Review of The House of Spark
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Kelsey Roy
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Review of The House of Spark
[Following is a volunteer review of "The House of Spark" by Luminita Laflash.]
Luminita Laflash's novel, The House of Spark, is a historical fiction set in Soviet-controlled Romania during the 1950s. The storyline follows a young woman, Virginia, whose boyfriend, Jenica, suddenly disappears before a scheduled date at the concert hall. It is unlike Jenica to disappear, so Virginia enlists the help of her and Jenica's friends, Mircea and his girlfriend, Doina. These three friends search everywhere for Jenica, and no one knows where he's gone. It is too dangerous for them to go to the police in a Soviet-controlled country without bringing suspicion down on themselves. This novel is a tale of hardship and loyalty.
The author masterfully portrays Virginia's panic and fear when she realizes that Jenica has disappeared. Because of the communist setting, it is impossible to utilize the help of the authorities, and the group fears discussing the disappearance with any other friends and family. There are spies for the communist secret police everywhere. I cannot imagine living in a society where even family is feared. The author does an excellent job of explaining the setting and expressing the hardships of the time.
There is nothing to dislike about this novel. It was a heartfelt story in a small package, only 153 pages. I found a few minor errors in the text, but nothing that distracted me from enjoying the novel. I would like to see Kindle provide this book to readers. The PDF format was slightly challenging to flip through the pages. However, the format did not detract from my enjoyment of the storyline.
I rate The House of Spark 4 out of 4 stars. The novel is professionally edited, as I found only a few minor errors throughout the book. I enjoyed the author's writing style and appreciated her ability to bring life to a setting I was unfamiliar with before reading this book. I have learned about life in Romania during such a desperate time in their history. I feel deeply for those who experience oppression under Soviet rule. The author did an excellent job of shedding light on her family's experience and educating readers.
I recommend this book to readers interested in historical fiction. Readers intrigued about life in Romania or society under Soviet rule will enjoy this storyline. There is very little profanity or sexual content. However, there is some discussion of violence, so I recommend this book to readers over sixteen. Readers interested in a shorter novel packed with exciting twists and turns will enjoy this book.
******
The House of Spark
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Luminita Laflash's novel, The House of Spark, is a historical fiction set in Soviet-controlled Romania during the 1950s. The storyline follows a young woman, Virginia, whose boyfriend, Jenica, suddenly disappears before a scheduled date at the concert hall. It is unlike Jenica to disappear, so Virginia enlists the help of her and Jenica's friends, Mircea and his girlfriend, Doina. These three friends search everywhere for Jenica, and no one knows where he's gone. It is too dangerous for them to go to the police in a Soviet-controlled country without bringing suspicion down on themselves. This novel is a tale of hardship and loyalty.
The author masterfully portrays Virginia's panic and fear when she realizes that Jenica has disappeared. Because of the communist setting, it is impossible to utilize the help of the authorities, and the group fears discussing the disappearance with any other friends and family. There are spies for the communist secret police everywhere. I cannot imagine living in a society where even family is feared. The author does an excellent job of explaining the setting and expressing the hardships of the time.
There is nothing to dislike about this novel. It was a heartfelt story in a small package, only 153 pages. I found a few minor errors in the text, but nothing that distracted me from enjoying the novel. I would like to see Kindle provide this book to readers. The PDF format was slightly challenging to flip through the pages. However, the format did not detract from my enjoyment of the storyline.
I rate The House of Spark 4 out of 4 stars. The novel is professionally edited, as I found only a few minor errors throughout the book. I enjoyed the author's writing style and appreciated her ability to bring life to a setting I was unfamiliar with before reading this book. I have learned about life in Romania during such a desperate time in their history. I feel deeply for those who experience oppression under Soviet rule. The author did an excellent job of shedding light on her family's experience and educating readers.
I recommend this book to readers interested in historical fiction. Readers intrigued about life in Romania or society under Soviet rule will enjoy this storyline. There is very little profanity or sexual content. However, there is some discussion of violence, so I recommend this book to readers over sixteen. Readers interested in a shorter novel packed with exciting twists and turns will enjoy this book.
******
The House of Spark
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Seeking Fairness at Work by Hanna Hasl-Kelchner, MBA, JD
