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The Lost Manuscript
The Lost Manuscript is a charming epistolary novel about the love of books and magical ability they have to bring people together.
When Anne-Lise Briard books a room at the Beau Rivage Hotel for her vacation on the Brittany coast, she has no idea this trip will start her on the path to unearthing a mystery. In search of something to read, she opens up her bedside table drawer in her hotel room, and inside she finds an abandoned manuscript. Halfway through the pages, an address is written. She sends pages to the address, in hopes of potentially hearing a response from the unknown author. But not before she reads the story and falls in love with it. The response, which she receives a few days later, astonishes her...
Not only does the author write back, but he confesses that he lost the manuscript 30 years prior on a flight to Montreal. And then he reveals something even more shocking--that he was not the author of the second half of the book.
Anne-Lise can't rest until she discovers who this second mystery author is, and in doing so tracks down every person who has held this manuscript in their hands. Through the letters exchanged by the people whose lives the manuscript has touched, she discovers long-lost love stories and intimate secrets. Romances blossom and new friends are made. Everyone's lives are made better by this book--and isn't that the point of reading? And finally, with a plot twist you don't see coming, she uncovers the astonishing identity of the author who finished the story.
When Anne-Lise Briard books a room at the Beau Rivage Hotel for her vacation on the Brittany coast, she has no idea this trip will start her on the path to unearthing a mystery. In search of something to read, she opens up her bedside table drawer in her hotel room, and inside she finds an abandoned manuscript. Halfway through the pages, an address is written. She sends pages to the address, in hopes of potentially hearing a response from the unknown author. But not before she reads the story and falls in love with it. The response, which she receives a few days later, astonishes her...
Not only does the author write back, but he confesses that he lost the manuscript 30 years prior on a flight to Montreal. And then he reveals something even more shocking--that he was not the author of the second half of the book.
Anne-Lise can't rest until she discovers who this second mystery author is, and in doing so tracks down every person who has held this manuscript in their hands. Through the letters exchanged by the people whose lives the manuscript has touched, she discovers long-lost love stories and intimate secrets. Romances blossom and new friends are made. Everyone's lives are made better by this book--and isn't that the point of reading? And finally, with a plot twist you don't see coming, she uncovers the astonishing identity of the author who finished the story.
274 pages, Hardcover
First published January 17, 2019
241 people are currently reading
7485 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Bonidan
10 books46 followersCATHY BONIDAN works as a teacher in Vannes and has been writing since the age of 14. Her debut novel, The Perfume of Hellebore Rose, won 11 literary awards in France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 790 reviews
April 22, 2021
The Lost Manuscript by Cathy Bonidan (Author), Élodie Yung (Narrator), Rupert Degas (Narrator), Cecile Delepiere (Narrator), Jean Brassard (Narrator)
The Lost Manuscript is such a touching story and the audio version allows us to hear the written words of this epistolary novel. So often we read a book that gives us the spoken narrative but in this case, we listen to a book of written letters. The experience is lovely and hearing the various voices of the narrators made me feel I was right there with each letter writer.
When Anne-Lise Briard finds a manuscript in a bedside table drawer in a hotel on the Brittany Coast, she embarks on a journey to find the author of the manuscript. She finds that the author wrote the first half of the manuscript thirty years ago but that someone else wrote the second half of the manuscript. Two other people have also added to the pages. Anne-Lise, and the friends she makes along the way, work to find out the author of the second part of the manuscript, over the next six months. As can often happen with the written word, some words are misinterpreted on this journey of discovery, as the various players in this story communicate with each other through letters.
During these six months, people's lives change. Anne-Lise finds that the manuscript affected the lives of others during the thirty years that it has been "missing", just as it is changing the lives of those who are involved with it in the present day. This is a quiet, reflective story and I enjoyed listening to the letters. It did take an effort for me to understand the accents of the narrators but those accents make the book even more interesting. This was a buddy read Jayme and DeAnn and getting to discuss this story seemed to fit well with the story itself.
Published January 12, 2021
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
The Lost Manuscript is such a touching story and the audio version allows us to hear the written words of this epistolary novel. So often we read a book that gives us the spoken narrative but in this case, we listen to a book of written letters. The experience is lovely and hearing the various voices of the narrators made me feel I was right there with each letter writer.
When Anne-Lise Briard finds a manuscript in a bedside table drawer in a hotel on the Brittany Coast, she embarks on a journey to find the author of the manuscript. She finds that the author wrote the first half of the manuscript thirty years ago but that someone else wrote the second half of the manuscript. Two other people have also added to the pages. Anne-Lise, and the friends she makes along the way, work to find out the author of the second part of the manuscript, over the next six months. As can often happen with the written word, some words are misinterpreted on this journey of discovery, as the various players in this story communicate with each other through letters.
During these six months, people's lives change. Anne-Lise finds that the manuscript affected the lives of others during the thirty years that it has been "missing", just as it is changing the lives of those who are involved with it in the present day. This is a quiet, reflective story and I enjoyed listening to the letters. It did take an effort for me to understand the accents of the narrators but those accents make the book even more interesting. This was a buddy read Jayme and DeAnn and getting to discuss this story seemed to fit well with the story itself.
Published January 12, 2021
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
April 24, 2021
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies...The man who never reads lives only one.” George R. R. Martin
A beautiful, poignant, lyrical story is told by moving, exciting, poetic letters. Do you want to get lost in magical world of literature? This is great fit for your needs if you’re looking for a book heals your soul, warms your heart and always makes you smile genuinely!
Do you want to know what this book is about? Let’s dig out more about the story-line:
Anne-Lise Briard has no clue that her trip to Brittany Coast will change her life forever and help her unearth a 30 years old mystery as she takes her first steps to her room at Beau Rivage Hotel. She looks for something to read by searching her bedside drawer and Voila! She finds a manuscript. And as soon as she finishes the first half she finds an address which might be belonged to its author. So she writes the presumed author to inform him she found the manuscript and she truly loved it.
And surprisingly the author writes her back sooner than she expected but two surprising revaluations sends Anne-Lise to another search: the author thanks to her for finding the book which has been lost for 30 years during a flight to Montreal and the biggest surprise about the manuscript is the second half of it was written by another author.
Anne Lise starts her search to track all those people who get their hands into the book. She realizes this book has already touched to many people’s souls and warmed their hearts. Through her search and connections with people, romance brightens the lives, intimate friendships are formed and magical emotional power of the book brings out the happiness into those people’s lives.
And there is a smart twist about the identity of the second author which was not foreseeable and well-written.
Overall: I let my soul drag with the lyrical words of the letters and I enjoyed the mysterious journey of Anne Lise. Of course it’s obvious I’m giving those well-deserved, five shiny stars!
I’d like to end my review with one of my favorite quotes: “I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.” Jorge Luis Borges
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this dreamy ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
A beautiful, poignant, lyrical story is told by moving, exciting, poetic letters. Do you want to get lost in magical world of literature? This is great fit for your needs if you’re looking for a book heals your soul, warms your heart and always makes you smile genuinely!
Do you want to know what this book is about? Let’s dig out more about the story-line:
Anne-Lise Briard has no clue that her trip to Brittany Coast will change her life forever and help her unearth a 30 years old mystery as she takes her first steps to her room at Beau Rivage Hotel. She looks for something to read by searching her bedside drawer and Voila! She finds a manuscript. And as soon as she finishes the first half she finds an address which might be belonged to its author. So she writes the presumed author to inform him she found the manuscript and she truly loved it.
