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booksbythewindow's reviews
97 reviews
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
(Full review to come)
Summary: The Island of Missing Trees follows two main, connected narratives: one from the perspective of 16-year old Ada in London during the 2010s, and the other following Ada’s parents’ forbidden relationship in Cyprus during the 1970s and 1990s. Each of these narratives is intertwined with the constant between the times: the fig tree in the Cypriot tavern which was Kostas and Defne’s meeting place, which Kostas later replants a shoot from in their London garden. The fig tree is able to provide an outside view of the world around them, particularly providing context to the turmoil of 1970s Cyprus.
Overall Thoughts: The Island of Missing Trees was a quick, absorbing, and engaging read that started off my holiday reads on a very good note. I enjoyed learning more about the history of Cyprus and the politics and violence that have occurred there. The characters were engaging and sympathetic, keeping my interest across the different timelines.
One of the strengths of The Island of Missing Trees is that I was equally invested in both the narratives throughout the novel. This is a testament to Shafak’s ability to write characters with incredible depth and flaws, whose choices the reader may not always agree with but can understand because of how the character is portrayed.
Including the perspective of the fig tree is obviously an unusual choice, but it is one which Shafak handles very well and has the benefit of being able to give an omnipresent narrative voice whilst keeping the character perspectives very tight. In particular, it allowed Shafak to explore more fully the history of Cyprus and how it affected not only the people of the island but the landscape too. It was interesting to explore both the human cost of violence and the cost to nature, also represented by the characters of Defne and Kostas.
I have already recommended this to a few people and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys literary or historical fiction.
Summary: The Island of Missing Trees follows two main, connected narratives: one from the perspective of 16-year old Ada in London during the 2010s, and the other following Ada’s parents’ forbidden relationship in Cyprus during the 1970s and 1990s. Each of these narratives is intertwined with the constant between the times: the fig tree in the Cypriot tavern which was Kostas and Defne’s meeting place, which Kostas later replants a shoot from in their London garden. The fig tree is able to provide an outside view of the world around them, particularly providing context to the turmoil of 1970s Cyprus.
Overall Thoughts: The Island of Missing Trees was a quick, absorbing, and engaging read that started off my holiday reads on a very good note. I enjoyed learning more about the history of Cyprus and the politics and violence that have occurred there. The characters were engaging and sympathetic, keeping my interest across the different timelines.
One of the strengths of The Island of Missing Trees is that I was equally invested in both the narratives throughout the novel. This is a testament to Shafak’s ability to write characters with incredible depth and flaws, whose choices the reader may not always agree with but can understand because of how the character is portrayed.
Including the perspective of the fig tree is obviously an unusual choice, but it is one which Shafak handles very well and has the benefit of being able to give an omnipresent narrative voice whilst keeping the character perspectives very tight. In particular, it allowed Shafak to explore more fully the history of Cyprus and how it affected not only the people of the island but the landscape too. It was interesting to explore both the human cost of violence and the cost to nature, also represented by the characters of Defne and Kostas.
I have already recommended this to a few people and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys literary or historical fiction.
Pearls on a Branch: Tales from the Arab World Told by Women by Najla Jraissaty Khoury
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
(Full review to come)
I had a really good time reading this collection, and it has reminded me how interesting it is to dip into folk tales from different cultures. Khoury has clearly chosen the tales to include with complete care and Bushnaq has some fascinating insights into cultural differences in her translator’s note.
Khoury introduces the project that led to Pearls on a Branch in a short but fascinating author’s note at the start of the collection. She describes how her work with a theatre company touring refugee camps led to her beginning to transcribe the folk tales that women in these camps would tell, remembering stories her grandmother used to relay, passed on from her own grandmother. In transcribing these stories, Khoury noticed that there was a difference between the way in which these tales would be told when the husbands and children were present and when the women were on their own. There were nuances and shared experiences included in these tales that were only clear once the women were alone; Khoury summarises this, saying ‘certain stories told by women were for women only’ (p12). With this context in mind, the tales that follow take on a new meaning for the reader, who is noticing the small moments in the tales that are particularly providing these nods to the women listening to the story.
This is a collection I have already recommended to some people in my life and I would definitely recommend to more. As with any folk tale collection, there are definitely grim and gruesome aspects to the tales, but anyone who has enjoyed the tales of the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen will also enjoy this collection of Lebanese and Palestinian folk tales.
