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The Blue Hour
From the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Moment and Five Days comes “the best book about Morocco since The Sheltering Sky. Completely absorbing and atmospheric” (Philip Kerr).
Robin knew Paul wasn’t perfect. But he said they were so lucky to have found each other, and she believed it was true.
She is a meticulous accountant, almost forty. He is an artist and university professor, twenty years older. When Paul suggests a month in Morocco, where he once lived and worked, a place where the modern meets the medieval, Robin reluctantly agrees.
Once immersed into the swirling, white hot exotica of a walled city on the North African Atlantic coast, Robin finds herself acclimatizing to its wonderful strangeness. Paul is everything she wants him to be—passionate, talented, knowledgeable. She is convinced that it is here she will finally become pregnant.
But then Paul suddenly disappears, and Robin finds herself the prime suspect in the police inquiry. As her understanding of the truth starts to unravel, Robin lurches from the crumbling art deco of Casablanca to the daunting Sahara, caught in an increasingly terrifying spiral from which there is no easy escape.
With his acclaimed ability to write thought-provoking page-turners, Douglas Kennedy takes readers into a world where only Patricia Highsmith has ever dared. The Blue Hour is a roller-coaster journey into a heart of darkness that asks the What would you do if your life depended on it?
Robin knew Paul wasn’t perfect. But he said they were so lucky to have found each other, and she believed it was true.
She is a meticulous accountant, almost forty. He is an artist and university professor, twenty years older. When Paul suggests a month in Morocco, where he once lived and worked, a place where the modern meets the medieval, Robin reluctantly agrees.
Once immersed into the swirling, white hot exotica of a walled city on the North African Atlantic coast, Robin finds herself acclimatizing to its wonderful strangeness. Paul is everything she wants him to be—passionate, talented, knowledgeable. She is convinced that it is here she will finally become pregnant.
But then Paul suddenly disappears, and Robin finds herself the prime suspect in the police inquiry. As her understanding of the truth starts to unravel, Robin lurches from the crumbling art deco of Casablanca to the daunting Sahara, caught in an increasingly terrifying spiral from which there is no easy escape.
With his acclaimed ability to write thought-provoking page-turners, Douglas Kennedy takes readers into a world where only Patricia Highsmith has ever dared. The Blue Hour is a roller-coaster journey into a heart of darkness that asks the What would you do if your life depended on it?
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2015
About the author
Douglas Kennedy
132 books1,120 followersDouglas Kennedy was born in Manhattan in 1955. He studied at Bowdoin College, Maine and Trinity College, Dublin, returning to Dublin in 1977 with just a trenchcoat, backpack and $300. He co-founded a theatre company and sold his first play, Shakespeare on Five Dollars a Day, to Radio 4 in 1980. In 1988 he moved to London and published a travel book, Beyond the Pyramids. His debut novel The Dead Heart was published in 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
December 17, 2015
I have a thing for Douglas Kennedy. I haven't loved all his books, but I feel an affinity with his writing and sensibility. He creates great characters and depicts women especially well. And he is more worldly than many American authors, picking interesting settings and showing a real interest in and an awareness for other parts of the world. And his stories are rarely formulaic or predictable. And -- poor guy -- despite being American, he seems to be under recognized in North America, having much more of a profile in the UK and even in France. So -- with all that -- I was happy to get an advance copy of his latest book -- The Blue Hour. It's not perfect, but it certainly kept me reading and confirms my positive feelings for Kennedy's books. Robin is an accountant. She marries Paul in her later 30s. Paul is an artist, quite a bit older than her and completely unreliable with money -- and with much more it turns out. Paul convinces Robin to go spend a month in Morocco, and soon after their arrival things start unraveling and Paul disappears. Thereafter, most of the book is taken up with Robin's search for Paul throughout Morocco. It's not particularly deep as far as stories go, but it's a real page turner and the twists and turns take the reader through different aspects of life in Morocco. There is a very brutal scene, but otherwise it's not particularly violent. At times, I found Robin's obsession with finding Paul a bit hard to understand, but I definitely enjoyed reading The Blue Hour. But as I said at the beginning of the review, I have a thing about Douglas Kennedy... Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
December 30, 2015
Morocco ....a new marriage .....
Robin, 37, years old, is responsible and skillful with her own financial affairs ( an accountant for a living), but when it came to picking husbands...she might have benefitted from a few basic classes.
Her artist husband, Paul, (6 foot 4 inches), with long gray hair, eighteen years older, age 58, was in financial debt...with a pathological compulsion when it came to spending. Robin's first marriage to Donald, doomed from the start, lasted 3 years.
Paul was charming, witty, handsome, they had great sexual chemistry...but he had no ability to get his bills paid. Paul's impulse spending was an issue before marriage.
Another marriage doomed from the start, for Robin?
When Robin and Paul were on an old smelly bus in Morocco, with a screaming baby, little oxygen, communal sweat, malodorous exhaust fumes, and "heat curdled so that it
actually felt tactile, weighty, and doughy like four-day-old-bread."...
I was reminded of my own travel days very similar. ( oh, how I remember these days). The author painted the visuals perfectly....from taxi drivers honking their horns, geese & chickens in the streets, women in burkas, tourists waiting in long lines for the toilets at bus stops, crowds of hawkers that were harmless but a nuisance, to the several touts offering cheap accommodations: "You want room. . .very clean. . .good price."
Anyone who has ever traveled in these parts of the world ... remembers "you want room".....dozens of times.
The 'no-air-condition', bus ride was miserable for Robin and Paul. The Arabs looked at this couple like a pair of "hippie-dippie" American's . Little did they know Robin & Paul were anything 'but' a hippies.
What Robin wanted most in life was to have a baby with Paul and be responsible, civilized adults. She loved Paul and wanted her marriage to work. Robin says:
"If we get through this fucking bus trip together we can get through anything".
BUT? Can they? Can Robin and Paul get through anything?
The plan is to stay a month in Morocco. Paul made all the plans ahead of time - bought the plane tickets before a discussion with Robin. He made a hotel reservation at the "Les Trois Chameaux", which they didn't seem to have a record of when Paul & Robin arrived. Can't have things be easy...now can we? :)
Robin steps in and handles the problem! By now.. we know it's not the first time Robin is saves Paul's ass.
So what happens during their month stay? Yikes, yikes, yikes... I wouldn't have wanted to be in Robin's shoes...but I was hooked turning pages...
The BLURP itself tells us Paul goes missing. I suppose there is nothing else to add about that. No reviewer in their right mind is going to say 'what' happens to this American couple during their visit....
The ending was predictable - but not the 'details' before arriving there. I didn't see the surprises 'during' the journey.
I enjoyed this story ... the pacing....the adventure mystery...and mostly the Moroccan
feeling. ( the hustle & bustle of street life, flowery shirts and gold chains on some of the men, heavy wood furnishings, velvet upholstery, a sea view from a balcony, the scary dark alleyways, the intense heat, the stalls of shops with every sort of
merchant plying his trade).
The author gave us ( the readers), an experience of extraordinary colors - sounds- and smells: aromas-- some enticing - some sewage -the spice market -the gorgeous fabrics - butcher meats on display which flies congregated, flower stalls, brewing mint tea, French and Moroccan pop music, hawkers and merchants shouting everywhere.
"The Blue Hour" is page turning entertaining - a little 'scary-yucky' in one scene...
Beware: anyone who reads this book might run the risk of but buying a ticket to Morocco. Ladies, make your own hotel reservation..do not count on 'the guy' to do it for ya properly! :)
Thank You Atria Books, Netgalley, and Douglas Kennedy
Robin, 37, years old, is responsible and skillful with her own financial affairs ( an accountant for a living), but when it came to picking husbands...she might have benefitted from a few basic classes.
Her artist husband, Paul, (6 foot 4 inches), with long gray hair, eighteen years older, age 58, was in financial debt...with a pathological compulsion when it came to spending. Robin's first marriage to Donald, doomed from the start, lasted 3 years.
