So I have created this blog with the desire to write about the books I read as well as any other things I want to send through the many tubes of the interweb. You might think from the title that I am some kind of book snob. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, I am probably more of a book glutton, but as I always say I could be spending my time and money on crack and horses...so don't judge, it could be worse, much worse.
Anyway, the book that I am going to talk about is The Partisan's Daughter by Louis De Bernieres. This is the first novel by De Benieres I have read and it made me want to read more of his work. It tells the story of Chris, a lonely forty-something medical salesman stuck in a loveless marriage (he referes to his wife as The Great White Loaf). In desperation he tries to pick up what he thinks is a prostitute. This is Roza, and though she is not a lady of the evening, she gets in his car and gets a ride home as payback for the insult. During the car ride she begins to tell Chris about her father, a partisan for Tito in Yugoslavia, and invites him back over for coffee sometime. He takes up her offer and is drawn into Roza's life as she tells the, supposedly true, story of her life.
I was drawn into the suppressed tension and the power of the storytelling displayed throughout the story. Chris and Roza, though as different in personality as their age, have good chemistry. This helps overcome the suspension of disbelief that is required to enjoy this type of novel. My only quibble is found in the ending. It is heavily foreshadowed, and I felt it to be too quick and seemed counter to the emotions of both characters which had been built up to this point. Yet, this is only a minor flaw in an otherwise interesting read.
Finally, I do have to say I was drawn to the cover. There is something subtly erotic about a woman with a cigarette that displays a kind of sensuousness that fits perfectly with the content of the novel. The cover image captures my idea of Roza almost perfectly.
(P.S. I do not smoke nor encourage others to do so. I am just making an observation)
