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ceruleanseas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it ended up being a delightful surprise. It reminded me very much of Fredrik Backman's Anxious People. I enjoyed the everyone-writes-in-letters format of the book and the French accents of the narrators (a fun touch, since the book is a translation and takes place mostly in France).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Terminal illness, Grief, Death, Abandonment, Medical content, Confinement, Incest, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Car accident, Addiction, Infidelity, Alcohol, Cancer, Miscarriage, and Suicide
browneyedbookworm's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
*I was given a free copy for an honest review*
This was a wonderful epistolary. I absolutely loved the writing and the way each character had differences in the styles. I enjoyed the description of the sights across multiple countries. The mystery behind the authors of the found manuscript keeps you engaged and excited for "Waldo" to be found. I enjoyed the ending. This was a light, fun read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, and Dementia
bookstolivewith's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
The Lost Manuscript by Cathy Bonidan is all about a book that has the power to change your life. After stumbling across a manuscript in a hotel, Anne-Lise Briard makes it a mission to find and connect with the author. But as she does, she opens a the door to not just one but a whirlwind of authors, each of whom held and helped along the manuscript in their own way. So what does it mean when a book changes your life — and what does it mean when authorship becomes collective? (TW: death, imprisonment, divorce and brief mentions of miscarriage and suicide.)
I found the premise for this one charming and intriguing. However, I wasn’t particularly enamored with the overall story. It kept me engaged, I chuckled a few times and there was a twist I didn’t see coming — yet, I couldn’t help feeling the emotional core didn’t really get to me at all. This book is supposed to be about the power of books to change your life and yet, I felt lukewarm toward this book. It may have been in part that the e-reader version kept me from feeling the warmth of the paper and the sound of a turning page that makes a book so lovable to me.
I think this book might hit differently for other readers — there’s a lot of about lost love, divorce and tragic circumstances that could resonate with you and make you identify with these characters’ journeys. For me, it didn’t quite hit the mark and I felt like I was observing the entire plot from above, instead of connecting personally with the characters.
The Lost Manuscript is out on January 12 (in 2021, which both doesn’t sound like a real year but that I’m also looking forward to a lot) and I think it’s worth a library checkout!
I found the premise for this one charming and intriguing. However, I wasn’t particularly enamored with the overall story. It kept me engaged, I chuckled a few times and there was a twist I didn’t see coming — yet, I couldn’t help feeling the emotional core didn’t really get to me at all. This book is supposed to be about the power of books to change your life and yet, I felt lukewarm toward this book. It may have been in part that the e-reader version kept me from feeling the warmth of the paper and the sound of a turning page that makes a book so lovable to me.
I think this book might hit differently for other readers — there’s a lot of about lost love, divorce and tragic circumstances that could resonate with you and make you identify with these characters’ journeys. For me, it didn’t quite hit the mark and I felt like I was observing the entire plot from above, instead of connecting personally with the characters.
The Lost Manuscript is out on January 12 (in 2021, which both doesn’t sound like a real year but that I’m also looking forward to a lot) and I think it’s worth a library checkout!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Miscarriage and Suicide
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