And surprisingly the author writes her back sooner than she expected but two surprising revaluations sends Anne-Lise to another search: the author thanks to her for finding the book which has been lost for 30 years during a flight to Montreal and the biggest surprise about the manuscript is the second half of it was written by another author.
Anne Lise starts her search to track all those people who get their hands into the book. She realizes this book has already touched to many people’s souls and warmed their hearts. Through her search and connections with people, romance brightens the lives, intimate friendships are formed and magical emotional power of the book brings out the happiness into those people’s lives.
And there is a smart twist about the identity of the second author which was not foreseeable and well-written.
Overall: I let my soul drag with the lyrical words of the letters and I enjoyed the mysterious journey of Anne Lise. Of course it’s obvious I’m giving those well-deserved, five shiny stars!
I’d like to end my review with one of my favorite quotes: “I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.” Jorge Luis Borges
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this dreamy ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
January 27, 2021
When was the last time you wrote a letter? Not a text, not an email, but an actual letter using pen and paper? The elegance of The Lost Manuscript will make you want to set your phone and computer aside in lieu of custom stationary and a pile of postage stamps.
This cozy 2019 French novel has been translated into English for 2021 publication. The bookish plot is told in the epistolary format, with letters being exchanged between characters. Not texts. Not emails. Letters! Oh so lovely.
At the heart of the story is a mystery about a found manuscript and the hands it has passed through since its original author lost it decades ago. I kept thinking how nice it was to have a mystery that wasn’t about solving a murder or the gaslighting of another person. While these characters and their pasts aren’t perfect, they all seem to be well intentioned. It was a pleasure to spend time with this collection of people who love books as much as I do.
Heeding the suggestion of fellow reviewer Jayme, I listened to the audiobook. Each letter writer is voiced by a different (heavily-accented) narrator. I love this technique! Some of the dialect, names and locations were difficult to understand initially, but I quickly embraced the immersion into French. I realized I had a smile on my face as the final words were read. Or should I say, un sourire sur mon visage?
The audiobook of The Lost Manuscript is currently available on the Hoopla library app.
This cozy 2019 French novel has been translated into English for 2021 publication. The bookish plot is told in the epistolary format, with letters being exchanged between characters. Not texts. Not emails. Letters! Oh so lovely.
At the heart of the story is a mystery about a found manuscript and the hands it has passed through since its original author lost it decades ago. I kept thinking how nice it was to have a mystery that wasn’t about solving a murder or the gaslighting of another person. While these characters and their pasts aren’t perfect, they all seem to be well intentioned. It was a pleasure to spend time with this collection of people who love books as much as I do.
Heeding the suggestion of fellow reviewer Jayme, I listened to the audiobook. Each letter writer is voiced by a different (heavily-accented) narrator. I love this technique! Some of the dialect, names and locations were difficult to understand initially, but I quickly embraced the immersion into French. I realized I had a smile on my face as the final words were read. Or should I say, un sourire sur mon visage?
The audiobook of The Lost Manuscript is currently available on the Hoopla library app.
January 24, 2021
My first 5⭐️ Audible for 2021!
This book will not be for everyone, as it is an epistolary novel-a literary work told completely in the form of letters-87 to be exact.
BUT, I loved it!! ❤️
I wasn’t sure how this would translate to an AUDIBLE, by I honestly felt that the EXPERIENCE of this book was ENHANCED because I LISTENED to it!
Dreamscape Media assembled a CAST of narrators, so EACH character had their own unique voice. Although read in English, the novel takes place primarily in France, and the names of people and places are pronounced authentically, at the start of each letter, transporting you to Europe.
By the end of the novel, I felt like I knew each of them, and that if I traveled abroad, tracked down the addresses and knocked on the doors, that they would be opened by those I had just read about.
And, I may have to test that theory, because I will miss spending time with them!
The book begins with Anne-Lise Briard booking room 128 at the Beau Rivage Hotel, for vacation, at the tip of the Brittany Coast, and opening her bedside table drawer.
Inside, she finds an abandoned manuscript, and she cannot help but to read it.
The words move her, so when she finds an address HALFWAY between the pages, she feels compelled to make sure that it is returned to its author.
A few days later, she hears from Sylvestre Fahmer, the man who penned it, and he confesses that he actually lost the manuscript 30 years prior on a flight to Montreal, half completed, AND that he didn’t write the second half.
Captivated by this mystery, Anne-Lise recruits her best friend, Maggy to play “Watson” to her “Sherlock” as they try to track down who has had it for the past thirty years and how it made its way into room 128.
Lyrical and Magical!
The story as captivating as that COVER ART!
I HIGHLY recommend listening!
A wonderful buddy read with DeAnn, who is READING it, so be sure to watch for her review to see if she is as moved by the words, as I was!
AVAILABLE NOW!
This book will not be for everyone, as it is an epistolary novel-a literary work told completely in the form of letters-87 to be exact.
BUT, I loved it!! ❤️
I wasn’t sure how this would translate to an AUDIBLE, by I honestly felt that the EXPERIENCE of this book was ENHANCED because I LISTENED to it!
Dreamscape Media assembled a CAST of narrators, so EACH character had their own unique voice. Although read in English, the novel takes place primarily in France, and the names of people and places are pronounced authentically, at the start of each letter, transporting you to Europe.
By the end of the novel, I felt like I knew each of them, and that if I traveled abroad, tracked down the addresses and knocked on the doors, that they would be opened by those I had just read about.
And, I may have to test that theory, because I will miss spending time with them!
The book begins with Anne-Lise Briard booking room 128 at the Beau Rivage Hotel, for vacation, at the tip of the Brittany Coast, and opening her bedside table drawer.
Inside, she finds an abandoned manuscript, and she cannot help but to read it.
The words move her, so when she finds an address HALFWAY between the pages, she feels compelled to make sure that it is returned to its author.
A few days later, she hears from Sylvestre Fahmer, the man who penned it, and he confesses that he actually lost the manuscript 30 years prior on a flight to Montreal, half completed, AND that he didn’t write the second half.
Captivated by this mystery, Anne-Lise recruits her best friend, Maggy to play “Watson” to her “Sherlock” as they try to track down who has had it for the past thirty years and how it made its way into room 128.
Lyrical and Magical!
The story as captivating as that COVER ART!
I HIGHLY recommend listening!
A wonderful buddy read with DeAnn, who is READING it, so be sure to watch for her review to see if she is as moved by the words, as I was!
AVAILABLE NOW!
April 24, 2021
Usually, I don't enjoy books in epistolary narrative but maybe because I did it as an audio, I was able to truly enjoy it.
A manuscript has been found in room #108 and the person staying there, Anne-Lise Briard has tracked down the author. The author confesses writing it when he was twenty and losing it thirty years ago while in Montreal. Additionally, he also lets her know that he didn't write the second part of the story.
Anne-Lise and her friend Maggie decide to track the manuscript's movement from the present to the past with the idea of finding the person responsible for writing the other half.
Every new discovery brings another interesting person to the mix whose life was affected in one way or other by the manuscript.
Soon finding Waldo is a must!
