is following her, and instead of taking a break from the life of the heart, she is faced with some complicated choices and a very charming acquaintance. 

What I usually love about Caplin´s books is the relatable and realistic characters: they are very much alive with their mistakes and flaws, bad choices and blind love. They reflect the behavior and choices - bad or good - of people one may encounter in the everyday life, although they are always part of well planned stories that will definitely finish within a couple of hours. But as long as we are spending time with those characters, it feels like a movie where love is always in the air.

This is the 13th book from the Romantic Series by Julie Caplin, some of them previously reviewed on my blog.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Random Things Tours: The Woman in the Wall by Heidi Amsinck

 

When human remains are accidentally discovered in an apartment in Copenhague, it is almost impossible to fathom how the criminal can be caught any time soon. As the police investigator is trying to get the media involved, the smart reporter Jensen - whose full name remains a mystery - comes to mind. She may be professionally smart, but her choice of life partner, with whom she is having a child, wasn´t so, as the father of her child is a murderer. Jensen herself has a complicated family story of herself, with a legendary author claiming now being her father. In the end, all those dots and a bit more, may be connected in many unexpected way, leading to a terrific key to the murder.

The Woman in the Wall by Heidi Amsinck is an unforgettable thriller. Amsinck is a London-based Danish journalist and crime writer, whose Jensen thriller series are based in Copenhague. 

What makes the reading of this book fascinating is the skillful art of misdirecting the reader. The twists are so brutal - in the good, crime writing kind of way - that you cannot guess what will happen next. The best approach is to simply give up any projections and just follow the directions Amsinck chose, with her own plot in mind. 

The book is the newest (the fifth) installment from the Jensen Thriller series that I´ve reviewed previously, but can be easily read as well as a standalone. Personally, I always love smart women journalists as main characters in thrillers, therefore, these series are definitely a great read.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans

 

Some people may have it all until...all plans and dreams are falling down as a fragile game of cards. In some cultures, there is the concept of ´evil eye´ that may hunt the success, hitting hard those who may enjoy life´s gifts way too much.

Before Dolly took up on the road on a campervan, she had dreams of opening a café and a charming boyfriend. Until the named boyfriend was caught kissing her best friend...Running away from the broken dreams on a campervan loaned from the boyfriend, Dolly may be trying to forget everything she went through. But, maybe the chance is knocking again to her door, as she is landing in Yorkshire and meets a gorgeous stranger. Could she trust someone again so fast?

The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans is a humorous and uplifting romantic comedy. Dolly is my favorite character but I suppose it´s almost impossible not to like her. Although heartbroken, she is able to see the light and follows her survival instinct running away from a place that hurted her. Starting a new love story, while feeling safe and appreciated, is part of her strength of trusting herself again and giving a new chance to romance.

A recommended read for unbeated romantics and strong women.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu

 ´I was just another robotic Asian kid´.

Boring Asian Female, the debut novel by Canwen Xu is the book everyone was talking around the bookosphere this month (good marketing, by the way).

Although I have mixed opinions about the character - maybe too psychotic for my taste - it reflects, in extremis, the obsessions with priviledge and immigrant ambitions. Elizabeth, the Asian-American storyteller, turned her desire to get accepted to Harvard - that rejected her at first - into a tormented story of obsession and stalking. Laura, her overachieving Asian-American alter ego, accepted to Harvard in the blink of an eye, is far from being ´just another boring Asian female´, and Elizabeth focuses all her efforts and energy to emulate her - going as far as eating habits and dressing.

It is hard not to laugh and to ironically criticize her, but there is often a drama hidden in such a behavior, but the scream of help doesn´t resonate among her other peers or even her mother, until it is too late. Her erratic efforts of turning herself ´interesting´ enough for Harvard is what happens when someone is really taking seriously the status-obsessed mindset. 

