Jim Powell (4) (1949–2023)

Sixty-one-year-old Feliks Zhukovski is a Pole living in Paris, a communist-turned-leftist, and the author/owner of a successful series of travel guides to Eastern-bloc countries. But it’s 1991 and communism has just fallen, and Feliks doesn’t have the manpower to revise all of his guides, nor frankly the political stomach to encourage travel in the area’s emerging capitalism. When an American publisher expresses interest in buying him out, Feliks makes contacts that prompt him toward a show more chain reaction of questions about his carefully structured life -- his political beliefs; the mother who abandoned him in childhood; the older brother who ran off to join WWII’s French resistance; the girl who got away.

It’s a story about WWII and its aftermath, and I appreciated the fresh slant of its emphasis on the Soviet/Stalin aspect (which sent me to the history books to refresh my knowledge of the war and political-economic theory). But it’s more a story of the damage people carry. There is much interior rumination here, and while I find that tedious when its purpose is to fill in backstory or wallow, I liked it here because it always moved the story forward. In fact, the interior rumination sort of is the story -- an outstanding exploration of an introverted, logical thinker who lives completely in his intellect, relying on the facts he personally gathers despite having gathered many of them long ago as a naive child. To put a Myers-Briggs label on it, Feliks is a strong ISTJ, and it’s interesting to watch him incorporate new information incrementally (with the rare leap of an “aha” moment) -- updating the decades-old stories he’s told himself to include a little more heart and a bigger picture of the world.

(Review based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.) show less

I'm still 'digesting' this book. It was such a gripping book with such a unique protagonist in 61 year-old Feliks Zhukovski. I read it in just a few sittings over a couple of days. The storyline takes you from Paris in the early 90s to NYC and Columbus, Ohio, and then to some of the major cities of Europe both east and west during the war years as well as the Cold War years. At the beginning of this novel of many and various 'ideas,' Feliks is a former Communist who now styles himself an show more avowed 'leftist.' But then a sudden and radical change in circumstances takes him on an intricate journey - both literal and figurative - of discovery into his past which marks the beginning of many changes in his life. Don't ever say an old dog can't learn new tricks, because Powell's surprising protagonist is proof positive than it's simply not true.

There is so much to think about in this book - and I still am. But to speak of the developments Feliks encounters would be to spoil the story, so I'm not going to get specific. For some reason, however, Powell's main man here reminded me of another stranger in a foreign country: the title character of of Nabokov's early novel, PNIN. And the author's well-informed and erudite, often tongue-in-cheek style also suggested Nabokov. But it's been many years since I read PNIN, so maybe my impressions are wrong. In any case, THE BREAKING OF EGGS is one hell of a ride, full of interesting history and unexpected surprises. I recommend it highly. show less

The Breaking Of Eggs This was the monthly book in the Book Discussion Scheme that I belong to.

I did not enjoy reading this book because the main character is so annoying that every page grates. I wanted to shake him and shout in his face, 'Wake Up!"

If that was the authors intent then 'well done that man'.

It was the same considered opinion of the others in the group too. Only one person actually enjoyed reading it. What really astounded me though was the discussion that followed about this show more book. I have never heard my group talk so long or in such depth about any book before. Whatever you have created Jim Powell it sure has a powerful effect.

Obviously well written and crafted but would I recommend it to anyone?

Maybe, depending on the person. I am an immigrant to this country (New Zealand) so I could relate to some bits quite strongly, especially on the subject of where one feels that home is. I think anyone with an interest in politics would like it, or maybe I should say, be able to appreciate it.

Challenging but brilliant show less

It is January 1, 1991 and the western world is changing. Feliks Zhukovski is a Polish-born travel writer who has specialised in authoring a set of guides to Cold War Eastern Europe. A leftist and former communist, he has spent years striving to provide a more accurate view for the capitalist West of life behind the Iron Curtain through his Guide Jaune. Whether he feels it or not, Feliks is aloof and adrift - no sense of 'home', almost no close ties or relationships, lost family. His life is show more centered around certain strident beliefs, truths. It is only after 36 years renting the same apartment in Paris that 61-year old Feliks Zhukovski's landlady says 2 things to him that set in motion a series of events over the year that call into question or give context to so much of his life to that point.

Zhukovski's distance from everyone, his firmly held beliefs that everything is politics and that there are absolute truths are tested time and again. He himself is stubborn and awkward in many ways. Eggs must be broken, but to what end? What sacrifices must be made?

I have 2 criticisms, or observations: 1) The novel sometimes feels dogmatic. But is this just a portrayal of Feliks's (and others') beliefs, or do the author's own views bleed into certain sections? 2) Feliks's language and behavior are stilted, but sometimes overdone for effect/storyline. Those aside, this is a wonderful novel, one that raises questions about who we are; that challenges what we believe to be true, right in our own lives (and often increasingly so as we get older); and that shows what happens when you start to crack the fragile exterior of those beliefs. show less