Paul was charming, witty, handsome, they had great sexual chemistry...but he had no ability to get his bills paid. Paul's impulse spending was an issue before marriage.
Another marriage doomed from the start, for Robin?
When Robin and Paul were on an old smelly bus in Morocco, with a screaming baby, little oxygen, communal sweat, malodorous exhaust fumes, and "heat curdled so that it
actually felt tactile, weighty, and doughy like four-day-old-bread."...
I was reminded of my own travel days very similar. ( oh, how I remember these days). The author painted the visuals perfectly....from taxi drivers honking their horns, geese & chickens in the streets, women in burkas, tourists waiting in long lines for the toilets at bus stops, crowds of hawkers that were harmless but a nuisance, to the several touts offering cheap accommodations: "You want room. . .very clean. . .good price."
Anyone who has ever traveled in these parts of the world ... remembers "you want room".....dozens of times.
The 'no-air-condition', bus ride was miserable for Robin and Paul. The Arabs looked at this couple like a pair of "hippie-dippie" American's . Little did they know Robin & Paul were anything 'but' a hippies.
What Robin wanted most in life was to have a baby with Paul and be responsible, civilized adults. She loved Paul and wanted her marriage to work. Robin says:
"If we get through this fucking bus trip together we can get through anything".
BUT? Can they? Can Robin and Paul get through anything?
The plan is to stay a month in Morocco. Paul made all the plans ahead of time - bought the plane tickets before a discussion with Robin. He made a hotel reservation at the "Les Trois Chameaux", which they didn't seem to have a record of when Paul & Robin arrived. Can't have things be easy...now can we? :)
Robin steps in and handles the problem! By now.. we know it's not the first time Robin is saves Paul's ass.
So what happens during their month stay? Yikes, yikes, yikes... I wouldn't have wanted to be in Robin's shoes...but I was hooked turning pages...
The BLURP itself tells us Paul goes missing. I suppose there is nothing else to add about that. No reviewer in their right mind is going to say 'what' happens to this American couple during their visit....
The ending was predictable - but not the 'details' before arriving there. I didn't see the surprises 'during' the journey.
I enjoyed this story ... the pacing....the adventure mystery...and mostly the Moroccan
feeling. ( the hustle & bustle of street life, flowery shirts and gold chains on some of the men, heavy wood furnishings, velvet upholstery, a sea view from a balcony, the scary dark alleyways, the intense heat, the stalls of shops with every sort of
merchant plying his trade).
The author gave us ( the readers), an experience of extraordinary colors - sounds- and smells: aromas-- some enticing - some sewage -the spice market -the gorgeous fabrics - butcher meats on display which flies congregated, flower stalls, brewing mint tea, French and Moroccan pop music, hawkers and merchants shouting everywhere.
"The Blue Hour" is page turning entertaining - a little 'scary-yucky' in one scene...
Beware: anyone who reads this book might run the risk of but buying a ticket to Morocco. Ladies, make your own hotel reservation..do not count on 'the guy' to do it for ya properly! :)
Thank You Atria Books, Netgalley, and Douglas Kennedy
January 5, 2016
This book was a real roller coaster of a ride. Starts out innocently enough, a husband and wife travel for a month stay in Morocco. Married three years and nearing forty Robin wants to have a baby, her husband promises a relaxing vacation, no stress and he is sure she will conceive. But things are not as they appear and her husband has secrets, big secrets. Then he disappears. Wanting answers she attempts to find him, following the clues in his journal that he left behind.
Across the country she follows and encounters the worst of the country and the best. There is one act of horrific violence that will stall and ultimately change Robin's search. I just loved the Berbers, their camp on the Sahara will be a lifelong for Robin as will a wonderful Moroccan whose name in Arabic means. compassion. Never knew what would happen next and this novel proved to be very intense and suspenseful. Compelled to keep reading and find out what happens next. Is her husband dead or alive? What will happen to Robin?
My daughter spent a semester in Morocco not too long ago, and she fell in love with this country and its people. Still has friends that she corresponds with on facebook. The first thing she did when she got home was make me mint tea and I had to laugh because mint tea was mentioned and serves often in this book. The tea by the way is fantastic.
ARC by publisher.
Across the country she follows and encounters the worst of the country and the best. There is one act of horrific violence that will stall and ultimately change Robin's search. I just loved the Berbers, their camp on the Sahara will be a lifelong for Robin as will a wonderful Moroccan whose name in Arabic means. compassion. Never knew what would happen next and this novel proved to be very intense and suspenseful. Compelled to keep reading and find out what happens next. Is her husband dead or alive? What will happen to Robin?
My daughter spent a semester in Morocco not too long ago, and she fell in love with this country and its people. Still has friends that she corresponds with on facebook. The first thing she did when she got home was make me mint tea and I had to laugh because mint tea was mentioned and serves often in this book. The tea by the way is fantastic.
ARC by publisher.
September 2, 2023
Много слаба книга, направо не е за вярване, че е написана от Дъглас Кенеди!
Историята започва добре, за да се изроди постепенно в нелепа гротеска.
Вярно е, че американците често са глуповати и неадекватни в чужбина, но главната героиня Робин е просто уникално малоумна! Лутанията ѝ из Мароко са направо смехотворни, след обещаващото начало клишетата направо задушават случващото се и хепиенда е просто последния пирон в ковчега на този неудачен роман.
Загуба на време!
P.S. Френският не ѝ е сила на преводачката...
Историята започва добре, за да се изроди постепенно в нелепа гротеска.
Вярно е, че американците често са глуповати и неадекватни в чужбина, но главната героиня Робин е просто уникално малоумна! Лутанията ѝ из Мароко са направо смехотворни, след обещаващото начало клишетата направо задушават случващото се и хепиенда е просто последния пирон в ковчега на този неудачен роман.
Загуба на време!
P.S. Френският не ѝ е сила на преводачката...
August 3, 2015
“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.”
----Friedrich Nietzsche
Douglas Kennedy, an American best-selling author, pens a thrilling and completely exotic marital as well as adventurous story about a couple who are stuck in a bad marriage mixed with poor financial situations, The Heat of Betrayal .
Synopsis:
Robin knew Paul wasn’t perfect. But he said they were so lucky to have found each other, and she believed it was true.
In the heady strangeness of Morocco, he is everything she wants him to be – passionate, talented, knowledgeable. She is convinced that it is here she will finally become pregnant.
But when Paul suddenly disappears, and Robin finds herself the prime suspect in the police inquiry, everything changes.
As her understanding of the truth starts to unravel, Robin lurches from the crumbling art deco of Casablanca to the daunting Sahara, caught in an increasingly terrifying spiral from which there is no easy escape.
With his acclaimed ability to write page-turners that also make you think, Douglas Kennedy takes the reader on a roller-coaster journey into a heart of darkness that asks the question: what would you do if your life depended on it?
While reading I got a feeling that the author must have fallen head-over-heels in love with a passionate as well as beautiful country, Morocco, since he portrayed the city so vividly that it gave me a feeling like I've been there before and know it's dark and back alleys like the back of my hand. I've never been to Morocco but after reading this book, I'm thoroughly intrigued to visit this exotic paradise on earth. And like I said, the author has so intricately layed the detailing of the Moroccan cities namely Casablanca, Tata, Ouarzazate, the Sahara Desert and Marrakesh, it feels like when I visit Morocco, then I don't need a single guide to help me find my way through these cities, even the author hasn't missed out on the tricks and trades of the city and I'm definitely learning French before I pay a visit to Morocco.
From the streets to the culture to the history to the language to the architectural descriptions to the food like baklava to the poverty stricken side to the richer side of the city to the heritage to the dimly lit or rather say dark alleys to the souk to the landscape to the skyline, every tiny details has been captured with perfection and grace by the author. Hence the story gives a visual as well as sensory feel about Morocco.
