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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“In this morning’s seminar, another of her teachers, Rudolf Bultmann, a professor of theology, had spoken of Saint Augustine’s trinity of no longer, not yet, or not at all. The belief that this world is transient, temporary, made of time. Thus love of the world and its temporal objects, love of another person, creates perpetual mourning.”
Huge thanks to @netgalley for the advance copy!
After losing the other half of their family, Lina and her father arrive at The Sea, a temporary but mysterious dwelling. While there, they befriend a few other residents, each from a different place and time: Bento, from seventeenth century Amsterdam; Blucher, from 1930s Germany; and Jupiter, from Tang Dynasty China. Each of these residents adds more reliable and intimate information to the three books Lina has managed to bring with her, while Lina and her father tackle their own haunted past.
I have not read Thien’s last novel, DO NOT SAY WE HAVE NOTHING, though I had heard innumerable excellent things about it. I was very much looking forward to this one, but unfortunately, the premise outweighed the execution. I loved the philosophical themes of the transience of memory and the mutability of time. However, while this novel is undoubtedly ambitious and admirable, for me, it was not an enjoyable read. There was not much joy or life in the writing, almost as though Thien had a great idea about which she was not entirely passionate.
The storytelling too is not quite for me. The language is what I call “smoky” in my head; it escapes meaning and I become unsure of what is going on at some points as a result. I had to go back and read several sections to see if I had missed something, and when I often hadn’t, I was unsure of how a certain conclusion was reached.
Overall, a great premise but lacking in the execution. Honestly though, I might have just not been intelligent enough for this one. Two and a half stars.
Huge thanks to @netgalley for the advance copy!
After losing the other half of their family, Lina and her father arrive at The Sea, a temporary but mysterious dwelling. While there, they befriend a few other residents, each from a different place and time: Bento, from seventeenth century Amsterdam; Blucher, from 1930s Germany; and Jupiter, from Tang Dynasty China. Each of these residents adds more reliable and intimate information to the three books Lina has managed to bring with her, while Lina and her father tackle their own haunted past.
I have not read Thien’s last novel, DO NOT SAY WE HAVE NOTHING, though I had heard innumerable excellent things about it. I was very much looking forward to this one, but unfortunately, the premise outweighed the execution. I loved the philosophical themes of the transience of memory and the mutability of time. However, while this novel is undoubtedly ambitious and admirable, for me, it was not an enjoyable read. There was not much joy or life in the writing, almost as though Thien had a great idea about which she was not entirely passionate.
The storytelling too is not quite for me. The language is what I call “smoky” in my head; it escapes meaning and I become unsure of what is going on at some points as a result. I had to go back and read several sections to see if I had missed something, and when I often hadn’t, I was unsure of how a certain conclusion was reached.
Overall, a great premise but lacking in the execution. Honestly though, I might have just not been intelligent enough for this one. Two and a half stars.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
And the 2026 Booker Prize goes to…
The Book of Records is one of the most beautiful, daring, and intellectually rich novels I’ve read in a long time. Genre-defying and emotionally layered, it blends a dystopian future shaped by climate catastrophe with the enduring weight of personal and historical displacement.
A young girl and her father flee an unrecognizable China, plagued by torrential rains and a rising ocean that has swallowed parts of the land. They find refuge in a place called The Sea. In the rush to leave, the father grabs three books — about Hannah Arendt, Spinoza, and Du Fu — which become the unlikely anchors of their new life. At The Sea, neighbors begin to retell and reimagine the lives of these thinkers. As the narratives intertwine, we begin to understand not only the scope of global upheaval, but also the more intimate ruptures: a family fractured by betrayal, a daughter slowly uncovering the truth of why her mother and brother stayed behind.
This is a novel about displacement, memory, identity, and what it means to endure constant upheaval. Each character — past and present — is shaped by exile. And through them, the book asks: who are we when everything around us is changing, and we have no choice but to change with it?
It’s not an easy read — nor should it be. It’s intellectually demanding, emotionally searing, and best approached with care and attention. But if you meet it where it is, it offers profound insight and rare, luminous beauty.
A book of our times, and quite possibly of our futures — where survival requires compassion, connection, and a willingness to carry one another’s stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advance copy. And thank you, Madeleine Thien, for this masterpiece.
The Book of Records is one of the most beautiful, daring, and intellectually rich novels I’ve read in a long time. Genre-defying and emotionally layered, it blends a dystopian future shaped by climate catastrophe with the enduring weight of personal and historical displacement.
