This was a clever and intriguing read. What started as a lovely, engaging novel about a woman and an unusual museum, which was interesting enough in itself, turned into a far deeper and more poignant book.A beautiful and sensitive read that highlights both humans frailties and strengths and the power of love and determination.
This was a clever and intriguing read. What started as a lovely, engaging novel about a woman and an unusual museum, which was interesting enough in itself, turned into a far deeper and more poignant book. I loved the concept of the museum and its displays reflecting private moments in people's lives in such a clever way. The way it comes full circle in the final chapter is a particularly successful piece of writing.
Skipping from past to present is an interesting and popular technique, but Buchan manages to link three stages of Laure's life together in a clever and seamless way. She has a clever way of drip-feeding information about Laure, Eva, tomas and even the cat.
The book was an interesting mix of description and also an insight into a part of Europe rarely written about. Usually, anything featuring Prague, Czechoslovakia or Berlin becomes a spy novel, James Bond and thriller style. This is unique in that it is a human story/a family saga. The clever way the marionettes are portrayed as almost real-life characters is another clever way of writing. The contrast between the brutality and tenderness in the stories reflecting real life.
A beautiful and sensitive book that highlights both humans frailties and strengths and the power of love and determination.
A thought provoking story of love, deceit and betrayal.
From looking at the book's title, I thought I would be reading a romance. However, it was a completely different story to what I had expected. It is not a flimsy romance, but something much deeper and totally engrossing. It is told over three different timelines, from the mid-1980's to the present day. Laure sets off as a young girl to be an au pair in Prague during the communist regime. Here she meets Tomas, a young rebellious Czech musician and they become embroiled in an affair. As she becomes settled in her life here, she starts to become acutely aware of the living differences between her privileged employer and Tomas and his friends. The regime is oppressive and brutal, and she tries to persuade Tomas to escape to the West with her.
I found this book hard to put down, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Elizabeth Buchan is an excellent storyteller. The characters are believable and well constructed. I found the book very easy to get into with a compelling prologue and even the three timelines were easy to follow.
Loved this book. I was drawn in from the start and found it hard to put down as I wanted to know more about the characters. Very atmospheric with just the right amount of background detail to give context and meaning. A real love story with a twist.
I was drawn into this book from the start. Following the story of a young British woman living in Paris, it tells her story from a time she lived in Prague up to the current day. It’s a love story at heart with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The characters are well created and I was keen to read on just to find out what their story would be. It’s full of tension and emotion and I found it hard to put down. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants something a bit different that’s easy to follow but will keep you guessing.
I fell in love with the book from the first chapters. It's a historical fiction about Laure who created a museum of broken promises in today's world, but also her story in the communist Prague and Berlin in the 90s.
"Why a museum devoted to broken promises? Which one of us has not experienced a broken promise in our lives? Ether we made it and broke it. Or, someone made one to us and failed to keep it. The consequences can be funny, tragic, fleeting or life-long. However small, however large, those broken promises matter."
I fell in love with the book from the first chapters. It's a historical fiction about Laure who created a museum of broken promises in today's world, but also her story in the communist Prague and Berlin in the 90s.
It's rare that you read fiction and actually learn something. To me, coming from a post-communist country, it was very interesting to read about the reality in which people in Czechoslovakia had to live, the beatings, spying, zero ability of travel. How working for the party can influence life, and how being on the other side of the system can influence life.
I'm probably the last person who would choose to read the love story, which basically this book is, although I enjoyed every page! I have no idea what magic Elizabeth Buchan did, but I just couldn't stop reading!
The main character Laure spends her life trying to find out what happened with the person she loved, trying to forgive her former employer and trying to forgive herself. Being a York-born person she doesn't fully understand the danger of living in the communist country, loving freedom in the communist country and escaping the communist country.
The book takes the reader for a trip across the history, and of course to the Museum of Broken Promises, which I wish existed in the real world. I'd love to read more about the museum itself, the stories behind the exhibits in the museum, and people who donated them. I'd expect more, since the book is called after the museum.
A beautiful novel that I've fallen in love with.
The start of The Museum of Broken Promises lets you know that you're in for a heartbreaking read, but it doesn't really make it any easier.
We follow Laure from working as an Aupair in Paris and Prague to her work in the eponymous Museum of Broken Promises in modern-day Paris. This is a love story set in the foreground of the cold war, and deals with loyalty and betrayal.
A glorious story and I wish the Museum of Broken Promises existed because it sounds like a fascinating place to visit.