Crossings
Crossings book cover

Crossings

Paperback – October 26, 2021

by
Price
$13.58
Format
Paperback
Pages
384
Publisher
Griffin
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1250796721
Dimensions
5.4 x 1 x 8.2 inches
Weight
12.8 ounces

Description

Indie Next Pick! Jenny Lawson Book Club Pick! "A sparkling debut. Landragin’s seductive literary romp shines as a celebration of the act of storytelling." ― Publishers Weekly "Romance, mystery, history, and magical invention dance across centuries in an impressive debut novel... Landragin carries off the whole handsomely written enterprise with panache." ― Kirkus Reviews (Starred)"This novel is outstanding for its sheer inventiveness. The alternative ordering of chapters creates a tension that heightens the awareness of the interlocking aspects of time and space, while deft writing seduces the reader in a complex tale of pursuit, denial, and retribution moving from past to future. Highly recommended." ― Library Journal (Starred)"A high-concept speculative adventure novel executed with intelligence and grace...an invigorating puzzle of a book that reads like a complete, intricate work of genre-defying fiction." ―Vulture "Netflix would do well to option it immediately." ―New York Times Book Review "Alex Landragin has created something entirely original." ―Shelf Awareness "An exquisite novel. My initial melancholy rage at not having written it myself swiftly transformed into blissful gratitude that it exists at all, and that I am lucky enough to read it. Sure to be one of the biggest literary events of the year." ―Sam J. Miller, Nebula Award Winning author of Blackfish City "Alex Landragin has given us a deeply satisfying read!" ―Dan Chaon, author of Ill Will “ Crossings is playful, obsessive, romantic, intelligent, and wholly absorbing, with fascinations enough for a whole shelf of novels." ―Kevin Brockmeier, New York Times Bestselling author“Alex Landragin works a vast magician’s kit of erudite invention and heart in this enchanting debut. Crossings is a novel to savor and re-read." ―Wells Tower, author of Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned ALEX LANDRAGIN is a French-Armenian-Australian writer. Currently based in Melbourne, Australia, he has also resided in Paris, Marseille, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Charlottesville. He has previously worked as a librarian, an indigenous community worker and an author of Lonely Planet travel guides in Australia, Europe and Africa. Alex holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne and occasionally performs early jazz piano under the moniker Tenderloin Stomp.

Features & Highlights

  • Indie Next Pick! Jenny Lawson Book Club Pick!Barnes & Noble Book of the Month Pick!
  • "A sparkling debut. Landragin’s seductive literary romp shines as a celebration of the act of storytelling."
  • ―
  • Publishers Weekly
  • "Romance, mystery, history, and magical invention dance across centuries in an impressive debut novel."
  • ―
  • Kirkus Reviews
  • (Starred Review)"Deft writing seduces the reader in a complex tale of pursuit, denial, and retribution moving from past to future. Highly recommended."
  • ―
  • Library Journal
  • (Starred Review)
  • Alex Landragin's
  • Crossings
  • is an unforgettable and explosive genre-bending debut―a novel in three parts, designed to be read in two different directions, spanning a hundred and fifty years and seven lifetimes.
  • On the brink of the Nazi occupation of Paris, a German-Jewish bookbinder stumbles across a manuscript called
  • Crossings
  • . It has three narratives, each as unlikely as the next. And the narratives can be read one of two ways: either straight through or according to an alternate chapter sequence.The first story in
  • Crossings
  • is a never-before-seen ghost story by the poet Charles Baudelaire, penned for an illiterate girl. Next is a noir romance about an exiled man, modeled on Walter Benjamin, whose recurring nightmares are cured when he falls in love with a storyteller who draws him into a dangerous intrigue of rare manuscripts, police corruption, and literary societies. Finally, there are the fantastical memoirs of a woman-turned-monarch whose singular life has spanned seven generations.With each new chapter, the stunning connections between these seemingly disparate people grow clearer and more extraordinary.
  • Crossings
  • is an unforgettable adventure full of love, longing and empathy.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(136)
★★★★
25%
(114)
★★★
15%
(68)
★★
7%
(32)
★
23%
(104)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Amazing

Crossings! I don’t even know where to begin with how I feel about this incredible novel. I literally picked this up because of the cover art. It captured my attention and I thought it would be Interesting. I do that sometimes, intuitive reads. But this! Oh this was an amazing find! This novel is like a puzzle. It can be read in multiple ways and each way is a different story, all within the same story. Initially, if you read the book cover to cover in the traditional sense, it presents as 3 separate stories with their own titles and individual content. All 3 can also be read continuously through as one larger story and presents entirely differently. But the genius of this novel is the third option. The author offers you the secret code of chapter sequences where if read in order, the story becomes a different perspective entirely. It is pure genius!