So many good stories in this book! I love how persistent Anne-Lise was about finding the people who at some point had the book. David's story made me sad while Maggie's journey made my romantic heart happy.
From France to Great Britain to Montreal to the USA, the author takes us on a trip down memory lane for many.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
A manuscript has been found in room #108 and the person staying there, Anne-Lise Briard has tracked down the author. The author confesses writing it when he was twenty and losing it thirty years ago while in Montreal. Additionally, he also lets her know that he didn't write the second part of the story.
Anne-Lise and her friend Maggie decide to track the manuscript's movement from the present to the past with the idea of finding the person responsible for writing the other half.
Every new discovery brings another interesting person to the mix whose life was affected in one way or other by the manuscript.
Soon finding Waldo is a must!
So many good stories in this book! I love how persistent Anne-Lise was about finding the people who at some point had the book. David's story made me sad while Maggie's journey made my romantic heart happy.
From France to Great Britain to Montreal to the USA, the author takes us on a trip down memory lane for many.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
February 14, 2021
Such a lovely story!
If you enjoy epistolary stories (such as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society), you should definitely give this book a try. I had a great moment and I met sweet, kind characters, each with their own voice. It's a fast read and it never drags. It was really interesting to learn about everyone who came across the lost manuscript (first with Anne-Lise, the main character, who finds it in her hotel room) and why it deeply moved them.
Who would have thought that a manuscript could bring so many people together?
If you enjoy epistolary stories (such as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society), you should definitely give this book a try. I had a great moment and I met sweet, kind characters, each with their own voice. It's a fast read and it never drags. It was really interesting to learn about everyone who came across the lost manuscript (first with Anne-Lise, the main character, who finds it in her hotel room) and why it deeply moved them.
Who would have thought that a manuscript could bring so many people together?
May 8, 2021
I really liked this story about Sylvestre's lost manuscript. Anne-Lise went too far sometimes with her meddling for sure, but if not for her we wouldn't have this beautiful story! Her excessive interfering for a manuscript that wasn't even hers became quite an interesting adventure.
This is a touching story that follows the 33-year journey of the lost manuscript. Sylvestre lost his unfinished manuscript on April 3, 1983. Anne-Lise found it thirty-three years later and discovers it was someone else who completed it. Her undeterred commitment to tracking down the manuscript's journey and second author, became an adventure that brought together various people in unexpected ways. The well-developed characters and constantly evolving mystery make this an engaging and memorable story.
This is an epistolary novel consisting of letters written from April 25, 2016 to December 31, 2016. In the acknowledgments, the author mentions the story was written on the exact same dates found on the letters in the story, and I found that so interesting! I enjoyed reading the letters exchanged between the characters. They each revealed something new about the characters and the mystery of the manuscript.
This is a touching story that follows the 33-year journey of the lost manuscript. Sylvestre lost his unfinished manuscript on April 3, 1983. Anne-Lise found it thirty-three years later and discovers it was someone else who completed it. Her undeterred commitment to tracking down the manuscript's journey and second author, became an adventure that brought together various people in unexpected ways. The well-developed characters and constantly evolving mystery make this an engaging and memorable story.
This is an epistolary novel consisting of letters written from April 25, 2016 to December 31, 2016. In the acknowledgments, the author mentions the story was written on the exact same dates found on the letters in the story, and I found that so interesting! I enjoyed reading the letters exchanged between the characters. They each revealed something new about the characters and the mystery of the manuscript.
January 11, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up.
It’s a little melodramatic and purple prose-y at times, but The Lost Manuscript was an entertaining enough distraction for a few hours—a quick and easy read that I could picture folks devouring while sunning themselves on the beach or by the pool (if social distancing permits, of course!).
Parts of this book made me laugh out loud—like when Anne-Lise poked fun at IKEA by referring them as “the Nordic people with their twisted sense of humor.” I also liked Maggy’s character (though I thought her romantic arc with William was eh). Moreover, certain aspects of the epistolary form were wielded to maximum effect—such as when William sent Anne-Lise a brisk and formal letter, and this was immediately followed by his suave and flirtatious note to Anne-Lise’s best friend Maggy. That made me laugh, too.
The writing for the most part was decent and entertaining. Sometimes, though, it felt kind of artless (such as the analogy “like chronic pain that resists the strongest painkillers”) or even ignorant (such as when one character joked that America is a country “lacking a few centuries of history”—insinuating that American history began only upon Columbus’ arrival).
Other times it was baffling. For example, Maggy writes at one point about people who had experienced “attacks of primal racism.” What does this mean? 😂 What is “primal racism”? Is there non-primal racism? Why are we singling out the former? Does racism somehow relate to an early stage in our evolutionary development? Or is it just primal/essential/central to our societies?
Something about the story itself just didn’t do it for me. Objectively, I recognized when moments of poignancy occurred and that the characters each had their own difficulties to contend with. But I just couldn’t connect with any of them or their stakes; I couldn’t bring myself to be moved by their tragedies and miracles.
And because I didn’t feel investment in or connection to any characters (whose narrative voices started to blend together by the end), the network of friends and lovers that developed as a result of the life-changing manuscript didn’t really impress me.
Womp womp. :(
Finally, I want to end on a positive note: the ending to this book was quite beautiful, and I thought that it wrapped up the story—which spanned 6 months, 2 continents, and 5 countries—quite nicely.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
First Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Evidence of the Affair (2 stars) and now this (3 stars). I’m starting to think epistolary novels just aren’t my jam; at least, not unless they’re bolstered by other forms of narration, like in Dear Emmie Blue.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All quotes were taken from an uncorrected advance proof and will be checked against the final copy.
It’s a little melodramatic and purple prose-y at times, but The Lost Manuscript was an entertaining enough distraction for a few hours—a quick and easy read that I could picture folks devouring while sunning themselves on the beach or by the pool (if social distancing permits, of course!).
Parts of this book made me laugh out loud—like when Anne-Lise poked fun at IKEA by referring them as “the Nordic people with their twisted sense of humor.” I also liked Maggy’s character (though I thought her romantic arc with William was eh). Moreover, certain aspects of the epistolary form were wielded to maximum effect—such as when William sent Anne-Lise a brisk and formal letter, and this was immediately followed by his suave and flirtatious note to Anne-Lise’s best friend Maggy. That made me laugh, too.
The writing for the most part was decent and entertaining. Sometimes, though, it felt kind of artless (such as the analogy “like chronic pain that resists the strongest painkillers”) or even ignorant (such as when one character joked that America is a country “lacking a few centuries of history”—insinuating that American history began only upon Columbus’ arrival).
Other times it was baffling. For example, Maggy writes at one point about people who had experienced “attacks of primal racism.” What does this mean? 😂 What is “primal racism”? Is there non-primal racism? Why are we singling out the former? Does racism somehow relate to an early stage in our evolutionary development? Or is it just primal/essential/central to our societies?
Something about the story itself just didn’t do it for me. Objectively, I recognized when moments of poignancy occurred and that the characters each had their own difficulties to contend with. But I just couldn’t connect with any of them or their stakes; I couldn’t bring myself to be moved by their tragedies and miracles.
And because I didn’t feel investment in or connection to any characters (whose narrative voices started to blend together by the end), the network of friends and lovers that developed as a result of the life-changing manuscript didn’t really impress me.
