The Bookseller by Cynthia SwansonMy Rating: 4 of 5
Thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited! It's one service I subscribe to from Amazon I definitely get my money's worth, both in the volume of books read and the quality of those books. Books I might not have otherwise picked up. The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson falls into the quality category. I don't want to give too much away, but it's obvious from the description and beginning that Ms. Swanson is attempting the alternate reality plot device. She does it so well I could barely put the book down. Actually, my Kindle Paperwhite.
I was moved to read this book because it was compared to Sliding Doors, the most entertaining movie about how one small change could lead us on different life paths. It's certainly something that I wonder about in my own life. There have been other attempts in the arts to depict this butterfly effect, such as the play If/Then, and like some critics of the play claimed, it can become a confusing mess. The Bookseller avoids these traps.
The realities in The Bookseller are each rich in detail and provide a path to deep empathy for the main characters. This makes for a rich and deep story with characters that you wish you could read about again. I was left feeling fulfilled as a reader, and wishing to read the before and after of what happened.
I've now found a new author to enjoy and I look forward to reading Ms. Swanson's The Glass Forest. I also look forward to seeing Julia Roberts in the film version of The Bookseller. If pulled off right, it's going to be a treat!
