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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
3.5*
Years back I had read Kostova's famous first novel - the Dracula spin-off [b:The Historian|10692|The Historian|Elizabeth Kostova|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1338298031s/10692.jpg|3061272]. I had greatly enjoyed it, even though, compared to the OTT breathtaking storytelling of the original, it moved at a leisurely pace. Indeed, what has remained with me through this time are not details of plot but, rather, impressions of poetic descriptions, lovingly evocative of the mysteries of the Eastern European setting.
This characteristic resurfaces in Kostova's latest offering, "The Shadow Land". The novel starts with a young American woman, Alexandra Boyd, arriving in Bulgaria, ostensibly to take up a teaching post. In reality, she has a personal reason for settling in this country - she wishes to fulfil the childhood wish of her brother, who had gone missing on a mountain trip and never returned. Through a series of coincidences, Alexandra ends up carrying an urn containing the ashes of one Stoyan Lazarov and spends the rest of the novel trying to give it back to his family, teaming up with a taxi-driver who turns out to be a poet and political activist. Eventually we learn that Lazarov was a gifted violinist and an unlikely dissident under Communist rule. And that his harrowing story could have echoes in the present...
Devoid of the Gothic and supernatural aspects which had given "The Historian" its particular twist, this novel gets off to a slow start, and (at least for me), it never really became a page-turner, even though it is a political thriller of sorts. At first I also felt that it was rather over-written - we get a description of the clothes of every new character and facts about Bulgaria are given to us in a style which is redolent of a tourist guide. It is, however, a novel which grows on you and I liked it much better as it progressed and the different narrative strands started to interweave. I felt that it was at its best in the "historical" chapters containing Lazarov's back-story. As a musician myself, I particularly appreciated the way musical works were described - it's never easy to convey the effects music has on its performers and listeners but Kostova manages to express its wonder and healing power. This alone is enough to make the novel worth reading.
I obtained an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Years back I had read Kostova's famous first novel - the Dracula spin-off [b:The Historian|10692|The Historian|Elizabeth Kostova|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1338298031s/10692.jpg|3061272]. I had greatly enjoyed it, even though, compared to the OTT breathtaking storytelling of the original, it moved at a leisurely pace. Indeed, what has remained with me through this time are not details of plot but, rather, impressions of poetic descriptions, lovingly evocative of the mysteries of the Eastern European setting.
This characteristic resurfaces in Kostova's latest offering, "The Shadow Land". The novel starts with a young American woman, Alexandra Boyd, arriving in Bulgaria, ostensibly to take up a teaching post. In reality, she has a personal reason for settling in this country - she wishes to fulfil the childhood wish of her brother, who had gone missing on a mountain trip and never returned. Through a series of coincidences, Alexandra ends up carrying an urn containing the ashes of one Stoyan Lazarov and spends the rest of the novel trying to give it back to his family, teaming up with a taxi-driver who turns out to be a poet and political activist. Eventually we learn that Lazarov was a gifted violinist and an unlikely dissident under Communist rule. And that his harrowing story could have echoes in the present...
Devoid of the Gothic and supernatural aspects which had given "The Historian" its particular twist, this novel gets off to a slow start, and (at least for me), it never really became a page-turner, even though it is a political thriller of sorts. At first I also felt that it was rather over-written - we get a description of the clothes of every new character and facts about Bulgaria are given to us in a style which is redolent of a tourist guide. It is, however, a novel which grows on you and I liked it much better as it progressed and the different narrative strands started to interweave. I felt that it was at its best in the "historical" chapters containing Lazarov's back-story. As a musician myself, I particularly appreciated the way musical works were described - it's never easy to convey the effects music has on its performers and listeners but Kostova manages to express its wonder and healing power. This alone is enough to make the novel worth reading.
I obtained an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Brilliant story and great writing. I can't tell you how many nights I was up past midnight reading this novel. If you have read any of Kostova's books, you know you will enjoy this one as well. If you haven't, take a chance on a new-to-you author!
3.5 or 4 if you have an interesr in Bulgaria or its history or just the Eastern European Communist experience.. I've enjoyed both of Kostova's books
I absolutely loved my second Elizabeth Kostova book. She writes epic, incredibly researched tales and this story about Bulgaria and it’s fascinating history was gorgeously done. The pacing of this dual timeline story was exciting and suspenseful. Alexandra Boyd is traveling abroad and meets an elderly couple and a young man who is traveling with them. Their bags get mixed up and an urn ends up in her possession.
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Seemed to be overly long and dragged. The story was ok.
2.5/3 Stars - the audiobook may have made me dislike the book more than if I had read it because the narration and accents seemed awful to me. While I really liked learning more about Bulgaria, I found the characters flat and their motivations nonsensical.
The lack of character development and poor dialogue really killed much of this novel. The plot was a bit disjointed but was pulled together just enough to make this book slightly more pleasurable than painful.
I liked this book quite a lot, and was on my way to giving it a higher rating, until the dog died. And yes, that's a spoiler and I don't care. It's done in the cheapest way possible, to solve a dramatic problem in the book in a way that spares all the human characters, and no one in the book even seems to care that the dog died, even after taking him with them, feeding him, etc. Refrigerator dog. Sloppy plot line.
Otherwise, this book is a slow and rewarding build. Atmospheric to a fault- sometimes reads like a guidebook to Bulgaria- but beautiful and does make you feel "there." I didn't find the initial premise unbelievable- I spent a lot of time traveling alone in my 20s, and strange things happened all the time, both good and bad, and strangers went amazingly out of their way for me more than once. Besides, we learn eventually that Bobby has additional motivations. Stoyan's story is the most powerful part, naturally, and I thought the fragmented way it was presented was masterful.
But the end is a rushed, overly dramatic confrontation- this was the part that struck me as improbable. The villains would probably have had more effective and subtle ways of going about things. And it all feels pretty abrupt. And the dog dies.
Otherwise, this book is a slow and rewarding build. Atmospheric to a fault- sometimes reads like a guidebook to Bulgaria- but beautiful and does make you feel "there." I didn't find the initial premise unbelievable- I spent a lot of time traveling alone in my 20s, and strange things happened all the time, both good and bad, and strangers went amazingly out of their way for me more than once. Besides, we learn eventually that Bobby has additional motivations. Stoyan's story is the most powerful part, naturally, and I thought the fragmented way it was presented was masterful.
But the end is a rushed, overly dramatic confrontation- this was the part that struck me as improbable. The villains would probably have had more effective and subtle ways of going about things. And it all feels pretty abrupt. And the dog dies.