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A review by thebooktrail88
The Words In My Hand by Guinevere Glasfurd
5.0
Visit the Netherlands as you have never seen it before! Meet Descartes and the woman who changed his life Come to Amsterdam with Guinevere Glasfurd
This novel is by far one of the most beautifully written, evocative and stunning I’ve ever read. Oh to see such a world through the eyes of Helena was a magical and fascinating journey. I felt as if the writer picked me up and put me in the costumes, the rooms of the day and I too left my slippers in the room when Helena did as she had to leave quickly.
The attention to detail is quite amazing – Helena falls asleep with her head in the flour on the table, the colour of the tea is like that of an old shoe, and words seem to be made of prickles. This is to read, touch, feel and imagine the world of 1600s Amsterdam and I was captivated as like a film, each scene filtered past my eyes. The way with words is to weave mystery, surprise, wonder and awe into each and every page.
Descartes might put some off reading this novel – I knew very little about him apart from what I covered in French at university but I’d never really thought about him as a man – rather just a figure and historical character – I feel as if I’ve met him now and got to really see inside his mind. Helena being a real person was fascinating and to see the world through her eyes was a treat. I felt as immersed in a character’s mind, thoughts and inner feeling than ever before.
This is a novel to savour – there are so many sentences, images, thoughts which need to be said aloud and savoured. The references to lines I particularly loved – lines which were not to be crossed, lines as boundaries, or the curve of a pregnant stomach. Oh and the quills – the exquisite way of how they’re prepared, cared for, the art of writing and how Helena banished from this world resorts to using beetroot on her skin…
I loved every layer, every page of this novel. It’s like a warm bath filled with the most delicious of aromas and relaxing oils. Lie back and allow it to wash over you. This is not a read to be rushed. Hypnotic and like the sun dancing across a stained glass window, the true beauty of the many colours lingers long after you’ve read the last page.
This novel is by far one of the most beautifully written, evocative and stunning I’ve ever read. Oh to see such a world through the eyes of Helena was a magical and fascinating journey. I felt as if the writer picked me up and put me in the costumes, the rooms of the day and I too left my slippers in the room when Helena did as she had to leave quickly.
The attention to detail is quite amazing – Helena falls asleep with her head in the flour on the table, the colour of the tea is like that of an old shoe, and words seem to be made of prickles. This is to read, touch, feel and imagine the world of 1600s Amsterdam and I was captivated as like a film, each scene filtered past my eyes. The way with words is to weave mystery, surprise, wonder and awe into each and every page.
Descartes might put some off reading this novel – I knew very little about him apart from what I covered in French at university but I’d never really thought about him as a man – rather just a figure and historical character – I feel as if I’ve met him now and got to really see inside his mind. Helena being a real person was fascinating and to see the world through her eyes was a treat. I felt as immersed in a character’s mind, thoughts and inner feeling than ever before.
This is a novel to savour – there are so many sentences, images, thoughts which need to be said aloud and savoured. The references to lines I particularly loved – lines which were not to be crossed, lines as boundaries, or the curve of a pregnant stomach. Oh and the quills – the exquisite way of how they’re prepared, cared for, the art of writing and how Helena banished from this world resorts to using beetroot on her skin…
I loved every layer, every page of this novel. It’s like a warm bath filled with the most delicious of aromas and relaxing oils. Lie back and allow it to wash over you. This is not a read to be rushed. Hypnotic and like the sun dancing across a stained glass window, the true beauty of the many colours lingers long after you’ve read the last page.