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A review by melissatrew
The Lost Manuscript by Cathy Bonidan
3.0
"I felt that slight shiver we feel when the lines we’re reading seem to have been written just for us."
The Lost Manuscript is a short, sweet, and charming tale of a 30-year-old abandoned, unpublished novel manuscript that makes its way across the world, passing through different sets of hands and touching several hearts along the way.
An epistolary tale (told entirely in letters), The Lost Manuscript offers varying perspectives from multiple characters, and the full audiobook cast offers a unique voice for each, which was a nice touch.
I struggled a bit with the heavy French accents on the audiobook - not necessarily a bad thing, as it did add a layer of authenticity and charm to the story; it just took some getting used to. I ultimately decided to slow down the listening speed, and that made it easier for me to understand what I was hearing.
I also felt that there was a lot more “tell” than “show,” which seems to be a common thread in epistolary novels. If you’re expecting it, I suppose it works.
Ultimately, though, I thought that The Lost Manuscript was a sweet ode to the transformative power of stories, and how the right words, spoken to a reader from the page, can motivate us to action, encourage life change, spark new relationships, and ultimately transform a life.
A 3.5-star read/listen!
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A huge thank-you to Cathy Bonidan, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
—-
Follow @letteredlibrary on Instagram!
The Lost Manuscript is a short, sweet, and charming tale of a 30-year-old abandoned, unpublished novel manuscript that makes its way across the world, passing through different sets of hands and touching several hearts along the way.
An epistolary tale (told entirely in letters), The Lost Manuscript offers varying perspectives from multiple characters, and the full audiobook cast offers a unique voice for each, which was a nice touch.
I struggled a bit with the heavy French accents on the audiobook - not necessarily a bad thing, as it did add a layer of authenticity and charm to the story; it just took some getting used to. I ultimately decided to slow down the listening speed, and that made it easier for me to understand what I was hearing.
I also felt that there was a lot more “tell” than “show,” which seems to be a common thread in epistolary novels. If you’re expecting it, I suppose it works.
Ultimately, though, I thought that The Lost Manuscript was a sweet ode to the transformative power of stories, and how the right words, spoken to a reader from the page, can motivate us to action, encourage life change, spark new relationships, and ultimately transform a life.
A 3.5-star read/listen!
—-
A huge thank-you to Cathy Bonidan, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
—-
Follow @letteredlibrary on Instagram!