Barcelona Dreaming

No new novel from Rupert Thomson resembles his previous one. Like David Bowie’s recording list, no genre can hold him. His books, perhaps for this reason, may not leave the reader 100% satisfied, yet their constituent themes are always interesting. Travelling, in other words, can beat arriving.Thomson’s latest book comprises three novellas set in and around Barcelona. The three protagonists are a divorced ex-pat Englishwoman, an alcoholic jazz pianist and a younger man the love of whose life only wants him as a friend. What they have in common is that their lives and emotional balance have been knocked off-kilter and consequently the judgments they make are suspect.Thomson once again excels as a story-teller. The architecture of the three stories is strengthened by characters who re-appear in entirely plausible contexts. Each story is around 70 pages long, but such is Thomson’s skill that their protagonists’ motivations and personalities feel fully laid out for us.A slight book perhaps, but an enjoyably rewarding one that manages to say things about loss and longing, fame and racism, in the course of which the city of Barcelona becomes almost a fourth major character.

A difficult book to explain, except that here are three interconnected novellas written with such lucidity, such gorgeously straightforward prose, that you will be drawn in.All the stories are just slightly off-kilter. There are unreliable narrators, weird occurrences - but also the gritty realism of modern Barcelona away from the tourist zones.I loved it.

This is an excellent read. Three short stories which connect in unexpected ways. The third is a gripping marvel of layers, which had me on the edge of my seat until the final sentence.Immensely readable.

You'll be haunted by the characters in this superbly written book long after you've finished reading.

One of the best books I have read this year, consisting of three stories that are intertwined in interesting ways. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for something that is unique.

I love this book. Beautifully written and a lovely pace, wonderful.

Expected a clever twist but lost hope as the end drew nearer. Very interesting tour of Barcelona and that is this novel’s main feature.

Clever, thought provoking and interesting