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Book Review

Publisher's Note:

For fans of Jennifer Egan, Dave Eggers, and Donna Tartt—the brilliant, intricately woven new novel by Tom Rachman, author of The Imperfectionists Following one of the most critically acclaimed fiction debuts in years, New York Times bestselling author Tom Rachman returns with a brilliant, intricately woven novel about a young woman who travels the world to make sense of her puzzling past. Tooly Zylberberg, the American owner of an isolated bookshop in the Welsh countryside, conducts a life full of reading, but with few human beings. Books are safer than people, who might ask awkward questions about her life. She prefers never to mention the strange events of her youth, which mystify and worry her still. Taken from home as a girl, Tooly found herself spirited away by a group of seductive outsiders, implicated in capers from Asia to Europe to the United States. But who were her abductors? Why did they take her? What did they really want? There was Humphrey, the curmudgeonly Russian with a passion for reading; there was the charming but tempestuous Sarah, who sowed chaos in her wake; and there was Venn, the charismatic leader whose worldview transformed Tooly forever. Until, quite suddenly, he disappeared. Years later, Tooly believes she will never understand the true story of her own life. Then startling news arrives from a long-lost boyfriend in New York, raising old mysteries and propelling her on a quest around the world in search of answers. Tom Rachman—an author celebrated for humanity, humor, and wond…

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The Rise and Fall of Great Powers

by Tom Rachman

Reviewer: Rachel
Genre: Fiction
Recommended Age: 21+

Overall Book Review:

Reading Tom Rachman’s The Rise and Fall of Great Powers was similar to assembling a puzzle. The story was initially hard to decipher, with its three different time periods, and I wasn’t sure how certain details and plot pieces fit together. Yet the premise was intriguing and Rachman knows how to keep readers attentive and eager to continue to the next chapter. Rachman also has a real way with words and regularly uses literary devices like personification and metaphor to enhance his tale. As I drew closer to the ending, the story’s events began making sense and my confusion lessened. Main character Tooly makes a fascinating heroine and the book not only follows her journey but touches on subjects like classical literature, history and modern-day politics. While it’s not what I expected, The Rise and Fall of Great Powers is a well-written read. 
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by The Dial Press

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  9 religious exclamations, 18 mild obscenities, 2 religious profanities, 11 derogatory names, 8 scatological words, 8 anatomical terms, 1 offensive hand gesture and 15 f-word derivatives. 

Violence/Gore:  Secondhand reports of violence involving World War II, African genocide, jail and physical beating; a few violent scenes involving brawls and fighting; kidnapping.

Sex/Nudity:  A few incidents of kissing; a few non-sexual depictions of nudity; several sexual references and implied incidents of sexual activity; a mention of pornography; a scene with touching, caressing and nudity with sexual innuendo; an incidence of sexual activity without explicit detail between adults; mention of homosexuality.

Mature Subject Matter:

Underage drinking, stealing, con artists, underage smoking and drug use.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Characters frequently drink and smoke; drug use; underage drinking, smoking and drug use. 

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
10
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
2
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
5
10

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About the Reviewer

Rachel
My mother was the one who sparked my love of books. Long before school instruction, she sat me down and taught me to read. My childhood was filled with trips to the library and bookmobile to find great books. My first loves were The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lingren. Now as a mom and speech pathologist, I am constantly looking for good, clean books to use at home and in therapy. I enjoy reading many different genres, but my favorites are usually historical fiction. I married my best friend, the “boy next door”, and we have a beautiful little girl who we often find sprawled out on the floor, flipping through picture books. Together our family likes to swim, run and play tennis. Besides reading, I also love to bake, garden and travel.

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