I had a really good time reading this collection, and it has reminded me how interesting it is to dip into folk tales from different cultures. Khoury has clearly chosen the tales to include with complete care and Bushnaq has some fascinating insights into cultural differences in her translator’s note.
Khoury introduces the project that led to Pearls on a Branch in a short but fascinating author’s note at the start of the collection. She describes how her work with a theatre company touring refugee camps led to her beginning to transcribe the folk tales that women in these camps would tell, remembering stories her grandmother used to relay, passed on from her own grandmother. In transcribing these stories, Khoury noticed that there was a difference between the way in which these tales would be told when the husbands and children were present and when the women were on their own. There were nuances and shared experiences included in these tales that were only clear once the women were alone; Khoury summarises this, saying ‘certain stories told by women were for women only’ (p12). With this context in mind, the tales that follow take on a new meaning for the reader, who is noticing the small moments in the tales that are particularly providing these nods to the women listening to the story.
This is a collection I have already recommended to some people in my life and I would definitely recommend to more. As with any folk tale collection, there are definitely grim and gruesome aspects to the tales, but anyone who has enjoyed the tales of the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen will also enjoy this collection of Lebanese and Palestinian folk tales.
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
reflective
(Full review to come)
This was a thoughtful, fascinating, and engaging short fiction collection, with many stories which I enjoyed. My favourite story of Exhalation, and also the one which I found the most stressful, was ‘The Lifecycle of Software Objects’. In this, the narrative follows a protagonist involved in the development of an alternative to pets in a world that has moved entirely online. As technology continues to expand, the role and space for digients starts to shift, eventually leading people to ask questions about how sustainable the project is and just how ‘real’ their connection to their digients are.
Another story that took my interest in Exhalation was the final one, ‘Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom’. This follows Nat, who works in a store selling and restoring prisms: devices through which you can speak to alternate versions of yourself from universes from which you made different decisions. As a recovering addict, Nat is unsettled to realise that she has unconsciously slipped into unhealthy habits in the form of a scam run by her colleague, and she starts to wonder how she can break out of the cycle she seems to be stuck in. The overarching question running throughout this story is whether it is a good thing to know what would have happened if you made different choices, and the story explores this theme with a lot of nuance, showing the positive and negative experiences of the prisms.
I would recommend Exhalation to anyone who enjoys short fiction, but I would also recommend it to those who enjoy science fiction and would like to try reading some short fiction.
This was a thoughtful, fascinating, and engaging short fiction collection, with many stories which I enjoyed. My favourite story of Exhalation, and also the one which I found the most stressful, was ‘The Lifecycle of Software Objects’. In this, the narrative follows a protagonist involved in the development of an alternative to pets in a world that has moved entirely online. As technology continues to expand, the role and space for digients starts to shift, eventually leading people to ask questions about how sustainable the project is and just how ‘real’ their connection to their digients are.
Another story that took my interest in Exhalation was the final one, ‘Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom’. This follows Nat, who works in a store selling and restoring prisms: devices through which you can speak to alternate versions of yourself from universes from which you made different decisions. As a recovering addict, Nat is unsettled to realise that she has unconsciously slipped into unhealthy habits in the form of a scam run by her colleague, and she starts to wonder how she can break out of the cycle she seems to be stuck in. The overarching question running throughout this story is whether it is a good thing to know what would have happened if you made different choices, and the story explores this theme with a lot of nuance, showing the positive and negative experiences of the prisms.
I would recommend Exhalation to anyone who enjoys short fiction, but I would also recommend it to those who enjoy science fiction and would like to try reading some short fiction.
Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
fast-paced
(Full review to come)
Summary: Unravel the Dusk continues the story of Maia, now returned to the Autumn Palace but concealing the disastrous effects of her encounter with the demon Bandur at the climax of Spin the Dawn. Her problems continue to build, however, as she finds herself still in the middle of the negotiations of the political marriage between the Emperor and Lady Sarnai, an alliance intended to bring peace to both nations. However, it soon becomes clear that more is at work in the war than had been previously guessed, and Maia will soon have to confront both the demon within and the demons out in the world as she strives to put an end to the war.