Robin and Paul arrive at Morocco on a romantic vacation especially to be away from all those financial drama that are leaving them almost penniless due to Paul's shopaholic nature. Soon Paul goes missing leaving Robin as the prime suspect by the Moroccan police. And gradually Robin is reluctantly dragged into a dangerous adventure which leads her to visiting various cities of Morocco and unraveling it's secrets and also exposing herself to very real taste of death all the while finding for her husband. So will Robin find her husband?
The writing style is great and articulate, in fact layered with evocative narrative style that is both in French and English and at times in Arabic too, thus giving the readers with a sense of nativeness of a particular destination. The prose is elegant and very structured. And the mystery builds up is done strikingly.
What did not intrigue me much was the fact the story was taking wrong turns constantly and even the end was not at all satisfying, I don't even know if I should say that this book belongs to a crime fiction genre which has been highlighted boldly in the synopsis of this book, since although the focus of Paul's missing never once faltered from the storyline but at times, it felt like it was Robin's story who is self centered to think about her lying husband and to carry on a hopeless journey in order to prove herself something. As a matter of fact, there is no mystery in this book, it's more like being on an edgy adventure in order to find a cheating husband.
The characters, other than Robin I couldn't feel anyone's presence in this book, are well-developed and realistic. The story runs from Robin's POV and hence there's not much depth into the rest of the supporting cast of the story. Moreover, there were some characters whom I wanted to have a little bit of presence in the story to give it more weight and especially to sound real. Robin is a strong married woman who stops at nothing to find her husband who has been deluded by her husband's goodness for many years. Coming to Morocco, makes Robin realize that Paul is not a nice man, in fact he had been lying to her from the begining of time.
The emotions are vividly captured in the book and their essence can be easily felt while reading the book. The book is a downward spiral to pain and grief and along with Robin's sadness, the book too pulls the readers in to the ocean of pain and sadness. I really loved how the author carefully developed Robin's character from hating her husband to finally finding peace within herself.
In short, if you really like to read about an exotic story set in a yet more mystical destination layered with a bit of mystery and marital drama and lots of edgy adventures, then this book perfectly fits the bill.
Verdict: Gripping and compelling and contemporary romance readers will have a great time while reading this book.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author's, Douglas Kennedy, publicist for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Friedrich Nietzsche
Douglas Kennedy, an American best-selling author, pens a thrilling and completely exotic marital as well as adventurous story about a couple who are stuck in a bad marriage mixed with poor financial situations, The Heat of Betrayal .
Synopsis:
Robin knew Paul wasn’t perfect. But he said they were so lucky to have found each other, and she believed it was true.
In the heady strangeness of Morocco, he is everything she wants him to be – passionate, talented, knowledgeable. She is convinced that it is here she will finally become pregnant.
But when Paul suddenly disappears, and Robin finds herself the prime suspect in the police inquiry, everything changes.
As her understanding of the truth starts to unravel, Robin lurches from the crumbling art deco of Casablanca to the daunting Sahara, caught in an increasingly terrifying spiral from which there is no easy escape.
With his acclaimed ability to write page-turners that also make you think, Douglas Kennedy takes the reader on a roller-coaster journey into a heart of darkness that asks the question: what would you do if your life depended on it?
While reading I got a feeling that the author must have fallen head-over-heels in love with a passionate as well as beautiful country, Morocco, since he portrayed the city so vividly that it gave me a feeling like I've been there before and know it's dark and back alleys like the back of my hand. I've never been to Morocco but after reading this book, I'm thoroughly intrigued to visit this exotic paradise on earth. And like I said, the author has so intricately layed the detailing of the Moroccan cities namely Casablanca, Tata, Ouarzazate, the Sahara Desert and Marrakesh, it feels like when I visit Morocco, then I don't need a single guide to help me find my way through these cities, even the author hasn't missed out on the tricks and trades of the city and I'm definitely learning French before I pay a visit to Morocco.
From the streets to the culture to the history to the language to the architectural descriptions to the food like baklava to the poverty stricken side to the richer side of the city to the heritage to the dimly lit or rather say dark alleys to the souk to the landscape to the skyline, every tiny details has been captured with perfection and grace by the author. Hence the story gives a visual as well as sensory feel about Morocco.
Robin and Paul arrive at Morocco on a romantic vacation especially to be away from all those financial drama that are leaving them almost penniless due to Paul's shopaholic nature. Soon Paul goes missing leaving Robin as the prime suspect by the Moroccan police. And gradually Robin is reluctantly dragged into a dangerous adventure which leads her to visiting various cities of Morocco and unraveling it's secrets and also exposing herself to very real taste of death all the while finding for her husband. So will Robin find her husband?
The writing style is great and articulate, in fact layered with evocative narrative style that is both in French and English and at times in Arabic too, thus giving the readers with a sense of nativeness of a particular destination. The prose is elegant and very structured. And the mystery builds up is done strikingly.
What did not intrigue me much was the fact the story was taking wrong turns constantly and even the end was not at all satisfying, I don't even know if I should say that this book belongs to a crime fiction genre which has been highlighted boldly in the synopsis of this book, since although the focus of Paul's missing never once faltered from the storyline but at times, it felt like it was Robin's story who is self centered to think about her lying husband and to carry on a hopeless journey in order to prove herself something. As a matter of fact, there is no mystery in this book, it's more like being on an edgy adventure in order to find a cheating husband.
The characters, other than Robin I couldn't feel anyone's presence in this book, are well-developed and realistic. The story runs from Robin's POV and hence there's not much depth into the rest of the supporting cast of the story. Moreover, there were some characters whom I wanted to have a little bit of presence in the story to give it more weight and especially to sound real. Robin is a strong married woman who stops at nothing to find her husband who has been deluded by her husband's goodness for many years. Coming to Morocco, makes Robin realize that Paul is not a nice man, in fact he had been lying to her from the begining of time.
The emotions are vividly captured in the book and their essence can be easily felt while reading the book. The book is a downward spiral to pain and grief and along with Robin's sadness, the book too pulls the readers in to the ocean of pain and sadness. I really loved how the author carefully developed Robin's character from hating her husband to finally finding peace within herself.
In short, if you really like to read about an exotic story set in a yet more mystical destination layered with a bit of mystery and marital drama and lots of edgy adventures, then this book perfectly fits the bill.
Verdict: Gripping and compelling and contemporary romance readers will have a great time while reading this book.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author's, Douglas Kennedy, publicist for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
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September 19, 2021Определено книгата не беше това, което очаквах. След „Живот назаем“, която изключително харесвам, и „Специални връзки“ от която също съм с добри впечатления, тази книга на Дъглас Кенеди никак не успя да ми допадне. В предишните книги беше изградил интересни персонажи и завладяващи истории, но тук героите ми се сториха твърде повърхностни, а историята някак неправдоподобна. Също не успях да усетя и атмосферата на Мароко, нямаше почти никаква екзотичност. Имах усещането за някакъв хаос през цялото време. Категорично „Мираж“ не му се е получила. Ще трябва да опитам с някоя от другите му книги. Засега тази я оставям без оценка.
February 4, 2016
Having a career that requires one to be analytical doesn’t always translate well into personal life. After a whirlwind romance, Robin falls hard for a client; an artsy world traveler who whisks her away to Morocco for six weeks of sun and relaxation.
Approaching forty and desperate to start a family, Robin grows frustrated as she’s unable to become pregnant. Following a discovery about Paul’s past that might provide answers to why she’s have difficulty conceiving, she walks out on her husband. After cooling down, she returns to an empty hotel room in shambles with blood spattered walls. Now the prime suspect of a murder investigation, can Robin uncover the circumstances involving her husband’s disappearance?