Womp womp. :(
Finally, I want to end on a positive note: the ending to this book was quite beautiful, and I thought that it wrapped up the story—which spanned 6 months, 2 continents, and 5 countries—quite nicely.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
First Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Evidence of the Affair (2 stars) and now this (3 stars). I’m starting to think epistolary novels just aren’t my jam; at least, not unless they’re bolstered by other forms of narration, like in Dear Emmie Blue.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All quotes were taken from an uncorrected advance proof and will be checked against the final copy.
August 30, 2021
The Lost Manuscript
by Cathy Bonidan
This is a delightful and very interesting book. It kept me glued to the story. A woman finds a manuscript for a book in a hotel room but it seems to be written by more than one person. She sets out to find out who wrote the story. Everyone who read the story has changed the way they view life.
We follow the many travels and clues of where this book has been on 30 years and meet the interesting characters along the way. Very feel good story.
by Cathy Bonidan
This is a delightful and very interesting book. It kept me glued to the story. A woman finds a manuscript for a book in a hotel room but it seems to be written by more than one person. She sets out to find out who wrote the story. Everyone who read the story has changed the way they view life.
We follow the many travels and clues of where this book has been on 30 years and meet the interesting characters along the way. Very feel good story.
February 3, 2021
4 epistolary stars
This was a lovely book made up of letters, aka epistolary style. I rather enjoy books written this way and miss the days when I would write more letters myself. The story centers around a mysterious manuscript that turns up in a hotel drawer and the quest to trace it back to the original writer. This is one where the journey is quite fun, and some amazing characters crop up along the way.
Anne-Lise is the one who finds the book at the Beau Rivage Hotel and starts by writing to the address she finds inside the book. We meet the original writer, Sylvestre, and find out that the manuscript has been missing for 30 years. The manuscript contains a lovely story (I wish we could have read it in this book) and someone else has written the ending.
The book has taken a path around the world, Montreal, Brittany coast, Paris, Brussels, and London. Along the way, it has enriched the lives of those that read it, and a few have added words to the manuscript. There are some misunderstandings, potential love matches, and new friendships formed along the way. The ending was sentimental but seemed to fit the tone of the book.
This was a buddy read with Jayme and Marilyn. They listened to the story and loved it, but I just can’t make that work for my current lifestyle, maybe when we can get back to road trips or commuting!
This was a lovely book made up of letters, aka epistolary style. I rather enjoy books written this way and miss the days when I would write more letters myself. The story centers around a mysterious manuscript that turns up in a hotel drawer and the quest to trace it back to the original writer. This is one where the journey is quite fun, and some amazing characters crop up along the way.
Anne-Lise is the one who finds the book at the Beau Rivage Hotel and starts by writing to the address she finds inside the book. We meet the original writer, Sylvestre, and find out that the manuscript has been missing for 30 years. The manuscript contains a lovely story (I wish we could have read it in this book) and someone else has written the ending.
The book has taken a path around the world, Montreal, Brittany coast, Paris, Brussels, and London. Along the way, it has enriched the lives of those that read it, and a few have added words to the manuscript. There are some misunderstandings, potential love matches, and new friendships formed along the way. The ending was sentimental but seemed to fit the tone of the book.
This was a buddy read with Jayme and Marilyn. They listened to the story and loved it, but I just can’t make that work for my current lifestyle, maybe when we can get back to road trips or commuting!
March 10, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There's something about epistolary books that I can't help but love.
'The Lost Manuscript' is an absolutely delightful novel told through letters about how the discovery of a long-lost manuscript brings together a group of otherwise complete strangers. The story is masterfully told through the letters exchanged by each person whose life was touched by the manuscript, as they discover the reach of the manuscript and who really finished the story.
I can definitely see this story being turned into a show or movie. The characters are compelling in that they felt particularly realistic to me. It's clear that they have a connection to one another due to the manuscript, and are invested in discovering who really finished the story, as they grow closer together.
That being said, the characters are really the winning aspect of this book. Although it was pretty interesting to follow along with how the manuscript passed between all the people, it was the characters who really make this book worth reading. Of course, knowing how affected they all were by the manuscript really makes me wish it were real so I could it read it for myself.
(This might just be me, but I think I was able to enjoy the book better in its audiobook form.)
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for an immersing epistolary read, or just a generally short but relatively fluffy book.
There's something about epistolary books that I can't help but love.
'The Lost Manuscript' is an absolutely delightful novel told through letters about how the discovery of a long-lost manuscript brings together a group of otherwise complete strangers. The story is masterfully told through the letters exchanged by each person whose life was touched by the manuscript, as they discover the reach of the manuscript and who really finished the story.
I can definitely see this story being turned into a show or movie. The characters are compelling in that they felt particularly realistic to me. It's clear that they have a connection to one another due to the manuscript, and are invested in discovering who really finished the story, as they grow closer together.
That being said, the characters are really the winning aspect of this book. Although it was pretty interesting to follow along with how the manuscript passed between all the people, it was the characters who really make this book worth reading. Of course, knowing how affected they all were by the manuscript really makes me wish it were real so I could it read it for myself.
(This might just be me, but I think I was able to enjoy the book better in its audiobook form.)
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for an immersing epistolary read, or just a generally short but relatively fluffy book.
January 3, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Cathy Bonidan, for a copy of this audiobook for review.
The Lost Manuscript narrated by Elodie Yung, Rupert Degas, Cecile Delepiere, and Jean Brassard was a delightful listen. The story is told with a series of letters and emails sent by and between the various characters. Each letter perfectly executes the narrative and makes it a unique journey through the written word but voiced by the characters. This was a uniquely written story and wonderfully narrated. I enjoined the story of how a single manuscript of an unfinished novel could bring together individuals from every walk of life; on a mission to find the original author and the people their story touched.
The Lost Manuscript narrated by Elodie Yung, Rupert Degas, Cecile Delepiere, and Jean Brassard was a delightful listen. The story is told with a series of letters and emails sent by and between the various characters. Each letter perfectly executes the narrative and makes it a unique journey through the written word but voiced by the characters. This was a uniquely written story and wonderfully narrated. I enjoined the story of how a single manuscript of an unfinished novel could bring together individuals from every walk of life; on a mission to find the original author and the people their story touched.
June 2, 2021
A beautiful mystery about a lost manuscript written in the epistolary style (which I love).
Anne-Lise finds an abandoned manuscript in the bedside table drawer of a hotel room on the Brittany coast. She is immediately drawn to the touching story as far as it goes because the second part of the story is written in a different hand with a very different tone. That alone is enough to peak her interest.
Anne-Lise has an urgent desire to find the author.
Little does she know the journey this decision will entail because the manuscript has been lost for thirty years and has passed through the hands of several people.
Her quest leads her to many people along the way all of whom have held the manuscript at one time or another and has found a meaning in it that has touched their lives.
It is a heartwarming journey bringing people together and finding an ending for the story.
“I know that a novel can transport us far, penetrate and transform us forevermore.” (Pg.262)
Anne-Lise finds an abandoned manuscript in the bedside table drawer of a hotel room on the Brittany coast. She is immediately drawn to the touching story as far as it goes because the second part of the story is written in a different hand with a very different tone. That alone is enough to peak her interest.
Anne-Lise has an urgent desire to find the author.
Little does she know the journey this decision will entail because the manuscript has been lost for thirty years and has passed through the hands of several people.