The alternance between drama and irony is very well portioned. I would have been definitely charmed more by a more dynamic take on dialogues for instance, and more connectivity between the characters. I also felt that not all characters were equally developed, especially her housemate. But from the point of view of the ideas and authenticity, as well as for the humour, it was a pleasant, thoughtful read.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

 

Random Things Tours: Nothing Left Behind by Hannah Brennan

 

DCI Liz Field is facing an impossible task: finding the reason(s) why Anne Evans´ house burned completely, trapping her inside. Anne was well known as a ´nuisance caller´ for years, warning that she may get burned alive. After so many calls, no one was taking her seriously, until it really happened with a very dramatic outcome.

Now, Field is decided to finally make her justice, and the search for the culprit may be extremely difficult, with few information available. But there is another case, of another woman, this time shot, that may connect the missing dots.

Nothing Left Behind by Hannah Brennan is intriguing and challenging for the reader. Following the investigations into the two crimes, with unsetting truths and turn of events. Liz Field is playing a very important role in solving the case and pushing forward for the truth and I appreciated how her determination is changing the course of the investigation.

From the very first lines of the book the reader gets hooked. Short succint sentences are always catching my attention and do hold the promise of a smart story, which was again proven true in the case of Nothing Left Behind.

The book is the second from the series featuring DCI Liz Field, and although it can be read as a standalone, I am clearly curious to explore more of Brennan´s crime writing soon.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: Wed or Alive by Portia MacIntosh

For the (almost) middle of the last week of April, a funny romcom by the one and only Portia Macintosh is the right antidote to the blue feeling that maybe the times runs too fast and we are heading already towards the middle of the year.

Wed or Alive is a funny romcom, where people with complex life stories and professional and personal challenges meet. But what is really happening out of those encounters no one, but fate, can tell about it. 

Take Whitney, for instance, stuck professionally and in love with a roommate who is back from an extended vacation with a fiancée on his side. Or Jake, a cowboy with a lot of issues and under the pressure of high family expectations. But both of them have a plan that, as usual, may or may not work as initially expected. 

Although the stories of fake dating I´ve read to date are very much predictable, I still keep being surprised by the ways in which the fake is turning into a real, eventful love story.

I loved both the humour and the romance, with Whitney as my most relatable character in the story. As usual in the case of Macintosh´s novels, once I started the book it was quite difficult to give it up, but it was clearly a very good time investment.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: The Bucket List. 104 Ideas to Inspire Every Runner by Jeff Horowitz

 

In an unexpected turn of events that only fate can delightfully bless you, five years ago I started running. First, moving as a drunken turtle, but little by little one run after the other, getting not only stronger, but motivated. Ending up, enjoying it - although cannot run without the music stimulation - and including it in my weekly routine. Currently, I run at least four times the week, at least five kilometers per run. I run, I listed to the music, I purchase the right equipment, but I don´t read about running. 

But my world is in the end made of words, therefore my choice of reading also a book about running: The Running Bucket List. 104 Ideas to Inspire Every Runner by coach and author Jeff Horowitz. Informative and engaging, the book can be used not only as a reliable source of information, but also for tracking down the progress and planning your next running step - for instance, for writing down the date of your next marathon.

There are many useful tips, a runner, no matter the level, with recognize. For me, it was the need of a gait analysis in order to figure out the incorrect running tendencies and avoid in the future any injuries or accidents. Someone looking for diversity in the running - like me, again - may get inspired with various options, from running in the bad weather to a combination of tracks aimed at strengthening your body and increasing your motivation.

The suggestions of runs and marathons - in England, but all over the world as well, as far as Ethiopia or Kenya - are also good, a great opportunity for connecting with other runners. 

Although as for now I am keeping a very hobby-like profile of my running activities and I don´t consider any competition or marathon running any time soon, I was glad to discover so many good ideas and information in this book. 

No matter your preparation level and your running plans, you will find answers and suggestions and a new world (literally) running in the front of you.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Deutscher Buchpreis: Hey Guten Morgen, wie Geht es Dir? by Martina Hefter

I may confess that I am relatively far behind my list of German reviews for the books included on the Deutscher Buchpreis - the German Booker - but I am doing my best to catch up as much as I can, even a few years later. Most of those books haven´t been translated into Engish so far, therefore it is never too late for edition houses and translators to consider them.