Overall Thoughts: Going into this second instalment of the Blood of Stars duology, Maia continues to be an engaging protagonist, and the tension caused by her slow transformation throughout the narrative keeps the reader gripped with her story. It was particularly enjoyable to see her interacting with characters other than Edan in the first part of the narrative, particularly seeing her friendship with Ammi develop. Lim continues to write interesting characters which the reader can easily connect with. However, I did come out of this feeling that the ending had been a little anti-climactic. Nevertheless, despite not enjoying Unravel the Dusk as much as Spin the Dawn, this is still a duology that I enjoyed reading: I came to be invested in the characters populating the world of the Blood of Stars duology and I was consistently surprised by the turns the narrative took throughout the two novels. I would still recommend this to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy, as I think it is an easy, absorbing read that will suit most readers of that genre.
Summary: Unravel the Dusk continues the story of Maia, now returned to the Autumn Palace but concealing the disastrous effects of her encounter with the demon Bandur at the climax of Spin the Dawn. Her problems continue to build, however, as she finds herself still in the middle of the negotiations of the political marriage between the Emperor and Lady Sarnai, an alliance intended to bring peace to both nations. However, it soon becomes clear that more is at work in the war than had been previously guessed, and Maia will soon have to confront both the demon within and the demons out in the world as she strives to put an end to the war.
Overall Thoughts: Going into this second instalment of the Blood of Stars duology, Maia continues to be an engaging protagonist, and the tension caused by her slow transformation throughout the narrative keeps the reader gripped with her story. It was particularly enjoyable to see her interacting with characters other than Edan in the first part of the narrative, particularly seeing her friendship with Ammi develop. Lim continues to write interesting characters which the reader can easily connect with. However, I did come out of this feeling that the ending had been a little anti-climactic. Nevertheless, despite not enjoying Unravel the Dusk as much as Spin the Dawn, this is still a duology that I enjoyed reading: I came to be invested in the characters populating the world of the Blood of Stars duology and I was consistently surprised by the turns the narrative took throughout the two novels. I would still recommend this to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy, as I think it is an easy, absorbing read that will suit most readers of that genre.
Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
(Full review to come)
Summary: Ship of Destiny brings the many characters, perspectives, and narratives of the Liveship Traders trilogy together as they find themselves on an unavoidable collision course where all their differing worldviews and motivations will clash. In the Rain Wilds, the events at the end of The Mad Ship have left Malta in grave danger and Reyn determined to rescue her, setting them both on journeys that will force them into dangerous alliances. Down the river in Bingtown, Ronica is throwing herself into the now violent politics and conspiracies that have ripped the Trader families, and the entire town, apart. On Paragon, Althea, Brashen, and Amber are determined to find Kennit and rescue Vivacia, but are unsettled to realise that their ship is even more determined than they to track down the pirate. Meanwhile, on Vivacia, Wintrow and Kennit’s battle for the ship’s soul leads them to allow a long-buried secret about the true nature of the liveships to be revealed.
Overall Thoughts: Going into this final instalment of the Liveship Traders, I had been wondering whether I would keep going with the Realm of the Elderlings series, having struggled a little with darker elements of the Liveship Traders. However, I ended finding Ship of Destiny to be my favourite instalment in the Liveship Traders trilogy, and it made renewed my interest in the series as a whole. One of the real feats Hobb manages to achieve in Ship of Destiny is bringing so many characters with wildly different motivations and experiences into conflict with each other, with the reader still able to be sympathetic towards many (but definitely not all!) of them. I also particularly enjoyed seeing a certain character's plans completely unravel over the course of this book, something I have been wanting to see since Ship of Magic since I have always hated having to read his perspective. Overall, I felt that Ship of Destiny brought the Liveship Traders trilogy to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion and I do think I would recommend it, albeit alongside a list of content warnings.
Summary: Ship of Destiny brings the many characters, perspectives, and narratives of the Liveship Traders trilogy together as they find themselves on an unavoidable collision course where all their differing worldviews and motivations will clash.
Overall Thoughts: Going into this final instalment of the Liveship Traders, I had been wondering whether I would keep going with the Realm of the Elderlings series, having struggled a little with darker elements of the Liveship Traders. However, I ended finding Ship of Destiny to be my favourite instalment in the Liveship Traders trilogy, and it made renewed my interest in the series as a whole. One of the real feats Hobb manages to achieve in Ship of Destiny is bringing so many characters with wildly different motivations and experiences into conflict with each other, with the reader still able to be sympathetic towards many (but definitely not all!) of them.