Her quest leads her to many people along the way all of whom have held the manuscript at one time or another and has found a meaning in it that has touched their lives.
It is a heartwarming journey bringing people together and finding an ending for the story.
“I know that a novel can transport us far, penetrate and transform us forevermore.” (Pg.262)
January 11, 2021
I’m just going to go ahead and say that epistolary format just doesn’t work for me. I don’t think it really works with an audiobook either but maybe that’s just my opinion. Maybe it would’ve been better in an epub format but I think the story itself didn’t interest me either so not sure if it would make a difference.
The premise is great on how book can touch more than one persons life. I think that’s a lovely idea and so true since books really do have that power. Sadly, I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters and didn’t’t care about the back stories. The small romance aspect did nothing for me either. Overall, I felt absolutely nothing for this book. I do like how it spanned across different countries and that it is a quick read as well, but that it about it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
The premise is great on how book can touch more than one persons life. I think that’s a lovely idea and so true since books really do have that power. Sadly, I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters and didn’t’t care about the back stories. The small romance aspect did nothing for me either. Overall, I felt absolutely nothing for this book. I do like how it spanned across different countries and that it is a quick read as well, but that it about it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
April 23, 2021
This was a heartwarming novel showing the importance of not only an impactful novel but the depth of love and friendship.
As it's an epistolary novel (which I love), it's quite a quick read because each 'letter' is not very long. As well, even though there are many characters involved in the story, the author did a great job of distinguishing each character from each other so it doesn't become confusing.
This was a fast, heartwarming read that I think many book lovers will appreciate and relate to as it shows how literature has the power to change each of us.
As it's an epistolary novel (which I love), it's quite a quick read because each 'letter' is not very long. As well, even though there are many characters involved in the story, the author did a great job of distinguishing each character from each other so it doesn't become confusing.
This was a fast, heartwarming read that I think many book lovers will appreciate and relate to as it shows how literature has the power to change each of us.
April 23, 2020
RECENSIONE QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/...
"La lettrice della stanza 128" è un giallo investigativo originale narrato sotto forma di una corrispondenza epistolare tra vari personaggi e una lettrice accanita che si mette sulle tracce del mistero che avvolge un manoscritto scritto da due autori e in tempi diversi trovato nella stanza 128 di un albergo in cui ha alloggiato. Fin dalla prima pagina il lettore viene avvolto da questa atmosfera di mistero che si dipana per tutta la lettura, lasciando che la curiosità di scoprire la verità prenda il sopravvento. Le lettere rappresentano il mezzo attraverso cui le vite dei due personaggi si intrecciano a quelle di altri personaggi secondari, seguendo così il percorso che il manoscritto ha fatto nel corso degli anni e la sua capacità di plasmare la vita delle persone che lo hanno letto. La protagonista Anne-Lise è una donna curiosa, pragmatica e determinata che ama immergersi in un buon libro, entrare nelle vite dei personaggi e lasciarsi trasportare da un luogo all’altro per vivere tante storie diverse. È una lettrice come noi, appassionata di libri, di storie che raccontano emozioni, della magia contenuta nelle parole scritte, avida amante dei misteri e degli indizi che la porteranno sulle tracce della storia d’amore racchiusa in questo manoscritto magico che possiede il potere di cambiare la vita delle persone, di aiutarle a superare i problemi, dubbi e paure e di creare legami importanti. Può un libro avere un tale potere? Me lo sono chiesta anch’io più volte non solo nel corso della lettura ma soprattutto ogni volta che termino una storia che leggo, perché sono dell’idea ognuna di esse ha il potere di lasciarmi qualcosa: un’emozione, un insegnamento, una sensazione o uno stato d’animo capace di cambiarmi e di plasmarmi. Ed è ciò che capita ad Anne-Lise quando legge questo romanzo e decide di intraprendere una missione, quella di compiere un viaggio indietro nel tempo per seguire le tracce dei posti e delle persone con cui il manoscritto è venuto a contatto, il tutto in via epistolare, senza cedere al fascino della tecnologia. A seguirla in questa missione c’è Sylvestre, l’autore del manoscritto, o meglio colui che ha scritto la prima parte della storia. Lui è l’opposto di Anne-Lise: solitario e scontroso, vive di solitudine e verrà coinvolto dalla ricerca di Anne-Lise per dare un nome e un volto a chi ha terminato il suo manoscritto incompiuto. Impossibile non lasciarvi travolgere dalla bellezza di questo romanzo che sembra appartenere ad un’altra epoca, con la sua prosa scorrevole, raffinata e intrigante con quel pizzico di ironia che ci attira fin dalla prima pagina, con la soavità con cui affronta le varie tematiche e situazioni e il senso delicato di attesa per assaporare ogni momento, ogni descrizione sensoriale.
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https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/
"La lettrice della stanza 128" è un giallo investigativo originale narrato sotto forma di una corrispondenza epistolare tra vari personaggi e una lettrice accanita che si mette sulle tracce del mistero che avvolge un manoscritto scritto da due autori e in tempi diversi trovato nella stanza 128 di un albergo in cui ha alloggiato. Fin dalla prima pagina il lettore viene avvolto da questa atmosfera di mistero che si dipana per tutta la lettura, lasciando che la curiosità di scoprire la verità prenda il sopravvento. Le lettere rappresentano il mezzo attraverso cui le vite dei due personaggi si intrecciano a quelle di altri personaggi secondari, seguendo così il percorso che il manoscritto ha fatto nel corso degli anni e la sua capacità di plasmare la vita delle persone che lo hanno letto. La protagonista Anne-Lise è una donna curiosa, pragmatica e determinata che ama immergersi in un buon libro, entrare nelle vite dei personaggi e lasciarsi trasportare da un luogo all’altro per vivere tante storie diverse. È una lettrice come noi, appassionata di libri, di storie che raccontano emozioni, della magia contenuta nelle parole scritte, avida amante dei misteri e degli indizi che la porteranno sulle tracce della storia d’amore racchiusa in questo manoscritto magico che possiede il potere di cambiare la vita delle persone, di aiutarle a superare i problemi, dubbi e paure e di creare legami importanti. Può un libro avere un tale potere? Me lo sono chiesta anch’io più volte non solo nel corso della lettura ma soprattutto ogni volta che termino una storia che leggo, perché sono dell’idea ognuna di esse ha il potere di lasciarmi qualcosa: un’emozione, un insegnamento, una sensazione o uno stato d’animo capace di cambiarmi e di plasmarmi. Ed è ciò che capita ad Anne-Lise quando legge questo romanzo e decide di intraprendere una missione, quella di compiere un viaggio indietro nel tempo per seguire le tracce dei posti e delle persone con cui il manoscritto è venuto a contatto, il tutto in via epistolare, senza cedere al fascino della tecnologia. A seguirla in questa missione c’è Sylvestre, l’autore del manoscritto, o meglio colui che ha scritto la prima parte della storia. Lui è l’opposto di Anne-Lise: solitario e scontroso, vive di solitudine e verrà coinvolto dalla ricerca di Anne-Lise per dare un nome e un volto a chi ha terminato il suo manoscritto incompiuto. Impossibile non lasciarvi travolgere dalla bellezza di questo romanzo che sembra appartenere ad un’altra epoca, con la sua prosa scorrevole, raffinata e intrigante con quel pizzico di ironia che ci attira fin dalla prima pagina, con la soavità con cui affronta le varie tematiche e situazioni e il senso delicato di attesa per assaporare ogni momento, ogni descrizione sensoriale.
CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/
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January 14, 2021Now that’s how you do an epistolary! An epistolary is written in the format of correspondence -- letters, emails, text messages, etc.
“The Lost Manuscript” is about the journey a manuscript takes, through all these different people’s lives, and how it changes them individually, as well as how it brings them together.
What I liked:
I love “books for book lovers,” as I call them. These are books where the characters truly love reading and literature.
The audio is phenomenal. This is a perfect example of how to do an epistolary well, in audio form. There were four different narrators and that makes all the difference. Epistolaries, in my humble opinion, can get very confusing, very quickly.
Having different narrators helps the listener-reader differentiate between the letter writers. Bonus too, that they had accents that corresponded with the area of the world they came from. Very nice.
What I didn’t love:
The ending felt very rushed. I won’t give spoilers, but there was so much build-up to the ending and it felt like it just rushed to reach a resolution. I wanted to know more about the romance that featured so prominently in the lost manuscript.
Plot: 4.0
Characters: 3.5
Performance: 5.0
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to "The Lost Manuscript."
“The Lost Manuscript” is about the journey a manuscript takes, through all these different people’s lives, and how it changes them individually, as well as how it brings them together.
What I liked:
I love “books for book lovers,” as I call them. These are books where the characters truly love reading and literature.
The audio is phenomenal. This is a perfect example of how to do an epistolary well, in audio form. There were four different narrators and that makes all the difference. Epistolaries, in my humble opinion, can get very confusing, very quickly.
Having different narrators helps the listener-reader differentiate between the letter writers. Bonus too, that they had accents that corresponded with the area of the world they came from. Very nice.
What I didn’t love:
The ending felt very rushed. I won’t give spoilers, but there was so much build-up to the ending and it felt like it just rushed to reach a resolution. I wanted to know more about the romance that featured so prominently in the lost manuscript.
Plot: 4.0
Characters: 3.5
Performance: 5.0
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to "The Lost Manuscript."
August 10, 2020
I loved this mystery revealed in exchanged letters.
On vacation, Anne-Lise Briard looks for something to read in her hotel room and finds a manuscript left in a bedside drawer. She sends the pages to an address she finds halfway through, trying to locate the author.
The recipient replies, saying he lost the piece on an airplane decades ago. He confesses, however, that he wrote only half of what she sent him and doesn’t know who finished it.
We’re sent on an entrancing journey as Anne-Lise writes anyone who may have seen the manuscript, and finds it has impacted many lives in profound ways. The ending will truly surprise you as the unknown author is finally revealed.
THE LOST MANUSCRIPT is a charming read, especially for those who adore books, lovely letters, and romance. Why, that’s everyone I know!
4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 12 Jan 2021
Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#TheLostManuscript
On vacation, Anne-Lise Briard looks for something to read in her hotel room and finds a manuscript left in a bedside drawer. She sends the pages to an address she finds halfway through, trying to locate the author.
The recipient replies, saying he lost the piece on an airplane decades ago. He confesses, however, that he wrote only half of what she sent him and doesn’t know who finished it.
We’re sent on an entrancing journey as Anne-Lise writes anyone who may have seen the manuscript, and finds it has impacted many lives in profound ways. The ending will truly surprise you as the unknown author is finally revealed.
THE LOST MANUSCRIPT is a charming read, especially for those who adore books, lovely letters, and romance. Why, that’s everyone I know!
4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 12 Jan 2021
Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#TheLostManuscript
June 2, 2020
I always forget how much I love epistolary novels. This one is stunning and I had to force myself to slow down. The translation is flawless.
May 21, 2019
Un bel exercice, un concept intéressant, mais malheureusement, cela en prend plus pour faire un grand livre. La forme, aussi intéressante soit-elle, crée également un décalage et des coupures répétitives dans le rythme qui ont fait que je ne me suis jamais vraiment laissé emporter. Pas pour moi!
January 27, 2020
Ho avuto il piacere di leggere in anteprima, e vi posso assicurare che si tratta di una storia davvero singolare.
Non è la storia di un personaggio, bensì quella di un libro. Un libro speciale, in grado di cambiare radicalmente le vite di coloro che ne entrano in possesso.
Un bel giorno Anne-Lise Briard trova un manoscritto nascosto nel cassetto del comodino di una stanza d’albergo, e da quel momento è caccia all’autore. Sì perché questo manoscritto è anonimo.
Trovato l’autore però, scoprirà che originariamente il manoscritto era incompleto e che un secondo autore lo ha terminato. Ma chi?
Ed ecco che in men che non si dica ci ritroviamo coinvolti in uno scambio epistolare fra persone che non si conoscono (a parte un paio), ma che hanno tutte la stessa cosa in comune. Quale? Lo lascerò scoprire a voi.
Questo romanzo è davvero toccante e geniale. L’autrice riesce a presentare ogni personaggio e il suo vissuto attraverso delle lettere, ricche di emozioni e confidenze che non vi lasceranno indifferenti.
Incredibile come il carisma di Anne-Lise arrivi al lettore attraverso ogni singola parola da lei scritta!
Ho divorato questo libro spinta dalla brama di sapere, di conoscere l’identità del secondo autore, domandandomi più volte cosa avesse avuto di tanto speciale questo manoscritto per cambiare la vita di così tante persone. Alla fine però, quando sono giunta alla pagina dei ringraziamenti, ho capito.
“Talvolta tra un libro e un lettore si instaura un legame che non può essere frutto del caso.”
Vedere questi perfetti sconosciuti collaborare fra loro, per risolvere il mistero legato al viaggio intrapreso dal manoscritto, veder nascere fra loro dei legami che sarebbero durati nel tempo, mi ha fatto sorridere. Perché?
Perché sono un’inguaribile romantica che crede nel destino (OVVIO) e che si emoziona quando le persone riescono ad abbattere la barriera invisibile che le separa.
Non è la storia di un personaggio, bensì quella di un libro. Un libro speciale, in grado di cambiare radicalmente le vite di coloro che ne entrano in possesso.
Un bel giorno Anne-Lise Briard trova un manoscritto nascosto nel cassetto del comodino di una stanza d’albergo, e da quel momento è caccia all’autore. Sì perché questo manoscritto è anonimo.
Trovato l’autore però, scoprirà che originariamente il manoscritto era incompleto e che un secondo autore lo ha terminato. Ma chi?
Ed ecco che in men che non si dica ci ritroviamo coinvolti in uno scambio epistolare fra persone che non si conoscono (a parte un paio), ma che hanno tutte la stessa cosa in comune. Quale? Lo lascerò scoprire a voi.
Questo romanzo è davvero toccante e geniale. L’autrice riesce a presentare ogni personaggio e il suo vissuto attraverso delle lettere, ricche di emozioni e confidenze che non vi lasceranno indifferenti.
Incredibile come il carisma di Anne-Lise arrivi al lettore attraverso ogni singola parola da lei scritta!
Ho divorato questo libro spinta dalla brama di sapere, di conoscere l’identità del secondo autore, domandandomi più volte cosa avesse avuto di tanto speciale questo manoscritto per cambiare la vita di così tante persone. Alla fine però, quando sono giunta alla pagina dei ringraziamenti, ho capito.
