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ISBN:0061995355
Karen Engelmann Genre Fiction English
Author: Karen Engelmann
ISBN13: 978-0061995354
Title: The Stockholm Octavo
Format: docx doc lit doc
ePUB size: 1273 kb
FB2 size: 1143 kb
DJVU size: 1280 kb
Language: English
Category: Genre Fiction
Publisher: Ecco; Reprint edition (August 6, 2013)
Pages: 432

The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann



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Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books you've read. Whether you've loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.

Karen Engelmann has created an entrancing collection of characters and a story that will capture the reader. There are alliances and betrayals, plots and counterplots, gambling, fights for social position, and maneuvering for rewards that would rival any moves made on a battlefield. The plot is delightfully complex, and the resolution is a satisfying ending that ties together all the disparate threads.

Karen Engelmann was born and raised in the American Midwest, then moved to Sweden after completing university studies in drawing and design. The city of Malmö was home base for eight years, but she now lives just north of New York City with her husband and two daughters. The Stockholm Octavo is her first novel. Find out more about the world of the Octavo online: ww. arenengelmann. I am so excited that Two Roads is bringing The Stockholm Octavo to UK readers, and hope to connect to you in 2012 about the book. In the meantime, on a more practical note: Stockholm has become almost mythical to me after being immersed in the 18th century for so long. Any of you have 21st century recommendations? I am planning to visit in May and a girl has to eat, you know.

The Stockholm Octavo (2012). 0061995347 (ISBN13: 9780061995347). About book: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was filled with a great fictional story that was fleshed out around actual historical events and it was melded together masterfully

In Karen Engelmann’s deliciously sly first novel, fortune lies behind each turn of the cards. The story opens in 1789, when America, Holland and France have led the way to bloody revolution

Karen Engelmann: The Stockholm Octavo was in many respects inspired by the city itself. I landed there on my very first European visit and was utterly enchanted by the spectacular Old Town, the beauty of the waterways and islands, the museums, the opera. I lived in Stockholm for only about a month, but spent nine years in Sweden - enough time for a place to get into your bones. I did not have an outline and had no idea where the book was going other than that it would include 18th century Stockholm, Gustav III, folding fans, and eight characters. JG: What would you be doing if you weren't a writer?

The Stockholm Octavo: A Novel. Life is close to perfect for Emil Larsson, a self-satisfied bureaucrat in the Office of Customs and Excise in 1791 Stockholm. She lays an Octavo for him, a spread of eight cards that augur the eight individuals who can help him realize this vision-if he can find them

The premise: an historical fiction tale, laced with mystery, intrigue and hints of magic, set at a time and place I haven't read a lot about, really drew me to this novel. Coupled with the fact this is a debut work, I was utterly sold as soon as I read the description of the book. Unfortunately, I found the story quite lacking A captivating tale, beautifully told. Eleanor Brown, New York Times bestselling author of The Weird Sisters.

One man’s fortune holds the key to a nation’s fate in this sensational debut novel set in 18th-century Sweden.

The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann transports readers to a colorful Scandinavian world of intrigue and magic in a dazzling golden age of high art, music, and opulent fashion.

A masterwork of historical fiction in the vein of Patrick Suskind’s classic novel, Perfume, Karen Engelmann’s The Stockholm Octavo is mysterious and romantic—as magical and enthralling as The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern—and features a brilliant and unforgettable cast of extraordinary characters.