Malice by John Gwynne
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
(Full review to come)
Summary: Malice follows the perspectives of multiple characters in a time where strange sightings are occurring and old creatures are re-emerging. The primary character is Corban, a teenager who is training to become a warrior in the midst of rising tensions across the Banished Lands and who may play a much greater role in the times to come than he is aware. Meanwhile Veradis, rising up the ranks to become first-sword to Prince Nathair, finds himself in an increasingly murky political landscape with allies and enemies that he did not expect. In the third major plotline, Kastell attempts to distance himself from his cousin Jael, leading him to join with warriors who plan to take on one of the biggest re-emerging threats: the giants.
Overall Thoughts: I found Malice to be an entertaining and absorbing novel with strong character voices and an interesting narrative. The three main plotlines, seen not only through the perspectives of Corban, Veradis, and Kastell, but a number of other characters in their vicinity, are very separate in the early parts of the novel, with strands of the narratives only coming together towards the end. The isolation of each narrative did create a bit of dissonance every time the perspective changed, particularly since I had characters that I enjoyed reading from and other characters that I was finding a little more frustrating. However, being able to see how Malice is setting up these narratives finally coming together in the future became more and more exciting as the novel continued, and it made me excited to read on in the series to see what happens next. I would recommend this for those who enjoy fantasy, but possibly not as a starting point for someone looking to get into fantasy. Overall, I’m glad that I have read Malice and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Summary: Malice follows the perspectives of multiple characters in a time where strange sightings are occurring and old creatures are re-emerging. The primary character is Corban, a teenager who is training to become a warrior in the midst of rising tensions across the Banished Lands and who may play a much greater role in the times to come than he is aware. Meanwhile Veradis, rising up the ranks to become first-sword to Prince Nathair, finds himself in an increasingly murky political landscape with allies and enemies that he did not expect. In the third major plotline, Kastell attempts to distance himself from his cousin Jael, leading him to join with warriors who plan to take on one of the biggest re-emerging threats: the giants.
Overall Thoughts: I found Malice to be an entertaining and absorbing novel with strong character voices and an interesting narrative. The three main plotlines, seen not only through the perspectives of Corban, Veradis, and Kastell, but a number of other characters in their vicinity, are very separate in the early parts of the novel, with strands of the narratives only coming together towards the end. The isolation of each narrative did create a bit of dissonance every time the perspective changed, particularly since I had characters that I enjoyed reading from and other characters that I was finding a little more frustrating. However, being able to see how Malice is setting up these narratives finally coming together in the future became more and more exciting as the novel continued, and it made me excited to read on in the series to see what happens next. I would recommend this for those who enjoy fantasy, but possibly not as a starting point for someone looking to get into fantasy. Overall, I’m glad that I have read Malice and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
(Full review to come)
Summary: Six Crimson Cranes follows Shiori, a princess with a secret affinity for magic, whose life is saved by a dragon. As the mysterious dragon teaches her about magic and the secrets that lie at the heart of her family, Shiori finds herself propelled into a nightmare as she and her six brothers fall under a curse. Far away from home and with no-one to recognise her, Shiori must find a way to rescue her brothers and save the rest of their family. However, it soon becomes apparent that the curse is not what it might seem, and there is more happening under the surface than Shiori knows.
Overall Thoughts: I really enjoyed my time in Six Crimson Cranes, finding it an engaging and entertaining narrative that was perfect for a lighter read. As with the first instalment in Lim's other duology, Spin the Dawn, the strength of Six Crimson Cranes lies in the voice of the first-person narrator. Shiori is not quite as engaging a character at the start of the narrative of Six Crimson Cranes as Maia at the start of Spin the Dawn; in particular, she is a much more passive protagonist, who is often reacting to the things around her. However, the reader is able to see Shiori grow and mature throughout the novel, driven by her concern for her family as the layers of politics and magic become clear. I would definitely recommend this for those who have enjoyed Lim’s The Blood of Stars duology and for anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy. Overall, I am glad I picked this up and I am looking forward to reading The Dragon’s Promise in the future.
