Library Journal09/01/2013
In her latest novel, Kercheval (Brazil; Museum of Happiness) has painted a near-perfect portrait of grief and of the hope that can arise out of the ashes of despair. The book follows Emma, a woman in her early 40s who loses her husband and daughter in a terrible car accident and subsequently tries to rebuild her life. After learning she was adopted, Emma travels from New York to Paris and Moscow to find out about her real parents (a beguiling White Russian movie star and a passionate French communist) and along the way encounters unexpected surprises. As she searches for her true identity, Emma also tries to connect with those around her. Kercheval tells the story from a first-person perspective, and the painful yet exciting journey Emma takes is akin to a postmodern adult Alice in Wonderland.
