Damascus Station – David McCloskey
From Storygraph: A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in Damascus to hunt for a killer
CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad’s recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy.
But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad’s spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.
My Thoughts: I used to read a lot of spy thrillers and it is one of the genres G and I watch most of on TV, but I ‘d fallen out of the habit. At first I found it a bit hard to get into, but then the plot started rolling. It’s decent escapist fiction. 3-stars.
The Museum of Modern Love – Heather Rose
From Storygraph: A mesmerising literary novel about a lost man in search of connection – a meditation on love, art and commitment, set against the backdrop of one of the greatest art events in modern history, Marina Abramovic’s The Artist is Present.
My Thoughts: I loved the interaction of the various characters as they immersed themselves for hours/weeks/months in Marina Abramovic’s work. The writing is good. Line of note: “A human life is short and yet filled with moments of wonder and convergence.” This is a Stellar Award winner. 4.5 stars.
We Do Not Part – Han Kang
From Storygraph: One morning in December, Kyungha receives a message from her friend Inseon saying she has been hospitalized in Seoul and asking that Kyungha join her urgently. The two women have last seen each other over a year before, on Jeju Island, where Inseon lives and where, two days before this reunion, she has injured herself chopping wood. Airlifted to Seoul for an operation, Inseon has had to leave behind her pet bird, which will quickly die unless it receives food. Bedridden, she begs Kyungha to take the first plane to Jeju to save the animal. Unfortunately, a snowstorm hits the island when Kyungha arrives. She must reach Inseons house at all costs, but the icy wind and snow squalls slow her down as night begins to fall. She wonders if she will arrive in time to save Inseon’s bird or even survive the terrible cold that envelops her with every step. Lost in a world of snow, she doesn’t yet suspect the vertiginous plunge into the darkness which awaits her at her friend’s house. There, the long-buried story of Inseon’s family surges into light, in dreams and memories passed from mother to daughter, and in the archive painstakingly assembled at the house.
My Thoughts: The prose in this is amazing, so poetic set against the devastating historical background. I’m still not sure what was real and what was not, but this was a beautiful read. 5 stars.
Comments
9 responses to “Books: August 2025”
Thanks for these reviews!
I really enjoyed your take on The Museum of Modern Love!
That line about life being “short and yet filled with moments of wonder” really sticks with me. Sounds like a book that stays with you long after finishing.
It is a book that I’ve thought about since I finished it. Same with We do not Part.
We Do Not Part is officially on hold for me at the library!
I hope you like it. Be aware that it does deal with some pretty sad historical events.
Gosh I have never even heard of these books! Where have I been?
My daughters bought me We do not Part, I hadn’t heard of it either, and I found The Museum of Modern Love in an Opshop in Noosa.
Those last two books – one labeled “literary” and the other labeled “lyrical.” I don’t think I’m smart enough for the things you read!
You might be surprised, the last one in particular was poetic, but not difficult. We have a bit of overlap in our reading preferences though and I have a tag in my Storygraph for books recommended by you.
I somehow missed that Han Kang won the Nobel Prize.
I have read the Vegetarian which I did not like. But maybe I giver her another try.
Museum of modern Loves sounds interesting too.