Tag: The Lost Book of Adana Moreau

Michael Zapata: The Lost Book of Adana Moreau

Published on by Christine GabriélleLeave a comment

So, I have no idea what synopsis I was looking at, but The Lost Book of Adana Moreau had nothing to do with Adana Moreau living in a parallel universe and having to decide to come back to her own Earth [insert nervous laugh]. She did write a book about parallel universes, though. And, unlike what it seemed in the middle of the book, she did, in fact, destroy the manuscript of her sequel novel.

The first half of this book is very fantastical, with all the stories of portals and other Earths interwoven with the main narrative. The second half, however, is much more somber with the stories of women searching for the bones of their husbands and sons in the desert, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the diligent search for a man in order to fulfill a grandfather’s dying wish.

I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

I’m not going to spoil it for you about how Adana’s second book came back into existence, but the power of friendship in this book is incredible. The friendships between Adana and Afraa, The Last Pirates of the New World (the pirate and the old pirate), Maxwell and Benjamin, and Saul and Javier had profound impacts on the lives of each of them. Neither of Adana’s books would have come to be if it weren’t for these friendships, and Saul may have never found Maxwell if it weren’t for these friendships. Aside from the mysteries between the pages, love is ever present in the interactions of the characters in this book.

Another thing I enjoyed about The Lost Book of Adana Moreau is the way everything wraps up neatly. I didn’t finish the book without finding out what happened to each person and wasn’t left wondering. Cliff hangers are good, and I use them in my own writing to leave the reader wanting more, but sometimes I want conclusions and closure, and I felt like I got that by the end of the book.

I would definitely recommend this one, but you’ve got to pay attention, or you’ll forget whose story you’re reading or who’s talking (quotation marks for dialogue are virtually nonexistent except when a character is telling someone else’s story). I returned my copy on Overdrive yesterday and borrowed The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis. We’ll see how I like this next book. Until next time…

Happy Reading!

♥

Lost Books and Twelve Tribes — My February Reads

Published on by Christine GabriélleLeave a comment

For the past two weeks, I’ve been slowly reading a book I borrowed from my local library via Overdrive—The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata. I’m only about halfway through (63.3% according to the app’s progress meter) because I neglected my reading on several occasions last week, and the story has so many twists and turns that I’m trying to make sure I’m keeping up with the characters and where they are.

Currently, Saul and his friend Javier are (maybe) about to meet Maxwell Moreau, the son of Adana Moreau—an author whose family and publisher believe destroyed the sequel to her popular sci-fi novel before her death—in order to give him what is likely the only copy of his mother’s sequel novel that Saul obtained from his grandfather (after his death) with instructions to get it to Maxwell. Saul attempted to mail the book to the address he had, but the address he had was one Maxwell no longer belonged to, so he and Javier go on an adventure to find him and wind up at the door of a hotel in the midst of Katrina-ruined New Orleans behind which Maxwell is said to be dwelling after his home was destroyed.

Of course, I’ve started in the middle of the book. The beginning is about Adana and the murder of her parents, her marriage to The Last Pirate of the New World, the birth of her son, the writing of her first novel, the writing of her second novel, and the (supposed) destruction of said second novel before her death. Also, an unlimited number of other Earths with parallel and perpendicular timelines and portals through which to visit each or none.

There are so many freaking narratives throughout this book! I can’t help but chuckle because there are so many things to keep track of. According to the summary I read that prompted my interest, I believe we’re (at some point) supposed to find Adana alive and well on an alternate Earth and she’s tasked with deciding whether to stay there or return to her own Earth and resume her life. I can’t say for sure if that’s what will actually happen, but I’d be happy to update you once I get through the remaining 36.7% of the book and find out how all these stories converge.

Next on my list is The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis. I’m hoping to finish with Adana and begin with Hattie before the end of next week. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Until then,

Happy Reading!

♥