Synopsis -
Clarissa, an Asian/Caucasian young woman has lived in seven different countries and has no lasting connection to any place. She thinks it’s time to settle somewhere she could eventually call home. But where?
She decides to live in the city of her birth. There, she joins a quest for the provenance of stolen illuminated manuscripts—a medieval art form that languished with the fifteenth-century invention of the printing press—hoping it would give her the sense of belonging she craves. But will it be enough?
For her, these ancient manuscripts elicit cherished memories of children’s picture books her mother read to her, nourishing a passion for art.
The trail of the manuscripts leads to an American soldier who served in World War II. Clarissa is anxious to know what motivated him to steal and keep the artwork for fifty years. But instead of easy answers, she finds bigger questions.
Immersed in art, but naïve about life, she’s disheartened and disillusioned by the machinations the quest reveals of an esoteric, sometimes unscrupulous art world. What compels individuals to steal artworks, and conquerors to plunder them from the vanquished? Why do collectors buy artworks for hundreds of millions of dollars? Who decides the value of an art piece and how?
The Golden Manuscript is the sixth book in author Evy Journey's Between Two Worlds series. Here we again follow a woman struggling with connection and roots. Growing up, Clarissa's family moved constantly, never staying in one place long enough for it to feel like home. Now on her own in the US where she was born, she lives a very solitary life devoted to her art studies, and particularly to the study of Illuminated Manuscripts.
When two rare manuscripts are listed for sale with no solid provenance provided she is intrigued and decides to do her thesis on creating a modern version. She also wonders if these new manuscripts are real, and if the owner is legitimate or were they stolen during the war? Her quest for answers brings an old acquaintance back into her life - Lucien - who is also disconnected from his family and hoping to write a book on art thefts during the war.
Clarissa and an acquaintance from her past, Nathan, join forces to research the truth about whether the two new manuscripts are real and where they came from. While they slowly pull all the pieces of the puzzle together, something begins to build between them. Can they each set aside their struggles to allow it to grow. And will they each find a place that feels like home where they can put down roots?
The Golden Manuscript offers a mystery to solve that takes you through twists and turns, while offering a parallel personal story of the struggle to feel connected and rooted, to find home.
She decides to live in the city of her birth. There, she joins a quest for the provenance of stolen illuminated manuscripts—a medieval art form that languished with the fifteenth-century invention of the printing press—hoping it would give her the sense of belonging she craves. But will it be enough?
For her, these ancient manuscripts elicit cherished memories of children’s picture books her mother read to her, nourishing a passion for art.
The trail of the manuscripts leads to an American soldier who served in World War II. Clarissa is anxious to know what motivated him to steal and keep the artwork for fifty years. But instead of easy answers, she finds bigger questions.
Immersed in art, but naïve about life, she’s disheartened and disillusioned by the machinations the quest reveals of an esoteric, sometimes unscrupulous art world. What compels individuals to steal artworks, and conquerors to plunder them from the vanquished? Why do collectors buy artworks for hundreds of millions of dollars? Who decides the value of an art piece and how?
Review -
When two rare manuscripts are listed for sale with no solid provenance provided she is intrigued and decides to do her thesis on creating a modern version. She also wonders if these new manuscripts are real, and if the owner is legitimate or were they stolen during the war? Her quest for answers brings an old acquaintance back into her life - Lucien - who is also disconnected from his family and hoping to write a book on art thefts during the war.
Clarissa and an acquaintance from her past, Nathan, join forces to research the truth about whether the two new manuscripts are real and where they came from. While they slowly pull all the pieces of the puzzle together, something begins to build between them. Can they each set aside their struggles to allow it to grow. And will they each find a place that feels like home where they can put down roots?
The Golden Manuscript offers a mystery to solve that takes you through twists and turns, while offering a parallel personal story of the struggle to feel connected and rooted, to find home.
Buy the Book: Amazon ~ B&N ~ Audible ~ Kobo ~ Apple iBooks ~ Bookbub
Other reviews -
The Shade Under the Mango Tree (Between Two Worlds, Book 5) - click HERE
Other reviews -
Hello, My Love! (Book 1 - Between Two Worlds) - click HERE.
Hello, Agnieszka! (Book 2 - Between Two Worlds) - click HERE.
Welcome, Reluctant Stranger (Book 3 - Between Two Worlds) - click HERE
Sugar and Spice and All Those Lies (Book 4 - Between Two Worlds) - HERE!Hello, Agnieszka! (Book 2 - Between Two Worlds) - click HERE.
Welcome, Reluctant Stranger (Book 3 - Between Two Worlds) - click HERE
The Shade Under the Mango Tree (Between Two Worlds, Book 5) - click HERE
Meet the Author
Evy Journey writes. Stories. Blogs (three sites). Cross-genre novels. She’s also a wannabe artist, and a flâneuse (an ambler).
Evy studied psychology (M.A., University of Hawaii; Ph.D. University of Illinois) initially to help her understand herself and Dostoevsky. Now, she spins tales about multicultural characters dealing with problems and issues of contemporary life. She believes in love and its many faces.
Just as she has crossed genres in writing fiction, she has also crossed cultures, having lived and traveled in various cities in different countries. Find her thoughts on travel, art, and food at Artsy Rambler.
She has one ungranted wish: To live in Paris where art is everywhere and people have honed aimless roaming to an art form. She visits and stays a few months when she can.
connect with the author: website ~ blog ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads
Evy studied psychology (M.A., University of Hawaii; Ph.D. University of Illinois) initially to help her understand herself and Dostoevsky. Now, she spins tales about multicultural characters dealing with problems and issues of contemporary life. She believes in love and its many faces.
Just as she has crossed genres in writing fiction, she has also crossed cultures, having lived and traveled in various cities in different countries. Find her thoughts on travel, art, and food at Artsy Rambler.
She has one ungranted wish: To live in Paris where art is everywhere and people have honed aimless roaming to an art form. She visits and stays a few months when she can.
connect with the author: website ~ blog ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads
Great interview.
ReplyDeleteThanks. The interviews are my favourite.
DeleteI enjoyed the synopsis and review. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure!
ReplyDelete