A young girl and her father flee an unrecognizable China, plagued by torrential rains and a rising ocean that has swallowed parts of the land. They find refuge in a place called The Sea. In the rush to leave, the father grabs three books — about Hannah Arendt, Spinoza, and Du Fu — which become the unlikely anchors of their new life. At The Sea, neighbors begin to retell and reimagine the lives of these thinkers. As the narratives intertwine, we begin to understand not only the scope of global upheaval, but also the more intimate ruptures: a family fractured by betrayal, a daughter slowly uncovering the truth of why her mother and brother stayed behind.
This is a novel about displacement, memory, identity, and what it means to endure constant upheaval. Each character — past and present — is shaped by exile. And through them, the book asks: who are we when everything around us is changing, and we have no choice but to change with it?
It’s not an easy read — nor should it be. It’s intellectually demanding, emotionally searing, and best approached with care and attention. But if you meet it where it is, it offers profound insight and rare, luminous beauty.
A book of our times, and quite possibly of our futures — where survival requires compassion, connection, and a willingness to carry one another’s stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advance copy. And thank you, Madeleine Thien, for this masterpiece.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Book Review The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien
A philosophy lovers dream, this is an intricate exploration of the purpose and meaning of life. Where time is ambiguous and the past, present and future overlap in a haunting and poetic narrative. Thien invites readers into a world where characters drift across timelines, and the present seems timeless.
The story is centred by Lina and her father, who flee Foshan, as great swaths of their homeland are flooding. The arrive at a place known only as “The Sea”, a transitory haven for travellers, before continuing their journey. But for Lina, it becomes a place of limbo, where time marches on but life stands still, as her father refuses to move forward. A small community is formed with the travellers who remain, anchored by The Book of Legends: The Great Lives of Voyagers for comfort, connection and reflection. Through these stories the voices of Baruch Spinoza, Du Fu, and Hannah Arendt are heard, threading the story with questions of identity, history and humanity.
This is a story of displacement - physical, emotional and existential. It grapples with the search for meaning from what has been lost and the fragile hope for the future. It deftly examines centuries of persecution, disenfranchisement and the power structures that shape our world. It amplifies the age old questions: What is a meaningful life? Is it a meaningful existence? Is it our legacy? Is it our impact on the world? Are our paths predestined, or do our choices carve out our futures? How do we survive and live with the guilt and shame of our choices?
Beautifully written, this novel masterfully weaves together complex themes in a cohesive and thought provoking manner. Capturing the lyrical grace and elegance of philosophy and literature, the book remains accessible and encouraging you to pause, reflect and absorb it.
I loved the depth, beauty intricacy of this novel and the power of the story telling. I will admit to getting a little lost with some of the science and mathematical themes, but this did not detract from my enjoyment. It is a thought provoking and mesmerizing work that will remain with me for a long time. If you loved her previous novel, Do Not Say We Have Nothing you will definitely love this as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the early copy of this book and the opportunity to provide honest feedback.
Didn’t work for me, my bad for not being in the mood for this much philosophy.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall, I enjoyed reading this. There are compelling narratives and profoundly quote-worthy passages. Although the book has a nebulous and fairly daunting beginning, Thien's writing is beautiful throughout the stories that develope in the novel. I would recommend this book to patient individuals seeking a philosophical, almost academic, read.
There are many names to keep track of, as the characters "At Sea" do not share the names of their historical selves, and each of the historical flashbacks have numerous characters to keep track of. The book is also deeply philosophical, which was challenging to wade through at times. (This may be more of a personal shortcoming rather than any flaw in the book)
Admittedly, this is not a book that I read quickly (about 6 weeks start to finish). I took my time and read segments of passages. I tend to read multiple books at a time.This added to the challenges in understanding due to the lengthy chapters and often stopping mid-way through a particular storyline.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.
There are many names to keep track of, as the characters "At Sea" do not share the names of their historical selves, and each of the historical flashbacks have numerous characters to keep track of. The book is also deeply philosophical, which was challenging to wade through at times. (This may be more of a personal shortcoming rather than any flaw in the book)
Admittedly, this is not a book that I read quickly (about 6 weeks start to finish). I took my time and read segments of passages. I tend to read multiple books at a time.This added to the challenges in understanding due to the lengthy chapters and often stopping mid-way through a particular storyline.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
The Book of Records is an epic and imaginative quest for home, in a world where time flows like water, and no clear boundaries exist between past, present, and future. At a crossroads of migration, Lina and her father meet figures from long ago, who share their stories of hardship, the fallibility of memory, and the joys of discovery. With elegant and sweeping prose, The Book of Records is an unforgettable meditation on what it means to remember.
Thank you NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Co. for the digital ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Co. for the digital ARC.