Holiday Book Review 1 - Boyd

So the holiday book reviews begin and what an absolute treat of a book we have to start with. 'Waiting for Sunrise' by William Boyd.

The Boydmaster for those of you who don't know his work wrote the outstanding 'Any human heart.' You may have seen it on TV. It was one of those rare TV adaptions that was almost as good as the book. Almost.

Well here the author returns to the past and the book starts with one of our most fascinating periods of recent history in pre first world war Vienna and a rather worried young Englishman called Lysander Rief. Boyd chooses names so well and our lead here, a star of the stage, does not disappoint.

It's always interesting to look back at a time just prior to life changing beyond all recognition, think the party's on the Titanic..... Lysander is abroad working his way through an unfortunate medical condition and finds his salvation in a young artist who releases his inner self and sets him free. She also lands him in hot water causing him to have to leave the country by clandestine means and in so doing putting himself in the pocket of the Government. A clandestine future for young Rief is therefore inevitable and the book direction is set.

Boyd is such a fine story teller and whilst this book for me did not touch the heights of some of his other masterpieces, it was still hugely enjoyable and at times wonderfully amusing. I find that in itself, the ability to mix up a serious story with humour, very touching.

The final twists and turns were a little laboured and more than unlikely, but our young thespian shines throughout.

So, book 1 of my holiday, William Boyd's 'Waiting for Sunrise,' was a great start to my holiday. I enjoyed it very much.

Book score: 7/10

Coming up next Alison Moore's 'The Lighthouse.'

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