Time After Time: The Rocks | 2016

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“And the seasons, as now, reliably made everything new again. He liked to remember Goethe’s line: 'A man can stand anything but a succession of ordinary days.'” 

-The Rocks

The Sum of It:

Oof - this is a hard one to summarize, but we will do our best! The most important thing to know is that the book is written in reverse time order in that we begin at the end of the tumultuous relationship between main characters Lulu and Gerald and then trace that relationship and the lives that surround it backwards from there. These two used to be married, but when the book begins in 2005, the two are 100% not together and have a super non-friendly confrontation near some seaside cliffs and then (kinda spoilers, but not really because this literally happens in the first chapter of the book) both tumble over the cliff and die. As their two adult children (each from a different marriage, so not related at all #noncousinlove), Aegina and Luc, meet up to sort out the cliff situation, it becomes apparent that those two ALSO have some kind of a romance-riddled past. Each section of the book travels back in in chronology all the way to 1948 a few years at a time, with each section revealing a new piece of the puzzle of the totally mysterious horrible incident that drove Lulu and Gerald apart, and the reason why Aegina and Luc can't seem to look each other in the eye...

Author Peter Nichols weaves an amazing, lushly visual albeit a bit cringe-y at times (see Treatment below for more on that), tale that is full of literal and figuratively rich characters. Lulu's Mallorcan villa/hotel, The Rocks, hosts a constant stream of visitors, from the rich British couple who helped fund her resort venture to a decidedly skeezy regular to a smorgasbord of movie stars and producers, and Nichols will leave you hooked to the last page to see the genesis of each and every one. The settings range from the glittering water and olive groves of Mallorca to Paris apartments to north African bazaars, and each is vividly painted. The settings, images, relationships, and complex emotions that build the story's tapestry are, together, a knock out.

The YOA Treatment:

Opinions on this book range, but we have to say that we really liked it. It is set in Mallorca, a place we've become increasingly fascinated by (especially since "The Night Manager" starring bae Hiddleston; if you haven't watched it, DO IT). The scenes are painted so vividly, my passport was itching. We were also intrigued by the structure of the book, which begins with an extremely dramatic scene that was obviously precipitated by a significant event in the past, so the premise of the whole book is traveling backwards through the lives of the characters until the mysterious situation that sparked lifetimes of drama for both of the initial main characters is finally revealed. Each character in the book brings something else to the story, either demonstrating the consequences of some long ago action or illustrating heartache or unachieved potential. That sounds kind of depressing, but we promise this book is not! None of the characters are perfect, but then, neither are people, and we feel like this book paints a great picture of how simple misunderstandings or actions can have a ripple effect across lives.

In this way, this book strikes us as absolutely a mystery. One of the most compelling features of the narrative is that you are constantly trying to figure out what it is that has caused these two families to be pitted against each other, Capulet vs. Montague style, for like 60 years. Amid this narrative device, the mysteries of actual crimes as well as the emotional damage people can do to each other are totally intertwined. 

In poking around online about this book before reading it, we came across some VERY mixed reviews. Some people described the book as "boring" (which we find COMPLETELY baffling), some were frustrated with the sex scenes (there is one in particular that we agreed we could have done without, though we get why it was there for one character in particular), and some said they didn't like some of the characters. Many reviewers compare it to Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, which was honestly a bit of a deterrent for us because while we very much enjoyed the portions of that book set in the past, we loathed the modern-day storyline and wished that the author had left it out altogether, and speed-read through it to get back to the interesting parts. The Rocks, for us, was nothing like that, and was a #pageturner from start to finish and by the time we reached the last page, we wanted to just turn the book over and start again. Pick it up!

- E. & A. 

When I'm Sixty Four (Hoo!): N or M? | 1941

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"'Tuppence and I, you see, aren't on those terms. We go into things -- together!' In his mind was that phrase, uttered years ago, at the close of an earlier war. A joint venture... That was what his life with Tuppence had been and would always be -- a Joint Venture..." 

- N or M?, p. 50

The Sum of It:

Agatha goes FULL ON WWII in this book, which reunites us with our favorite secret agent couple, Tommy and Tuppence. The war is well under way, and their grown twins are off doing their bit - Derek in the air and Deborah in the code breaking corps. Tommy and Tuppence want to get involved with the war effort too, but their advanced (we presume middle age) years have rendered them apparently useless to the entire war effort. Tuppence is knitting balaclavas and Tommy is begging for work in war offices. They're both pretty mopey about it, UNTIL Mr. Grant, who works in the Ministry of Requirements (v. Harry Potter) shows up and bluffs about an office job for Tommy. Once Tuppence is out of the room, he tells Tommy it's really a secret mission, like the old days, to try and root out the Fifth Column, aka Britishers who are working against England from inside! The only catch is, Tuppence isn't invited. Tuppence, sensing something afoot, figures out what is what and boy, does Tommy get a surprise when she turns up at his assigned location, a seaside guest house referenced by a dying agent, a place called Sans Souci. 

