I stumbled upon this book on Avito, but it wasn't on my radar initially. However, the design caught my eye, so I took a peek, read a few pages, and before I knew it, I'd devoured over a dozen chapters.
The book is a compact size, thick, and has a hard cover – and it's a real showstopper. The cover is a masterpiece in my opinion, with an orange metallic finish and views of Paris that make me want to visit the city.
Annotation: Imagine yourself standing on the edge of a cliff. And in that pivotal moment, someone saves your life. In return, you give them the promise to follow their every instruction. This should change your life, making it happier and more fulfilling. It's more than just a novel – it's a reflection of yourself that should inspire you to take control of your destiny.
When I first looked at the book in September, I regretted that autumn hadn't arrived yet, because I wanted to take photos of it against the backdrop of yellow leaves. The cover is stunning, and the title has embossing. For me, this is one of the most impressive book cover designs I've seen recently. The paper is high-quality, dense, and smooth, with well-set text. I didn't notice any glaring errors or typos. What stands out is the unusual page numbering, which is placed on the side margins.
I've read this book at least twice, and I have to say, it's not the kind of book that gets a lot of attention. There's no table of contents, which is a shame, and no bookmarks either, which I really wish they had.
The story is pretty interesting and unique. Alan Greenlaw is a small man in a shell, living a miserable life, feeling sorry for himself, and after his girlfriend leaves him, he decides to end his life by jumping off the Eiffel Tower. But then he meets a guy who promises to change his life and make him a completely new person, because he has nothing to lose, and he agrees.When someone loses the will to change, they start to slowly die...
"The Savior" of the failed suicide is a guy named Yves Dubre, who turns out to be Igor Dubrovsky, a wealthy patron and a pretty strange guy who has been in some serious trouble in the past. He used to be a psychiatrist, but he lost his license after forcing one of his clients to take their own life. Is it safe for Alan to continue doing tasks for Igor? Although their lives have changed significantly, there's always a risk that Igor might ask Alan to do something terrible tomorrow.
But for most of the time, Alan works in a recruitment agency, hates his job and his boss, does some pretty harmless tasks assigned by Igor, and... realizes that he's getting better with each passing day.
You can view life as a series of traps to avoid, or as a field of play where every corner holds an enriching experience.
In short, this book might seem like a beacon of hope to those who have never been to any coaching sessions, success training, or even read any popular psychology. For me, it wasn't anything new, but in a novel, the story is more important than the psychological tricks.
The story felt a bit predictable and even a little cliché. I get that one of the main characters is a good psychologist, but it didn't have to be so obvious. The beginning was nice, interesting, and engaging, but the middle dragged on, and by the end, it all came together, but the twist really caught me off guard. Next time, I won't bother reading the last chapter, I already know where to stop.The plot itself wasn't entirely original, but it was on par with those one-day TV series, only with better production values.The ending. I didn't quite get what went wrong and why. The author should've stopped a bit sooner. It felt like they took a wrong turn and ended up somewhere strange.Pros:
It's incredibly atmospheric. I want to be in France during the off-season.For some people, it might be a revelation, since the author is a psychologist and offers some good advice and thoughts.Where to buy and how much?
My copy was bought from Avito for just 50 rubles, although the seller mentioned it was originally 400 rubles. On Yandex Market, you can find it from various sellers, starting from 200 rubles for a softcover and 400 rubles for a hardcover.
Who is this book for?
I think it might appeal to young dreamers, regardless of gender, who want to change their lives in five simple steps and fans of slow-burning romances.
Knowing how to solve big problems isn't the key. It's about dealing with small-minded people.
And what's the verdict?I was pleasantly surprised by how well this book hid its psychology behind a cover of fiction. Seriously, it's the kind of book that'll be waiting for me when I finally make it to France – and that's definitely going to happen someday)
I enjoyed reading it, even if I didn't love every aspect. But I'm happy to give it another read. I'd definitely recommend it to young people and those who feel lost, especially those who can relate to Alan Greenblatt's struggles with finding their place in life, society, and choosing a career. I've taken away a few valuable lessons from this book. Sometimes it's nice to revisit the simple truths and remember how it felt. From me, 4* and a recommendation.