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A Time of Miracles
A Time of Miracles | Anne-Laure Bondoux
5 posts | 4 read | 1 to read
Winner of the Batchelder Award--this tale of of exile, sacrifice, hope, and survival is a story of ultimate love. Blaise Fortune, also known as Koumal, loves hearing the story of how he came to live with Gloria in the Republic of Georgia: Gloria was picking peaches in her fathers orchard when she heard a train derail. After running to the site of the accident, she found an injured woman who asked Gloria to take her baby. The woman, Gloria claims, was French, and the baby was Blaise. When Blaise turns seven years old, the Soviet Union collapses and Gloria decides that she and Blaise must flee the political troubles and civil unrest in Georgia. The two make their way westward on foot, heading toward France, where Gloria says they will find safe haven. But what exactly is the truth about Blaises past? Bits and pieces are revealed as he and Gloria endure a five-year journey across the Caucasus and Europe, weathering hardships and welcoming unforgettable encounters with other refugees searching for a better life. During this time Blaise grows from a boy into an adolescent; but only later, as a young man, can he finally attempt to untangle his identity. Bondouxs heartbreaking tale of exile, sacrifice, hope, and survival is a story of ultimate love. From the Hardcover edition.
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suzie.reads
A Time of Miracles | Anne-Laure Bondoux
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Pickpick

I thought this was so beautifully written. Blaise/Koumail was such a fantastic character with a difficult story to tell. So glad I discovered this book.
#ReadingEurope2020 #Georgia 🇬🇪 (32nd country)

charl08 Sounds amazing. Stacked. 4y
suzie.reads @charl08 I really enjoyed it, I hope you do too😊 4y
Butterfinger I loved it too. The mom sacrificed so much of herself. 4y
suzie.reads @Butterfinger she did the ending had me in tears 😪 4y
57 likes1 stack add4 comments
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suzie.reads
A Time of Miracles | Anne-Laure Bondoux
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I am literally loving this book I'm reading for #ReadingEurope2020 #Georgia It is packed full of beautiful writing 🥰

KristenDuck I sure hope so! 4y
suzie.reads @KristenDuck I think this is definitely true 😊 4y
55 likes2 comments
review
Butterfinger
A Time of Miracles | Anne-Laure Bondoux
Pickpick

This is a refugee story from the 90s while Soviet Union was falling apart. It begins in Georgia (Caucasus Mtns), and while one ends in France, the other refugee sacrifices her liberty to ensure success. A truly inspiring story. Because of the Around the World Challenge, I've read several books on refugees. I'm thinking of purchasing some of these books for the narrow-minded for Christmas. Would they read it? Would they start having more empathy?

TrishB If they‘re anything like my narrow minded, sadly, no ☹️ 5y
Butterfinger I agree @TrishB there is nothing one can say. And what steams me is when a family member says no talk of politics. It isn't a political issue, it is humanity. Thank you for understanding me. 5y
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TrishB Agree, it‘s about people 💙 5y
Butterfinger My review from 4 months ago @jenniferw88 4y
jenniferw88 @Butterfinger thank you! I'll have a look but am also considering 4y
jenniferw88 @Cinfhen , @Butterfinger has been helping me out! 😊 4y
Cinfhen Thanks @jenniferw88 @Butterfinger tagged book sounds really good 4y
25 likes8 comments
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bookandcat
A Time of Miracles | Anne-Laure Bondoux
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Panpan

#backpackeurope travelogue *fictional*
Country 59: my last uniquely untraveled country in ALL OF EUROPE is complete! In Georgia, I saw Narikala fort ruins, Ananuri Riverside castle, Gergeti Trinity Church/mountain/glacier, and Uplistsikhe (rock-hewn Iron age town).
This book wasn't good - maybe a bad translation. It never spent much time on any feelings/locations. Things happened too quickly/too surface-y. I enjoyed cameos from prior places! 2/5

37 likes1 comment
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bookandcat
A Time of Miracles | Anne-Laure Bondoux
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How cool is this? I'm reading this book for my final unique/unvisited country of #backpackeurope, and while the book is mostly set in Georgia, the Georgian child protagonist eventually must flee across Europe. Every single stop is one I've covered in my literary backpacking adventure, including specific places like Mont-St-Michel.
Thanks for doing such a wonderful challenge, @JenP and @BookwormM ! I'm in the home stretch!