I need more stars. I love this book. ( )

I'm not certain it's even possible for me to recommend this book highly enough. This is a twisty - but not twistED - novel, with a number of sub-plots that contribute towards and direct the action of the primary plot, that between an elderly collector and his archivist.

To be sure, Audeguy has been lucky in his translator, but there are certain flashes of - dare I say it - genius, which indicate masterful execution. ( )

Een eerder lichtvoetig verhaal, dus zonder al te grote diepgang. Aangenaam om te lezen en geschreven vanuit een originele invalshoek. Een paar humoristische zinsneden. Het begint snedig en roept verwachtingen op die echter op het einde niet volledig bereikt worden. ( )

A historical fiction about clouds and meteorology seems a bit unusual, but this book did hit a certain groove within me. A young woman, Virginie Latour, a young librarian in Paris, secures a parallel position cataloging the meteorological collection of a certain Akiro Kumo, a fashion entrepreneur. The story then delves into the history of cloud classification, led by a Luke Howard (a real historical figure). He is succeeded by two people who further stretch the field of weather reporting and prediction: the Scotsman, Richard Abercrombie; and the Swede, William S. Williamsson. These two appear to be somewhat based upon real meteorologists, Ralph Abercrmby and Hugo Hildebrand Hildebrandsson. There is quite a bit of competition in the novel between the two in the back story, but eventually the story settles on Abercrombie and his so-called "Protocol" which is eagerly anticipated. The front story is concerned with the securing of the manuscript. the life of Kumo, and how Virginie plays in all of this. The psychology of the players in this novel is well drawn, although some of the early sex seemed a little put-upon. But this pushes towards a rather interesting resolution at the end. ( )

Interesting. It was nice to read a story line that seemed fresh and new. At times I wondered where it was going, and what the book was actually about, however, it always seemed to get there. The writing and character development was good. The ending could have been better although if Stephane Audeguy did actually write another book about Virginie I would most likely read it. ( )