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tmleblanc's review against another edition
3.0
This book stretched me a bit. I'm still not 100% certain I liked it as a whole. I love the idea of authors connecting with readers and readers connecting with other fans of the same book. However, the way this story was told (through letters) didn't entirely work for me. It was hard to get to know the characters as you skip from letter to letter and eventually email to email. There was a lack of emotional connection I was craving before the big reveals at the end which were somewhat of a letdown based on how the story was told.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
carolineaxvig's review against another edition
5.0
30 years ago a half-finished manuscript was left on a plane and today it is found in the nightstand of a hotel and returned to the author. Told through letters, The Lost Manuscript discovers the journey of this manuscript during its 30 year absence and the lives of the people it touched.
This book is absolute magic and I finished it one day because I couldn't wait to hear what happened next. I loved the epistolary style, the depth of the relationships formed throughout the book and the tenacity and heart of the main character Anne-Lise. It makes me want to write letters again.
The narrators are wonderful and bring depth and distinction to each character. The voices and personalities really helped me keep the characters and relationships straight throughout the book.
I can't recommend The Lost Manuscript enough.
This book is absolute magic and I finished it one day because I couldn't wait to hear what happened next. I loved the epistolary style, the depth of the relationships formed throughout the book and the tenacity and heart of the main character Anne-Lise. It makes me want to write letters again.
The narrators are wonderful and bring depth and distinction to each character. The voices and personalities really helped me keep the characters and relationships straight throughout the book.
I can't recommend The Lost Manuscript enough.
zizzaboo's review against another edition
5.0
The novel told in a series of letters revolving around the love of books that bring people together…SO good!! I will be thinking about these characters and the adventure they went on together forever!
karenreads1000s's review against another edition
4.0
This book is cute and creative. A romance. A bit of a mystery (lost persons) thrown in for good measure. To write a book mostly of letters set in 2016 required some quirky characters and situations. Maybe due to the letters (and some long-hand style emails), you truly get a sense of the characters. Letter writing is a communication format so nearly gone.
melissatrew's review against another edition
3.0
"I felt that slight shiver we feel when the lines we’re reading seem to have been written just for us."
The Lost Manuscript is a short, sweet, and charming tale of a 30-year-old abandoned, unpublished novel manuscript that makes its way across the world, passing through different sets of hands and touching several hearts along the way.
An epistolary tale (told entirely in letters), The Lost Manuscript offers varying perspectives from multiple characters, and the full audiobook cast offers a unique voice for each, which was a nice touch.
I struggled a bit with the heavy French accents on the audiobook - not necessarily a bad thing, as it did add a layer of authenticity and charm to the story; it just took some getting used to. I ultimately decided to slow down the listening speed, and that made it easier for me to understand what I was hearing.
I also felt that there was a lot more “tell” than “show,” which seems to be a common thread in epistolary novels. If you’re expecting it, I suppose it works.
Ultimately, though, I thought that The Lost Manuscript was a sweet ode to the transformative power of stories, and how the right words, spoken to a reader from the page, can motivate us to action, encourage life change, spark new relationships, and ultimately transform a life.
A 3.5-star read/listen!
—-
A huge thank-you to Cathy Bonidan, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
—-
Follow @letteredlibrary on Instagram!
The Lost Manuscript is a short, sweet, and charming tale of a 30-year-old abandoned, unpublished novel manuscript that makes its way across the world, passing through different sets of hands and touching several hearts along the way.
An epistolary tale (told entirely in letters), The Lost Manuscript offers varying perspectives from multiple characters, and the full audiobook cast offers a unique voice for each, which was a nice touch.
I struggled a bit with the heavy French accents on the audiobook - not necessarily a bad thing, as it did add a layer of authenticity and charm to the story; it just took some getting used to. I ultimately decided to slow down the listening speed, and that made it easier for me to understand what I was hearing.
I also felt that there was a lot more “tell” than “show,” which seems to be a common thread in epistolary novels. If you’re expecting it, I suppose it works.
Ultimately, though, I thought that The Lost Manuscript was a sweet ode to the transformative power of stories, and how the right words, spoken to a reader from the page, can motivate us to action, encourage life change, spark new relationships, and ultimately transform a life.
A 3.5-star read/listen!
—-
A huge thank-you to Cathy Bonidan, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
—-
Follow @letteredlibrary on Instagram!
kojali's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
Extremely enjoyable, finished it in just a few hours. I’ve never read a book like this before- but I truly appreciate the work that goes into an epistolary novel.
bethoffermann's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
katekate_reads_'s review against another edition
I really liked the premise of The Lost Manuscript - a woman finds a manuscript in her hotel room and reaches out to return it to the author. She learns from him that he lost it 30 years ago and has often wondered where it went. So she starts researching how it ended up in the hotel and where it’s been before.
I’m a fan of epistolary novels so enjoyed it was all told through letters. But very quickly it started to feel simplistic and repetitive to me. Ultimately I decided this isn’t for me and I’m going to stop here.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.
I’m a fan of epistolary novels so enjoyed it was all told through letters. But very quickly it started to feel simplistic and repetitive to me. Ultimately I decided this isn’t for me and I’m going to stop here.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.