A beautifully written, fascinating story with a historical heart
The concept behind the Museum of Broken Promises immediately captured my attention and is something I could imagine there being in real life. The museum contains items that have been donated which symbolise important moments of a person’s life when a promise has been broken. The reasons for some of the donated items were so seamlessly entwined within the story and really helped to bring the museum to life. I enjoyed them so much I would have loved for even more to have been included! We also learn early on how Laure, the museum’s curator has donated her own item to the museum and from the opening chapter understand this is most likely linked to a key moment in her life from 1986.
The story alternates between the present day in Paris where the museum is situated to Prague in 1986 and also some chapters set in Berlin in 1996. I found it really interesting learning of Laure’s life in Prague, a communist city full of dark, political undercurrents and the love she develops for a musician named Tomas. I never knew before just what the historical climate at this time was like and learnt so much about how fraught and dangerous it must have been for Laure and Tomas to meet at this moment in time.
The detailed and descriptive storytelling really allowed me to imagine myself walking the Parisian streets with Laure and experiencing the tensions at play during her time in Prague and the conflicting feelings and emotions coursing through her. I would definitely recommend allowing longer periods of time to sit and read this book to fully appreciate the detail and historical information that is so beautifully contained within. I really enjoyed learning about Laure’s journey of love and discovery in a city so different to anything she had ever experienced before.
This is such a wonderful story that has made me feel thankful and fortunate for the life I am able to lead today. It is also a reminder of how forgiveness and acceptance of the past can help you to truly move forward and fully enjoy the life you are currently living.
The story alternates between the present day in Paris where the museum is situated to Prague in 1986 and also some chapters set in Berlin in 1996. I found it really interesting learning of Laure’s life in Prague, a communist city full of dark, political undercurrents and the love she develops for a musician named Tomas. I never knew before just what the historical climate at this time was like and learnt so much about how fraught and dangerous it must have been for Laure and Tomas to meet at this moment in time.
The detailed and descriptive storytelling really allowed me to imagine myself walking the Parisian streets with Laure and experiencing the tensions at play during her time in Prague and the conflicting feelings and emotions coursing through her. I would definitely recommend allowing longer periods of time to sit and read this book to fully appreciate the detail and historical information that is so beautifully contained within. I really enjoyed learning about Laure’s journey of love and discovery in a city so different to anything she had ever experienced before.
This is such a wonderful story that has made me feel thankful and fortunate for the life I am able to lead today. It is also a reminder of how forgiveness and acceptance of the past can help you to truly move forward and fully enjoy the life you are currently living.