Of Magpies and Men – Ode Ray

Good afternoon friends!

I’ve handed in my second exam for this semester and it was DREADFUL! Three days long, which in itself isn’t as bad but the assignments were hopeless. Therefore, I’m treating myself to season 4 of The Crown, and telling you guys about this great new book I’ve read! The synopsis is borrowed from Goodreads:

Can any good come of longings that a person can never satisfy? If so, good for whom?

Two corpses wash ashore in a picturesque Italian village, the violence that put them there is bound to a long-held secret and two strangers living worlds apart with seemingly nothing in common.

Benedict Grant a high achiever, wealthy Londoner, leading a lonely life.

Marie Boulanger a nurse and single mum, struggling to make ends meet in Marseille.

However, a mother’s illicit revelation will set in motion a chain of events that will reshape their identities, stir poignant family affairs and delve into the by-products of lawless decisions.

Of Magpies and Men is a very different type of story. In many ways it is a book about finding yourself, both finding the courage to be yourself and having faith in that people will accept you for who you are. It is also a very lonely story but it becomes so much brighter with amazing characters and an intriguing plot. I loved the plot twists in this book! They’re all very neatly placed. Sometimes you don’t quite realize they’re there until you remembr them. I think the best one, for me, came towards the end. I was very pleased with it indeed! The book also alters between perspectives which presents the reader with a quite wholesome story. The perspectives mainly alters between Marie and Benedict but we sometimes get snipets from the other characters as well. This way we get to know the subcharacters a bit better alongside our main charaters. I enjoy lerning about the subcharacters other than them just being there because it makes it easier for me to grasp the whole story.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was the character development! Our main characters, Benedict and Marie, both start out very closed of in some ways. Benedict more so than Marie but he has the sort of personality that does well with the confinement even though he yearns for something more. Benedict is in many ways a peculiar character but I think a lot of people can see themselves in him. Sadly, I think he is the reality for a lot of people in the same situation but hopefully, all the Benedicts out there will get a somewhat similar ending to the way he does in this book. Marie is in many ways similar to Benedict but she is more outgoing and friendly. She has made her ways through a lot of challenging situations in her life, and I really admire her for it! Whilst the book unfolds we get a closer look at what has happened in Marie’s past, and some dirty secrets lies hidden there but I’m not going to say any more about that! You’ll have to read the book for yourself!

Of Magpies and Men is a different story but it points out a great deal of themes that I think will touch a lot of people. I loved the way the story turned out because I was expecting a completely different outcome! If you feel like you’ve read it all then try picking up this book. I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed!

Publication: 2021

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Family, sexual orientation, secrets

– The Book Reader

Reklame