Madame Burova
- Author Ruth Hogan
- Narrator Nina Wadia
- Publisher John Murray Press
- Publish Date 1 April 2021
- Run Time 7 hours and 55 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Family life fiction, Fiction: general and literary.
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What to expect
Fortune teller Madame Burova is retiring, but before she does she has some promises to keep and some secrets to reveal - the new novel from The Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things.
Madame Burova - Tarot Reader, Palmist and Clairvoyant is retiring and leaving her booth on the Brighton seafront after fifty years, but before she does she has some promises to keep and some secrets to reveal - the new novel from The Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things.
Imelda Burova has spent a lifetime keeping other people's secrets and her silence has come at a price. She has seen the lovers and the liars, the angels and the devils, the dreamers and the fools. Her cards had unmasked them all and her cards never lied. But Madame Burova is weary of other people's lives and other people's secrets, she needs rest and a little piece of life for herself. Before that, however, she has to fulfill a promise made a long time ago. She holds two brown envelopes in her hand, and she has to deliver them.
In London, it is time for another woman to make a fresh start. Billie has lost her university job, her marriage, and her place in the world when she discovers something that leaves her very identity in question. Determined to find answers, she must follow a trail which might just lead right to Madame Burova's door.
In a story spanning over fifty years, Ruth Hogan conjures a magical world of 1970s holiday camps and seaside entertainers, eccentrics, heroes and villains, the lost and the found. Young people, with their lives before them, make choices which echo down the years. And a wall of death rider is part of a love story which will last through time.
(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Madame Burova - Tarot Reader, Palmist and Clairvoyant is retiring and leaving her booth on the Brighton seafront after fifty years, but before she does she has some promises to keep and some secrets to reveal - the new novel from The Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things.
Imelda Burova has spent a lifetime keeping other people's secrets and her silence has come at a price. She has seen the lovers and the liars, the angels and the devils, the dreamers and the fools. Her cards had unmasked them all and her cards never lied. But Madame Burova is weary of other people's lives and other people's secrets, she needs rest and a little piece of life for herself. Before that, however, she has to fulfill a promise made a long time ago. She holds two brown envelopes in her hand, and she has to deliver them.
In London, it is time for another woman to make a fresh start. Billie has lost her university job, her marriage, and her place in the world when she discovers something that leaves her very identity in question. Determined to find answers, she must follow a trail which might just lead right to Madame Burova's door.
In a story spanning over fifty years, Ruth Hogan conjures a magical world of 1970s holiday camps and seaside entertainers, eccentrics, heroes and villains, the lost and the found. Young people, with their lives before them, make choices which echo down the years. And a wall of death rider is part of a love story which will last through time.
(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Critics Review
*Praise for Madame Burova*
Ruth Hogan is the queen of uplifting fiction and Madame Burova reminds us why. Each character is lovingly crafted, their stories beautifully and heartbreakingly woven into something magical. The writing crackles with humour and warmth whilst not being afraid to tackle the harsh realities of racism in the 1970s. It's the kind of story you want to devour greedily but then feel bereft that you won't get to spend more time with Imelda, Cillian, Billie, Treasure, and all the other glorious characters. I can't imagine a better book in which to lose yourself at the moment. Stunning, immersive and absolutely wonderful.
Woke up early to finish this breathtakingly beautiful story. Ruth Hogan's Madame Burova is absolutely wonderful.
A triumph! It's moving and entertaining and packed with surprises... When I look into my crystal ball I predict it's going to be a MASSIVE hit!
Packed full of twists, turns and a wonderfully drawn cast of characters you won't forget, Madame Burova is a supremely uplifting tale of secrets, love and identity all written with Hogan's trademark warmth and humour. An absolute gem.
This is a novel that fascinates throughout its length. It's a novel that holds mysticism, accidental and deliberate secrets, and unrequited and lost love within Ruth Hogan's very able grasp. She has woven together many strands of storylines within a juxtaposition of time frames that she's fitted exquisitely together. She has created characters from different cultures and stations in society and melded them to form a very satisfying read. The Madame Burova of the title is an especially vivid portrayal of a woman who, because of her Romany roots and fortune-telling gifts, will always stand slightly outside the conventional normality of everyday life. It's mainly through her viewpoint that this story is told and it's told with humour and sadness and an understanding of the human condition.
Hogan loves offbeat and marginalised characters and so it's a typically kooky cast of seafront regulars: 1970s entertainers, Romany cardreaders and various rescue dogs who help Billie crack the mystery of her past. The 'Queen of Uplit' returns brilliantly to form with this gloriously good-natured novel.
I loved discovering Brighton through the eyes of Billie and Imelda in Madame Burova. Ruth Hogan's beautiful characters stay with me and remind me of the importance of families - those we're born with and those dear friends who are our chosen family. An uplifting, shimmering novel.
Blooming with wonderful, vibrant and charismatic characters.
Hogan doesn't hold back with her raw portrayal of the 1970s society arguably full of discrimination. She creates authenticity by learning how to read the tarot cards herself, taking heed from a real life medium. Clever plotting, characters that speak from the heart and an inquisitive subject make this the perfect staycation read. Ultimately a love story from the queen of up lit. Grab a deckchair and read away...
This is a delightful, uplifting and charming novel, full of wisdom and fun. Fans of Ruth's previous novels...will love it.
*Praise for The Keeper of Lost Things*
A joyful novel filled with warmth and wisdom.
A charming story of fresh starts and self-discovery that warms the cockles.
Psychological realism, whimsy and magic are a winning combination in this quirky, exquisitely crafted novel... It's a charming read, perfect for the holidays: you will want to share it when you get home.
Hogan's touching, funny and romantic debut is that rare and precious thing: a real story with brilliant characters.
This mystical and spiritual tale is a joyous read that will broaden your imagination and warm your heart.
User Reviews
Well, if you want a ’feel good’ book, this might just be for you.
Gentle, but with depth, this kept me engaged and keen to know the outcome.
Brilliant characters and the setting- Brighton UK is always a pull for me as I’ve spent many a holiday there.
Often when a book has more than one timeline, I prefer only one era. Not in this book as past and present were equally interesting. Don’t be put off by the subject matter of tarot cards- it isn’t at all far-fetched but just how the author linked the past to the present.
02/09/2024
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