My choice of the day is a book by Leipzig-based choreographer, poet and novelist Martina Hefter. I was not acquainted with her work before reading the book, but the inspiration - love scams, quite a lot. But the topic of Hey Guten Morgen, wie geht es dir? - Hi, good morning, how are you?, in English - goes far beyond the scam - which is playing no dramatic, financially dramatic kind, of scam.

Juno Isabella Flock is a woman in her mid-50s, a freelance choreographer and dancer, married with Jupiter, a successful writer, wellchair-ridden due to MS. She is often getting in touch via Instagram with strangers keen to chat about life and love, but out of them, she chose to spend around one year intensively involved online with one Nigerian guy. Online conversations, video chat, nothing necessarily scammy, until he confesses his ´love´ to her, and she is spending a lot of time writing and talking to him about various readings. She also didn´t share the truth about herself, including that she is married.

The book, built around Juno, is growing up on multiple plans, including ageism and coping with becoming invisible - as an artist, woman etc. (that´s quite an obsession in German literature to complain about getting old and finished, which reflects the social constructions regarding women, attitudes unfathomable in French, Spanish or Italian literature). 

Most of the characters do have astrophysics-inspired names, which sometimes makes sense - Juno spacecraft is orbiting Jupiter, for instance - but often don´t.

There are correspondences between the author´s own biography - based in Leipzig, some tattoos, her husband, the successful author Jan Kuhlbrodt, is also living with MS, or the profession of choreographer. 

The book was awarded the 2024 Deutscher Bucherpreis out of an impressive longlist that I hope to review in the coming weeks as well. Was it the best decision? 

I felt a bit disappointed by the story flow: well built and written, however, mostly introspective and without paying too much attention to really finishing the topic, any of it. It is a marvelous dance, that ends abruptly with the main dancer is suddenly leaving the stage. An unexpected exit hard to place into the line of the general story.

Rating: 3 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rachel´s Random Resources: Twenty-Six Years Living a Lie by Gina Cheyne

 

Cecily celebrates passionately her third year of marriage with her beloved, but who would know that it will be the last? After the sudden death of her husband, a son is born, Charlie. Twenty-Six years after, together with his uncle, his father´s twin, he takes a DNA test with shocking results, for Cecily as well. Her last resort is SeeMs Detective agency, that is tasked with the mission to solve this painful situation.

There are some characters and turn of events that I really enjoyed. The intriguing family mystery and their deep-hidden secrets kept my attention awake. I´ve had my own doubts about some of the characters, and the key of this drama, however the ending surprised me in a very good way.  

The suspense built fast, and so is the tension, which is counter at times by humorous episodes. Humour is hard to take it seriously in a crime book, but in this case the author chose the right sequence to allow it. 

The book is part of the SeeMs Detective series - like another book I´ve reviewed on my blog one year ago - but it can also be read as a standalone. I am definitely interested in further exploring the series.

Twenty-Six Years Living a Lie is a cosy mystery that promises and delivers. A recommended weekend read or a relaxing evening week read, that guarantees a pleasant mystery experience.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Israeli Poets in Germany

There is not too much talk about the emerging Israeli literature in the diaspora: Germany, but especially France, Netherlands, Italy etc. America, yes, it´s the opposite, with many Israeli authors publishing and being appreciated as such. But Europe, for all the good and bad reasons is mostly quiet. Or maybe I need to do better research.

A collection of poetry signed by Israeli authors living in Germany, Was es bedeuten soll (title inspired by a verse from Heine´s Lorelei) - in my own translation What it´s supposed to be - is filling this gap, just opening up the interest - at least my interest - for more. 

The book - with a cover by Köln-based illustrator Noam Weiner - is a collection of works by 13 authors, among which Michal Zamir (who created a Hebrew library and a literary salon in Berlin), Zahava Khalfa, Asaf Dvori or Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus. There are different topics, some dealing with alienation and the loneliness of the life abroad, different voices and perspectives. 

