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A review by whiskeywoman79
The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Historical Fiction / Fiction / Romance / Mystery / Magical Realism
⭐⭐.5 /5
TW: Suicide, death after childbirth, toxic family relationships, WW2 racial divide, cheating
I wanted to love this book. I loved the concept. The dual timeline was okay. A bit annoying but I thought the idea that books could hold a magical energy would make up for that. It didn't.
I wanted to pull for at least one of the characters but I am not sure I liked any of them. Except for Ethan, I guess I did like him. I felt like Ashlyn's (current-day FMC) character is intrusive and overwhelming. Her so-called gift to feel the echoes in books was never explored beyond the first few chapters, although it was once mentioned later in the story when giving an explanation. Belle and Hemi (past timeline MMC and FMC) were both genuinely awful. One had no issue cheating and the other had ulterior motives.
I get Ashlyn's curiosity and the want to research but as the reader, I just keep going back to the thought "Finish reading the books FIRST!" I had visceral feelings about the fact that she was asking questions of people whose lives and history could have been affected by the story without knowing what the story was, or at the very least knowing the information available at her fingertips first.
For it being over 400 pages I feel underwhelmed and the ending left much to be desired.
⭐⭐.5 /5
TW: Suicide, death after childbirth, toxic family relationships, WW2 racial divide, cheating
I wanted to love this book. I loved the concept. The dual timeline was okay. A bit annoying but I thought the idea that books could hold a magical energy would make up for that. It didn't.
I wanted to pull for at least one of the characters but I am not sure I liked any of them. Except for Ethan, I guess I did like him. I felt like Ashlyn's (current-day FMC) character is intrusive and overwhelming. Her so-called gift to feel the echoes in books was never explored beyond the first few chapters, although it was once mentioned later in the story when giving an explanation. Belle and Hemi (past timeline MMC and FMC) were both genuinely awful. One had no issue cheating and the other had ulterior motives.
I get Ashlyn's curiosity and the want to research but as the reader, I just keep going back to the thought "Finish reading the books FIRST!" I had visceral feelings about the fact that she was asking questions of people whose lives and history could have been affected by the story without knowing what the story was, or at the very least knowing the information available at her fingertips first.
For it being over 400 pages I feel underwhelmed and the ending left much to be desired.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: War and Child death