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mezzoir's review against another edition
2.0
Oh dear, if you can get past the premise of this novel that a single book from an author in the late 1930's is able to attract the same amount of attention and fervour as visiting royalty/superstar then it is quite a light and enjoyable read.....
jrmarr's review against another edition
3.0
I was disappointed with this book, considering how much I enjoyed Nine Days. At times I just couldn’t believe the circumstances the novel is built around, which made the whole thing improbable to me. And some of the decisions made by Caddie made me sigh in frustration. On paper it seems like a book I would really enjoy, but I just couldn’t buy it. Too many convenient solutions.
kleonard's review against another edition
4.0
I mostly liked this thriller about about a lost book, its enigmatic author, an older woman who seems to know more than is possible about both, and the young woman who puts all of the pieces together. Caddie Walker, who left academia after a relationship with a predatory professor and now works in a bookshop, is devoted to the work of Inga Karlson, whose first book was an enormously popular and moving bestseller. Karlson's second book, along with the ms, all of the press plates and any ephemera, went up in a fire that also killed Karlson and her publisher. But when Caddie goes to see the fragments of that second book on display, she encounters a woman who seems to know more about the second book than is possible, and Caddie tracks her down for the full story. While the reveal of this true story is predictable, it's done well. The fact that Caddie goes to the predatory professor for help, and then seems to set him up to be hoist by his own petard, is a bit annoying and not easy to follow in terms of readers understanding what Caddie is doing; the same goes for her will-they-or-won't-they relationship with another man burned by the same professor. If the relationships and Caddie's intentions had been a bit clearer, the end would have been even more delicious.
anjleo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
carole888's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this especially because it is a mystery surrounding an author and a book. I enjoyed the setting of the book as the story alternated between Pennsylvania in the 1920's -30's, New York City in the 1930's and Brisbane in the 1980's. I was exceedingly frustrated with one of the characters. There were a few twists and I wasn't too sure about how it was going to end but it kept me intrigued. Must look out for more from this author.
bianca89279's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Inga Karlson was a one novel wonder, her novel All Has An End being adored by generations of readers. Unfortunately, she perished in a fire in the warehouse where the copies of her sophomore novel were being kept before publishing in 1939. Only a few fragments remained. These fragments and other objects related and belonging to Inga Karlson are part of an exhibition that opened in 1986 at the Art Galery in Brisbane, Australia.
Caddie Walker is a twenty-something bookseller in Brisbane. She's obsessed with Inga Karlson's novel, knows the book by heart and has read everything and anything on the famous writer. While waiting in line to enter the exhibition, she meets an older lady, who was feeling unsteady. When the lady says a line that seemed to sound like it belonged to Inga Karlson, Caddie is puzzled. The old woman's name is Rachel Leiher.
The Fragments is told in alternate chapters and points of view - one is Caddie's in 1986 Brisbane, the other POV belongs to Rachel Leiher, in the 1930s New York and Pennsylvania.
Caddie is on a quest to find out the old lady and to discover the cause of the fire Inga Karlson perished in. I'll leave it at that, for fear of spoilers.
This was enjoyable enough, even though at times I thought Caddie was too gullible, I guess those flaws led to the novel's main conflict.
Unfortunately, Inga Karlson is just a fictional character, as you can imagine I googled her name.
This was a cosy mystery/historical novel. Caroline Lee's delivery was good, although I did have to increase the speed to 1.25x to make her delivery/the novel more enjoyable.
Inga Karlson was a one novel wonder, her novel All Has An End being adored by generations of readers. Unfortunately, she perished in a fire in the warehouse where the copies of her sophomore novel were being kept before publishing in 1939. Only a few fragments remained. These fragments and other objects related and belonging to Inga Karlson are part of an exhibition that opened in 1986 at the Art Galery in Brisbane, Australia.
Caddie Walker is a twenty-something bookseller in Brisbane. She's obsessed with Inga Karlson's novel, knows the book by heart and has read everything and anything on the famous writer. While waiting in line to enter the exhibition, she meets an older lady, who was feeling unsteady. When the lady says a line that seemed to sound like it belonged to Inga Karlson, Caddie is puzzled. The old woman's name is Rachel Leiher.
The Fragments is told in alternate chapters and points of view - one is Caddie's in 1986 Brisbane, the other POV belongs to Rachel Leiher, in the 1930s New York and Pennsylvania.
Caddie is on a quest to find out the old lady and to discover the cause of the fire Inga Karlson perished in. I'll leave it at that, for fear of spoilers.
This was enjoyable enough, even though at times I thought Caddie was too gullible, I guess those flaws led to the novel's main conflict.
Unfortunately, Inga Karlson is just a fictional character, as you can imagine I googled her name.
This was a cosy mystery/historical novel. Caroline Lee's delivery was good, although I did have to increase the speed to 1.25x to make her delivery/the novel more enjoyable.
onepageatatime's review against another edition
4.0
The Fragments is about a manuscript that was burned in a fire in New York in the 1930's. Nearly 50 years later Caddie Walker is waiting to see these manuscript fragments when she meets an older woman who quotes a phrase from the Inga Karlsons fragments that Caddie knows doesnt exist. It feels genuine to Caddie who knows Inga Karlsons work like the back of her hand. She immediately begins to investigate and looks into the clues that will unlock the greatest literary mystery of the 20th century.
This book was a joy to read and I hope you love diving into the mystery it as much as I did.
This book was a joy to read and I hope you love diving into the mystery it as much as I did.
someonetookit's review against another edition
5.0
ACTUAL RATING 4.5 STARS
When I got this novel, I squealed, sighed at the amazing cover and then put it on the backburner because its release was 3 months away. Fast forward to yesterday and I finally picked it up (life happened).
I went in not expecting too much but was blown away but the amazing narrative and sweet romances included in this novel. Its a tale of love, loss and loyalty centred around Caddie in 1986 Brisbane and Rachel in 1930's America.
The rich scenery and enthralling narrative make this the perfect read for a lazy long weekend.
If you want to read a more detailed review, you can find my thoughts at https://someonetookit.wordpress.com/2019/10/06/the-fragments-toni-jordan/
Thankyou to Text Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
When I got this novel, I squealed, sighed at the amazing cover and then put it on the backburner because its release was 3 months away. Fast forward to yesterday and I finally picked it up (life happened).
I went in not expecting too much but was blown away but the amazing narrative and sweet romances included in this novel. Its a tale of love, loss and loyalty centred around Caddie in 1986 Brisbane and Rachel in 1930's America.
The rich scenery and enthralling narrative make this the perfect read for a lazy long weekend.
If you want to read a more detailed review, you can find my thoughts at https://someonetookit.wordpress.com/2019/10/06/the-fragments-toni-jordan/
Thankyou to Text Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
lolo007's review against another edition
4.0
I just love Toni Jordan's writing, it's funny and engaging and so easy to read. I really enjoyed this. At times I got so frustrated with Caddie and wanted to shake some sense into her but overall I found the characters to be likable and interesting. I'm not usually a fan of narration that jumps between times but it really worked in this and I found that by the time I finished each chapter I was disappointed that I would have to wait to find out what happens next!
kp68's review against another edition
3.0
listened to audio, didn't like narrator which probably took away from my enjoyment of the story.