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Hello Froggies: I finished reading "Pearl by the Sea" by indie author Regina Mouradian this morning. Firstly, the author is one that I interviewed through my bookshop and the continued author interviews I do despite closing the brick and mortar store due to multiple reasons. So before I get to my thoughts on Pearl by the Sea You can watch the interview here: Ok now to my thoughts on "Pearl by the Sea." About the book and plot: the book is set contemporaneously and is an historical fiction mystery thriller of sorts blended with romance. The romance is heavily intertwined with the Ukrainian war with Russia (or Vice Versa depending on what "nuance" you like to make of it. I mentioned the word "nuance" because that is one of the words in the book / ideas of the book that when there are wars, like the one with Ukrain / Russia and the current one with the US and Iran, things are not always black and white bright lines. There is nuance to things. Things are complicated. Things are not black and white. There are no bright lines. But unfortunately when politics gets involved and when politically bent newspapers or sales motivated news outets (I shouldn't just say newspapers), get involved to push their narrative or agenda or side of the story "nuance" is done away with and things start to get jammed into a narrative and anything counter to that narrative, ignored, or worse, suppressed. I really liked that idea within the book and it is very timely and timeless when people look at the world and what is going on around them politically, economically, geo-politically etc. There is not enough people seeing "nuances" today. I think the author wove that into the broader story-line / adventure very well. The book really is an adventure. I truly enjoyed the adventure of it. The courting between one and another, the interactions with roommates and the take on the dating scene. The dating scene is abominable! Let me tell ya! A disaster! I think anyone who is in the dating scene or has been recently could relate and find enjoyment in the 1st part of the book as Caterina in her weird way navigates that cesspool. Did I mention it's a cesspool? I digress. . . Speaking of that, I liked how the author developed the character, particularly the main character Caterina who is this nosey, googler and keeper of lists. There is a murder in the book and who doesn't like people killing people in books, right? There is an arrest! There is a prosecution! There is a trial! And then you have the geopolitics overlayed over that in a nice way. There are surprises both pleasant and not so pleasant. There is love. There is disappointment. There, unfortuantely, is the word "sardonic" but I kept reading. I think that was in chapter 30. So if you can get past the word Sardonic you're all good. The end I thought was not wrapped up like it should have been but other readers will like the open-ended way of leaving things to the reader to conclude what did or what should have happened afterward. So I guess I am glad there was not an "afterward" to the book. Another thing I liked about the book was this broader idea in the book about how even if someone meets their soulmate at a particular time perhaps it is not the right time or the right universe. Perhaps in a different time or dimension they will meet again. I don't want to spoil anything but I liked that idea about the book. A particular quote stood out to me on that and I'm not going to quote it precisely but will just paraphrase it and it was something along the line of hey, we connected and we loved, maybe not for our whole lives but we lived a whole lifetime in that brief moment of our togetherness. I really liked that and not only I but I am sure many readers can connect to that. My experience has taught me that love is certainly not enough for two people to be and stay together. It takes more than that. People can be soulmates but in the wrong space or time. Maybe in the same life time the two soulmates can come together and part because it is the wrong space and time but later in the same life come back together and things will be more right. I think the author brought forth that idea really well with the adventure. A small criticism I have is the book seems to be a really good time capsule for products etc of the time. One could make a list of specific products and things of the time. I just thought it was done too much. In classic literature that is done as well and I like it; but here it was maybe a little bit too much / too many. However, I just smiled and continued on the great adventure. |
 Despite my few criticisms, mostly the word "sardonic" I really enjoyed the adventure and the characters. It is an easy read. Usually when I would sit down to read I would read 3 to 4 chapters and then put the book down, read some from McTeague and then pick it up again right where we left off with Caterina. I do not think I'd date Caterina by the way. Stay away from her I would recommend; but think readers who like complicated romance adventures and a history and politics sprinkled in there for "nuance" will enjoy the book. I did. Discussion / Thought Questions: * Do you like Oysters? How do you like them prepared? * How's that dating scene working for you if you are in the dating scene? * Tell me what you know about pearls and what they represent or what is said of them * Have you ever been sailing? * What city is referred to as "The Pearl of the Black Sea"? (no looking it up!!! take a guess or if you know throw it out there!) * Do you believe in love at first sight? * Could you move to a different country or different state to be with the one you love? soulmate? or would they have to move to you? * How much detail do you like to be provided about how characters look and dress? or prefer a lot to be left to imagination? * How many references to products or things indicative of the time the book is written in to be included in the story line? |