The beginning of the book is in the voice of an old man who knows his time on this earth is short--and he wants to get this story told. If you have ever been in the company of an octogenarian you will be smiling at the back and forth way he speaks--forgetting then remembering--but bound and determined to get his own way! He ultimately decides that since he is having so much trouble focusing and he knows that he could never write the whole down in time--he uses a dictaphone.
I defy you to pick up this book and be able to put it down. This story is based on a true story told to the author by a protagonist in the story (the author tells you all about this after the book ends)and what happens to Youriko, which is not her real name, but one she chose, will stagger your imagination. It all starts in the USSR--when the KGB was feared and rightfully so.
One thing is for certain, Youriko was not a cuckoo--far from it!!
About the Book: (from Amazon)
Andropov’s Cuckoo A dying man recounts the story of the most amazing person he has ever met, a brilliant, Soviet linguist whom he calls Youriko. It is a tale of love, daring-do, spies and danger set in Japan, Germany, Turkey, the USA, Canada and the UK, but mostly in the Soviet Union of the Seventies. Two girls, born thousands of miles apart in Kazakhstan and Japan just after World War II, meet and are like peas in a pod. They also get on like sisters and keep n touch for the rest of their lives. However, one wants to help her battle-scarred country and the other wants to leave hers for the West. They dream up a daring, dangerous plan to achieve both goals, which Andropov, the chief of the Soviet KGB, is told about. He dubs it Operation Youriko and it is set in motion, but does it have even the remotest chance of success? Andropov’s Cuckoo is based on a ‘true story’ related to the author by one of the protagonists.
Read a Chapter or Two Here
Purchase the Book here
About the Author: (from Amazon)
Author Owen Jones, from Barry, South Wales, came to writing novels relatively recently, although he has been writing all his adult life. He has lived and worked in several countries and travelled in many, many more.
He speaks, or has spoken, seven languages fluently and is currently learning Thai, since he lives in Thailand with his Thai wife of ten years.
"It has never taken me long to learn a language," he says, "but Thai bears no relationship to any other language I have ever studied before."
When asked about his style of writing, he said, "I'm a Celt, and we are Romantic. I believe in reincarnation and lots more besides in that vein. Those beliefs, like 'Do unto another...', and 'What goes round comes around', Fate and Karma are central to my life, so they are reflected in my work'.
His first novel, 'Daddy's Hobby' from the series 'Behind The Smile: The Story of Lek, a Bar Girl in Pattaya' has been followed by four sequels, but his largest collection is 'The Megan Series', eighteen novellas on the psychic development of a young teenage girl, the subtitle of which, 'A Spirit Guide, A Ghost Tiger and One Scary Mother!' sums them up nicely.
As Owen puts it:
'Born in the Land of Song, living in the Land of Smiles'.
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Author's Website
Website (for Behind the Smile series)
Goodreads
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49 comments :
This sounds like a great read. I can't wait to check it out.
This sounds like a great read!! I know we have a roadtrip coming up this would be perfect to read on.
Oooo, this is the one you tweeted about! It does sound really good, and I like the character!
This sounds like a book I could get in to! Can't wait to check it out!
Thanks for the review, Miki, your deep insights always affect me.
Best wishes,
Owen
This book sounds very interesting! I will check it and the author out. I am always impressed when someone knows more than one language - but 7 languages? Wow! I am speechless! That is incredible!
A book that has a nice cover showing beautiful eggs in my opinion must be read. You always have great recommendations.
This sounds really nice. would love to give it a read.
Crime, mystery and Love! Sounds like a good book!
--Jessica
I am intrigued by the roles that the girls from Kazakhstan and Japan will play in Operation Youriko. And love that this novel is set in the seventies. Groovy!
I have to admit I'm first drawn by the cover. Which would get my attention. Your review makes it sound like a great boook!
I started hating love stories as well as the concept of love. I think love is related to material gain and nothing more than that. There is nothing like unconditional love, but then I see my parents and feel that love do exists in many different forms and parents love is unconditional one as they love you for no reason. By the way, this book sounds awesome to me and I would love to read it.
I just got done reading a different Russian-based book. This one might be a good follow-up!
this sounds like a good book I may check it out
I lived in this country at the tail end of Andropov's reign so this is of interest to me. Thanks for sharing. :)
And this is why they say "don't judge a book by its cover" I saw a tweet about this book and thought it was about birds. The story itself sounds fascinating.
It sounds like an exciting novel that you wouldn't be able to put down the moment you start reading it. I think it's a good read and I'd love to find out what happens next!
This sounds like a book I wouldn't able to put down! Definitely going to see if my local book store has it this weekend.
The cover intrigued me straight away but your review has definitely made me want to read this one myself.
This sounds like a really interesting book that I need to add to my list. Thanks so much for sharing.
Super interesting and keeps you intrigue!
Wow, what a very interesting book. I haven't read for a while and this got my interest.
I think this has a ice premise. Thanks for adding to my Goodreads list :)
I think this has a ice premise. Thanks for adding to my Goodreads list :)
This sounds amazing, shall have a look
love spy stories and stories of lost and longing love.
Great review, sounds like a great book
Sounds like a great book.
Really sounds like one interesting read. I look for good books for both sisters of mine and think they'd both enjoy this and love it's a true story
sounds like a good book. Thanks for sharing.
I have never heard of this author before your review, but the book sounds very interesting. I don't think I could stop reading until I finished it.
Lovely read by the sound of it
Thank you for your open and honest review. Sounds like an interesting read! :)
sounds interesting
Sounds interesting but I would have to read more to see if I would really enjoy the whole book
Sounds like a good read! Will have to get it!
The book has a very intriguing cover and that alone would make me want to see what is inside. I like the way you did the review including a little bit about the author
I love Russian history and have a collection of my own. I'll have to add this to my reading list.
I don't really like Samoan I've tryed it
This book sounds like a real good story to read, just reading the little bit up above I am very interested in reading more of this.
@tisonlyme143
Sounds like an intriguing read!
Great review sounds like a great book
Going on my book list, Thanks for the review.
Sounds like an interesting read!
This looks very intriguing and I happen to like octogenarian recountings.
Thanks for sharing another great review.
sounds interesting
It sounds really good!
Not sure that this is something I'd read.
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