The poems were originally written in Hebrew and translated into German by Gundula Schiffer, a poet herself, and published Adrian Kasnitz´ parasitenpress. 

CLASSIC READS: Mayombe by Pepetela translated into German by Maitta Tkalec

 

My new installment of my newest bookish project CLASSIC READS took me to a country rarely portrayed in the daily literary realm: Angola. As in the case of the previous CLASSIC READS, Macunaima, it was originally written in Portuguese - standard Portugal version - but I had access to it in a German translation. 

The author of Mayombe, my book of choice signed with his nom de guerre, Pepetela. Born Artur Carlos Mauricio Pestana dos Santos, he is considered one of the greatest Angolan writers, wearer of many public hats, among which guerillero on behalf of the MPLA, Angolan guerillas fighting for the Portuguese independence. Due to his political engagement, he delayed the publication of many of the works written between 1970-1971, including Mayombe.

And when he finally decided to publish it, ´brethren countries´ from the communist block, like former GDR/DDR, published it. The translation I had access to was authored by Maitta Tkalec. 

Mayombe is a forest region - some may talk even about a ´magic forest´ - in the Western part of Africa, covering among others parts of Congo region and Angola. There, a group of guerilleros took refuge and the book follows their interactions, through their dialogues to which were added background voices of some of the participants, offering context and personal insights.

I am enthralled by socio-political stories, but I despise ideology mixing with literature, and didn´t know what to expect from this book. I wanted to add a non-Western/European thread to my project and this book was recommended by more than one sources as a ´classic´ - although the author is still alive. 

But this novel confirmed in the end that a great writer with a biased political take still can write quality books if he is following his literary mission. The characters of Mayombe are not heroes, are humans with doubts, feelings and personal inimities that may took over Marxism-Leninism, not the other way round. 

I wanted to see how life under such circumstances enfolds, what disunite - rather than unite - humans under various political pressure. Women do play a disturbing role, as they distract the guerilleros from their mission, they lead to inimities but this does not exclude them from the revolutionary network as they belong to life. And so are the tribe-based distinctions and the contradictions between the appeal of the theories about revolution and the colonial realities - they may fight against the Portuguese domination, but the language their are all using to communicate is Portuguese after all.

There is no capital ´R´ revolution, as there are no heroic myths.

Rachel´s Random Resources: New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

 

Women writers are not only in books nice to deal with. But imagine them spending some nice writing time at a retreat on the French Riviera. In the house of a famous experienced chef, nevertheless. But he is grieving the death of his beloved wife, feeling guilty for the circumstances of her death. Allowing the writers into his life may bring a new chance though, opening new chapters unforeseen before.

New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet, an author I´ve featured before, is a sweet and heartwarming tale, with memorable characters and a compassionate story. I liked how it dives into grief offering a realistic yet relatable take on second chances and the power of renewal.

The descriptions of the French Riviera feel authentic and do create that special ambiance allowing the new love to burgeon. It is definitely a good inspiration for your summer plans as well, no matter which relationship status are you in.

It is a good summer recommended read for lovers of good romance infused by hope and celebration of love, no matter when it how often may come into our lives. 

Rating: 4 stars

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

Comme in un Film by Anna Nicoletto

My Italian learning spree is going just fine, but I am struggling sometimes to finding good books to read, as opposed to books I read for the sake of vocabulary or grammar exercises. My best read of the last four weeks was a funny romcom with a well built plot: Come in un Film - Like in a movie, in my own translation - by the self-publishing phenomenon Anna Nicoletto. 

Told alternatively from the perspective of the two main protagonists - Cloe and Sebastiano, former schoolmates, enemies that are about to become lovers - it is built around a movie theatre. Aurora, a movie theatre in a small Italian town belonged to Cloe´s family for generations, but as her beloved aunt wants to retire, there is no interest on Cloe´s side to get involved in the business. As she meets Sebastiano, now a successful businessman, owning more than half of the town and interested to purchase Aurora as well, old inimities seem to melt. 