A copy of The Blue Hour was provided by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I just wasn’t into this story. I found the main character far too neurotic and self indulgent to really enjoy any of what the author was presenting and for me, that’s generally a deal breaker – especially if you’re writing in a first person narrative. And while there weren’t many of them, I found the sex scenes unbearable. I wouldn’t say I’m a prude (there are some steamy images in those Brubaker/Phillips comics I’m always raving about), but I’m not a big fan of sexual play-by-play, I instead subscribe to the theory of “less is more”.
I may not have been the audience for this one. The first third of the book read like a romance novel, which put me off almost immediately. I love thrillers and I love mysteries but something about The Blue Hour just didn’t click with me.
Approaching forty and desperate to start a family, Robin grows frustrated as she’s unable to become pregnant. Following a discovery about Paul’s past that might provide answers to why she’s have difficulty conceiving, she walks out on her husband. After cooling down, she returns to an empty hotel room in shambles with blood spattered walls. Now the prime suspect of a murder investigation, can Robin uncover the circumstances involving her husband’s disappearance?
A copy of The Blue Hour was provided by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I just wasn’t into this story. I found the main character far too neurotic and self indulgent to really enjoy any of what the author was presenting and for me, that’s generally a deal breaker – especially if you’re writing in a first person narrative. And while there weren’t many of them, I found the sex scenes unbearable. I wouldn’t say I’m a prude (there are some steamy images in those Brubaker/Phillips comics I’m always raving about), but I’m not a big fan of sexual play-by-play, I instead subscribe to the theory of “less is more”.
I may not have been the audience for this one. The first third of the book read like a romance novel, which put me off almost immediately. I love thrillers and I love mysteries but something about The Blue Hour just didn’t click with me.
January 26, 2016
Casablanca, Morocco. A city of vibrant colors, tantalizing aromas, dizzying sights, and parched air so hot that it takes your breath away. A cacophony of shouts and touts from the marketplace vendors assault the ears. Street hustlers with grabby hands and promises of anything and everything pluck at your clothes and your arms. Sensory overload on every level.
Robin is an accountant. She lives by the numbers; numbers don't lie. Ironically, her husband, Paul, is an impetuous, spendthrift artist who DOES lie. They are starting a month long vacation in Morocco, even hoping to conceive a child during their time there. Their happiness is on borrowed time.
Sometimes we see what we want to see, and only that. Robin is guilty of this. Does her guilt run deeper? She is completely out of her element, and her nightmare has just begun.
A copy was furnished to me for reviewing purposes by Net Galley. Thank you.
Robin is an accountant. She lives by the numbers; numbers don't lie. Ironically, her husband, Paul, is an impetuous, spendthrift artist who DOES lie. They are starting a month long vacation in Morocco, even hoping to conceive a child during their time there. Their happiness is on borrowed time.
Sometimes we see what we want to see, and only that. Robin is guilty of this. Does her guilt run deeper? She is completely out of her element, and her nightmare has just begun.
A copy was furnished to me for reviewing purposes by Net Galley. Thank you.
April 24, 2015
Too heavy on the description, though it was very evocative of Morocco. It started quite well, but I gave up at about 150 pages, when there was very little happening, and what was happening was not believable enough for me to want to continue.
June 11, 2015
I like this author A LOT but this book didn't seem to be up to the standard of the previous ones. It sat a Good Story but not captivating.
I have never been to Morocco but I do hear its a very passionate place, so a good place to rekindle a failing marriage and fire it up again, however, it wasn't how it turned out to be. Robin had ideas she could become a Mother too. That everything would work out in the end. Alas it wasn't meant to be....
Paul her husband goes missing.
Instead of leads being thrown out to look for him, it seems "she"is the prime target.
My thoughts
I just didn't feel this was believable, OK yes, I realize its fiction but then again, you cannot insult a reader asking them to accept unbelievable concepts. On that basis I felt it just didn't twig it for me.
Also too much background on Morocco, yes, please set the scene, but if I wanted to know more of its history I would have got a different book out.
I would like to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone via Net Galley for my read and review copy.
April 5, 2017
Кога очите ни действително са напълно отворени? Около този екзистенциален въпрос се завърта интригата в романа на Дъглас Кенеди - „Мираж“, в който главните герои – художникът Пол и съпругата му Робин, биват изгубени в пустинята Сахара.
„Мираж“ ще ви изпрати на шеметно и екзотично пътешествие до Мароко, където влюбените Пол и Робин кацат, за да прекарат в чест на своята любов един незабравим месец. Наистина незабравим! Пол е художник, чиито студентски живот е преминал в Казабланка и след близо 30 години той решава с новата си съпруга – счетоводителката Робин, да се върне в Северна Африка на една зареждаща почивка, по време на която той да нарисува няколко платна, а тя да упражни френския си.
Още с кацането си над пустинята обаче Пол се колебае дали не прави грешка, връщайки се на мароканска земя. Пол е бохем в истинския смисъл на думата – живее ден за ден, влюбен е в живота и страстта му към виното често бива оправдание за грешките, които прави, и най-вече за проблемите с финансите, които трудно може да контролира. Съпругата му Робин обаче, бивш журналист и действащ счетоводител, е неговия балансьор, който се грижи за ��ар��те му и за постоянните проблеми с данъчните. 40-годишната Робин има неуспешен брак зад гърба си и мечтата й е именно Пол, високият и хубав художник, по-голям от нея с цели 18 години, да бъде баща на първото й дете.
Привидно двойката ще прекара най-хубавия си месец в Мароко, а дълго време Робин ще се чуди мираж ли е това безмерно щастие, което изпитва още с кацането в арабската държава, или наистина това е действителността.
„Винаги съм възприемала щастието като мимолетно събитие – отделни моменти, когато житейската мръсотия бива отмита за няколко скъпоценни часа. Свободен си от страхове и проблеми, съпровождащи като подтекст всичко, което се опитваш да постигнеш. Лошото, когато сте двойка, е, че си преследван също от страховете и проблемите на партньора си. И ако има период, в който и двамата да сте извън досега на тъмните сили, които влачите подире си... то това е едно от редките сублимни съвпадения, когато искрено можеш да кажеш: Благословени сме.“
Щастието за Робин обаче не трае дълго и мираж и действителност започват да се преплитат по най-опасния за нея начин. На личния си имейл тя получава писмо с информация за съпруга си, която преобръща ваканцията й и всичко се превръща в привидение, делириум, кошмар. Робин открива, че Пол я е излъгал и проблемът в това е, че тя не може да се изправи пред лъжеца, което под парещите лъчи на слънцето я води към развинтени и хипотетични сценарии. Дали нещата които виждаме са зрими за всички около нас? Двамата се спречкват и художникът изчезва. В пустинята Сахара Робин започва да търси Пол или по-скоро започва да го преследва, тъй като той безспирно се появява пред нея: все така висок, с панталона си от лен, белите коси до раменете и тридневната брада.
В търсене на Пол Робин си задава един-единствен въпрос: „Не сме ли сами архитекти на нещастията си?“. Въпреки всичко обаче тя не избира да стои на едно място и да умре, а предпочита да скочи в приключението и да живее.
Дъглас Кенеди притежава невероятната способност да грабва читателското внимание от първата страница и да изненадва ред след ред с перфектно изградена фабула, насред чието повествование се открояват дълбоки психологически образи. Обратите в „Мираж“ са непредвидими, а романът сякаш е една безкрайна кулминация с невероятно темпо и брилянтен завършек. Книгата е напълно готова за големия екран, събрала в себе си есенцията на Мароко и тази на копнеещото за любов човешко съзнание.
Дъглас Кенеди е роден през 1955 г. в Ню Йорк. Следва в Дъблин, Ирландия, където след дипломирането си основава театрална трупа, а по-късно е поканен за ръководител на един от най-престижните ирландски театри – „Аби“. Тогава именно започва да пише, а на 28-годишна възраст се отдава изключително само на писателска дейност. През 80-те години излиза романът му „Живот назаем“ и му осигурява постоянно място сред най-продаваните автори на планетата. Книгите на Дъглас Кенеди са преведени на 16 езика, а през 2006 г. той получава най-високото литературно отличие на Франция – кавалер на ордена за литература и изкуство. Днес живее в Лондон с жена си и двете си деца.
