When Henry receives a letter from an elderly taxidermist, it poses a puzzle that he cannot resist. As he is pulled further into the world of this strange and calculating man, Henry becomes increasingly involved with the lives of a donkey and a howler monkeyโnamed Beatrice and Virgilโand the epic journey they undertake together.
My Review: 4 stars
This book is utterly disturbing while still a beautifully complicated story. There are several narratives going on with the prominence of a play being the one I liked best. The book is one giant allegory that I believe would be an ideal discussion book in any English class. The author is incredible at descriptive passages. Some in the taxidermy shop, I actually had to skim over, because the images were too real to digest. The description of a pear took several pages in the “play” but were so well written that I didn’t mind. The use of words in this book is incredible and whether you like the subject of the book or not, the writing is superb.
Quotes I liked:
Slice a pear and you will find that its flesh is incandescent white. It glows with inner light. Those who carry a knife and a pear are never afraid of the dark.โ
-โJust as music is noise that makes sense, a painting is colour that makes sense, so a story is life that makes sense.โ-โFiction and nonfiction are not so easily divided. Fiction may not be real, but it’s true; it goes beyond the garland of facts to get to emotional and psychological truths. As for nonfiction, for history, it may be real, but its truth is slippery, hard to access, with no fixed meaning bolted to it. If history doesn’t become story, it dies to everyone except the historian.โ
Review:Drive Me Crazy by Carly Robyn blew me away with its humor, heart, and heat. Iโm newer to rom-com (Romantic Comedy) and after reading quite a few of them, I totally think that this one shines above.Full disclosure, I know the author quite well. Sheโs my daughter; but itโs the honest truth when I say I loved the heck out of this book. I was literally laughing out loud at some points and fell hard in love with Blake, the broody Brit, and Ella, the relatable journalist who could be my BFF.The pacing of the story was spot on as I fell into the fast-paced life of an F1 driver, and the toll racing takes on both their minds and bodies. I appreciated the slow burn to the ultimately spicy and steamy romance. It made the wait and tension totally worth the wait! For me, smart conversation and good banter can make or break a book. This one had so much wit and humor that Iโd be happy with that alone.The settings in this book take the reader all around Europe which makes for great escapes. Ella, who hails from Chicago before moving to New York, offers many local references which I loved.On top of the heart, humor and heat, there are also some serious issues woven through the book such a loss of a parent, mental illness, and sexual abuse. These issues are presented with sensitivity and care.Bottom line, if youโre looking for a book to make you laugh with a good dollop of spice, pick this one up. Readers are all saying they canโt wait for the second in the series.@carlyrobynauthor ๐Have you ever watched an Formula One race? OR Favorite trope in rom-coms? ... See MoreSee Less