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A review by crackedchelle
The Lost Letters of Playfair Street by Michelle Montebello
5.0
This is the best book I have read in about three years, and the best work of fiction I have read since Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander' came out years ago.
I think it helps that I am Australian and am vaguely familiar with The Rocks area of Sydney where the story is set. It just happens it is in the exact same area that Ruth Park's 'Playing Beatie Bow' is set, and that is another book I have loved. Because real places and street names were used, I enjoyed using Google Earth to 'follow' the characters wherever they went, and was able to visualise the story more accurately.
This book is full of mystery, hope and love, as well as some shock and heartbreak. The story is written both in the present time, and reflects back to the life of a different (but related) set of characters in the 1920s.
I was unable to put the book down when I needed to, and I thought about the characters when I was going about my day - and these two criteria are my main ones for awarding a book 5 stars. I would actually rate this one a 5+, because it has easily made my 'favourites' list.
I think it helps that I am Australian and am vaguely familiar with The Rocks area of Sydney where the story is set. It just happens it is in the exact same area that Ruth Park's 'Playing Beatie Bow' is set, and that is another book I have loved. Because real places and street names were used, I enjoyed using Google Earth to 'follow' the characters wherever they went, and was able to visualise the story more accurately.
This book is full of mystery, hope and love, as well as some shock and heartbreak. The story is written both in the present time, and reflects back to the life of a different (but related) set of characters in the 1920s.
I was unable to put the book down when I needed to, and I thought about the characters when I was going about my day - and these two criteria are my main ones for awarding a book 5 stars. I would actually rate this one a 5+, because it has easily made my 'favourites' list.