„Мираж“ ще ви изпрати на шеметно и екзотично пътешествие до Мароко, където влюбените Пол и Робин кацат, за да прекарат в чест на своята любов един незабравим месец. Наистина незабравим! Пол е художник, чиито студентски живот е преминал в Казабланка и след близо 30 години той решава с новата си съпруга – счетоводителката Робин, да се върне в Северна Африка на една зареждаща почивка, по време на която той да нарисува няколко платна, а тя да упражни френския си.
Още с кацането си над пустинята обаче Пол се колебае дали не прави грешка, връщайки се на мароканска земя. Пол е бохем в истинския смисъл на думата – живее ден за ден, влюбен е в живота и страстта му към виното често бива оправдание за грешките, които прави, и най-вече за проблемите с финансите, които трудно може да контролира. Съпругата му Робин обаче, бивш журналист и действащ счетоводител, е неговия балансьор, който се грижи за ��ар��те му и за постоянните проблеми с данъчните. 40-годишната Робин има неуспешен брак зад гърба си и мечтата й е именно Пол, високият и хубав художник, по-голям от нея с цели 18 години, да бъде баща на първото й дете.
Привидно двойката ще прекара най-хубавия си месец в Мароко, а дълго време Робин ще се чуди мираж ли е това безмерно щастие, което изпитва още с кацането в арабската държава, или наистина това е действителността.
„Винаги съм възприемала щастието като мимолетно събитие – отделни моменти, когато житейската мръсотия бива отмита за няколко скъпоценни часа. Свободен си от страхове и проблеми, съпровождащи като подтекст всичко, което се опитваш да постигнеш. Лошото, когато сте двойка, е, че си преследван също от страховете и проблемите на партньора си. И ако има период, в който и двамата да сте извън досега на тъмните сили, които влачите подире си... то това е едно от редките сублимни съвпадения, когато искрено можеш да кажеш: Благословени сме.“
Щастието за Робин обаче не трае дълго и мираж и действителност започват да се преплитат по най-опасния за нея начин. На личния си имейл тя получава писмо с информация за съпруга си, която преобръща ваканцията й и всичко се превръща в привидение, делириум, кошмар. Робин открива, че Пол я е излъгал и проблемът в това е, че тя не може да се изправи пред лъжеца, което под парещите лъчи на слънцето я води към развинтени и хипотетични сценарии. Дали нещата които виждаме са зрими за всички около нас? Двамата се спречкват и художникът изчезва. В пустинята Сахара Робин започва да търси Пол или по-скоро започва да го преследва, тъй като той безспирно се появява пред нея: все така висок, с панталона си от лен, белите коси до раменете и тридневната брада.
В търсене на Пол Робин си задава един-единствен въпрос: „Не сме ли сами архитекти на нещастията си?“. Въпреки всичко обаче тя не избира да стои на едно място и да умре, а предпочита да скочи в приключението и да живее.
Дъглас Кенеди притежава невероятната способност да грабва читателското внимание от първата страница и да изненадва ред след ред с перфектно изградена фабула, насред чието повествование се открояват дълбоки психологически образи. Обратите в „Мираж“ са непредвидими, а романът сякаш е една безкрайна кулминация с невероятно темпо и брилянтен завършек. Книгата е напълно готова за големия екран, събрала в себе си есенцията на Мароко и тази на копнеещото за любов човешко съзнание.
Дъглас Кенеди е роден през 1955 г. в Ню Йорк. Следва в Дъблин, Ирландия, където след дипломирането си основава театрална трупа, а по-късно е поканен за ръководител на един от най-престижните ирландски театри – „Аби“. Тогава именно започва да пише, а на 28-годишна възраст се отдава изключително само на писателска дейност. През 80-те години излиза романът му „Живот назаем“ и му осигурява постоянно място сред най-продаваните автори на планетата. Книгите на Дъглас Кенеди са преведени на 16 езика, а през 2006 г. той получава най-високото литературно отличие на Франция – кавалер на ордена за литература и изкуство. Днес живее в Лондон с жена си и двете си деца.
February 1, 2016
Robin is a woman who lives a conservative life as an accountant in New York. Her wildest craziest moment was in marrying Paul, a tall throwback hippie artist who swept Robin off her feet. Paul wants to take a month long trip to Morocco where he lived and worked as an artist long before meeting Robin. Robin's practical side is always appearing but she wants to share and know more about Paul's previous life since they had a whirlwind romance ending in marriage. And that becomes the storyline to this novel - how well do you know the person you meet and love?
The writing was excellent. The characters are well-developed. And the descriptions of Morroco, it's towns and people are great. So why only 4 stars and not 5? This is a mystery to uncover who Paul is and it was a romance mystery/chick lit type of novel. That is not my preferred reading so while the book is good, it was not my favorite genre.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing was excellent. The characters are well-developed. And the descriptions of Morroco, it's towns and people are great. So why only 4 stars and not 5? This is a mystery to uncover who Paul is and it was a romance mystery/chick lit type of novel. That is not my preferred reading so while the book is good, it was not my favorite genre.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
March 24, 2016Not my cup of tea. Not sure why it is getting such accolades. Written in the first person from a woman's POV by Kennedy, a man, it's not believable . . . and to me it's not interesting enough to continue. I thought this was a thriller, but so far (70 pages) it reads like a (bad) romance novel.
May 4, 2015
Five shining stars! What a lovely book!
It grabbed my attention from the first sentence and I didn't want it to end. I was so hooked that there was nothing else I wanted to do, other then reading it. Now that I've finished it, I cannot stop thinking about it. It is a real page turner and also a very intelligent book, beautifully written. It poses some very crucial questions about things in life that are important to everyone of us. Such as: Is love sufficient for us to be happy? Or sometimes love just ain't enough... Do we really know those people closest to us, people we love? Are we capable of forgiveness when we feel betrayed? What is hope and how could it help us through rough times and in times of deepest crisis? How do we manage to carry on after profound grief in the middle of life. And so many other questions... And the answers are not easy, but everyone can try to find them for himself, after reading this great story, so rich of author's shrewd observations.
Kennedy's style and technique are impeccable. Not only does his understanding of complex, familial relationships fascinates me, but his ability to capture these characters makes the story so perceptive. They are so real that you truly start to love or hate them and actually to live with them.
It is one of those rare instances when I fully agree to all those blurbs written in the front and back covers of a book. In a word - brilliant!
Just read it!
It grabbed my attention from the first sentence and I didn't want it to end. I was so hooked that there was nothing else I wanted to do, other then reading it. Now that I've finished it, I cannot stop thinking about it. It is a real page turner and also a very intelligent book, beautifully written. It poses some very crucial questions about things in life that are important to everyone of us. Such as: Is love sufficient for us to be happy? Or sometimes love just ain't enough... Do we really know those people closest to us, people we love? Are we capable of forgiveness when we feel betrayed? What is hope and how could it help us through rough times and in times of deepest crisis? How do we manage to carry on after profound grief in the middle of life. And so many other questions... And the answers are not easy, but everyone can try to find them for himself, after reading this great story, so rich of author's shrewd observations.
Kennedy's style and technique are impeccable. Not only does his understanding of complex, familial relationships fascinates me, but his ability to capture these characters makes the story so perceptive. They are so real that you truly start to love or hate them and actually to live with them.
It is one of those rare instances when I fully agree to all those blurbs written in the front and back covers of a book. In a word - brilliant!
Just read it!
