Welcome to Book Serendipity!!
In the tradition of "Waiting On Wednesday", which is hosted by Breaking The Spine, and "Desperately Wanting Wednesday", once hosted by Parajunkee.com, I have decided to start a bi-weekly meme about books I am super eager to read! They can be books recently or not so recently published, and will be books I've discovered either in bookstores or online, but always in a pleasantly surprising, serendipitous manner.
Here's my choice for this week!
The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession
Charlie Lovett
Hardcover, 368 pages
Viking Adult
May 28, 2013
Bibliophilia, Literary Fiction,
Literary Mystery, Supernatural Fiction
Goodreads Synopsis
Guaranteed to capture the hearts of everyone who truly loves books, The Bookman’s Tale is a former bookseller’s sparkling novel and a delightful exploration of one of literature’s most tantalizing mysteries with echoes of Shadow of the Wind and A.S. Byatt's Possession.
Hay-on-Wye, 1995. Peter Byerly isn’t sure what drew him into this particular bookshop. Nine months earlier, the death of his beloved wife, Amanda, had left him shattered. The young antiquarian bookseller relocated from North Carolina to the English countryside, hoping to rediscover the joy he once took in collecting and restoring rare books. But upon opening an eighteenth-century study of Shakespeare forgeries, Peter is shocked when a portrait of Amanda tumbles out of its pages. Of course, it isn’t really her. The watercolor is clearly Victorian. Yet the resemblance is uncanny, and Peter becomes obsessed with learning the picture’s origins.
As he follows the trail back first to the Victorian era and then to Shakespeare’s time, Peter communes with Amanda’s spirit, learns the truth about his own past, and discovers a book that might definitively prove Shakespeare was, indeed, the author of all his plays.
Hay-on-Wye, 1995. Peter Byerly isn’t sure what drew him into this particular bookshop. Nine months earlier, the death of his beloved wife, Amanda, had left him shattered. The young antiquarian bookseller relocated from North Carolina to the English countryside, hoping to rediscover the joy he once took in collecting and restoring rare books. But upon opening an eighteenth-century study of Shakespeare forgeries, Peter is shocked when a portrait of Amanda tumbles out of its pages. Of course, it isn’t really her. The watercolor is clearly Victorian. Yet the resemblance is uncanny, and Peter becomes obsessed with learning the picture’s origins.
As he follows the trail back first to the Victorian era and then to Shakespeare’s time, Peter communes with Amanda’s spirit, learns the truth about his own past, and discovers a book that might definitively prove Shakespeare was, indeed, the author of all his plays.
Why I am so fascinated
As the synopsis says, this is
a book for book lovers!
The fact that the plot bears some
similarities to such
enchanting novels as those
named above, is enough
to make me want to pick up
this book and get lost
in its very intriguing plot!
The combination of genres is
also very interesting --
it's a sort of mystery, if in a
literary way.
And there's a ghost involved,
as well....
What more could I ask?
When I saw this novel at a local
Barnes & Noble recently,
I rushed to the cash register right away!
Needless to say,I also recommend it highly!!
Would you like to read this book, too?
Leave me a comment and
let me know!
I had read a description of this one a few weeks ago and it really sounds like something that I would like. As you know I also love books and Shakespeare. The plot also sounds sad and touching. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this one Maria.
ReplyDeleteHey, Brian!
DeleteOh, books and Shakespeare is an irresistible combination!! And the addition of the ghost makes this even more fascinating, since I ADORE ghost love stories!!
I will try to get to this one soon, since I do own it. I'll have to try to get to it soon...hopefully!
Thanks for visiting and commenting!! : )
This sounds great, Maria! I confess, I had never heard of this one -- thank you so much for putting it on my radar! I am most definitely intrigued by the synopsis and the cover! Happy reading, my friend xo
ReplyDeleteHey, Michelle!
DeleteYes, it does, doesn't it? I can't wait to get started on it!! And you're so right -- both the cover and synopsis are very intriguing.
I hope I'll be able to enjoy it soon! Thanks so much for the visit and the lovely comment!! : )