The story is sugary, but it keeps you interested as there are always new elements diverting the story, although the ending may be predictable. From the point of view of the language, I´ve learned a lot, especially everyday language and conversations. 

It was an enjoyable as well as useful read, and I am just getting started with my Italian reads. More - and more serious - to come in the next days.

CLASSIC READS: Macunaíma by Mário de Andrade translated into German by Curt Meyer-Clason

 

There are classic books and authors brought into oblivion after decades of literary amnesia, and suddenly everyone is talking about them. My CLASSIC READ project launched at the end of the last year was never meant to be focused on European authors, but as I was rather trying to focus on some titles from the French and English-speaking realm, everyone started talking about Macunaíma by Mário de Andrade and couldn´t resist adding it to my urgent list.

The reason of the fame is the new translation into English from Brazilian Portuguese by Katrina Dodson published this month three years ago by New Directions Publishing. Personally, I had access to a German edition, translated by the late Curt Meyer-Clason. 

Few words about my reading in translation...I could have read it in Portuguese but from reasons of intellectual laziness I rather looked for a mediated version. De Andrade´s original published in 1928 has a special musicality and inner rhythm - besides being a writer and photographer, he was also a musicologist - which personally I haven´t found it at all in the German version. Rather the opposite, and this affected my perception and intimate connection with the book or thereof lack of.

What I also desperately missed was an extensive glossary - there is one, but relatively limited, mostly covering words used in original - that could have help to understand the meta references as well as the general cultural context.

Macunaíma is a multi-layered experimental modernist novel of Brasil, where elements of epic meet farse and cultural irony - especially against the French and Portugal literary and linguistic dominance at the time. The eponymous hero - ´a hero with no character´/o herói sem nenhum caráter, in the original version nevertheless a lazy hero - is born in the jungle and killed his mother desguised as a deer by an evil spirit. Together with his brothers he is crossing Brazil searching, among others, for a lost amulet, changing from an Amazonian black man into a white man and meeting many mythological creatures.

The text - anti-novel rather, an epic national journey - is short with absurd, dadaist even, takes that require accepting the text in itself, relying to the meaning provided by the author maybe, but sometimes hardly to trace objectively. A symbol may be re-contextualized or maintained within the original interpretations, thus the importance of following a complex critical overview to be sure the text is properly understood. I may confess that I will need to return to the text in the English version sooner or later or maybe also confront with the original. 

There is also a film inspired by the book, that I haven´t watched yet, that hopefully will be watching for a special post dedicated to movies based on some of the reads included in this project, such as Death in Venice. 

The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi

There are a lot of circumstances leading people to embrace cults and their leaders. Lack of intelligence is definitely not the real reason individuals are getting so wronged that they are keen to give up money, independence and even their body for the promise of a mental and spiritual healing.

After several failed suicide attempts as a teenager, Veena Dinavahi was brought by her highly professional Indian parents to a failed eye surgeon that for a bit less than a decade will guide and direct her life. As in a staged apparition, the guy, belonging to the Mormon church, will help her to find The True Happiness, intrusively controlling her personal decisions - among others, encouraging her to abandon school, get married and turn into a tradwife. Her disillusionment with the movement took a dramatic turn after being sexually molested by the same cult leader.

Her memoir includes notes from her diary and dedicates a considerable amout of space to the personal interactions between her and the ´leader´ who requested to be called ´Daddy´, fully displaying his art of manipulation and extent of his fraud. Her husband is his biggest fan and blindly follows his orders - also addressing him as ´Daddy´. 

There is nothing to be ashamed of when being the victim of a cult. Similarly with scams, we are faced with sophisticated methods designed to raise any suspicions while taking advantage of vulnerable individuals. Her book, as many other testimonies by people who left cults, do help to recognize the fraud and get the right support and understanding elsewhere.