March 15, 2016
Please, someone tell me why the author receives glowing reviews. This is the first-and last-of his work i will read. Reminded me of The Perils of Pauline. And the constant sprinkling of French phrases is very annoying, distracting. Kennedy should place effort on writing without repetitive cut and paste phrases, to wit: my eyes snapped open, I glanced at my watch, I want mint tea, etc. The book is replete with this nonsense.
Now to the story be it one; no, it is a plot that is just unbelievable, ridiculous! And was it necessary to immerse the reader in vivid, disgusting descriptions of female genitalia and the sex act? I am no prude, but good God!
Kennedy must have an immense ego to pass this novel off as literature...and then receive accolades!
Jim
Now to the story be it one; no, it is a plot that is just unbelievable, ridiculous! And was it necessary to immerse the reader in vivid, disgusting descriptions of female genitalia and the sex act? I am no prude, but good God!
Kennedy must have an immense ego to pass this novel off as literature...and then receive accolades!
Jim
April 3, 2017
Измъчи ме тази книга определено. Очаквах доста заради добри отзиви, а и защото по принцип съм фен на Кенеди. Той не се отличава с особен стил, но пък пише интригуващи истории, които обикновено се движат с бясно темпо и държат читателя в напрежение.
"Мираж" обаче по същество е скучноват разказ за премеждията на една леко досадна жена в Мароко, която се впуска като обезумяла да издирва изчезналия си съпруг, въпреки че той я е измамил жестоко и реално всеки нормален човек би си събрал багажа и би се върнал в родната си страна. Поради тази причина ми беше и доста трудно да ѝ съчувствам. Криминална нишка не бих казала, че има (още един минус), а проникновените разсъждения на тема любов и предателство звучат плоско в най-добрия случай. Нечовешки ме дразнеха непрестанните ненужни описания кой кога е пикал и кой с какво е бил облечен, които само утежняваха текста. Краят е предвидимо почти щастлив, въпреки тежките премеждия на героинята.
И да не съм голословна няколко цитата:
"Повдигна джалабата си и беляза пясъка" (да, пикае си човекът насред пустинята).
"Отмъщението е най-добре да бъде консумирано студено" (от серията клишета, които ме карат да възкликна: Верно ли?! Не думай.)
"Имаше невероятен талант, но му липсваше талантът да притежава талант" (това дори не мога да го разтълкувам. Явно не притежавам талант.)
Трите звезди са съответно заради предишните ми хубави спомени от Кенеди, защото той може много повече, заради сполучливия превод на българското заглавие (английското In The Heat of Betrayal е също толкова посредствено, колкото и самата книга) и заради една-две интересни сцени.
"Мираж" обаче по същество е скучноват разказ за премеждията на една леко досадна жена в Мароко, която се впуска като обезумяла да издирва изчезналия си съпруг, въпреки че той я е измамил жестоко и реално всеки нормален човек би си събрал багажа и би се върнал в родната си страна. Поради тази причина ми беше и доста трудно да ѝ съчувствам. Криминална нишка не бих казала, че има (още един минус), а проникновените разсъждения на тема любов и предателство звучат плоско в най-добрия случай. Нечовешки ме дразнеха непрестанните ненужни описания кой кога е пикал и кой с какво е бил облечен, които само утежняваха текста. Краят е предвидимо почти щастлив, въпреки тежките премеждия на героинята.
И да не съм голословна няколко цитата:
"Повдигна джалабата си и беляза пясъка" (да, пикае си човекът насред пустинята).
"Отмъщението е най-добре да бъде консумирано студено" (от серията клишета, които ме карат да възкликна: Верно ли?! Не думай.)
"Имаше невероятен талант, но му липсваше талантът да притежава талант" (това дори не мога да го разтълкувам. Явно не притежавам талант.)
Трите звезди са съответно заради предишните ми хубави спомени от Кенеди, защото той може много повече, заради сполучливия превод на българското заглавие (английското In The Heat of Betrayal е също толкова посредствено, колкото и самата книга) и заради една-две интересни сцени.
February 9, 2022
A well thought out story but frustrating.
*Gifted by Simon & Schuster Canada*
*Gifted by Simon & Schuster Canada*
January 26, 2023
2023
Все отлагах препрочитането на книгата, защото има доста тежки моменти, а и страшно много неща ме ядосват, но в крайна сметка си я припомних.
2017
Да, отново любимия Дъглас Кенеди.
Бърка до дъното на душата ми.
И пак повествованието върви от името на жена.
Нямам идея как го прави, някой трябва да провери дали наистина това е мъж или се прави за пред публиката :) ( шегувам се, разбира се )
Предизвика много и различни чувства в мен тази книга.
Ядосах се на безразсъдното поведение на героинята, което и донесе ужасяващи преживявания.
По някаква причина , чувствам този автор много духовно близък, като приятел който казва мислите ми на глас.
"..........животът е велик учител. Но само ако сме истински готови да се отърсим от своите самозаблуди и илюзии."
"Виждаме само онова,което искаме да видим."
Наскоро си записах тази мисъл на автора - "Most people write. Not everybody tells a story."
Със сигурност винаги има история в неговите книги.
Все отлагах препрочитането на книгата, защото има доста тежки моменти, а и страшно много неща ме ядосват, но в крайна сметка си я припомних.
2017
Да, отново любимия Дъглас Кенеди.
Бърка до дъното на душата ми.
И пак повествованието върви от името на жена.
Нямам идея как го прави, някой трябва да провери дали наистина това е мъж или се прави за пред публиката :) ( шегувам се, разбира се )
Предизвика много и различни чувства в мен тази книга.
Ядосах се на безразсъдното поведение на героинята, което и донесе ужасяващи преживявания.
По някаква причина , чувствам този автор много духовно близък, като приятел който казва мислите ми на глас.
"..........животът е велик учител. Но само ако сме истински готови да се отърсим от своите самозаблуди и илюзии."
"Виждаме само онова,което искаме да видим."
Наскоро си записах тази мисъл на автора - "Most people write. Not everybody tells a story."
Със сигурност винаги има история в неговите книги.
May 9, 2015
I've loved every other book by Douglas Kennedy so was really excited when I ordered this one. But it's really disappointing. Loved the descriptions of Morocco and some of the character building, but the plot just became too unbelievable after a while. So many bad things happen to Robin, and yet she carries on making ridiculous decisions which made her really annoying. That said I had to keep reading to find out what happened to her ....
April 29, 2015
May contain spoilers!
Започнах тази книга с кошницата на големите надежди. С основание, защото просто този човек пише разкошно - увлекателно, умно, проникновено и същевременно без да подценява читателя и даму обяснява всичко в най-големите подробности. Остават въпроси - морални, емоционални...
Историята мъничко ме разочарова. Напомни ми, че Дъглас Кенеди май преди години е писал пътеписи и тук на моменти разказът ми приличаше да едно безкрайно обикаляне на Мароко без особена смислена цел. Но дали пък вссеки пореден неуспех на героинята да стигне до цета си не беше именно знак, че тази цел няма смисъл? Въпрос на интерпретация.
Накратко - семейна бездетна двойка, тя на 40, той на близо 60 с надеждата за дете, леки финансови проблеми поради неговото безхаберие на артист-художник, търпеливо и с разбиране приети от нея (счетоводител). Отиват на ваканция в Мароко, където се разкриват редица нелицеприятни тайни и в един момент той изчезва. Просто изчезва. И тя тръгва по граничения брй следи, които той оставя след себе си. Минава през ада, за да го намери, въпреки че той е предал доверието й по безобразен начин.
В началото тя е като попарена, после става ядосана, озверяла, после я хваща страх, който май се опитва да й даде възможност да му прости. Колкото повече тайни се разбулват от неговот минало, толкова повече тя го търси и май някак дълбоко в себе си му прощава...
Историята на м��менти избива на кримка и приключение, към края често е съшита с бели конци.
И всичко това на фона на една мароканска действителност, която варира между най-благото гостоприемство и най-отвратителния кошмар.
