Elizabeth Buchan

I had not read any Elizabeth Buchan books and I was very excited by the premise of this story. I have a love of Paris and Prague as cities in themselves and the opportunity to delve into the past of the eastern block country was one I welcomed.

The overall plot is interesting, the story of the Museum in itself and as a metaphor for the failure of communism was a fascinating take on how to talk about the life of the main character but I found the execution of the story lack lustre. The plot felt disjointed and lacked balance and many of the characters were so underdeveloped it was difficult to connect with them. In particular I did not feel any connection with the main character and while this can happen even with the best written books there were many points when the language used was jarring or just didn't make sense. I often wondered if the book was translated into English and lost some nuance and depth with that. Or perhaps considering the various errors in the book that it was not the final edit.

The most interesting character in the story - Petr Kobes who employs the main character as an au pair for his children, works for a Czech pharma company but is also involved in the Communist network that controls Czechoslovakia at this time. While it is unclear exactly what he does for The Party - a fact that plays into the sinister nature of a society filled with informers and 'the disappeared' - his power over Laure is clear throughout the book early on in their mutual attraction but also in the way he chooses to use his power to protect or punish.

I did finish the book due to my completionist nature but I really feel I can't rate it any higher than two stars. Disappointing as it had potential.… (meer)

Originally published in 1996, Daughters of the Storm by Elizabeth Buchan is a historical romance story that is set in France during the Revolutionary years (1789 – 1793). It features three women, English woman Sophie, visiting France for the first time, her cousin Heloise de Guinot, a French aristocrat, and Marie-Victoire, the loyal maid to Heloise. From no choice of their own, all three become immersed in the politics of the day and their lives are swept up the storm that is engulfing France.

Sophie becomes involved with a handsome American, not knowing that he is spy, sent by George Washington to overlook the events that are occurring. Heloise is married to the Marquis de Choissy, a man she despises, she falls in love with a French soldier, Louis d’Epinon. Marie-Victoire, although in love with another man, is forced into a relationship with a childhood companion who raped her and now is filled with bitterness and thoughts of revenge.

In the midst of the turmoil and emotions of their own lives, the Revolution that will change the country forever is played out. While the book is certainly heavy on the romance angle, the author inserts enough history for the reader to get a good grasp of actual events. The blood, death and fear of the period that became known as The Terror, is particularly haunting. I have read Elizabeth Buchan before and now Daughters of the Storm is another book by this author that I found to be a very good read.… (meer)

4.5* - I read this book via The Pigeonhole over the last ten days. This book is set in current day Paris where Laure runs the museum that is the title of the book. We also see Laure in 1980’s Prague working as an au pair and 1996 Berlin working for the British government. We see her fall in love with a Czech musician who is on a watch list and the family she is working for although quite high up in Czech society they have their problems. The majority of the story deals with the fallout of her time in Prague. I found the story very bittersweet. This is the first book by Elizabeth Buchan that I have read and the writing was beautiful and thought provoking. I will most definitely be reading more from her. The reason for not giving 5* is it took me awhile to get into the book that said this is the first book this year that even when not reading it I am constantly thinking about it.… (meer)