Summary: Six Crimson Cranes follows Shiori, a princess with a secret affinity for magic, whose life is saved by a dragon. As the mysterious dragon teaches her about magic and the secrets that lie at the heart of her family, Shiori finds herself propelled into a nightmare as she and her six brothers fall under a curse. Far away from home and with no-one to recognise her, Shiori must find a way to rescue her brothers and save the rest of their family. However, it soon becomes apparent that the curse is not what it might seem, and there is more happening under the surface than Shiori knows.
Overall Thoughts: I really enjoyed my time in Six Crimson Cranes, finding it an engaging and entertaining narrative that was perfect for a lighter read. As with the first instalment in Lim's other duology, Spin the Dawn, the strength of Six Crimson Cranes lies in the voice of the first-person narrator. Shiori is not quite as engaging a character at the start of the narrative of Six Crimson Cranes as Maia at the start of Spin the Dawn; in particular, she is a much more passive protagonist, who is often reacting to the things around her. However, the reader is able to see Shiori grow and mature throughout the novel, driven by her concern for her family as the layers of politics and magic become clear. I would definitely recommend this for those who have enjoyed Lim’s The Blood of Stars duology and for anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy. Overall, I am glad I picked this up and I am looking forward to reading The Dragon’s Promise in the future.
Mirror, Shoulder, Signal by Dorthe Nors
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
(Full review to come)
Summary: Mirror, Shoulder, Signal follows Sonja as she learns to drive as a middle-aged woman. Feeling lost in her life, Sonja is trying to reconnect with her estranged sister, deepen her existing friendships, and make new friends, but finds that she can’t understand the people around her and they can’t understand the way that she sees the world. Threading through these interactions are Sonja’s driving lessons, which become a boiling point of the building frustrations in her life.
Overall Thoughts: Mirror, Shoulder, Signal is a very character-driven novel, featuring a clear character arc but less of a focus on plot. As such, the experience of the reader relies on their view of Sonja as the protagonist. Personally, although Sonja is a sympathetic character, her narrative voice was not one that I found consistently engaging. However, I was nonetheless invested in her and her attempts to make the world around her make a little bit more sense. Overall, I am glad that I picked up Mirror, Shoulder, Signal. It was a quick read and an example of a very different type of protagonist to what is usually portrayed in fiction.
Summary: Mirror, Shoulder, Signal follows Sonja as she learns to drive as a middle-aged woman. Feeling lost in her life, Sonja is trying to reconnect with her estranged sister, deepen her existing friendships, and make new friends, but finds that she can’t understand the people around her and they can’t understand the way that she sees the world. Threading through these interactions are Sonja’s driving lessons, which become a boiling point of the building frustrations in her life.
Overall Thoughts: Mirror, Shoulder, Signal is a very character-driven novel, featuring a clear character arc but less of a focus on plot. As such, the experience of the reader relies on their view of Sonja as the protagonist. Personally, although Sonja is a sympathetic character, her narrative voice was not one that I found consistently engaging. However, I was nonetheless invested in her and her attempts to make the world around her make a little bit more sense. Overall, I am glad that I picked up Mirror, Shoulder, Signal. It was a quick read and an example of a very different type of protagonist to what is usually portrayed in fiction.
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
(Full review to come)
Summary: The Memory Police follows a novelist who lives on a remote island where items keep disappearing from memory: while the items still exist, the inhabitants of the island no longer have any recollection of their purpose or any emotion towards them. With every disappearance, the Memory Police are deployed to ensure that the now-useless item is fully removed from society, using brutal and authoritarian means. In the midst of this, the protagonist enlists her friend, known only as the old man, to help her editor, R, after he reveals a dangerous secret that he has been hiding. Together, they attempt to survive the increasing disappearances without drawing the attention of the Memory Police.
Overall Thoughts: I am so glad that I picked up The Memory Police: it is definitely one of the strongest novels I have read this year. Ogawa’s writing really shines in her characters and the descriptions of the world surrounding them, allowing for the reader to become really invested in the relationships and tensions between the characters. I particularly enjoy Ogawa's portrayal of inter-generational relationships: for me, the emotional heart of the narrative is the friendship between the protagonist and the old man. Ogawa’s quiet and understated writing really aids the overall tone and atmosphere of The Memory Police. Throughout all the interactions between the three primary characters lies an undercurrent of things that are left unsaid, both for fear of what would happen if they were voiced but also, in some cases, because they are unable to put into words what is going on in the world around them. I would definitely recommend The Memory Police for those who enjoy more literary dystopian fiction, such as Owell’s 1984 or Butler’s Parable of the Sower. I am looking forward to reading more of Ogawa’s work in the future.
