Book review: The Chameleon + competition

By Samuel Fisher
Published by Salt

Synopsis: John is infinite.

He can become any book, any combination of words – every thought, act and expression that has ever been, or ever will be, written. Now 800 years old, John wants to tell his story. 

Looking back over his life, from its beginnings with a medieval anchoress to his current lodgings beside the deathbed of a Cold War spy, John pieces together his tale: the love that held him together and, in particular, the reasons for a murder that took place in Moscow fifty years earlier, which set in train a shattering series of events.

Samuel Fisher’s debut, The Chameleon is a love story about books like no other, weaving texts and lives in a family tale that leads the reader on an extraordinary historical journey, a journey of words as much as of places, and a gripping romance.

How did this book end up in my hands? I was happy to receive a review copy from the publisher at the beginning of the year. It’s not every day that you get to read a book where the narrator is… a book!

Was it a page-turner? This book is a feast for word-lovers everywhere. I did appreciate that Roger’s story was there to ground me but, oh, how I did enjoy the wordsmithery of it all.

Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? I didn’t quite know what to expect after reading the synopsis. I feared this would be Woolf’s Orlando all over again – and I didn’t have a great time with that! I shouldn’t have feared.

Did I like the ending? [no spoilers] I would have happily kept reading on but the book had to end somewhere and it did it very elegantly.

Three words to describe it. Smart. Humorous. Original.

Do I like the cover? I must admit I didn’t think much of it either way until I came across the part in the book that references the painting on the cover. Then it made more sense,

Have I read any other books by the same author? The Chameleon is Samuel Fisher’s debut novel. And what a debut novel!

Will I be recommending this book? Yes, as I am pretty sure that you won’t have read anything like it before. It will give you tears, laughter and it will always surprise you!

Anything else? Yes! The publisher has kindly offered one copy of The Chameleon to go to a lucky reader! All you have to do is follow me on Twitter and retweet the competition post by 9/12. UK only. All comments left below will count as extra entries (one per person). Good luck!

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