How far one can go for keeping the memory of love alive? But, after all, is the memory of love also love? Or it is just a fuel to our failed dreams we keep alive because we need to stay alive?
Set between London and Paris, covering two different timelines, Double Room by Anne Sénès, translated into English from French by Alice Banks for Orenda Books, sounds like a ballet aire and reads like an impressionist painting. For a very long time I haven´t had the occasion of breathing so many different impressions while reading.
Stan is a composer who lost the love of his life, Liv. Starting again, this time in Paris, he wants to keep the memory alive, building himself an AI-machine reproducing his beloved voice - sounds a bit like Machines Like Me but offers a deeper message and as usual when machines are taking over human´s lives, it may take a difficult pathway. But will it be enough to maintain the beautiful memories they created long time ago? Could, after all, science and particularly AI, challenge the ways in which we reproduce memories?
I have so many questions after reading this book, that keep growing as I continue to think about the book, connecting the dots of fiction with those of the everyday life embracing more and more a different level of technical intrusion into almost everything.
The book is also reach in musical and literary references, The Portrait of Dorian Gray and Alice in Wonderland are aptly chosen, echoing the different moments in Stan´s life and love memories. Those references, alongside with the musical reverberations create the unique ambiance of the book.
I´ve read the book in the excellent English translation, but would definitely love to have a look at the French original text as well to better connect with the music of the language.
Rating: 5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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