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The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata is a novel spanning generations about a science fiction writer and her lost manuscript. Mr. Zapata is an educator and award winning author.

Adana Moreau, a Dominican immigrant and the only survivor of events that massacred her family, writes a science fiction novel called Lost City. In 1929 this novel is ground breaking, and gets a small, but enthusiastic fan base. Adana starts write a sequel, and before she dies she destroys the manuscript with her son, Maxwell.

Many years later, in 2005, Saul Drower discovers a manuscript called A Model Earth, by Adana Morea while cleaning up the belongings of his recently deceased grandfather. Together with friend Javier, Saul tracks down Maxwell, now a theoretical physicist, in New Orleans days after Hurricane Katrina hit.

A very imaginative and well written book, weaving stories within stories within stories. From the first few paragraphs I could tell that I am going to enjoy The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata and the tangents the author took me on.

I’m actually amazed at the way the author told this story, it centers around complicated ideas and emotions, yet it is read effortlessly and the narrative unfolds smoothly. The novel weaves a literary mystery with hallucinatory science fiction (which, by the way, I had to check if it exists because that would have been next on my “to read” list), smoothly as if the two were made to compliment one another.

The two books Adana Moreau wrote, Lost City and possible A Model Earth, are not the only books mentioned. Mr. Zapata invents a whole litany of books and stories which would have each made a great story all by themselves.

The author builds the story in multiple layers, orphans, diaspora, multiple Earths, and more importantly the way past generations influence future ones in ways which they never imagined. After all, at some point we are all connected even if we don’t know it.

This novel could have easily been a political one, if the author chose (even though, most science-fiction books are political to being with). The narrative is very critical about the way humans treat one another, the unpunished, and even celebrated injustices and betrayals all around the globe, destroying families, cities, and countries with impunity.

After I finished this wonderful novel, it suddenly hit me that instead of setting this book in a future which has grave injustices, the author set in in the sufferings of the past, from Hurricane Katrina, to the September 11 attacks, the Argentine Financial Crisis of 2001 as well as personal tragedies and even pirates (believe me – it works). The world, in this novel is not going to end, but has already ended.
We just don’t know about it yet.

Reading this book was a unique experience. It is not written in a traditional format, whether that is because I"m reading an ARC or if that is the intention, but its idiosyncrasies can make it a challenge to read. The story in itself is fascinating, I've always loved the premise of trying to find someone that has seemingly disappeared. I also enjoyed the progression of the generations, the main character's origin story. The there are the stories within the story, including the "lost book". It's as if you're reading multiple books at the same time.

This was not a page-turner in the traditional sense, it takes time to absorb and digest what you're reading, if anything, to sort out what story you're actually reading, but once you process one part, you definitely want to get back into it and learn the conclusion.

The Lost Book of Adana Moreau is an incredible journey through time and across families. Michael Zapata has written a captivating novel about Adana Moreau's lost manuscript and how this unites people through the decades. This novel touches on racism, important historical events, and most recently post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. Lyrical, thoughtful, mesmerizing, riveting.

The concept of this story was great, but the execution was a little disappointing. There are multiple short stories that are told within the larger story of Saul trying to get a "lost" manuscript to the author's son. Zapata attempted to make this feel like "One Thousand Nights and a Night". There are a lot of different themes happening in the book, too; some of these themes aren't fully explored.

I wasn't a fan of the pages and pages of prose, the lack of dialog, or the focus on describing colors (everything seemed to be some shade of yellow). What does "hazel-colored hair" look like? Hazel is a mix between green and brown; that's not a natural hair color.

It was an interesting read with a lot of potential.

2.5 stars.

This is likely to have been a case of "it's not you, it's me. The premise for this book sounded amazing and the writing is great, but I could not connect with it. In fact, it took me forever to slog through. There a lot of redeeming qualities to both the narrative and the writing, but it just didn't work for my reading tastes.

There is a lot going on in this less than 300 page novel. There are several timelines interweaving along with several different plots and a lot of characters. Dense historical information fills the pages, mostly regarding political strife. This was quite thorough and obviously well researched. However, the frequent shifts in character focus, time period, and story pieces made things disorienting. In fact, the book felt several times as if it were really several different books compressed into one. I had trouble staying focused with the narrative as it shifted from section to section and found it hard to care about the diverging side plots, though they were admittedly about interesting subjects. Perhaps further investigation of these individual pieces would have made me feel more involved with the plot, but I'm not sure that would have resolved my issues fully. As it was, it felt like an attempt to make too much fit into a small space.

