mcr1955 's review for:

The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien

5.0

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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A beautiful written novel about the search for home, displacement, immigration, connection and much else.  The story centers around Lina and her father in the near future. who have left home because of environmental disaster.  Lina is heartbroken to have lost touch with the rest of her family.  She and her father are living temporarily with other very wise adults who spend most of their time telling stories.  Long sections of the novel describe the life and travels of Hannah Arendt, Baruch Spinoza, and the Chinese poet Du Pu - which I found fascinating.  This is an ambitious and serious book, but also playful.