I was drawn to this book by its intriguing title, by its beautiful cover, and by the promise of a story in which books were fundamental. They were but they were books quite unlike any that I had ever read. They were books that held dark secrets and unhappy memories; drawn out from peoples minds and bound into the elegant leather-bound volumes by Bookbinders, so that memories were erased, secrets were concealed and the troublesome pasts were securely locked away.
The story was set in a place somewhere like the British Isles, a hundred or so years ago. Young Emmett Farmer had always worked on his family’s farm, but he was summoned to begin an apprenticeship as a Bookbinder. He didn’t want to go, he didn’t want to take up an occupation his friends and neighbours viewed with fear and suspicion, but he had been told that he had a vocation and so he had no choice.
Emmett learned his craft slowly, under the watchful eye of an old woman. She told him that he was following a sacred calling, and she stored rows upon rows of books that she had bound over the years over the years in a secure vault below her workshop. But Emmett would find that there were Bookbinders who were much less scrupulous, who would trade in books and exploit their contents.
Then, just as he had begun to settle into his new life and occupation, he made an extraordinary discovery: there was a book in the vault that had has his name on it ….
The concept was intriguing, and the story that played out in three acts explored the questions and issues that spun around that concept wonderfully well.
What might be the consequences of not remembering, of cutting parts of a life away?
Was it fair that the wealthy and powerful were able to buy books and learn things about other people that they didn’t know themselves?
Was there a danger that people could be pushed towards Bookbinders for the wrong reasons, for the benefit of others not themselves?
What would happen if people who had had all of their memories of each other bound into books met again?
So much could go wrong …..
The story speaks profoundly of love and loss, and it speaks quite naturally of issues that are very relevant today – the class divide, homophobia, the abuse of power, sexism ….
I wish that I had liked it more than I did.
I couldn’t warm to the protagonists, maybe because their backgrounds, their lives and relationships, weren’t fully drawn and I only learned what was necessary to move the story that was being told forward.
That story was well told, but it was predictable in places and there were too many times when I knew what was going to happen and wished things would move forward more quickly.
I think that I might have been the wrong reader for this book; and that my expectations of what it would be were wrong and that the magic I hoped to find was of a different kind.
But I also think that a bit more editing and an opening out of the story would have made this a much better book.
Beyond Eden Rock 
I was actually waiting to get this one, it sounded so interesting. Now I am a bit less excited, but still curious. 🙄
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It didn’t quite work for me, but many people have loved this book. I’m not sorry I read it, I just think there was potential for something more.
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I have this on order from the library. Like you, I thought the premise sounded intriguing. What a shame you did not enjoy it as much as you expected – it will be interesting to see how I get on with it.
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There is a great deal that will intrigue you, but there is also something that is lacking. I’ll be curious to know what you think.
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I will try to remember to feedback! 😀
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I have this ready to read – but have many more books to read first. Thank you for this honest review.
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It is definitely worth reading – but it’s a book that had potential to be more than it is.
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It *is* frustrating when a book isn’t quite what you expect, and also when you think it could have been so much more. Characterisation can be so crucial…
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Yes – particularly when you can see that with a little reworking, maybe just one rewrite, the book could have been so much more.
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I was immediately drawn to this cover too, but I have a suspicion that I won’t love this one either. Thanks for sharing your review, Jane!
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It’s not a bad book by any means, but I don’t think you need to rush out to find a copy.
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I’m in the middle of this book now and I don’t think I’m the right reader for it either. I’m also struggling to warm to the characters, for the reasons you’ve mentioned. It’s a shame because it’s such a fascinating concept.
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I’ve enjoyed thinking about the ideas, but the book itself really didn’t work for me.
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I was going over my list of holds while at work last night, wondering what to do with this one. The reviews are varied but your reading tastes are so similar to mine….I think it’s the back burner, for now.
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I’d say it’s one for you to put into the hands of younger readers interested in the issues I’ve mentioned. Think about the ideas, but I think there are too many other book you’ll love out in the world for you too need to spend time with this one.
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I was drawn to this book when I first saw its cover, honestly, but now I feel it might not be for me. Thank you for your review, Jane! Lovely as always 🙂
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I don’t think it is – there are a great many other book I would steer you towards before this one.
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I can see exactly why that cover drew you, Jane. I passed on the book, and your review tells me I was right, but we’ll done to the artist for such an alluring cover
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The cover is lovely, but the writing is for someone who looks for different things in their books.
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