“Talvolta tra un libro e un lettore si instaura un legame che non può essere frutto del caso.”
Vedere questi perfetti sconosciuti collaborare fra loro, per risolvere il mistero legato al viaggio intrapreso dal manoscritto, veder nascere fra loro dei legami che sarebbero durati nel tempo, mi ha fatto sorridere. Perché?
Perché sono un’inguaribile romantica che crede nel destino (OVVIO) e che si emoziona quando le persone riescono ad abbattere la barriera invisibile che le separa.
January 17, 2022
A book about a lost manuscript and how it’s discovery brings a whole group of strangers together. The description tells how the book will change the lives of all those that it brings together, and it does deliver on that. I admit that I had high hopes for this book as the premise was so intriguing, but I quickly realized it wasn’t going to live up to my hopes. I found it to be somewhat boring.
1. I was unable to form a connection with any of the characters. I particularly found Anne-Lise to be annoying and many of her actions juvenile. She constantly meddles in the lives of the others despite many of them asking her not to. She somehow gets everyone to confess their deepest secrets to her and then offers them her unsolicited advice. She even admits all this in a letter to another character.
2. I also thought, the closer I came to the end, that it was hard to keep the many characters straight and that the letters didn’t always make sense. I reread some of them several times and still had the feeling as though I had missed something.
Clearly my opinion is in the minority as the 5 reviews before me on GoodReads all give the book 5 stars. It makes me feel like we read completely different books, but we all enjoy different things and sadly, for me, this book didn’t hit the mark.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
1. I was unable to form a connection with any of the characters. I particularly found Anne-Lise to be annoying and many of her actions juvenile. She constantly meddles in the lives of the others despite many of them asking her not to. She somehow gets everyone to confess their deepest secrets to her and then offers them her unsolicited advice. She even admits all this in a letter to another character.
2. I also thought, the closer I came to the end, that it was hard to keep the many characters straight and that the letters didn’t always make sense. I reread some of them several times and still had the feeling as though I had missed something.
Clearly my opinion is in the minority as the 5 reviews before me on GoodReads all give the book 5 stars. It makes me feel like we read completely different books, but we all enjoy different things and sadly, for me, this book didn’t hit the mark.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
March 23, 2021
3.5 Stars
This was an excellent choice to listen to, driving the long hours home from San Francisco to Southern California. The clever plot bounced along with voices and accents that added tremendously to the story. Delightful!
This was an excellent choice to listen to, driving the long hours home from San Francisco to Southern California. The clever plot bounced along with voices and accents that added tremendously to the story. Delightful!
June 5, 2023
Mit „Das Glück auf der letzten Seite“ von Cathy Bonidan, hat die Buchhändlerin meines Vertrauens mal wieder einen Volltreffen gelandet. In etwa einmal im Monat kaufe ich ein Buch auf ihre Empfehlung, auch wenn ich von mir aus vermutlich nicht dazu gegriffen hätte. So war es auch bei diesem Buch, einem Briefroman, der einige Monate in meinem SUB vor sich hingedümpelt ist. Ich hatte auch jetzt keine Lust auf die Geschichte und habe entsprechend geringe Erwartungen an das Buch gehabt. Doch siehe da, die Überraschung ist gelungen, denn ich habe das Buch gefeiert. Vermutlich war jetzt die Zeit und meine Leseeuphorie einfach perfekt für die Geschichte.
Mitelpunkt der Geschichte ist ein unveröffentlichtes Manuskript, das Anne Lise, einer Französin Mitte-Ende 40 zufällig in die Hände fällt. Da sie der Text tief berührt hat schickt sie das Manuskript an eine in der Geschichte verzeichnete Adresse und bekommt auch prompt Antwort: von Sylvestre, dem Verfasser der Geschichte selbst, der ihr erzählt, dass er das Manuskript vor gut vierzig Jahren auf einem Flug nach Kanada verloren hat. Anne-Lise spannt ihre Freundin Maggy ein und gemeinsam machen sie sich daran, den Weg des Manuskripts während der letzten vierzig Jahre zu rekonstruieren. Was sich bei dieser Recherche alles ereignet, auf welche Menschen sie treffen, die alle Sylvestres Text gelesen haben, ist absolut zauberhaft.
Ich liebe die Anne-Lise, die sich in Dinge einmischt, die sich nichts angehen (was ihr selbst durchaus bewusst ist), die neugierig ist und nicht locker lassen kann, bis sie ihr Zeil oder ihre Ziele erreicht hat. Auch ihre Freundschaft zu Maggy liebe ich. Wie oft habe ich über die beiden schmunzeln und sogar laut lachen müssen. Aber auch alle anderen Menschen, die ihren Weg kreuzen sind Menschen, wie Du und ich, die ihre eigenen Geschichten haben und sich echt anfühlen, jede auf ihre ganz eigene Art. Ich fühlte mich wie ein Teil von ihnen, weshalb es auch nicht verwunderlich ist, dass ich Sylvestres Idee grandios fand zu einem Treffen all jener, deren Leben seine Geschichte in den letzten 40 Jahren gekreuzt hat. Den Trubel, das Gelächter, die Wärme zwischen diesen so unterschiedlichen Menschen, die sich ohne das Manuskript nie kennengelernt hätten, war so sehr greifbar, dass ich bei diesem Treffen gerne dabei gewesen wäre. Das kann ja nur gut werden, wenn sich Lesefreunde treffen!
Mag sein, dass das Ende, die Auflösung ein wenig zu rosarot geraten und ein bissl Kitsch gestreift hat, aber für mich war das in diesem Fall wirklich gut ertragbar, da ich die Charaktere einfach liebgewonnen habe und man sich dann einfach für sie für dieses Ende freut. Ein Wohlfühlroman mit einer wundervollen Sprache und liebenswerten Protagonist*innen, der mich zum richtigen Zeitpunkt erwischt hat und den ich gerne weiterempfehle.
Mitelpunkt der Geschichte ist ein unveröffentlichtes Manuskript, das Anne Lise, einer Französin Mitte-Ende 40 zufällig in die Hände fällt. Da sie der Text tief berührt hat schickt sie das Manuskript an eine in der Geschichte verzeichnete Adresse und bekommt auch prompt Antwort: von Sylvestre, dem Verfasser der Geschichte selbst, der ihr erzählt, dass er das Manuskript vor gut vierzig Jahren auf einem Flug nach Kanada verloren hat. Anne-Lise spannt ihre Freundin Maggy ein und gemeinsam machen sie sich daran, den Weg des Manuskripts während der letzten vierzig Jahre zu rekonstruieren. Was sich bei dieser Recherche alles ereignet, auf welche Menschen sie treffen, die alle Sylvestres Text gelesen haben, ist absolut zauberhaft.
