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A review by annakelly
The Lost Manuscript by Cathy Bonidan
2.0
This epistolary novel focuses on Anne-Lise who finds a manuscript in a hotel drawer and returns it to the author, only to discover that the author lost the manuscript thirty years ago and someone else wrote the ending of his book. The story then follows Anne-Lise on her quest to discover who wrote the ending as she uncovers everyone who has been in possession of the manuscript over the years.
First, I think it should be noted somewhere that this is an epistolary novel! I went into the story very excited by the premise and had no idea the whole thing would be told in back and forth letters. I think personally because of the narrative format I found myself quite bored. Based on the premise I think I was trying to force myself to like this more than I actually ended up liking it.
After awhile this book felt like characters just revealing their traumas to each other that have never met (and realistically would never just write these things in a letter to a stranger!!!). Also, some of the wording within the letters seemed very unbelievable as well. Like, you wouldn't wax poetic (again-in a letter to a stranger!) about nature or speak in metaphors the way these characters often did. This just gave the story an overall sense of unbelievablility that I ultimately couldn't overcome.
In terms of characterization, I found that every character had the same narrative voice in their letters and so I never felt attached to any of them. Now, this may be a direct result of the translation from French, but I can't be sure. The story becomes less about the manuscript and more about the lives of those that it touched (which was obviously inevitable you can't wax on about a manuscript changing hands for over 200 pages) But if you don't care about the characters then you don't care very much at all! Also, Anne-Lise was highly unlikable in my opinion. She's so pushy. For example, after receiving letters from the author to stop pursuing the mystery she's just like "I DON'T CARE!!" and keeps on going! Not cool and she was super hard to like or relate to at all. She also muddled up her best friend's budding relationship by saying the man she was interested in was interested in another woman?! No, just nope.
Side note: If there isn't a smattering of snarky dislike for Americans is it really even a French novel?!
The letters made the story a bit jerky in my opinion and it starts getting hard to track how the manuscript moved through peoples lives and you end up going back and getting letters not in any kind of sequence that the manuscript moved and I started to feel a bit jumbled. I also predicted the ending of who wrote the final chapters and it took the drive out of the story. (I think the word "twist" is used too liberally to hook people in to reading a book, because I genuinely didn't feel like their was a twist here...just a logical conclusion.)
I think this story would be wonderfully suited for a TV show or movie adaption and I would probably watch the heck out of it. I feel like on screen you would be able to see everyone's emotions and the places they travel to as well which would bring the story to life a bit more. I would still recommend this book if it sounds interesting to you, or you are looking for a light, fast-paced beach read.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First, I think it should be noted somewhere that this is an epistolary novel! I went into the story very excited by the premise and had no idea the whole thing would be told in back and forth letters. I think personally because of the narrative format I found myself quite bored. Based on the premise I think I was trying to force myself to like this more than I actually ended up liking it.
After awhile this book felt like characters just revealing their traumas to each other that have never met (and realistically would never just write these things in a letter to a stranger!!!). Also, some of the wording within the letters seemed very unbelievable as well. Like, you wouldn't wax poetic (again-in a letter to a stranger!) about nature or speak in metaphors the way these characters often did. This just gave the story an overall sense of unbelievablility that I ultimately couldn't overcome.
In terms of characterization, I found that every character had the same narrative voice in their letters and so I never felt attached to any of them. Now, this may be a direct result of the translation from French, but I can't be sure. The story becomes less about the manuscript and more about the lives of those that it touched (which was obviously inevitable you can't wax on about a manuscript changing hands for over 200 pages) But if you don't care about the characters then you don't care very much at all! Also, Anne-Lise was highly unlikable in my opinion. She's so pushy. For example, after receiving letters from the author to stop pursuing the mystery she's just like "I DON'T CARE!!" and keeps on going! Not cool and she was super hard to like or relate to at all. She also muddled up her best friend's budding relationship by saying the man she was interested in was interested in another woman?! No, just nope.
Side note: If there isn't a smattering of snarky dislike for Americans is it really even a French novel?!
The letters made the story a bit jerky in my opinion and it starts getting hard to track how the manuscript moved through peoples lives and you end up going back and getting letters not in any kind of sequence that the manuscript moved and I started to feel a bit jumbled. I also predicted the ending of who wrote the final chapters and it took the drive out of the story. (I think the word "twist" is used too liberally to hook people in to reading a book, because I genuinely didn't feel like their was a twist here...just a logical conclusion.)
I think this story would be wonderfully suited for a TV show or movie adaption and I would probably watch the heck out of it. I feel like on screen you would be able to see everyone's emotions and the places they travel to as well which would bring the story to life a bit more. I would still recommend this book if it sounds interesting to you, or you are looking for a light, fast-paced beach read.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.