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    Fantasy, realism collide in Timothee de Fombelle’s The Book of Pearl

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    By Jessica on February 19, 2018 YA review, young adult
    THE BOOK OF PEARL, by Timothee de Fombelle, Candlewick, Feb. 6, 2018, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)

    Fairy tale meets real life in Timothee de Fombelle’s The Book of Pearl.

    Joshua Pearl comes from a world that we no longer believe in — a world of fairy tale. He knows that his great love waits for him there, but he is stuck in an unfamiliar time and place — an old-world marshmallow shop in Paris on the eve of World War II. As his memories begin to fade, Joshua seeks out strange objects: tiny fragments of tales that have already been told, trinkets that might possibly help him prove his own story before his love is lost forever. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick

    Sarah Ardizzone and Sam Gordon translated The Book of Pearl from its original French. It’s a beautiful, layered book that moves at a languid pace. It’s one you really have to stick with, as there’s no real driving force. However, if you stick with it, you’re rewarded with an imaginative read unlike anything you’ve likely read before.

    The Book of Pearl alternates between time periods and worlds, which make for a compelling but slightly confusing first couple of chapters. Further in, elements begin to make more sense, but mystery remains. The highlight of The Book of Pearl came for me in the final few chapters where events unfold in unexpected and lyrical ways.

    The Book of Pearl is part romance, part mystery and part adventure that bends reality and asks you to imagine what if…

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. She loves books and worked as the in-house book critic at a daily newspaper, writing reviews and interviewing authors for two years. When the company cut back, she lost her position covering books, but that doesn't mean she stopped reading. If anything, the whole experience made her more passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices. She has been featured on NetGalley's Blogger Spotlight and is on Kindleprenuer's Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs. Contact her at jessica(at)crackingthecover(dot)com and follow Cracking the Cover on Bluesky, Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter (X) @crackingthecovr. You can also read scaled down reviews on Jessica's Goodreads review page. Jessica is also a reviewer on Amazon.

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