The monologues in this volume are beautiful, stark and at times almost too painful to read. The first, 'Alma', portrays the dissatisfaction of Alma Mahler who sacrificed her own interests to marriage and children. I found this piece interesting, but thematically familiar; unfortunately, the story of talented women overshadowed by famous spouses is extremely common. Thus, I was interested but a little unprepared for the rest of the volume which I found infinitely more challenging.

This novella is really a collection of short monologic stories -- or perhaps it's better to call them something like fragmentary glimpses into the consciousness of the characters at hand.

I found myself, throughout the entire book, resisting the tragic and melancholy tone for reasons that aren't clear to me. Perhaps the tone range false, or perhaps I'd just had too much coffee. In any event, I like this book well enough that I'll keep it, so that it's at least possible that I'll give it another chance. ( )

This is not a book I would normally choose but once I started to read it I found I was completely absorbed by the monologues and particularly enjoyed 'The Doctor' and 'Cato and Leendert'. The book was thought provoking with the aforementioned stories being the most so. Ann Enquist describes beautifully the settings and the dilemmas in which the characters find themselves. Evocative reading. ( )

One of the joys of the Early Reviewers program is being pointed in the direction of new authors who you may or may not like. Although a slim volume Anna Enquist has been able to paint a clear, vivid picture of the lives, loves and losses of each of these individuals.

The book left me feeling deflated and sad and so although I'm glad I read this I didn't feel I enjoyed. ( )

a Leap consists of five short stories or monologues from the Swedish writer Anna Enquist. I found the majority of the stories enjoyable and well-written, especially the last in the book along with 'The Doctor' Overall, it's well written but I think maybe something that I'm unable to put my finger on is somehow lost in the book's translation. ( )