This was my first read by Madeleine Thien and The Book of Records is quite an inventive and multi-layered story! I really enjoyed the creativity in this writing as it blurs the boundaries of time and characters. The three historical figures are interwoven with care and rich thought. I especially liked the part about the Chinese poet Du Fu. The story within a story aspect was so interesting and I’m very curious to read this author’s other book Do Not Say We Have Nothing.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for this e-ARC of The Book of Records in exchange for an honest review. I think Thien's writing style was perfect for this book but that's truthfully the only thing I really remember from this book. I think maybe it just wasn't for me but I think people who like your journeys through history and parallel timelines will enjoy this book.