SUMMARY (Amazon)Melchior Steenbergen is leading an idyllic life. An elite member of Holland’s diplomatic corps, he is the Consul General in Rio, with a sweeping view of the Ipanema bay from his official residence, and a beautiful wife 20 years his junior. His trustworthy maid, Mercy, who is from Ghana and has followed him everywhere, attends to his every need. At 59, his time as a diplomat is winding down, but he expects to put one more feather in his cap: an ambassadorship. Paris, perhaps. Doesn't he deserve it?
But Melchior’s glorious world is a façade, a house of cards, and sharp winds are starting to blow.
The Consul General's Wife is the story of a man, elegant and dignified, unable to recognize his own flaws. Set against the mystical and unforgiving city of Rio, the novel is a comedy about a dying generation. And a tragedy about a man who has only a few days left to wake up.
This was a novel unlike anything I've read before. I found out that this was actually transcribed from Dutch which surprised me! I think the best way to describe this book would be : elegant. It had a certain air of prestige surrounding it.
Aliefka is talented with the development of characters. Melchior, Leandra (who tugs at my heartstrings!!), Nikki and Mercy were just really great in depth people that just felt so real to me while I read their story. I love when an author can pull you in and temporally make you feel that the people you're reading about are real life.
This might be considered a slow paced novel to some, but I enjoyed it immensely. The setting is just beautiful and the story itself is one worth reading.
RATING:
REALLY AWESOME BOOK!!!
You can find Aliefka here: WEBSITE, GOODREADS
You can buy The Consul General's Wife here: AMAZON
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