Summary: The Memory Police follows a novelist who lives on a remote island where items keep disappearing from memory: while the items still exist, the inhabitants of the island no longer have any recollection of their purpose or any emotion towards them. With every disappearance, the Memory Police are deployed to ensure that the now-useless item is fully removed from society, using brutal and authoritarian means. In the midst of this, the protagonist enlists her friend, known only as the old man, to help her editor, R, after he reveals a dangerous secret that he has been hiding. Together, they attempt to survive the increasing disappearances without drawing the attention of the Memory Police.
Overall Thoughts: I am so glad that I picked up The Memory Police: it is definitely one of the strongest novels I have read this year. Ogawa’s writing really shines in her characters and the descriptions of the world surrounding them, allowing for the reader to become really invested in the relationships and tensions between the characters. I particularly enjoy Ogawa's portrayal of inter-generational relationships: for me, the emotional heart of the narrative is the friendship between the protagonist and the old man. Ogawa’s quiet and understated writing really aids the overall tone and atmosphere of The Memory Police. Throughout all the interactions between the three primary characters lies an undercurrent of things that are left unsaid, both for fear of what would happen if they were voiced but also, in some cases, because they are unable to put into words what is going on in the world around them. I would definitely recommend The Memory Police for those who enjoy more literary dystopian fiction, such as Owell’s 1984 or Butler’s Parable of the Sower. I am looking forward to reading more of Ogawa’s work in the future.
The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Ruști
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
Full review can be found here: The Book of Perilous Dishes – Books by the Window (wordpress.com)
Summary: The Book of Perilous Dishes follows Pâtca, a young girl forced to flee her home and travel to Bucharest to find her Uncle Zăval. However, when the plan does not work out as intended, she finds herself stranded in the city and stumbling into the political manoeuvrings at the very heart of the city. As she does so, she begins to realise that a very powerful and dangerous book that she herself compiled, The Book of Perilous Dishes, has come into the possession of someone who does not know the true power of each recipe. As she attempts to take it back and make sure no-one finds out the truth of her identity, she becomes more deeply and accidentally involved in the politics of the city than she ever intended.
Overall Thoughts: The narrative of The Book of Perilous Dishes moves between the past, as Pâtca tries to make her way in Bucharest as a young girl, and the present, with an older Pâtca remembering this time as she prepares for a journey. In the opening sections, this was something I found a little confusing but as I read on, this became an aspect of the narrative that I enjoyed as it helped to create the overall atmosphere of the novel. I enjoyed the world which Rusti had created and found her characters to be interesting, particularly Pâtca, the protagonist. Pâtca's narrative voice is strong and the way in which she reveals the story to the reader feels as though she is speaking directly to them. This is a book that I would recommend to those who enjoy literary fiction that does not keep rigidly to a timeline and who could cope with the magical realism aspects of the narrative.
Summary: The Book of Perilous Dishes follows Pâtca, a young girl forced to flee her home and travel to Bucharest to find her Uncle Zăval. However, when the plan does not work out as intended, she finds herself stranded in the city and stumbling into the political manoeuvrings at the very heart of the city. As she does so, she begins to realise that a very powerful and dangerous book that she herself compiled, The Book of Perilous Dishes, has come into the possession of someone who does not know the true power of each recipe. As she attempts to take it back and make sure no-one finds out the truth of her identity, she becomes more deeply and accidentally involved in the politics of the city than she ever intended.
Overall Thoughts: The narrative of The Book of Perilous Dishes moves between the past, as Pâtca tries to make her way in Bucharest as a young girl, and the present, with an older Pâtca remembering this time as she prepares for a journey. In the opening sections, this was something I found a little confusing but as I read on, this became an aspect of the narrative that I enjoyed as it helped to create the overall atmosphere of the novel. I enjoyed the world which Rusti had created and found her characters to be interesting, particularly Pâtca, the protagonist. Pâtca's narrative voice is strong and the way in which she reveals the story to the reader feels as though she is speaking directly to them. This is a book that I would recommend to those who enjoy literary fiction that does not keep rigidly to a timeline and who could cope with the magical realism aspects of the narrative.