The dying agent also referenced two key operatives that Intelligence has been trying to catch, male and female agents known by the code names N and M. Tommy (along with Tuppence, once she invites herself) is assigned to try to track them down at Sans Souci, and so they both go about the business of befriending the odd assortment of guests in the hotel, as well as folks in the neighboring mansions. Everyone seems SO unassuming (well, maybe except for the German war refugee Carl von Deinim, but that just feels too obvious to T & T...) yet some among them must be evil secret agents, trying to destroy Great Britain and advance Herr Hitler's work! Both operating in disguise, they sneak and spy and suspect almost everyone before they finally get down to the real culprits. There are some great T & T capers that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and while you might guess one or the other of the culprits, you're sure to be surprised at the end!

The YOA Treatment:

So, we love a good Tommy and Tuppence caper (Emily especially) because there's a lot of excitement and "ack what's gonna happen next??" in these tales #pageturners. These are great spy stories, full of secret agents and hidden identities and double-blind fake outs. This book brings us a slightly older T & T, but their adorable personalities are still there, ready to take risks and get into scrapes for the sake of adventure. 

"You know," said the young man with enthusiasm, "I think you're splendid, simply splendid."

"Cut out the compliments," said Tuppence. "I'm admiring myself a good deal, so there's no need for you to chime in. What exactly is the big idea?"

Tony indicated the mass of crumpled material with a gesture. "That," he said, "is the remains of a parachute." 

"Aha," said Tuppence. Her eyes sparkled.

[P.s. the Tony referenced here is named Antony Marsdon. That name may sound familiar to those of you who've read And Then There Were None, as there was a character in that tale called Antony Marston! They do not seem to be the same person at all, so we have here a case of Agatha recycling a character name, #SorkinStyle!]

Agatha does an interesting job of writing about WWII also, as the second world war that the two characters have been through (as well as the second one she herself has seen), and allowing her characters' age and experience to provide a slightly different view of the war. At one point in discussing how fun their spy work was in the past and how it feels different this time around, the two have the following exchange: 

"It's only that -- this time -- it won't be fun. It's the same in other ways. This is the second War we've been in  -- and we feel quite different about this one." 

"I know -- we see the pity of it and the waste -- and the horror. All the things we were too young to think about before." 

Even though the book was written in 1941, Agatha seemed to have a lot of concern and insight into what was at stake for the Allies when faced with Hitler's Germany. She even gives us a pretty chilling glimpse into some of the pro-Hitler opinions that were drifting around England throughout the war through a couple different characters. One of the main villains even offers this creepy propaganda speech: 

"Our Leader does not intend to conquer this country in the sense that you all think. He aims at creating a new Britain -- a Britain strong in its own power -- ruled over, not by Germans, but by Englishmen. And the best type of Englishmen -- Englishmen with brains and breeding and courage. A brave new world, as Shakespeare puts it...We want to do away with muddle and inefficiency, with bribery and corruption. With self-seeking and money-grubbing...You would be surprised if you knew how many there are in this country, as in others, who have sympathy with and belief in our aims. Among us all we will create a new Europe -- a Europe of peace and progress."

Agatha's own perspective on her second war is likely reflected by Tuppence, now a mother, as she comforts the German refugee staying with them at Sans Souci, after his frustrations at everyone being so awfully angry at him for simply being born in Germany: 

"Naturally we've got to call the other side names. They're doing just the same in Germany. Hundreds of Major Bletchleys -- foaming at the mouth. I hate the Germans myself. 'The Germans,' I say, and feel waves of loathing. But when I think of individual Germans, mothers sitting anxiously waiting for news of their sons, and boys leaving home to fight, and peasants getting in the harvests, and little shopkeepers and some of the nice kindly German people I know, I feel quite different. I know then they are just human beings and that we're all feeling alike. That's the real thing. The other is just the War mask that you put on. It's part of War -- probably a necessary part -- but it's ephemeral." 

It's really interesting to read these words so many years later, and in light of the ongoing tumult, so much of which is based on an ephemeral concept of 'other', all across the world and even here within the United States. Though as with many Tommy and Tuppence stories this is overall a cheery read, it also provides a little food for thought as well. 

- A. & E.