The Toymakers
Rating: 5/5
I love reading magical realism and historical fiction and this book hit just the right chords, with its right combination of magic, history, and family intrigue, all revolving around the central theme of toys and toymaking.
I loved Cathy’s character – since young age, she knew her opinions and she stood up for them. It was helpful that people around her supported her in their own way, but she knew her mind and that kept her sane and steady. Even more so than her character, I loved Kasper’s. He may have started as a spoilt young man in the beginning but his character steadily improved and turned to an admirable one.
And, of course, no one likes whiny characters. And, Emil was that one. He himself admitted that once he started comparing himself with Kasper, his quality of ideas and toys started to decline. And, that was his decline and failure. The comparison. If he hadn’t done so and certainly no one made him feel so, he would have done a lot better and would have been a better person.
There are reviews that compare this book to Night Circus. I disagree. This book is more profound that the other. The pull of the book is not in the magical elements only, but the family drama, love, war – these add more intrigue and depth to it.