An original concept but a disappointing execution with a cast I struggled to invest in.
Although I wouldn’t consider myself a typical audience for a love-story, I was drawn in by the original concept of The Museum of Broken Promises combined with the prospect of an exploration of some of the darkest moments in European history. The reality proved disappointing and I struggled to become engrossed by the story, partly due to a cast that failed to emerge from beyond the page and relationships that lacked any realistic spark. However with the majority of the story taking place in Czechoslovakia in the build-up to the dismantling of communism, I also wearied of what felt like a repetitive cycle of political unrest with the actual characters remaining static.
Forty-year-old half-French, half-Yorkshire and now committed Parisienne, Laure Carlyle, is the curator of a museum inspired by her original idea and living an unassuming and self-contained existence in Paris. The Museum of Broken Promises is made up of donated objects and a way for people to deal with something that has gone wrong in their past; betrayals, lies and broken promises. Donating the items can act as a way for people to reassess their memories, often with the benefit of hindsight, and prove rather cathartic. Fiercely private and loathe to discuss her past, Laure’s work is her lifeline but with her “baby” having gained a reputation it brings the prospect of investment and media intrusion. Known for giving short shrift to journalists, the arrival of a pushy young American journalist in Meg Williams creates tension and although Laure is more than happy to explain the rationale behind the museum, she is far more sensitive to a combative American journalist opening prying and delving into her past.
One item on display has particular significance to Laure of which the reader is let into the secret from the off and it acts as a gateway to a time slip story showing a twenty-year old Laure working as an au pair to Czech businessman Petr Kobe and his family and moving from Paris to Prague in 1985. Laure soon discovers what lies behind the Iron Curtain and the extent of state control as she falls in with a prominent dissident musician, Tomas, and his comrades running a contentious marionette theatre. As Laure’s relationship with Tomas develops her position with the Kobes becomes more precarious and with that her safety.. As the dual narrative traverses between the years, it slowly draws out the story of Laure’s personal broken promise as she strives for closure and an answer to the questions that still haunt her.
For the three days that Meg shadows Laure most of their time is spent with potential donors and examples of donations and the unforgettable stories behind them. Unfortunately the combination of chippy Meg and prickly Laure makes for a jarring dynamic with the women both somewhat antagonistic. Likewise I found the past narrative lacked the chemistry of a first love and I was never wholly convinced by Tomas’s sincerity and struggled to connect with Laure, Meg or Tomas. Conversely it was Laure’s relationship with her employer, Petr, and the predicament that he was faced with that proved fascinating and their evident mutual attraction was compelling. Comparing the present day Laure who is all sharp edges and quick to take offence with the naive twenty-year-old version it becomes apparent how profoundly her experiences have altered her, why she has become so self-reliant and the reasons behind her standoffish exterior.
Whilst I really enjoyed the component of the story based around the museum, the variety of exhibits and the fascinating stories behind them, I struggled with the past timeline set in communist Czechoslovakia. Although the puppetry angle and its importance to national culture was well conveyed I found the narrative slow to progress and somewhat circular and during the focus on the turmoil in Prague in 1986 I found the political details less than comprehensive. Although the writing is solid I did find the novel a challenge to start off with as the prologue and opening chapters jump around and are too short to really cohere into anything meaningful and it took at least fifty pages to discover what the novel was actually about!
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Forty-year-old half-French, half-Yorkshire and now committed Parisienne, Laure Carlyle, is the curator of a museum inspired by her original idea and living an unassuming and self-contained existence in Paris. The Museum of Broken Promises is made up of donated objects and a way for people to deal with something that has gone wrong in their past; betrayals, lies and broken promises. Donating the items can act as a way for people to reassess their memories, often with the benefit of hindsight, and prove rather cathartic. Fiercely private and loathe to discuss her past, Laure’s work is her lifeline but with her “baby” having gained a reputation it brings the prospect of investment and media intrusion. Known for giving short shrift to journalists, the arrival of a pushy young American journalist in Meg Williams creates tension and although Laure is more than happy to explain the rationale behind the museum, she is far more sensitive to a combative American journalist opening prying and delving into her past.
One item on display has particular significance to Laure of which the reader is let into the secret from the off and it acts as a gateway to a time slip story showing a twenty-year old Laure working as an au pair to Czech businessman Petr Kobe and his family and moving from Paris to Prague in 1985. Laure soon discovers what lies behind the Iron Curtain and the extent of state control as she falls in with a prominent dissident musician, Tomas, and his comrades running a contentious marionette theatre. As Laure’s relationship with Tomas develops her position with the Kobes becomes more precarious and with that her safety.. As the dual narrative traverses between the years, it slowly draws out the story of Laure’s personal broken promise as she strives for closure and an answer to the questions that still haunt her.
For the three days that Meg shadows Laure most of their time is spent with potential donors and examples of donations and the unforgettable stories behind them. Unfortunately the combination of chippy Meg and prickly Laure makes for a jarring dynamic with the women both somewhat antagonistic. Likewise I found the past narrative lacked the chemistry of a first love and I was never wholly convinced by Tomas’s sincerity and struggled to connect with Laure, Meg or Tomas. Conversely it was Laure’s relationship with her employer, Petr, and the predicament that he was faced with that proved fascinating and their evident mutual attraction was compelling. Comparing the present day Laure who is all sharp edges and quick to take offence with the naive twenty-year-old version it becomes apparent how profoundly her experiences have altered her, why she has become so self-reliant and the reasons behind her standoffish exterior.
Whilst I really enjoyed the component of the story based around the museum, the variety of exhibits and the fascinating stories behind them, I struggled with the past timeline set in communist Czechoslovakia. Although the puppetry angle and its importance to national culture was well conveyed I found the narrative slow to progress and somewhat circular and during the focus on the turmoil in Prague in 1986 I found the political details less than comprehensive. Although the writing is solid I did find the novel a challenge to start off with as the prologue and opening chapters jump around and are too short to really cohere into anything meaningful and it took at least fifty pages to discover what the novel was actually about!
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.