The Museum of Broken Promises

I really enjoyed this.Set partly in the latter days of the Cold War, 1990s Berlin and modern day Paris, it tells the story of Laure who fell in love in Prague and the repercussions of that love affair. It is beautifully written and I particularly liked the Prague and Paris parts. A museum of broken promises, what a lovely idea! I was desperate to find out what happened to Tomas and read the book over a couple of days. If you are interested in the Cold War and Eastern Europe then this is the book for you. I am off now to look up the books the author suggests for further reading!

I loved this book. The concept of a Museum of Broken Promises intrigued me, and the reader is gradually drawn into a love story set in Prague before the Velvet Revolution. The story flits between a number of time periods, and the story of Laure and Tomas is gradually unfolded; a story which resonates in the present day. A beautifully-written and compelling story, set in a (to me) unfamiliar place; I couldn't put it down.

Laure Carlyle works as an au pair for the Kobe family. After living with the family in Paris, they are relocated to Communist Czechoslovakia, where life quickly changes and Laure has to rapidly learn and comply with the rules of the strict regime.
She learns that as a foreigner she is in a privileged position, and not to be trusted. In fact, there doesn't seem to be any trust and amongst anyone, and it dawns on Laure that her employer, Petr, is working for the Communist party and responsible for potentially putting both her life and her new found friends' at risk.
The book is written in flashbacks , with each chapter flowing easily to the next. It is full of insight into the repressive and suspicious regime, where surveillance of individuals is commonplace.
Very enjoyable mix of mystery, romance and recent history with a good ending.

I loved this book which kept me awake till after 4am this morning. I couldn't put it down It is beautifully written, intriguing and challenging. The central character reveals herself gradually and as the story unfolds you come to empathise with and understand the choices the character has made.

The descriptions of Paris and Prague bring them fully alive and in particular the portrayal of the everyday experiences of those trying to survive Eastern Europe through the whirlwind events of the late eighties is vivid and engaging.

I enjoyed the storytelling - and the premise of the museum.I'd love to visit it- perhaps make one or two donations too. perhaps Ms Buchan could be encouraged to open it!

I love Elizabeth Buchan and while I felt this was very different from some of her previous novels , it did not disappoint. A really tragic story which gave an insight into a country and period of history I knew nothing about. The premise of the museum of broken promises was really poignant and added to the love story which unfolded. Would make a brilliant book club book.

A simply superb read which is beautifully written and crafted; it has effortlessly made its way onto my list of the top books of 2019. This is a novel that I will be pressing on all my bookish friends, it is a story of love and loss, communism and capitalism and promises made and broken.

Primarily set in Prague in 1986, just a few years before the fall of the communist regime, the protagonist, young and naïve, Laure is an au pair for a family in favour with the current establishment. She meets and falls in love with Tomas, a musician and a dissident. This leads to her becoming a ‘person of interest’ with the authorities and a concern for the family for whom she works. The author has created brilliantly the atmosphere of the city and the haunted mood of its citizens.

The narrative moves between the past and the present where Laure is now the curator of the Museum of Broken Promises in Paris which houses objects which represent an act of betrayal. One of these objects is Laure’s. We know from the very outset that Tomas did not escape from Prague and he and Laure were never together. As the story progresses we understand what has happened between now and then.

Reading this novel was such an emotional experience. I was completely invested in the story of Laure and Tomas and in the lives of the characters who surround them. The metaphorical use of a cast of marionettes was an artful touch. A masterful work which I would highly, very highly, recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Corvus Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.