Monday 7 November 2011

The Life of an Unknown ManThe Life of an Unknown Man by Andreï Makine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is beautifully presented and I love the cover. The typeface is very accessible. Looking at Amazon, I found that this book is available in all formats (excepting audio). So, it gets a good mark for accessibility. I give it 5/5.

It is difficult to discuss the language of this book. Since, it is in translation. But, whoever deserves the credit, this book is beautifully written. The descriptions put you in the world and is heartbreakingly beautiful. The structure of the book time hops between the siege of Leningrad and today's Russia/France. The two main characters are: an ageing Russian write, who is living in France, going through a mid-life crisis and who returns to Russia to recreate a youthful love affair; and a elderly man who survived the siege of Leningrad and now sits quietly in a flat which he no longer owns. The scenes in the siege are heart breaking. This book encourages you to think about the themes of history and loss - For story and writing -5/5.



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