I think my biggest struggle was with the pacing. There were several long stretches of slow burn followed by quick bursts of good and intriguing movement. For those who enjoy a slow and methodical character analysis, this might be a much better fit. I will admit that I am not usually drawn to character driven plots, so this was another strike against me as a reader.

Regardless of my struggles, I have to admit that there is a lot of talent in the writing. It is highly descriptive with excellent attention to detail. The character development and movement can be terribly impressive and the sweeping nature of the plot does demonstrate skill that perhaps just needs some refinement. There is a lot that is intricate and well-conceived, just not as excellently executed for my personal tastes.

Unique writing style to tell a story of intergenerational pain and how stories and experiences shape lives and how interconnected people really are.

The Lost Book of Adana Moreau has a difficult plot to summarize without revealing the entirety of the work. In this case, I defer to the summary provided by the publisher and will focus on my impressions of the novel, rather than spoil the entire plot for readers of this review.

Zapata has captured a series of different immigrant and first-generation American experiences spanning much of the twentieth century. Each story holds its own within the greater plot of the novel, personalizing the tragedies of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and Hurricane Katrina. The book carries a haunting tone, right on the edge of melancholy, framed by the evocative world created in Adana Moreau’s science fiction novel in the prologue. Even after a week of trying to write this review, I’m still not sure if I liked it. I know that I did not dislike The Lost Book of Adana Moreau, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for literary fiction fans, or science fiction fans who are willing to read fiction about sci-fi. It won’t be a book for everyone, but I am sure that there will be many fans eagerly awaiting Zapata’s second novel.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

I found the writing to be descriptive and lyrical. The author has the tone of an old style storyteller, which I loved. I became frustrated however as bits of the story were touched and then quickly moved on from. I would be fascinated by an aspect of the story (pirates! New Orleans! ) but the author didn’t stay in the storyline long enough for me to be satisfied. I am sure that the book eventually tied everything together but I didn’t have the patience to find out. I would recommend the book to those who are interested in literary fiction and science fiction with an atmosphere of magic, just be forewarned that the road may meander a bit.

The first chapter of this book was out of this world, I thought for sure it would be a 5 star book, something about it grabbed me, the writing, the characters, I was in love.

By the end of the book, I just wanted it to be done. I was so let down by this book, I completely lost interest.

The Lost Book of Adana Moreau is not the kind of book I tend to pick up, but I’m glad I did! Zapata weaves a magical tale of parallel universes, portals, and a lost manuscript that brings the sci-fi world to life. I'm not a sci-fi fanatic, but when I read the Dominican Republic, I was in! I also really enjoyed and appreciated the numerous historical facts sprinkled throughout the novel.

I notice that I am in a minority with this book. I liked it, but I just wasn't blown away and I am not sure why. I have the reviews of those who have loved it and I can see exactly what they are praising and I agree with them, but for some reason it just didn't resonate with me enough to keep me engrossed in the story, nor did it give me that pull to keep reading. The story was interesting, don't get me wrong, I do love a book that meanders through sub-stories and seemingly disparate characters to complete as one big whole - and this one did that. Again, it just didn't resonate with me :(

What looks to be a simple story turns into a complex layered look at two contemporary friends who go to New Orleans to return a handwritten book to its intended recipient. Adana Moreau, originally from Dominica, married a pirate in the early 1900’s. She’s written a science fiction story that sort of mirrors her life. Saul, who accidently acquires the book is intrigued and encourages his friend, Javier, who seems to be able to find disaster, to accompany him on the mission to New Orleans. The story is almost like two different universes, that of the science fiction story and that of Javier and Saul. Well-written this story within a story is engaging.

It took me weeks to read the 266 pages in this book because every sentence, paragraph, and chapter was layered with history and references. The storylines are woven together in such a way that I was totally immersed. I didn’t want it to ever end. I would only let myself read a chapter or two at a time because I knew I’d never get to read this amazing story again for the first time.

Thanks to NetGalley, Hanover Square Press, and Michael Zapata for the opportunity to read and review this book. This is a very different book - beautifully written but one of those books that makes me feel I'm not quite smart enough to read and enjoy it the way I should.

The story is basically about a science fiction book that was written by a Latin American writer that was lost for decades. Saul, cleaning out his grandfather's home after his death finds the lost book and tries to reunite it with the author's son, who is living in post-Katrina New Orleans. The story - the very many stories - between those two events fills the pages of this book.

I loved the writing and it was interesting to see the connections made between all the characters. What I definitely took away from this book is that we all have stories - and they are best shared with those we love. But I struggled a bit with the science fiction books and all those stories.

This one is getting rave reviews and lots of press so it may be just the book for you!

