Reviews

The Museum of Broken Promises by Elizabeth Buchan is a heart wrenching story set in 1985 in Prague, mid 1990s in Berlin and modern day Paris. You see Prague whilst the Communists are in power, Berlin when post the different sides are making peace after the Berlin Wall coming down.

Laure is the central character whom we follow to each of these places. It is in Prague that she falls in love, and in Paris that she is the chief curator of the Museum of Broken Promises, with different things that have been donated, such as a baby's shoe, and a train ticket.

This is a look at a dark period of history, behind the Iron Curtain, and shows how dangerous life was. The story is well told, leading through revelations, and moments of clarity, whilst showing so much emotion.

The Museum of Broken Promises was published on 5th September 2019, and is available from Amazon , Waterstones and Bookshop.org .

You can follow Elizabeth Buchan on Twitter , Facebook and her website .

I have also read Two Women in Rome by Elizabeth Buchan, and you can read my review here .

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Atlantic Books .

hanrutous's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

audrey01's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If there was one way to describe this book it would be this: a timeless classic. Sweeping you away to Prague, Vienna, Berlin and Paris, follow along as the main character Laure discovers the inner workings of what it means to live, to be loved, to hope and to mourn. In short, what it means to be human. We’re often told that it’s not the ending that counts but the journey. This story proves it! To quote: « We don’t need prophets. What we need is decency and honour. »

You’re asked to wonder what beliefs really mean when faced with life and death. Helping people or making money? Capitalism be communism. Through the characters, we come to learn it’s all a matter of perspective.

But you learn to dream and hope for a better future. Something that youth rock band embodies throughout the story. Honestly, it feels a little like a dream you don’t want to see end even if you nothing lasts but the journey was worth every penny!