The story itself revolves around a Jewish Author attempting to escape Paris during the invasion of the Nazis in WWII. Is this his fiction? Is this his memoir? Is this the memoir of the famous poet and Author Charles Baudelaire? Is this a murder mystery? A romance? A reincarnation story? A fairy tale? Ahhh……that is for the reader to decide and depends on how you choose to read the passages. No matter which choice…..or all three….it is a five star read!
5 people found this helpful
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Draws you in…I want more!

I honestly don’t get any of the negative reviews. I took a chance because I really liked the cover -
What can I say, I have a thing for choosing books and wine by their front design and notable descriptors of what’s inside. A fun little gamble when I’m not sure what next to try…

I’m glad I liked the cover, because this book was a delightful surprise. I loved the three storylines (although I wasn’t sure I would initially). Each section, which effortlessly collided with the next, enthralled me and left me even more intrigued than reading the section prior. It uniquely ties the storyline together, revealing just enough to keep you eagerly wanting to read so as to discover the mystery within. How does it all tie together?! The sprinkling of clues allows your mind to deduce its own conclusions, all while not fully allowing you to be sure of the “truth” as it exists in the novel.

To each their own, but this gets a 5 star rating from me and I am on the search for more writings from this author. I wasn’t at all disappointed in my gamble.
3 people found this helpful
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So much fun to read…. Even twice! Kept me mentally engaged throughout.

Wow! I first read from cover to cover, all the while wondering how the alternate “Baroness” sequence would alter the story. I did find it difficult at times to keep track of the characters (who’s in who…haha) reading cover to cover. As soon as I finished the book, I started again, reading the alternate page sequence and found the story even MORE delightful! It wasn’t as choppy and characters/timelines were easier to follow. This story is truly brilliant in its execution, writing style, and characterization. After the second read, I again read the Preface….now wondering about the Baroness…. Thank you, Alex Landragin, for the adventure!
1 people found this helpful
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Difficult

Even though the reviews were helpful in helping me understand the book , I did not enjoy reading it at all. It was confusing , dark , and depressing.
1 people found this helpful
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Read it as Intended.

The selling point for most is the “Baroness Sequence” which promises a different experience from reading it traditionally.
Read it page for page and you get three different stories. Use the “baroness sequence” and they meld together for one big experience.

I initially read Crossings chronologically. The first two books are excellent reads that keep your interest until the end. The third, and unfortunately the longest section, can’t compare. Maybe it’s the abrupt change from a supernatural murder mystery to a cosmic romance novel- it wasn’t for me.

However, if you read using the sequence, the duller parts are a little more tolerable and you have more motivation to finish knowing the better part of the novel is just ahead.

TLDR; follow the gimmick and you’ll have a good experience. Otherwise, the hype dies midway through the book.
1 people found this helpful
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Difficult to follow

I started it with interest but it started fading as the short stories become confusing, the relationship between them is hard to follow. and the end was not really satisfying…strange book!
✓ Verified Purchase

I received in a short time.

I am still reading.
✓ Verified Purchase

The book is long boring and confusing.

I found it hard to distinguish between the stories, even with the repetitive story lines. I enjoy historical fiction and fantasy, but had a very difficult time reading Crossing’s. I kept telling myself it would get better, but it never did. I will not buy another book by this author.
✓ Verified Purchase

Love it!

Definitely recommend the baroness sequence! It's a little confusing at first but stick with it! One of my new favorite books! I even bought another one for a Christmas gift to a friend!
✓ Verified Purchase

Enchanting! Try Part Three first!

This is one of those very few books I take out of the library, fall in love with, and then buy multiple copies to keep and give. Written with confidence and grace. An enthralling story.

The author gives us multiple choices in what order to read the three-part book. By chance I started Part 3 first (after the Introduction), read it through, and then read Part 1 and Part 2. I recommend my method to people who like a straight chronological read. This was not among the multiple suggestions the author gave (apologies, Mr. Landragin) but I couldn't have been more engaged and enchanted.

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