I enjoyed this book a lot even though I sometimes got confused when it was skipping between time periods. I loved the storytelling aspect of it and the characters.

Mesmerizing and riveting. Michael Zapata weaves a very good story that flows seamlessly. It paints a vivid picture that will keep you happily engrossed from the first page until the last. Happy reading!

THE LOST BOOK OF ADANA MOREAU, by Michael Zapata, is about a search for a book, a man, and a past that can reveal the true connections between the two. Saul Drower recently lost his grandfather and with his friend, Javier, embarks on a journey to deliver an undeliverable package to a man who seems to have disappeared. As Saul's search gets closer and closer to the man in question, via flashback, the reader finds out who the man is, why he and his mother are important, and eventually Saul's grandfather's connection to the man in question.
Self-discovery is a strong theme throughout the book. Saul, his grandfather, and the elusive man being searched for, have all gone through time of heavy reflection on life's purpose, their own purpose, and the choices each of them have made. Their choices have ended in regret, acceptance, and sometimes even hope for the future, but all the while they have grown to accept the choices as part of their own being. Zapata paints intricate and moving pictures of the places and scenes that all of the characters come across, particularly the stark images of post-Katrina New Orleans. The books within this book are fascinating and downright titillating for a science fiction reader to think about and perhaps some more peeking into those books would have been exciting. Another hiccup in the novel was that, as so many books that have journey within it's pages do, the middle of the journey moves slow, while the beginning and the end of the sojourn are fast-paced and exciting. To be honest, though, in this book, the slow down was less notable and less impactful than some books I have read.
THE LOST BOOK OF ADANA MOREAU certainly left a smile on my face when I finished it and I really felt contentment that the journey I travelled on with Saul and Javier was successful Zapata leaves the reader with a consideration: Are any of our choices in life wrong and whatever choice we do make, isn't that the right choice in the end?

Not sure how to describe this book. I don't think I've read a book quite like this. It's written beautifully, but more in a stream-of-consciousness manner than the traditional divided-into-distinct-chapters way.
It's a story spanning decades and we see the life of Adana Moreau and her journey from illiterate woman to science-fiction author. We follow their son, Maxwell, as he grew up through the Great Depression. There is also the thread of Saul Drower, who finds the lost manuscript of Adana Moreau among his grandfather's possessions shortly after his death. He embarks on a journey looking for Maxwell with his childhood best friend, Javier. Saul and Javier goes to New Orleans in the aftermath of a big storm (Hurricane Katrina, I assumed, but it's not named in the book.) Through the trip, we learn the history of Saul's family. His grandfather came to America as a persecuted Jew during the Russian Revolution. Javier also recounts his experiences in South America during a volatile time of revolution and rebellion.
I have to say, if one reads mainly for plotlines, this book might disappoint. Beyond the whole Saul and Javier searching for Maxwell Moreau, there's not much of one. But, the way the author weaves these different stories together, makes for a fascinating, beautiful read.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book!**

This is a most interesting book. I was drawn right in and it was so hard to put down. The story of Adana, her son Maxwell, Saul Drower and his grandfather and his best friend. IT is also a book about exile and about storytelling. With mystery and science fiction and family and adventure, this book has it all. This book will stick with you and leave you thinking. Its like taking treads and weaving them together and the next thing you know you have a beautiful fabric. Hard to describe but easy to recommend.

Creative, complex, and layered: it’s no wonder this debut novel by Michael Zapata has already been touted as a Most Anticipated Book of 2020.

The story interweaves the tales of Adana Moreau and her son Maxwell, Saul Drower, his Russian Jew grandfather, and his best friend Javier, plus the lost manuscript that ultimately connects them all.
Spanning the globe and ninety years, the novel is part family saga and part mystery, with a pinch of adventure and a whole heap of literary prowess thrown in. More than just a story, Michael Zapata offers a profound meditation on migration and immigration, exile and the loss of home, family, and stories.

When Saul comes upon the lost manuscript by Adana Moreau, he says “… it only took him the first page to know that he had stumbled upon the presence of something extraordinary.” That’s precisely how I felt about this book.

Michael Zapata has crafted an intelligent read that required a certain amount of humility on my part, as a reader. For every allusion or reference to science or philosophy, literature or history, I likely missed several more.

The author seemed to sense this about his readers, too, when he referred to “… books that devoured readers, not the other way around, like a fanged beast.” The Lost Book of Adana Moreau might just become a personal classic I read again, and again, in an attempt to tame this multifaceted, admirable beast.

ARC graciously provided by HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (US & Canada), for Hanover Square Press