Poetic. [The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata]

The mesmerizing story of a Latin American science fiction writer and the lives her lost manuscript unites decades later in post-Katrina New Orleans

In 1929 in New Orleans, a Dominican immigrant named Adana Moreau writes a science fiction novel. The novel earns rave reviews, and Adana begins a sequel. Then she falls gravely ill. Just before she dies, she destroys the only copy of the manuscript.

Decades later in Chicago, Saul Drower is cleaning out his dead grandfather’s home when he discovers a mysterious manuscript written by none other than Adana Moreau. With the help of his friend Javier, Saul tracks down an address for Adana’s son in New Orleans, but as Hurricane Katrina strikes they must head to the storm-ravaged city for answers.

I've read a couple of books about books. There's usually a mystery or possible conspiracy presented about the book in question, and the story invites you to see how the protagonist or protagonists of the book you're reading delve deeper into the mysteries of the book they're focused on. Books about books - a whole thing.

Maybe the book in question is a secret tome of unfettered power that droves of people have coveted. Maybe it's a tome that's been hidden for the secret truths in contains. I tend towards books about books, especially when I suspect some fantastical mystery-conspiracy is afoot. But more often than not I'm disappointed and have ended up reading a book about a book that makes it all about the journey. The magical mystery you thought you'd realize was a lie, it's all about the journey. Some examples that come to mind? Lev Grossman's Codex and Robin Sloan's Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I don't care for reality, I want grand connections made, moments of great realization.

Enter Michael Zapata's The Lost Book of Adana Moreau. I didn't read this expect grand fantasy, but from the description you're told there's a mystery to be solved. Why does this book that was supposedly destroyed still exist? How did it end up where it ended up? I'll cut the tension and say no, I wasn't disappointed by this book.

From the onset, the flowery, poetic language captivated me. Time, in the story, is a fluid tool. Moments of lives were told as if in chunks of time, flowing seamlessly in dialogue and event, encompassing generations and untold years. Almost as if a time were a nesting doll, stories are told only to be linked to another story and another life, and another story and another life, so on and so forth. So the writing style was lovely to experience.

As far as the story, the main story being told in the 2005 present, I can't say I much cared for it. It wrapped up almost too quickly or neatly, and maybe that's a point being made here, about the depth and impact of the past on the now. As you a reader you do feel these moments of wrenching pain as you make your way through individual vignettes, becoming attached to characters and their life journeys and struggles. Still, the weight of the horrors of Hurricane Katrina are strangely not as heavily felt as some of the other ordeals characters went through.

After reading the Acknowledgements section, I don't know if this is a semi-autobiographic work or just the author inserting parts of himself into his work. Either way, I wonder how the idea for this novel came about. Seeing this interwoven tapestry of international and intergenerational stories unfold with the background of the tragedy of  Katrina was an interesting and illuminating read. I learned much about Lithuania, Prussia, the immigrant makeup of New Orleans and Chicago. I had new insights into Chilean history and South and Central American politics. I'd love to learn about the inspiration or impetus behind this book.

Overall I'm giving it 4 stars. Like I said, the focus for me ended up being personal histories of side characters. The actual book that the book's about and it's story as told didn't interest me and felt convoluted. While that whole sci-fi-philosophy-metaphorical story might be something that flies miles over my head, in my reading experience it ended up serving little purpose. But I think for anyone who's interested in multicultural interest stories, stories about how stories shape us, even books about books, this is a book I'm recommending.

 Michael Zapata's The Lost Book of Adana Moreau was published February 2020.