Ich liebe die Anne-Lise, die sich in Dinge einmischt, die sich nichts angehen (was ihr selbst durchaus bewusst ist), die neugierig ist und nicht locker lassen kann, bis sie ihr Zeil oder ihre Ziele erreicht hat. Auch ihre Freundschaft zu Maggy liebe ich. Wie oft habe ich über die beiden schmunzeln und sogar laut lachen müssen. Aber auch alle anderen Menschen, die ihren Weg kreuzen sind Menschen, wie Du und ich, die ihre eigenen Geschichten haben und sich echt anfühlen, jede auf ihre ganz eigene Art. Ich fühlte mich wie ein Teil von ihnen, weshalb es auch nicht verwunderlich ist, dass ich Sylvestres Idee grandios fand zu einem Treffen all jener, deren Leben seine Geschichte in den letzten 40 Jahren gekreuzt hat. Den Trubel, das Gelächter, die Wärme zwischen diesen so unterschiedlichen Menschen, die sich ohne das Manuskript nie kennengelernt hätten, war so sehr greifbar, dass ich bei diesem Treffen gerne dabei gewesen wäre. Das kann ja nur gut werden, wenn sich Lesefreunde treffen!
Mag sein, dass das Ende, die Auflösung ein wenig zu rosarot geraten und ein bissl Kitsch gestreift hat, aber für mich war das in diesem Fall wirklich gut ertragbar, da ich die Charaktere einfach liebgewonnen habe und man sich dann einfach für sie für dieses Ende freut. Ein Wohlfühlroman mit einer wundervollen Sprache und liebenswerten Protagonist*innen, der mich zum richtigen Zeitpunkt erwischt hat und den ich gerne weiterempfehle.
January 12, 2021
This was a lovely book, made more interesting in some ways due to the audiobook presentation. It had multiple narrators allowing me to keep the characters straight and to visualize their interaction as their inflections communicated their joy and displeasure well.
Overall though, the storyline wasn't as engaging as I was hoping it would be. It is a lovely tale about a found manuscript and the circuitous route it took through various people and the impact it had on each of their lives. Both by the reading and by the connections the people found with each other as they went on a journey of discovery of exactly how the manuscript got to where it was.
I love epistolary novels, and so that is one reason why the audio book wasn't as magical as it could have been had I read the words on the page. Also the large number of characters makes it difficult to make close connections with any of them.
Overall this is a sweet tale about connecting in unique and interesting ways.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Overall though, the storyline wasn't as engaging as I was hoping it would be. It is a lovely tale about a found manuscript and the circuitous route it took through various people and the impact it had on each of their lives. Both by the reading and by the connections the people found with each other as they went on a journey of discovery of exactly how the manuscript got to where it was.
I love epistolary novels, and so that is one reason why the audio book wasn't as magical as it could have been had I read the words on the page. Also the large number of characters makes it difficult to make close connections with any of them.
Overall this is a sweet tale about connecting in unique and interesting ways.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 28, 2020
"It turns out that the author in question had not finished his story and the ending was in fact written by a stranger, perhaps the person who stayed in room 128 before me."
Anne-Lise Briard checks into her room at the Beau Rivage Hotel, where she is staying during her vacation to the Brittany Coast. She goes into the nightstand to find something to read and finds a manuscript. She finishes the first half and comes across an address that may belong to the author, so she writes a letter. She writes a letter about finding the manuscript and how much she loved it. The author, surprisingly and surprisingly quickly, writes her back. The author is thankful the manuscript has been found after 30 years of being lost and informs Anne-Lise that the second half of the manuscript was written by another author. This is what kicks off the rest of Anne-Lise's journey. She is determined to track down all of the hands who touched the manuscript to ascertain who wrote the second half.
The Lost Manuscript is a really quick read. It is told entirely in letter format which I don't read very much of, so I was excited once I got into this story and realized this format would be laying out the story for me.
"I'm sure there are many of us who are still holding on to the memory of interrupted love affairs, left dreaming of what might have come next, unable to live it." The book has some beautifully written passages. It is definitely a book for booklovers so if you like those kinds of reads, I definitely recommend it. Personally, I felt the beginning half held my attention way more than the second half. I can't pinpoint the shift, but I think at one point I found it a little hard to remember who was who, and what their connection was and after that, my excitement dwindled. I will have to give it a reread once it releases because I feel like this book should have been a five star read.
Anne-Lise Briard checks into her room at the Beau Rivage Hotel, where she is staying during her vacation to the Brittany Coast. She goes into the nightstand to find something to read and finds a manuscript. She finishes the first half and comes across an address that may belong to the author, so she writes a letter. She writes a letter about finding the manuscript and how much she loved it. The author, surprisingly and surprisingly quickly, writes her back. The author is thankful the manuscript has been found after 30 years of being lost and informs Anne-Lise that the second half of the manuscript was written by another author. This is what kicks off the rest of Anne-Lise's journey. She is determined to track down all of the hands who touched the manuscript to ascertain who wrote the second half.
The Lost Manuscript is a really quick read. It is told entirely in letter format which I don't read very much of, so I was excited once I got into this story and realized this format would be laying out the story for me.
"I'm sure there are many of us who are still holding on to the memory of interrupted love affairs, left dreaming of what might have come next, unable to live it." The book has some beautifully written passages. It is definitely a book for booklovers so if you like those kinds of reads, I definitely recommend it. Personally, I felt the beginning half held my attention way more than the second half. I can't pinpoint the shift, but I think at one point I found it a little hard to remember who was who, and what their connection was and after that, my excitement dwindled. I will have to give it a reread once it releases because I feel like this book should have been a five star read.
January 12, 2021
In room 128 lays a lost manuscript. Anna-Lise finds it and reads it. She connects with it so much and wants to return it to the author. Sylvester wrote this novel 33 years ago, when he was a young man in love. When the book is returned to him though, he realizes someone else finished it for him. Anna-Lise is on a mission to track down the person that had the book for so many years and finished it. In this journey, there are so many people that we meet along the way. People that come together because they connected with wonderful words. The twists and turns were fantastic and it brought love and light.
This book has many different POVs and is a quick read because each chapter is a letter from one character to another. There is no dialogue besides communication between one another through letter. It is very refreshing. I loved the way it was written. The narrators did a fantastic job as well. It was easy to know which character was who just by voice alone. Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media and the author for an early copy of this audiobook.
This book has many different POVs and is a quick read because each chapter is a letter from one character to another. There is no dialogue besides communication between one another through letter. It is very refreshing. I loved the way it was written. The narrators did a fantastic job as well. It was easy to know which character was who just by voice alone. Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media and the author for an early copy of this audiobook.
dnf
November 19, 2020DNF - 25%
While I love an immersive epistolary novel, this one was not one of them. If I set a book aside and never feel the desire to pick it up again, I know it’s time to call it quits. I’ve read a number of epistolary novels that, when finished, I had completely forgotten that they were written solely in letters. Such as: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Dear Mr. Knightley, and Evidence of the Affair. In fact, two of them are all-time favorites of mine. What separates those favorites from this story, is their ability to transcend the letter format and convince my mind that the story is playing out in front of me. Not once in the first quarter of The Lost Manuscript could I forget that I was reading correspondence. Instead of immersive, I lost interest.
April 14, 2021
Loved it!
February 1, 2021
A cute little epistolary story that's a love letter to the inspiration authors give their readers as much as it is to second chances at love of all kinds. Told entirely through letters (and a few emails) the sorry tells the tale of a lost manuscript being found, its history being traced, and the found families that support and find each other through the journey. At times it is pretty fluffy, but it's a satisfying beach read and the different actors used in the audiobook version gave a lot of zest to the letter-driven plot (and it was pretty hard to believe that that many people would only or primarily communicate through letters in 2016.....). Enjoyable if not as life changing as it was for its characters.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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