Все още се чудя дали да са 4 или 5 звездички...
Но стилът е убийствен. И всички онези въпроси, които Дъглас Кенеди поставя и как инстинктивно се опитвах да ги впиша в моите си случки - това е важното. Как те увлича...
Въпроси за доверието, за това как такова нещо като пълно доверие, колкото и да ми е тъжно, май няма; за прошката, вината, отмъщението, любовта... Достатъчна ли е любовта? Or sometimes love just ain't enough... Кога и защо решаваме да простим? Има ли надежда? Защо е толкова тежко вкоренено в човешката природа желанието за мъст... Не ми се рови за цитати, но на няколко места се казва: (по спомени) И сега като отмъсти, по-добре ли ти стана? Това промени ли нещата? По-щастлив(а) ли си?
Отмъщението. Любовта. Доверието. Липсата му. Прошката.
Вече втори ден ги мисля...
Започнах тази книга с кошницата на големите надежди. С основание, защото просто този човек пише разкошно - увлекателно, умно, проникновено и същевременно без да подценява читателя и даму обяснява всичко в най-големите подробности. Остават въпроси - морални, емоционални...
Историята мъничко ме разочарова. Напомни ми, че Дъглас Кенеди май преди години е писал пътеписи и тук на моменти разказът ми приличаше да едно безкрайно обикаляне на Мароко без особена смислена цел. Но дали пък вссеки пореден неуспех на героинята да стигне до цета си не беше именно знак, че тази цел няма смисъл? Въпрос на интерпретация.
Накратко - семейна бездетна двойка, тя на 40, той на близо 60 с надеждата за дете, леки финансови проблеми поради неговото безхаберие на артист-художник, търпеливо и с разбиране приети от нея (счетоводител). Отиват на ваканция в Мароко, където се разкриват редица нелицеприятни тайни и в един момент той изчезва. Просто изчезва. И тя тръгва по граничения брй следи, които той оставя след себе си. Минава през ада, за да го намери, въпреки че той е предал доверието й по безобразен начин.
В началото тя е като попарена, после става ядосана, озверяла, после я хваща страх, който май се опитва да й даде възможност да му прости. Колкото повече тайни се разбулват от неговот минало, толкова повече тя го търси и май някак дълбоко в себе си му прощава...
Историята на м��менти избива на кримка и приключение, към края често е съшита с бели конци.
И всичко това на фона на една мароканска действителност, която варира между най-благото гостоприемство и най-отвратителния кошмар.
Все още се чудя дали да са 4 или 5 звездички...
Но стилът е убийствен. И всички онези въпроси, които Дъглас Кенеди поставя и как инстинктивно се опитвах да ги впиша в моите си случки - това е важното. Как те увлича...
Въпроси за доверието, за това как такова нещо като пълно доверие, колкото и да ми е тъжно, май няма; за прошката, вината, отмъщението, любовта... Достатъчна ли е любовта? Or sometimes love just ain't enough... Кога и защо решаваме да простим? Има ли надежда? Защо е толкова тежко вкоренено в човешката природа желанието за мъст... Не ми се рови за цитати, но на няколко места се казва: (по спомени) И сега като отмъсти, по-добре ли ти стана? Това промени ли нещата? По-щастлив(а) ли си?
Отмъщението. Любовта. Доверието. Липсата му. Прошката.
Вече втори ден ги мисля...
May 5, 2018
Pentru mine, romanele lui Kennedy sunt un prilej de relaxare. În ciuda numărului mare de pagini, se citesc repede, au o poveste frumoasă, personaje bine construite de care te atașezi imediat. E un roman ce merge perfect într-o după amiază la cafea.
Trădarea, cel de-al treilea roman citit de mine de la el, ocupă locul al treilea și în topul preferințelor. A fost bun, dar nu m-a impresionat la fel de tare precum au făcut-o Clipa și Jocurile destinului.
Ce m-a impresionat și de această dată a fost personajul feminin puternic și capacitatea lui Kennedy de a nara la persoana întâi, din perspectiva unei femei. Autorul pare să cunoască sufletul femeilor foarte bine, căci face o treabă minunată cu romanele sare ce au în centru un personaj feminin și trăirile lui. Robin reușește să te facă părtaș la suferințele și fericirea ei și te poartă cu ea într-o călătorie periculoasă, dar plină de culoare.
Trădarea urmărește povestea lui Robin, o contabilă nefericită, care nu a ieșit niciodată din zona ei de confort, care își dorește extrem de mult un copil și care vine după o căsnicie eșuată, ce a lăsat-o cu multe traume emoționale. Când îl întâlnește pe Paul, pare că destinul i-a surâs în sfârșit. E frumos, boem și îi oferă tot ceea ce a așteptat.
Viața ei se schimbă însă odată cu călătoria în Maroc. Mi-a plăcut extrem de mult atmosfera creată de autor, imaginile de pe străzile din Casablanca, mirosurile, senzațiile, briza mării la apus, cu nisipul din Sahara sub tălpi. Îmi doresc foarte mult să vizitez Marocul și pentru mine romanul acesta a fost un deliciu, m-am bucurat de acest loc misterios și exotic prin prisma lui.
Pentru Robin însă devine un adevărat iad. Rămasă singură într-o țară străină și atât de periculoasă, Robin își învinge toți demonii. Am fost impresionată de puterea ei de a-l căuta pe Paul, de a se descurca și a ieși din situații limită, de a supraviețui în deșert și de a se întoarce acasă. Călătoria aceasta a fost una de inițiere pentru ea și cu siguranță a devenit altă femeie în urma ei.
Mi-a plăcut și povestea lor de dragoste, a fost bine construită. Paul a fost și a rămas un personaj ciudat, pe care nu l-am cunoscut și poate în asta stă minusul romanului. Mi-ar fi plăcut să ajung să îi înțeleg acțiunile, însă accentul s-a pus pe Robin, nu pe el. El a fost doar cel care a declanșat totul, mai departe, alegerile i-au aparținut doar lui Robin.
Recomand!
Trădarea, cel de-al treilea roman citit de mine de la el, ocupă locul al treilea și în topul preferințelor. A fost bun, dar nu m-a impresionat la fel de tare precum au făcut-o Clipa și Jocurile destinului.
Ce m-a impresionat și de această dată a fost personajul feminin puternic și capacitatea lui Kennedy de a nara la persoana întâi, din perspectiva unei femei. Autorul pare să cunoască sufletul femeilor foarte bine, căci face o treabă minunată cu romanele sare ce au în centru un personaj feminin și trăirile lui. Robin reușește să te facă părtaș la suferințele și fericirea ei și te poartă cu ea într-o călătorie periculoasă, dar plină de culoare.
Trădarea urmărește povestea lui Robin, o contabilă nefericită, care nu a ieșit niciodată din zona ei de confort, care își dorește extrem de mult un copil și care vine după o căsnicie eșuată, ce a lăsat-o cu multe traume emoționale. Când îl întâlnește pe Paul, pare că destinul i-a surâs în sfârșit. E frumos, boem și îi oferă tot ceea ce a așteptat.
Viața ei se schimbă însă odată cu călătoria în Maroc. Mi-a plăcut extrem de mult atmosfera creată de autor, imaginile de pe străzile din Casablanca, mirosurile, senzațiile, briza mării la apus, cu nisipul din Sahara sub tălpi. Îmi doresc foarte mult să vizitez Marocul și pentru mine romanul acesta a fost un deliciu, m-am bucurat de acest loc misterios și exotic prin prisma lui.
Pentru Robin însă devine un adevărat iad. Rămasă singură într-o țară străină și atât de periculoasă, Robin își învinge toți demonii. Am fost impresionată de puterea ei de a-l căuta pe Paul, de a se descurca și a ieși din situații limită, de a supraviețui în deșert și de a se întoarce acasă. Călătoria aceasta a fost una de inițiere pentru ea și cu siguranță a devenit altă femeie în urma ei.