From the point of view of the style, I´ve found some parts of the book a bit too detailed, but it has to do with my love for concision. On the other hand, someone looking for a bigger picture, may find those information vital for the overall understanding of the case.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: Operation Berlin by Michael Ridpath

Deeply anchored in the 1930s, post WWI-Berlin, the well documented and atmospheric Operation Berlin by bestselling author Michael Ridpath has complex characters and a smart crime plot. As I am both interested in books set in my home city and in historical fiction during the 20th century, this book suited perfectly my rainy April weekend. 

Historian Archie Laverick is searching in Berlin for information about a famed Prussian general, crossing pathways with Esme Carmichael, an ambitious young lady who wants to be a foreign correspondent. As usual, Berlin is the best place in the world for meetings of opposites. Archie´s quest for historical truth and Esme´s ambitions will be both needed when they team together to finding the real murderer of a crime attributed to a young Jewish lady.

The pace is relatively moderate, allowing a generous space for reflection about the complex Berlin ambiance in the 1930s. We may know what followed but as for now, the signals are still there to be seen and noticed without any further historical premonition skills.

The book is the first stand alone from The Foreign Correspondent Series and I am very much interesting to follow up with the next installments. 

The black-and-white cover is convening very well the ambiance of the book, therefore it needs a special mention of itself.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Them Girls by Eva Verde

Now in their 40s, Goldie and Vee are two sisters at the peek of their personal and professional success. The years of hard work seems to show its results, until, as usual in life and books, something happens that may upside down the comfort of happiness. With two marriages at the brink of disaster, watching their beautiful dream turn into pieces, Goldie and Vee decide to take a well deserved reserved break, an opportunity for bonding. However, plans are again made to fail, as their time together will bring back unresolved past episodes challenging the even perception of their identity.

Them Girls by Eva Verde is a deeply emotional and realistic portrayal of sisterhood. The two main characters are very relatable and strong including through their own ways of facing and confronting their own past. Their story also reveals deep cleavages of class and identity clashes in ways shaping the identity of the characters.

I loved Verde´s prose and I am definitely interested in reading more of her books as well. But as for now, this powerful story of sisterhood stays with me for my own reflection on how usual family topics can reflect so differently based on the angle it is looked at. Literature always can teach us a lot about life.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Ruhrgemüse, polnisch by Birgitta M. Schulte

Novels inspired by historical realities and social history set in Germany are interesting for me because they fictionally expand the limits of my knowledge about the country and its history. 

Ruhrgemüse, polnisch by Birgitta M. Schulte is a relatively short novel, inspired by the Polish immigration to the craddle of German industry, the Ruhr area, at the end of the 19th century. At the time, over 500,00 Polish immigrants, mostly from the Mazurian region, arrived to Germany looking for job opportunities in the expanding fields of the metal and mining industry. Until today, this part of the country remains an attractive pole of investments and opportunities, with a clear appeal for the working force.

The characters of Schulte´s debut novel are young couples, caught in the struggle for a better future while actively taking part to the equally important social struggle for equality and safe working conditions promoted by the nascent trade unions.

Adam and Zusanna and the other Polnish immigrants are part of this new realities, while building up their own identities - changing their Slavic-sounding names with ones with a more German resonance, among others. 

The story concentrates personal and socio-historical events covering end of the 19th century until close to the 1930s. I´ve found the interaction between characters less intense than the positioning of the characters towards the social movements, which limits in my opinion the plot development. 

It was a short, intense, informative and well written story that help me to understand a historical episode I never knew about before. Exceptionally, the book also includes abstract illustrations for some chapter openings that, at least, from the colours point of view are matching the general mood of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Random Things Tours: Everyone is Perfect Here by Jane Haseldine

Carly Bennett is a successful English teacher, with a steady career and influence. But his spotless facade is about to crumble as someone working in the same building with her is find dead, with her name written near the corpse. A crime sharing details with Bennett´s own mother murder, apparently occurred during a robbery. What next happens is not only a suspenseful line of events, but also a bizarre and terrifying memory game bringing Carly at the brinks of self doubt and desperation.

Everyone is perfect here by Jane Haseldine is a well planned domestic suspense that kept me engaged and twisted. The story is very tense and one need to pay careful attention to the characters featured in the dual timelines, as well as to her own identity details. 

