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i_hype_romance's review against another edition
4.0
A huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
This novel begins with a story about another novel. Anne- Liese discovers a mysterious manuscript while on vacation. It's a manuscript that affects her profoundly, and it provides an escape from the mundane stresses of her life.
The story unfolds in epistolary form through a series of letters as Anne-Liese attempts to ferret out the author's identity. The journey of the manuscript through a series of disconnected readers evolves into its own story. Along the way, lives are fundamentally changed, internal battles are waged, and the fragility of the human condition is exposed.
At its heart, this is a story for bibliophiles everywhere. It is a story about the power of words to transform our lives, and a celebration of the meaning and purpose books bring to our lives.
This novel begins with a story about another novel. Anne- Liese discovers a mysterious manuscript while on vacation. It's a manuscript that affects her profoundly, and it provides an escape from the mundane stresses of her life.
The story unfolds in epistolary form through a series of letters as Anne-Liese attempts to ferret out the author's identity. The journey of the manuscript through a series of disconnected readers evolves into its own story. Along the way, lives are fundamentally changed, internal battles are waged, and the fragility of the human condition is exposed.
At its heart, this is a story for bibliophiles everywhere. It is a story about the power of words to transform our lives, and a celebration of the meaning and purpose books bring to our lives.
audrey042's review against another edition
5.0
Cathy Bonidan nous offre ici un roman au charme fou qui, à travers la vie de personnages hauts en couleur et terriblement attachants, nous dévoile le pouvoir presque magique des mots et des livres. Au gré des échanges de lettres se créent de solides et belles amitiés, des secrets sont dévoilés, les cœurs sont mis à nu, et le lecteur est emporté dans une valse ininterrompue d’émotions. Chambre 128 est un roman de vie et de rencontres que je ne peux que vous encourager à découvrir.
Chronique complète sur le blog https://lightandsmell.wordpress.com/2019/06/03/chambre-128-cathy-bonidan/
Chronique complète sur le blog https://lightandsmell.wordpress.com/2019/06/03/chambre-128-cathy-bonidan/
l1brarygirl's review against another edition
4.0
I love epistolary novels and this was a good one. Kind of a mystery, following the path of an unpublished manuscript the original author lost years ago. Amazing to see the influence this manuscript had on the various individuals who found it and how they were able to form connections through it.
In the author's note, she mentions that she wrote the entire novel in the same timespan that the novel takes place in, which I thought was a neat fact.
Favorite Quotes:
"...the idea of this illness lying low in the shadows, ready to swallow us up, too, at the bend of the road. the disease that eats away memory is surely the most awful of all, because it erases our past day by day, making us disappear little by little, until we've never existed."
In the author's note, she mentions that she wrote the entire novel in the same timespan that the novel takes place in, which I thought was a neat fact.
Favorite Quotes:
"...the idea of this illness lying low in the shadows, ready to swallow us up, too, at the bend of the road. the disease that eats away memory is surely the most awful of all, because it erases our past day by day, making us disappear little by little, until we've never existed."
Spoiler
I am one of those people who cannot savor the present unless they have kept a fragment, forever nestled in the heart of their memories..."samsundar22's review against another edition
4.0
Went through a cycle of how much I liked the book as I read it... definitely picked it up mainly because the old soul in me finds the art of letter writing perfectly elegant. On that front, this epistolary did not disappoint, absolutely loved the way the letters were crafted and how characters arcs developed via letters. It was an inspiring idea that the art of letter writing need not be lost, and a letter today can still be as meaningful as it was a century ago.
I started off with a 3, went to a 4... almost a 4.5 at some points during the book and then dropped to a 3.75 mainly because the end definitely seemed a little too convenient to me. I know it’s not meant to be a shocker end and maybe the reader was expected to guess it? But there was quite a lot of hype and I would have probably enjoyed a gray-er ending, which would’ve been more in sync with the rest of the story (which was all shades of grey in human relationships). In fact that was probably what I liked about it, but it seemed like the author decided that happily ever afters make more sense than grey endings?
Still rating 4 for the concept and the beautiful language in the letters.. and for reigniting in me the spark to write again.
I started off with a 3, went to a 4... almost a 4.5 at some points during the book and then dropped to a 3.75 mainly because the end definitely seemed a little too convenient to me. I know it’s not meant to be a shocker end and maybe the reader was expected to guess it? But there was quite a lot of hype and I would have probably enjoyed a gray-er ending, which would’ve been more in sync with the rest of the story (which was all shades of grey in human relationships). In fact that was probably what I liked about it, but it seemed like the author decided that happily ever afters make more sense than grey endings?
Still rating 4 for the concept and the beautiful language in the letters.. and for reigniting in me the spark to write again.
simplybookedchelsey's review against another edition
4.0
A busybody finds a lost manuscript, and so it goes…
This novel in letters is a delight of a book. Beginning simply with Anne-Lise writing to return the manuscript to someone she does not have a name for and isn’t even sure is the author, this book pretty quickly evolves into a spiderweb of correspondence, all by letter. The involved parties form friendships, disclose secrets, and express unabashed emotion toward each other. The audio version has a full cast, and listeners should be prepared for heavy French accents, which was jolting to me at first, but I quickly adapted and ended up feeling like it added to the believability of the story.
If you are a super critical person, like me, you might have a hard time with the premise that in 2016, almost all of the communication between all of these people happen over handwritten letters. You may also find yourself wanting to grab Anne-Lise and shake her by the shoulders, telling her to stay out of other people’s business. Luckily, some of the letter-writers tell her that just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore (though it does nothing to dissuade her).
I recommend this quick listen (or read!) for anyone who has a soft spot for books about books (and isn’t that most of us?). Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the early listen.
This novel in letters is a delight of a book. Beginning simply with Anne-Lise writing to return the manuscript to someone she does not have a name for and isn’t even sure is the author, this book pretty quickly evolves into a spiderweb of correspondence, all by letter. The involved parties form friendships, disclose secrets, and express unabashed emotion toward each other. The audio version has a full cast, and listeners should be prepared for heavy French accents, which was jolting to me at first, but I quickly adapted and ended up feeling like it added to the believability of the story.
If you are a super critical person, like me, you might have a hard time with the premise that in 2016, almost all of the communication between all of these people happen over handwritten letters. You may also find yourself wanting to grab Anne-Lise and shake her by the shoulders, telling her to stay out of other people’s business. Luckily, some of the letter-writers tell her that just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore (though it does nothing to dissuade her).
I recommend this quick listen (or read!) for anyone who has a soft spot for books about books (and isn’t that most of us?). Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the early listen.
mrsbishopreads's review against another edition
4.0
I love a good epistolary novel, and this one was a sweet story. If I put it down for too long, it was hard to jump right back in and keep all of the characters straight. Which made it easier to go ahead and binge read, which I'm totally okay with. If you love letters and a little bit of mystery, this book is for you. Will definitely check out more books from this author!
yaelie's review against another edition
5.0
its strange how i always struggle to find the right words to describe a book that i love, as if all the words in both languages i speak erase from my brain and leave me speechless
this book was funny and clever and beautifully written. i quite literally couldnt put it down (read it in one sitting). with every letter i felt like i couldnt get enough of this book. i became engrossed with the characters, fell in love with them and became obsessed with their search just like they did! such a fun read <3
this book was funny and clever and beautifully written. i quite literally couldnt put it down (read it in one sitting). with every letter i felt like i couldnt get enough of this book. i became engrossed with the characters, fell in love with them and became obsessed with their search just like they did! such a fun read <3
brookeisdramatic's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
adishimoni's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0