Mi-a plăcut și povestea lor de dragoste, a fost bine construită. Paul a fost și a rămas un personaj ciudat, pe care nu l-am cunoscut și poate în asta stă minusul romanului. Mi-ar fi plăcut să ajung să îi înțeleg acțiunile, însă accentul s-a pus pe Robin, nu pe el. El a fost doar cel care a declanșat totul, mai departe, alegerile i-au aparținut doar lui Robin.
Recomand!
August 29, 2017
With a heavy heart, I give this a D-. I hoped the Morocco setting would carry me through, but...instead it served up (vaguely corrupt, right out of central casting) a corpulent, sweating policeman, another with a pencil moustache and slicked back hair, a scene with the character 'ferociously walking,' 'crying wildly,' a reference to 'disconcerted unease,' -- oh where to stop. Heavy sigh.
I was increasingly irritated by a number of French phrases and sentences dropped into the narrative without translation.
Too much telling and very little showing....and okay, so maybe Morocco is behind the times, but the use of a chloroform-like chemical was, for me, the final straw.
I'd figured out the story before the main characters got off the plane on page 11. I will often overlook a predictable story, but not in tandem with the writing. I'm skirting the obvious cliches, e.g. the descriptions of the local police, and won't even go into the touchy subject of violent acts, or the attempt to write about them, so I don't have to slide the spoiler button.
This was an impulse buy, and I need help with my impulsive bookstore behavior. Such a pretty cover!
I was increasingly irritated by a number of French phrases and sentences dropped into the narrative without translation.
Too much telling and very little showing....and okay, so maybe Morocco is behind the times, but the use of a chloroform-like chemical was, for me, the final straw.
I'd figured out the story before the main characters got off the plane on page 11. I will often overlook a predictable story, but not in tandem with the writing. I'm skirting the obvious cliches, e.g. the descriptions of the local police, and won't even go into the touchy subject of violent acts, or the attempt to write about them, so I don't have to slide the spoiler button.
This was an impulse buy, and I need help with my impulsive bookstore behavior. Such a pretty cover!
February 6, 2017
I started this book and fairly quickly abandoned it and then decided to give it a little more time. Shortly I was sucked in and finished it in one night. The story is unbelievable in my opinion but that did not stop me from wanting to know how it ended. I rarely finish books where the woman is weak and in some ways Robin was that but in other ways she was very human and likeable . The book is a combination of mystery and romance gone wrong. I think the book would have been better if it had been about 50 pages shorter.
For people that love books in foreign settings, Morocco, know French. like a little sex with their reading adventure plus a few heart stopping moments, this might be the book for you.
For people that love books in foreign settings, Morocco, know French. like a little sex with their reading adventure plus a few heart stopping moments, this might be the book for you.
March 24, 2016
I enjoyed this book until the plot became ridiculous - with her running all over the Sahara trying to find the dysfunctional loser she married.
June 18, 2024
Thanks to my husband’s obsession with the Euros 24 football matches, I read this in a day. And loved it. It didn’t take much to figure out what was happening but it was very much a page turner!
March 29, 2016
This was my first reading of a book by Douglas Kennedy and one impressive characteristic I found, since the book was written in the first person, was how well he described a woman's feelings and perceptions. Unfortunately, this was the only good point of the book.
The story started very nice with a delightful description of the love between Robin and Paul, which kept me hooked for a while. All of a sudden, though, it changed into this unbelievable story, unconvincing characters, long descriptions, and apparently without a clear plot. Sorry to say, I hated every minute of it going forward.
The detailing of the sex scenes seemed unnecessary; it made me feel the author threw them there just for ratings. Robin's constant chase for her husband seemed to have gone through such a long time, it was hard to believe that, in reality, it had happened just in a short period of time. I wanted desperately for her to find him dead somewhere quickly or whatever, so we could move on into something else, hopefully, the real plot. Then, out of nowhere it comes the non-convincing scene in the desert - give me a break!
It seems the author went all over the place trying to create a thrill that he was unable to produce and ended up not producing at all.
I finished the book with the puzzled feeling: what exactly was that all about? Relief was certainly the next feeling.
The story started very nice with a delightful description of the love between Robin and Paul, which kept me hooked for a while. All of a sudden, though, it changed into this unbelievable story, unconvincing characters, long descriptions, and apparently without a clear plot. Sorry to say, I hated every minute of it going forward.
The detailing of the sex scenes seemed unnecessary; it made me feel the author threw them there just for ratings. Robin's constant chase for her husband seemed to have gone through such a long time, it was hard to believe that, in reality, it had happened just in a short period of time. I wanted desperately for her to find him dead somewhere quickly or whatever, so we could move on into something else, hopefully, the real plot. Then, out of nowhere it comes the non-convincing scene in the desert - give me a break!
It seems the author went all over the place trying to create a thrill that he was unable to produce and ended up not producing at all.
I finished the book with the puzzled feeling: what exactly was that all about? Relief was certainly the next feeling.
June 19, 2020
Robin married Paul knowing he had his flaws. A talented artist and an accountant, they’ve decided to try for a baby, a dream Robin has begun to fear is slipping through her fingers. In a romantic gesture, Paul surprises Robin with a month long trip to Morocco. But when he disappears, she is forced to confront new truths about the man she married.
This book felt like it was two books smashed into one, with neither of the parts given the attention that it deserved. It is this whirlwind of movement with no stop to focus on the mental and emotional ramifications of what has transpired. There are parts I find unbelievable from an emotional standpoint. Parts when I feel it is just so blatantly obvious that it’s a male writer attempting to write in the point of view of a woman and it just doesn’t work. Not to mention the ever present just crush of money being mentioned. It’s exhausting. I got to the point, with fifty pages left where I considered just putting it down and walking away. And even when I stuck it through the ending didn’t do it for me. Two stars.
This book felt like it was two books smashed into one, with neither of the parts given the attention that it deserved. It is this whirlwind of movement with no stop to focus on the mental and emotional ramifications of what has transpired. There are parts I find unbelievable from an emotional standpoint. Parts when I feel it is just so blatantly obvious that it’s a male writer attempting to write in the point of view of a woman and it just doesn’t work. Not to mention the ever present just crush of money being mentioned. It’s exhausting. I got to the point, with fifty pages left where I considered just putting it down and walking away. And even when I stuck it through the ending didn’t do it for me. Two stars.
April 10, 2016
O poveste de dragoste noir, scrisă minunat, care m-a ținut cu sufletul la gură..
Și da, oare chiar ne trăim viața complet prezenți, cu ochii larg deschiși?
Oare chiar iubim profund, necondiționat?
Depinde de perspective, dar și de "tehnica" de supraviețuire adoptată. Pentru că da, uneori chiar trebuie să supraviețuim vieții...
Și da, oare chiar ne trăim viața complet prezenți, cu ochii larg deschiși?
Oare chiar iubim profund, necondiționat?
Depinde de perspective, dar și de "tehnica" de supraviețuire adoptată. Pentru că da, uneori chiar trebuie să supraviețuim vieții...
May 12, 2022
I wrote a little review earlier, about not liking this book, but ohmygod. I love this book. I couldn't put it down.
Short review -
Husband and wife went for a vacation where husband goes missing, Wife started looking for him, She later found out the husband been betraying her all along tho that didn't stop her to. She continued her search and keep finding secrets about her husband. She almost traveled 4/5 cities for him, so many people helped her through her journey, And when she failed to find him she gave up and decided to go home alone.
That was the best decision she made.
Short review -
Husband and wife went for a vacation where husband goes missing, Wife started looking for him, She later found out the husband been betraying her all along tho that didn't stop her to. She continued her search and keep finding secrets about her husband. She almost traveled 4/5 cities for him, so many people helped her through her journey, And when she failed to find him she gave up and decided to go home alone.
That was the best decision she made.
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