Reviews: 7
*Nameless*
This very unusual book revolves around a set of cards, much like the Tarot, which, in the hands of an expert can reveal a person's future and those who will be key in that person's life. Set in the late 18th Century in Stockholm, Sweden, the city is in a state of flux, tending to upheaval, as the French Revolution gets underway and the privileged life of royalty throughout Europe is threatened. The book follows several characters: a young woman fleeing an abhorrent marriage, a young man seduced by the cards, a high society woman with her own unique weapons, a man who creates stunning fans, which were a lady's most vital and potent accessory. I found it a challenge to keep all the characters straight, and the story was too slow for my liking; however, in the end, it came to a dramatic conclusion. If you enjoy Russian novels and very complex plots, you'll like this book.
Kipabi
Engrossing story, well told. Books about Europe's royals are legion but Sweden's intrigues are not quite as over-exposed as those of say, France or England. So, Ms Engelmann's choice of 1790's Stockholm and the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden was refreshing. While Sekretaire Emil Larsson was not the most compelling character, Stockholm's social scene, the political machinations of The Uzanne, the fan-makers craft and the power of the apothecary held my interest when the action slowed.

Fans are a big part of this book and while I was happy to learn (a lot more than I ever imagined there was to learn) about their making, deployment and language, I'm not sure all readers would feel this way.

The Octavo, a form of Tarot, was used to draw connections among Emil's associates but it wasn't a necessary device. In fact, keeping track of the characters' roles in the Octavo was rather distracting. I appreciated the Octavo diagrams but the Emil's confusion as to which person fit in each role resulted in my confusion, too. Is she his "Trickster" or his "Prisoner"? Who's the "Prize"? Some of this is just silly. The ending recap of each character's place in the Octavo helped sort out the mess but it was a little too late. What I really wanted to see was a good diagram of a fan with all the parts labeled.
Agagamand
I couldn't put this book down. I was tempted to call-in sick just to finish this book! Initially I decided to buy this book because it was compared to The Night Circus. I can see that it would appeal to a similar audience; however, The Night Circus is based in magic, The Stockholm Octavo is more mystical. The main characters in Circus are magicians and their magic propels the plot line. The main characters in The Octavo are regular people that through a series of visions and a tarot card reading sets in motion an extraordinary Event that will impact the future of Sweden. So basically the main character Emil Larson is told that his actions will set in motion this major Event. He is also told that eight people will help him in this journey but of course he does not know who they are or what role they play in the event. The story is the unfolding of the Event and the interlacing of the eight. Now I have to apologize, that was a terrible description of the book, but I wanted to keep it short and not give too much away. The back cover can probably give you a more concise description.

I know some reviewers said it dragged, but I disagree. I thought it kept a good pace, never did I think, "that could have been edited" it all seemed pretty relevant to the story. I don't think the author used overly flowery language or wrote phrases just because she liked how it sounded. However I do think Ms. Engelmann did a good job of describing the setting, characters, etc. without being too wordy. I have never been to Sweden but the author did such a good job which the descriptions it made me feel as if I was there, and made me long to visit in person.

Finally The Stockholm Octavo is a period piece. It is set during the same time as the French Revolution. While I feel I am fairly well versed in French History, I can't say that I know much about Swedish history. I did not realize the revolution in France had such an impact on Sweden. This was a nice intro into some of the events that took place in Sweden. While this is not a true story, some of the events that happen in the story are happened. Again I don't want to say too much and give away the story so I will leave it there.

If you are looking for a book that has characters you want to cheer for and some you want to boo, a book with an intriguing plot line and you are open to a bit of mysticysm then you will enjoy this book.
Small Black
The Stockholm Octavo is set in Sweden during a period of upheaval for royals across Europe as the French Revolution is under way. The novel follows a group of Swedish commoners loyal to King Gustaf, whose attempts to negotiate a middle ground between a monarchy and a republic is met with resistance from his aristocracy. The story is told from the viewpoint of a mid-level Swedish import official, but involves a host of characters that introduce the reader to a broad spectrum of Swedish society from the period. A calligrapher, a young apothecary, an aristocratic baroness, a gambling house madame, and others.

The story is a bit slow on the uptake. The first part of the story involves an "octavo," a fortune telling device involving something like Tarot cards. Based on the eight cards drawn, the subject can potentially steer his or her life, and possible global events. But once the story gets into the meat of a plot against King Gustaf, the pace picks up.
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