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A review by soobooksalot
What Could Be Saved by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What Could Be Saved is the portrait of a family in turmoil, amidst the backdrops of Washington D.C. and Bangkok.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
The story opens in 2019, with artist Laura Preston receiving an email that someone knows the whereabouts of her brother, who was abducted in Thailand in 1972. Though the family has experienced many disappointments and scams, Laura flies to Bangkok to meet the person who may be her brother Phillip. And the man she meets will not speak of where he has been.
Sections of the book alternate between 2019 and 1972, with the family's experiences in Thailand and the events leading to Phillip's disappearance. Readers are amidst the Thai culture, both from the perspective of the expat families, and their servants and locals.
This is a dense read and a bit of a slow start, but flows to uncover the family's secrets with tension, depth and emotion. I did get bogged down a bit with the Thai phrasing, though some can be figured out in context. I found the 2019 storyline more accessible to read than 1972, though both play important parts for the overall picture.
Author Liese O'Halloran Schwartz has an intelligent, engaging writing style in contemporary literature and an intriguing story to share.
Recommended!
For release on Jan. 12, 2021.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
The story opens in 2019, with artist Laura Preston receiving an email that someone knows the whereabouts of her brother, who was abducted in Thailand in 1972. Though the family has experienced many disappointments and scams, Laura flies to Bangkok to meet the person who may be her brother Phillip. And the man she meets will not speak of where he has been.
Sections of the book alternate between 2019 and 1972, with the family's experiences in Thailand and the events leading to Phillip's disappearance. Readers are amidst the Thai culture, both from the perspective of the expat families, and their servants and locals.
This is a dense read and a bit of a slow start, but flows to uncover the family's secrets with tension, depth and emotion. I did get bogged down a bit with the Thai phrasing, though some can be figured out in context. I found the 2019 storyline more accessible to read than 1972, though both play important parts for the overall picture.
Author Liese O'Halloran Schwartz has an intelligent, engaging writing style in contemporary literature and an intriguing story to share.
Recommended!
For release on Jan. 12, 2021.