It was hard to make my mind and once the case solved, any other possible interpretations looked futile. This is exactly the reason why I was fully tuned to this book. The memory games were very interesting for me, and added more suspense to the already very well intense planned plot.

This was my first encounter with Haseldine but would definitely want to read more of her books.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Good People by Patmeena Sabit

´Everything that happened there he allowed to happen´.

 

When a successful business man from Kabul and his family disappeared without a trace, details of their ´American dream´ story reveal the cracks in their picture perfect life. The tragical car accident when the teenage daughter died led to an ambiance of suspicion and inner drama that for some was just waiting to happen. But as more and more people may raise suspicions regarding a possible 'honour crime' , a whodunnit-like is put into motion where we are invited to follow through various testimonies and legal and article investigations.

Empathically built debut novel by Kabul-born Patmeena Sabit, Good People is a story in stories, told from with multiple POVs where the main people concerned aren´t heard. The story of the rebelious daughter is introduced from the second part of the book onwards, in a very unexpected and suspenseful twists.

Until the end of the novel it´s hard to see the truth in sight. The shreds of the perfect mirror may confuse us alongside the splits alongside the race and class prejudice, and the clash between tradition and modernity, under the dramatic question: ´How much is too much?´

Although a very whodunnit kind of story, many of the issues raised to resonate with immigration stories from all over the world related to children education, accepting new values and assimilation. 

For me, it was an addictive and insightful read, I didn´t want to put down, although the takes were non-surprising and predictable.

Rating: 4.5 stars 

Graphic Novel about Rimbaud, Verlaine and many more...

As promised and planned last year, my reading plan for 2026 - and maybe a bit longer - is to focus on classic books and authors. And when I am not reading works from the carefully curated list, I may do extra documentation work, discovering new titles and writers of interest. So far, I am enjoying the experience, and I have a lot of reviews ready for the next weeks.

My source of inspiration for new discoveries are as diverse as my interests. A graphic novel about the friendships and inimities among the group of symbolist writers led me to Germain Nouveau, that I was not familiar with until now (but instantly added on my list).

Les Illuminés by Jean Dytar and Laurent-Frédéric Bollée is built around the quest for a lost manuscript by Nouveau but touches upon topics dear to rebelious writers like Rimbaud and Verlaine and the relationship between art and life. The text is minimal, but the graphic part is generous, each page following three different timelines, in warm tones. 

The topics raised my interest, while the graphic kept me interested. Additionally, I have some extra reading that may lead me to discovering new works and authors. 

The quest continues...

Rating: 3.5 stars

Steglitz by Inès Bayard translated into German by Theresa Benkert

Steglitz is a part of Berlin I always enjoy spending time exploring. Caught between the equally middle-class Charlottenburg and the much fancier Zehlendorf, it breathes bourgeoisie: modernist architecture, shopping avenue, large busy streets, better dressed people compared to other parts of the city.

In Steglitz Kafka spent his last months, between 1923 and 1924, together with Dora Diamant, before being hospitalized in a sanatorium. 

Steglitz, where the action of the homonymous novel by French-born, Berlin based Inès Bayard takes place, is a place of routine, night secrets and delusion. Leni Müller, the wife of a successful architect, Ivan, recently assigned a project in Prora, the former Nazi summer resort in the island of Rügen, is a person of many habits. Not talking too much, walking her routines every day, a dedicated quiet housewife.

But, in a Kafkian vein, things start happening and the quiet Leni is violently pushed out of her mental comfort zone. She will end up almost homeless, working in pub in exchange of accommodation, leaving her husband and returning in her marital home as a complete alienated stranger. 

I may confess the book took a turn I didn´t expect it, as I was expecting a very bourgeois novel. The challenge of surprise accepted, I felt however that the actual timeline the action is taking part is too long, compared to the intensity of the facts and episodes accounted for. 

I had access to the book in the German version, translated from French by Theresa Benkert. 

The cover, as many books published in Germany, is an excellent visual interpretation of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars