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מצרפי המקרים
הגורל הוא בסך הכול עוד משימה שבוצעה כהלכה.
פרפר שמניד את כנפיו גורם לסערה במקום המרוחק אלפי קילומטרים ממנו, אבל מי שכנע אותו להניד את כנפיו?
שני סטודנטים מתיישבים זה ליד זו בשיעור משעמם, ומוצאים את אהבת חייהם, אבל מי דאג שדווקא שני הכיסאות האלה יישארו פנויים?
ספר עב כרס עוצר קליע במעופו ומציל את בעליו, אבל ממי קיבל הסופר את הרעיון לעלילה המסועפת?
שלושה חניכים התקבלו למחזור 75 של " קורס מצרפי המקרים". היום הם כבר מקצוענים: גיא מתמחה בצירופי שידוך המפגישים זוגות אוהבים, אמילי מתמחה בצירופי השראה, ואריק מתמחה בכול, ככה לפחות הוא חושב. הם מסיטים גורלות בעזרת כוס קפה שמתנפצת על הרצפה ודואגים לפריצות דרך מדעיות בהשאירם חלון פתוח כדי סדק. והם פועלים תמיד על פי הוראות המשימה, המונחת לפנות בוקר תחת דלתם במעטפה חתומה. טוב, כמעט תמיד. כשמשימה יוצאת דופן מגיעה בוקר אחד, רוצח שכיר מופיע בעיר וזיכרונות מן העבר חוזרים לתבוע את שלהם - מצרפי המקרים מתחילים לדאוג לגורלם שלהם.
מצרפי המקרים הוא סיפור מבריק ושופע דמיון על גורל ובחירה, על דמיון ומציאות ובעיקר על אהבה. יואב בלום הוא מתכנת ובלוגר, בן 31, מקריית אונו. זהו ספרו הראשון.
פרפר שמניד את כנפיו גורם לסערה במקום המרוחק אלפי קילומטרים ממנו, אבל מי שכנע אותו להניד את כנפיו?
שני סטודנטים מתיישבים זה ליד זו בשיעור משעמם, ומוצאים את אהבת חייהם, אבל מי דאג שדווקא שני הכיסאות האלה יישארו פנויים?
ספר עב כרס עוצר קליע במעופו ומציל את בעליו, אבל ממי קיבל הסופר את הרעיון לעלילה המסועפת?
שלושה חניכים התקבלו למחזור 75 של " קורס מצרפי המקרים". היום הם כבר מקצוענים: גיא מתמחה בצירופי שידוך המפגישים זוגות אוהבים, אמילי מתמחה בצירופי השראה, ואריק מתמחה בכול, ככה לפחות הוא חושב. הם מסיטים גורלות בעזרת כוס קפה שמתנפצת על הרצפה ודואגים לפריצות דרך מדעיות בהשאירם חלון פתוח כדי סדק. והם פועלים תמיד על פי הוראות המשימה, המונחת לפנות בוקר תחת דלתם במעטפה חתומה. טוב, כמעט תמיד. כשמשימה יוצאת דופן מגיעה בוקר אחד, רוצח שכיר מופיע בעיר וזיכרונות מן העבר חוזרים לתבוע את שלהם - מצרפי המקרים מתחילים לדאוג לגורלם שלהם.
מצרפי המקרים הוא סיפור מבריק ושופע דמיון על גורל ובחירה, על דמיון ומציאות ובעיקר על אהבה. יואב בלום הוא מתכנת ובלוגר, בן 31, מקריית אונו. זהו ספרו הראשון.
277 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
241 people are currently reading
6251 people want to read
About the author
Yoav Blum
11 books230 followersYoav Blum writes speculative fiction that blends mystery, philosophy, and science fiction. His novels have been published in 15+ languages. He explores themes of fate vs. free will, identity, and the edges of reality—through page-turning stories.
Blum blends high-concept speculative and science fiction with gripping mystery, thriller, and philosophical depth. His novels delve into the extraordinary – from the overwhelming experience of hearing the thoughts of everyone around you, to the mind-bending possibilities of time travel, the intricate mechanics of body switching, and the hidden art of orchestrating coincidences.
But beneath the thrilling concepts lie profound questions about what it truly means to be human. Blum explores the complexities of identity, the struggle to define the self amidst external influences, the nature of consciousness and perception, and the delicate dance between fate and free will. His narratives often feature compelling mysteries, secret knowledge, and unique characters grappling with the extraordinary challenges their abilities or circumstances present.
With a tone that is at once introspective, suspenseful, and sometimes playfully self-aware, Blum invites readers to question everything they think they know about reality, human connection, and the stories we tell ourselves.
Blum blends high-concept speculative and science fiction with gripping mystery, thriller, and philosophical depth. His novels delve into the extraordinary – from the overwhelming experience of hearing the thoughts of everyone around you, to the mind-bending possibilities of time travel, the intricate mechanics of body switching, and the hidden art of orchestrating coincidences.
But beneath the thrilling concepts lie profound questions about what it truly means to be human. Blum explores the complexities of identity, the struggle to define the self amidst external influences, the nature of consciousness and perception, and the delicate dance between fate and free will. His narratives often feature compelling mysteries, secret knowledge, and unique characters grappling with the extraordinary challenges their abilities or circumstances present.
With a tone that is at once introspective, suspenseful, and sometimes playfully self-aware, Blum invites readers to question everything they think they know about reality, human connection, and the stories we tell ourselves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 872 reviews
March 16, 2018
All the stars! Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Behind the scenes of our lives, pulling the strings for the benefit of humanity, are the people assigned as “coincidence makers,” arranging the events that need to happen in people’s lives, both on a personal and larger scale. It may be making a particular love connection by arranging that two people meet at the right time, or taking steps to help an accountant find his true work in being a poet, or ensuring that an assassin is pointed in the right path to later do society a larger good. Coincidence makers work for a hidden organization that supervises and directs their generally benevolent efforts, along with those of imaginary friends, dream weavers, luck distributors and other useful employees, endowing them with supernatural powers, while insisting on compliance with a plethora of bureaucratic rules and restrictions.
Guy, Emily, and Eric are all recent trainees at the job of coincidence makers. They’ve completed their training course, complete with instruction manuals and tests (“Create a traffic jam in which over 80% of the vehicles are the same color; the particular color is not important. The traffic jam must last for no more than twenty minutes. You may not use traffic accidents or traffic light malfunctions”). For the last three years they’ve been creating complex coincidences, slowly working their way up the ranks. But Emily is carrying a secret in her heart, one she can’t share, that will end up having major repercussions.
The Coincidence Makers was originally published in the Hebrew language in 2011 and is now, in 2018, being published in the U.S. It’s easy to understand why this novel quickly became a bestseller in Israel. Its premise is original, and its characters endearing if occasionally frustratingly flawed. On his website, Yoav Blum comments:
I like writing about realistic worlds with a twist, about being human, about fate, free will, the way we define ourselves and the isolation and friendships that define us.
Blum skillfully balances whimsy, like the elaborate planning of coincidences and the occasional quasi-scholarly chapters on the theories and rules relating to coincidence-making, with serious insights into the nature of life, love, fate and free will.
Initially my only real complaint about The Coincidence Makers was its slow beginning and extended set-up; on page 75 or so it felt like we were still in the lengthy exposition phase. Then the plot suddenly kicked into gear, a couple of key events occurred, plot pieces started to fit together, and the book just exploded into awesomeness. The Coincidence Makers has the intricate, layered approach that I love, where all of the various threads start tying together in the end, with surprises and twists that I didn’t anticipate but that make complete sense in retrospect. In fact, I reread the first third of the book a couple of days later (and then read most of the rest for good measure) and its beginning didn’t seem at all sluggish the second time through, because I could see and appreciate all the hints and plot elements being laid out that would become significant later on.
The Coincidence Makers blends mystery, fantasy, and a love story. Although it has a sentimental streak, it’s far removed from a romance novel. Though it’s early in the year, I’m confident that this will be one of my favorite novels of 2018, one I’ll reread (again) and push on my friends. Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for review. THANK YOU!!
Prior posts:
Update: I reread the first third (and then most of the rest of the book) and the beginning didn't seem at all slow the second time through, probably because I could see all the pieces fitting together. Anyway, I just really love this book. I think I'll make my book club read it. :)
This book is SO original, and after a slow start (I felt like on page 75 we were still in the exposition phase) it just exploded into awesomeness. It's part mystery, part fantasy, part love story - but not in a typical romance novel kind of way. And it's got that intricate, layered approach I love, where all the threads start tying together in the end and there are surprises and twists, but they make complete sense. Highly recommended!
Seriously, read this book, and don't get bogged down in the extended set-up part at the start (a lot of those details will matter later) because the rest is AMAZING.
Behind the scenes of our lives, pulling the strings for the benefit of humanity, are the people assigned as “coincidence makers,” arranging the events that need to happen in people’s lives, both on a personal and larger scale. It may be making a particular love connection by arranging that two people meet at the right time, or taking steps to help an accountant find his true work in being a poet, or ensuring that an assassin is pointed in the right path to later do society a larger good. Coincidence makers work for a hidden organization that supervises and directs their generally benevolent efforts, along with those of imaginary friends, dream weavers, luck distributors and other useful employees, endowing them with supernatural powers, while insisting on compliance with a plethora of bureaucratic rules and restrictions.
Guy, Emily, and Eric are all recent trainees at the job of coincidence makers. They’ve completed their training course, complete with instruction manuals and tests (“Create a traffic jam in which over 80% of the vehicles are the same color; the particular color is not important. The traffic jam must last for no more than twenty minutes. You may not use traffic accidents or traffic light malfunctions”). For the last three years they’ve been creating complex coincidences, slowly working their way up the ranks. But Emily is carrying a secret in her heart, one she can’t share, that will end up having major repercussions.
The Coincidence Makers was originally published in the Hebrew language in 2011 and is now, in 2018, being published in the U.S. It’s easy to understand why this novel quickly became a bestseller in Israel. Its premise is original, and its characters endearing if occasionally frustratingly flawed. On his website, Yoav Blum comments:
I like writing about realistic worlds with a twist, about being human, about fate, free will, the way we define ourselves and the isolation and friendships that define us.
Blum skillfully balances whimsy, like the elaborate planning of coincidences and the occasional quasi-scholarly chapters on the theories and rules relating to coincidence-making, with serious insights into the nature of life, love, fate and free will.
Initially my only real complaint about The Coincidence Makers was its slow beginning and extended set-up; on page 75 or so it felt like we were still in the lengthy exposition phase. Then the plot suddenly kicked into gear, a couple of key events occurred, plot pieces started to fit together, and the book just exploded into awesomeness. The Coincidence Makers has the intricate, layered approach that I love, where all of the various threads start tying together in the end, with surprises and twists that I didn’t anticipate but that make complete sense in retrospect. In fact, I reread the first third of the book a couple of days later (and then read most of the rest for good measure) and its beginning didn’t seem at all sluggish the second time through, because I could see and appreciate all the hints and plot elements being laid out that would become significant later on.
The Coincidence Makers blends mystery, fantasy, and a love story. Although it has a sentimental streak, it’s far removed from a romance novel. Though it’s early in the year, I’m confident that this will be one of my favorite novels of 2018, one I’ll reread (again) and push on my friends. Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for review. THANK YOU!!
Prior posts:
Update: I reread the first third (and then most of the rest of the book) and the beginning didn't seem at all slow the second time through, probably because I could see all the pieces fitting together. Anyway, I just really love this book. I think I'll make my book club read it. :)
This book is SO original, and after a slow start (I felt like on page 75 we were still in the exposition phase) it just exploded into awesomeness. It's part mystery, part fantasy, part love story - but not in a typical romance novel kind of way. And it's got that intricate, layered approach I love, where all the threads start tying together in the end and there are surprises and twists, but they make complete sense. Highly recommended!
Seriously, read this book, and don't get bogged down in the extended set-up part at the start (a lot of those details will matter later) because the rest is AMAZING.
May 14, 2024
I primarily read for pleasure but occasionally I find books that move me on a deeper level; "The coincidence maker" is one of them. Its philosophical depth is outstanding. I did not want the book to end, and will definitely re-read; this book is for keeps.
October 4, 2018
“There’s always a broader picture. There’s always something beyond the system you’re concentrating on. Never forget that. There are no clear boundaries. Life doesn’t stop at the boundaries of the table. And there are always more than six pockets you can fall into. There is always something beyond. Always, always, always.”
3.5 Stars. Behind the scenes, imaginary friends, dream weavers, luck distributors, and other types of "reality-backstage workers" are pulling the strings. Much of what happens in the world—from the beginnings of love stories to the discovery of penicillin—is orchestrated by coincidence makers, beings who gently nudge everyone to where they need to be. The job isn't easy; each arranged action produces even more complications to account for.
Eric, Emily, and Guy have been working together as coincidence makers for 16 months. Eric is narcissistic and uses his skills to arrange dates for himself. Emily is a perfectionist, but lacks confidence. She's trying to inspire a stubborn, overly rational man to become a poet, but isn't having much luck. Guy is the most passive of the group. He's content just to observe and has a tendency to retreat into his own daydreams. His most recent assignment is the most mysterious task of his career. They usually receive thorough dossiers to prepare for their missions, but this time he was only supplied with a single page containing a time, place, and a cryptic sentence. The coincidence makers are essentially just cogs in the machine, but they're starting to yearn for something more. What happens when they start tinkering in each other's lives?
“Many people think that to make coincidences is to determine fate—to lead people to new places by the power of the events. This is a childish view, lacking in vision and full of arrogance. Our role is to be exactly on the border, to stand in the gray area between fate and free will, and to play Ping-Pong there. We create situations that create situations that create more situations that ultimately can create thoughts and decisions. Our objective is to light a spark on the fate side of the boundary so that someone on the free will side of the boundary will see this spark and decide to do something. … We are creators of possibilities, givers of hints, winkers of tempting winks, discoverers of options.”
I really enjoyed the movie The Adjustment Bureau (based on Phillip K. Dick’s short story Adjustment Team ), so the description of this book immediately appealed to me. The story begins with a bang as Guy arranges the meeting of two people in a coffee shop. It takes a lot of effort and planning! New perspectives are introduced at random and they can switch within chapters, so you must pay close attention. This book is all about the concept. It can get really philosophical and over-explanatory. Some chapters are textbook excerpts that were so dry that I had trouble seeing what the author was getting at. There are lots of ideas in this little novel and I felt overwhelmed fully connect them to the greater story. I think the dryness of the textbook chapters contributed to that feeling.
"In the future, someone will tell you all sorts of stories about what love is. Don’t believe what they tell you. Love is not a boom, it’s not explosions and effects. It’s not fireworks in the sky or a plane flying by with a large banner. It’s slowly poured under your skin, quietly, without you even noticing, like anointing oil. You just feel a type of warmth, and one day you wake up and discover that under your skin you are wrapped with someone else.
…
A new love is never created all at once. This you already know. It happens slowly, step by step, one drop after another.”
The plot was a mystery to me for most of the book. I'm more amenable to that type of discovery in novellas or short stories. Since I couldn’t tell where the story was headed, I didn’t have specific questions that I needed to be answered or the feeling of hope or dread that usually tie me to a novel. It's a pleasant surprise when everything falls into place, but the concealment of the central story kept me at an emotional distance and lessened the impact. It might be rewarding to read it again now that I know what the story is!
That’s the way it was after you got used to seeing reality from far enough away, apparently. Everything was connected to everything; big became small.
I've been thinking of this novel a lot lately. During the worst time in my life, there were all kinds of unlikely coincidences that eased the way. This was actually the last book I read before that time. Perhaps another sign from the universe? ;) It's comforting to think that there's something greater guiding us along, but it's also disconcerting to think that we might just end up being collateral damage along someone else’s grander path! The ultimate end goal is rarely immediately evident, even to the coincidence makers. A seemingly insignificant event or something overheard twenty years ago could potentially set the stage for a major event today. This book also deals with the nature of love and happiness. Sometimes people have the tendency to idealize something to the point that the things they've always dreamed of are unrecognizable, even when it's right in front of them. The Coincidence Makers is worth the read for the thought-provoking concept with engaging writing, but I think I would have liked it more if there was a little less mystery surrounding the story. If I actually had an organized shelving system, I would put this book right between All the Wrong Todays and The Clarity.
“Maybe not every coincidence maker is a person, but every person is also a coincidence maker.”
__________
I received this book for free from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It's available now!
February 20, 2018
About: The Coincidence Makers is a fantasy written by Yoav Blum. It will be published on 3/6/2018 by St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers, paperback, 304 pages. The genres are fantasy and fiction. This book is the author’s debut.
My Experience: I started reading The Coincidence Makers on 2/4/18 and finished it on 2/15/18. This book is an excellent read! I love this whole idea of coincidences. I love the coincidence at the start of the book! I love the coincidence in action with Emily’s matchmaking on herself and Guy’s mission to use that sentence about kicking you in the head. I like following the characters as the coincidence is happening to them. I am hooked on the story of Alberto Brown! I love the Imaginary Friend and Guy’s relationship with Cassandra.
This book is told in the third person point of view following Guy, a coincidence maker. Guy’s mission is to create an environment that will help two strangers meet. The story started out with Guy sitting inside a café observing everyone in the room. His mission is to create a way for the waitress to go out on a date with the guy at another table. One event lead to another and another, eventually they both ended up meeting each other at the beach for a date, as predicted. There is a course to take to become a coincidence maker. Guy attended this course with Eric and Emily. When they were in school, they often meet up to study together. They are considered secret agents and they are the “creators of possibilities, givers of hints, winkers of tempting winks, and discoverers of options.” Once a mission is complete, another envelope is left at Guy’s door. Guy doesn’t know who placed the envelope there and no matter how diligent he tried to time the delivery, he never caught it. Readers will also follow Emily, Roberto, Michael, an Accountant and whoever the coincidence involves.
This book is very well written. The coincidences in action are definitely the best reads. The coursework and lessons in becoming a coincidence maker is good background building, though it slow down my reading pace greatly. I think I will become more observant after reading this book because of how Guy makes his decisions based on all the signs he sees. I like Emily at the train station with that crossword puzzle. Hilarious! This book read unlike any other. It’s original and addicting! All of the characters are well-liked. I love the twists at the end, one I was not expecting and I love every moment of it. Each story within the pages of this book is fascinating to read and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
Pro: fast paced, page turner, couldn’t put down, mystery, love story, humor
Con: coursework, rules & lessons are slow to read
I rate it 4.5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher, St. Martins. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
My Experience: I started reading The Coincidence Makers on 2/4/18 and finished it on 2/15/18. This book is an excellent read! I love this whole idea of coincidences. I love the coincidence at the start of the book! I love the coincidence in action with Emily’s matchmaking on herself and Guy’s mission to use that sentence about kicking you in the head. I like following the characters as the coincidence is happening to them. I am hooked on the story of Alberto Brown! I love the Imaginary Friend and Guy’s relationship with Cassandra.
This book is told in the third person point of view following Guy, a coincidence maker. Guy’s mission is to create an environment that will help two strangers meet. The story started out with Guy sitting inside a café observing everyone in the room. His mission is to create a way for the waitress to go out on a date with the guy at another table. One event lead to another and another, eventually they both ended up meeting each other at the beach for a date, as predicted. There is a course to take to become a coincidence maker. Guy attended this course with Eric and Emily. When they were in school, they often meet up to study together. They are considered secret agents and they are the “creators of possibilities, givers of hints, winkers of tempting winks, and discoverers of options.” Once a mission is complete, another envelope is left at Guy’s door. Guy doesn’t know who placed the envelope there and no matter how diligent he tried to time the delivery, he never caught it. Readers will also follow Emily, Roberto, Michael, an Accountant and whoever the coincidence involves.
This book is very well written. The coincidences in action are definitely the best reads. The coursework and lessons in becoming a coincidence maker is good background building, though it slow down my reading pace greatly. I think I will become more observant after reading this book because of how Guy makes his decisions based on all the signs he sees. I like Emily at the train station with that crossword puzzle. Hilarious! This book read unlike any other. It’s original and addicting! All of the characters are well-liked. I love the twists at the end, one I was not expecting and I love every moment of it. Each story within the pages of this book is fascinating to read and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
Pro: fast paced, page turner, couldn’t put down, mystery, love story, humor
Con: coursework, rules & lessons are slow to read
I rate it 4.5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher, St. Martins. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
March 14, 2020
The concept : wow! Really liked how the author developped the idea of coincidence makers. The excerpts of the textbooks really entertained me.
The characters: didn't feel close enough to them.
The ending: okay... A bit disappointed.
This book was a fast read. Overall, I enjoyed it!
3.5 rounded up
October 24th, 2019
The characters: didn't feel close enough to them.
The ending: okay... A bit disappointed.
This book was a fast read. Overall, I enjoyed it!
3.5 rounded up
October 24th, 2019
September 15, 2017
I received this via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own:).
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This was what I expected and yet not.. which had me laughing a bit on the latter. Bit like where a magician shows you one thing but we all know something else is going on behind the scenes, even if we don't spot it.
An interesting concept, this world where there are people behind the scenes making things happen. Imagine if that winning lotto ticket or that dream job you landed was all part of someone's assignment to line everything up. That dream job could be where you'd find your future spouse, that lotto ticket could lead to you starting your own business...
Neat to think about isn't it?
Couple other professions mentioned had me wishing there were books about them as well, they both sounded equally fascinating.
When all was revealed and I looked back on everything, it was fascinating to line it all up and see how things connected.
I don't want to say too much and give away the plot so I will stop here:).
This is a quirky book and slow paced at times, so it won't be for everyone but I would recommend giving it a try:).
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This was what I expected and yet not.. which had me laughing a bit on the latter. Bit like where a magician shows you one thing but we all know something else is going on behind the scenes, even if we don't spot it.
An interesting concept, this world where there are people behind the scenes making things happen. Imagine if that winning lotto ticket or that dream job you landed was all part of someone's assignment to line everything up. That dream job could be where you'd find your future spouse, that lotto ticket could lead to you starting your own business...
Neat to think about isn't it?
Couple other professions mentioned had me wishing there were books about them as well, they both sounded equally fascinating.
When all was revealed and I looked back on everything, it was fascinating to line it all up and see how things connected.
I don't want to say too much and give away the plot so I will stop here:).
This is a quirky book and slow paced at times, so it won't be for everyone but I would recommend giving it a try:).
February 28, 2022
Audiobook…..narrated by Fred Berman
…..7 hours and 56 minutes long
Author Yoav Blum is an Israeli author. This is the first book I’ve read by him. Blum’s debut.
”The Coincidence Makers”, was first published in 2011.
The plot is interesting….and the storytelling a lot of fun…..
It helps to step-up our imaginations as we enter this “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHANCE”….
because….”EVERY ACTION IS CAREFULLY EXECUTED BY TRAINED AGENTS”…..
We try on Blum’s theory with our party hats…..
…..as there are no random occurrences in life ….
Maybe?????
it was no accident I met my husband ? or you your partner ?
There are only secret agents whose job in life is to determine everyone’s destiny. (can you imagine?) > we do….and it’s fun…
with a variety of tales to tickle our curiosity and funny bones.
Our three main characters who work as secret coincidence makers are Guy, Emily, and Eric.
The world is created so that ordinary people see the things that happen in their lives (car accidents, friendship connections, struggles, love, even danger), as a mere random act…..and Guy, Emily, and Eric have all been trained to confirm specific events happen at specific times and with specific people.
Plus….Emily and Guy enter into their own love-story.
This book cracked me up …. It’s hard to explain all the ins & outs without spoiling the fun…..THOUGHT PROVOKING—joy of fantasizing-this cleverly, quirky, endearing novel.
Thoughts are examined about the every day moments — those gray areas between fate and free will…..
And at some point - you might ask yourself ….
….Are we all really just puppets on a string?
Great fantasy - adventure & mystery …..(with some sincere depth of humanity)….[wonderful in audio format]
If you think YOUR life and the WORLD’s life have gone bonkers….around the same time: that it’s just a coincidence….( your sister died - you fell in love - you changed careers -and we had an orange hair nutcase for a President)…..
Think again…..
The mission agents might have been pulling the strings.
Totally delightful…..
unique mystery thrilling twisty turning TERRIFIC!
…..7 hours and 56 minutes long
Author Yoav Blum is an Israeli author. This is the first book I’ve read by him. Blum’s debut.
”The Coincidence Makers”, was first published in 2011.
The plot is interesting….and the storytelling a lot of fun…..
It helps to step-up our imaginations as we enter this “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHANCE”….
because….”EVERY ACTION IS CAREFULLY EXECUTED BY TRAINED AGENTS”…..
We try on Blum’s theory with our party hats…..
…..as there are no random occurrences in life ….
Maybe?????
it was no accident I met my husband ? or you your partner ?
There are only secret agents whose job in life is to determine everyone’s destiny. (can you imagine?) > we do….and it’s fun…
with a variety of tales to tickle our curiosity and funny bones.
Our three main characters who work as secret coincidence makers are Guy, Emily, and Eric.
The world is created so that ordinary people see the things that happen in their lives (car accidents, friendship connections, struggles, love, even danger), as a mere random act…..and Guy, Emily, and Eric have all been trained to confirm specific events happen at specific times and with specific people.
Plus….Emily and Guy enter into their own love-story.
This book cracked me up …. It’s hard to explain all the ins & outs without spoiling the fun…..THOUGHT PROVOKING—joy of fantasizing-this cleverly, quirky, endearing novel.
Thoughts are examined about the every day moments — those gray areas between fate and free will…..
And at some point - you might ask yourself ….
….Are we all really just puppets on a string?
Great fantasy - adventure & mystery …..(with some sincere depth of humanity)….[wonderful in audio format]
If you think YOUR life and the WORLD’s life have gone bonkers….around the same time: that it’s just a coincidence….( your sister died - you fell in love - you changed careers -and we had an orange hair nutcase for a President)…..
Think again…..
The mission agents might have been pulling the strings.
Totally delightful…..
unique mystery thrilling twisty turning TERRIFIC!
March 30, 2018
Tem vídeo resenha no canal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk1JL... <3
Que livro mais amorzinho!
Comecei hoje e terminei hoje mesmo.
Quero ler mais livros do autor :)
Que livro mais amorzinho!
Comecei hoje e terminei hoje mesmo.
Quero ler mais livros do autor :)
April 9, 2018
This is extremely well-written and has an interesting story and characters that are well-depicted and fully dimensional. And yet it didn't connect with me in some fundamental ways.
I think the biggest disconnect is that, while there are relationships that (will probably) grow into love, this isn't in any way, shape, or form, a romance. I mean, we see the conflicts and yearning and desire and even the connection. But in both love relationships shown, narration ends at the start of something that has promise rather seeing that promise grow into its potential. So I felt robbed. Twice.
And it doesn't help that Guy is such a negatively motivated* idiot that I wanted to strangle him. And yeah, getting past that is kind of the point of the story and that's cool. Better, Blum shows us how that kind of pre-judgement of potential is limiting and negates important aspects of what life is all about. Still, I wanted to smack him for most of the novel and by the time he started catching a clue, it was too late and I was emotionally done with him.
And after all that negative, I should acknowledge that this is a fantastic book in a lot of ways. It's incredibly well-written and has the kind of layers that literary authors aspire to and so seldom attain. It is truly unfortunate that I didn't connect with the story and that the character I was most attached to (Emily) was so heartrendingly broken. Not being engaged, I found myself picking at the supernatural setup and catching twists before they happened—further alienating me from the story.
Anyway, recognize that my three stars are an indication of my personal taste and that I feel compelled to admit that it's a very good story. It's the kind that should win tons of awards, and sometimes, when the world works on orderly principles, it might even get the recognition it deserves. And that would make me very happy, even if the story didn't do anything for me, personally. Because the world needs every story of this caliber it can get.
A note about my romance, steamy, and chaste tags: There's no sex. No physically intimate moments at all, really. So this is chaste in the sense that it isn't a romance and never had to decide if it would "go there", or not. But since "chaste" is not really relevant, I'm not tagging this with any of my romance-themed tags, including that one.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
I think the biggest disconnect is that, while there are relationships that (will probably) grow into love, this isn't in any way, shape, or form, a romance. I mean, we see the conflicts and yearning and desire and even the connection. But in both love relationships shown, narration ends at the start of something that has promise rather seeing that promise grow into its potential. So I felt robbed. Twice.
And it doesn't help that Guy is such a negatively motivated* idiot that I wanted to strangle him. And yeah, getting past that is kind of the point of the story and that's cool. Better, Blum shows us how that kind of pre-judgement of potential is limiting and negates important aspects of what life is all about. Still, I wanted to smack him for most of the novel and by the time he started catching a clue, it was too late and I was emotionally done with him.
And after all that negative, I should acknowledge that this is a fantastic book in a lot of ways. It's incredibly well-written and has the kind of layers that literary authors aspire to and so seldom attain. It is truly unfortunate that I didn't connect with the story and that the character I was most attached to (Emily) was so heartrendingly broken. Not being engaged, I found myself picking at the supernatural setup and catching twists before they happened—further alienating me from the story.
Anyway, recognize that my three stars are an indication of my personal taste and that I feel compelled to admit that it's a very good story. It's the kind that should win tons of awards, and sometimes, when the world works on orderly principles, it might even get the recognition it deserves. And that would make me very happy, even if the story didn't do anything for me, personally. Because the world needs every story of this caliber it can get.
A note about my romance, steamy, and chaste tags: There's no sex. No physically intimate moments at all, really. So this is chaste in the sense that it isn't a romance and never had to decide if it would "go there", or not. But since "chaste" is not really relevant, I'm not tagging this with any of my romance-themed tags, including that one.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
September 12, 2019
Finished around 6 a.m. thanks to insomnia (caused by my husband giving a lecture on swordsmanship in his sleep).
The more I think about it, the more I am impressed with this book. The premise is original: There are human-like beings who have jobs like arranging coincidences, making dreams, and being imaginary friends. Despite the fantasy premise, it reads more like a contemporary, so I have no idea what genre to label this.
(I had this crazy coincidence a few years ago where I ran into friends at Disneyland. A number of factors had to play out just right for that to happen. It had to have been contrived.)
At the beginning it’s not clear just what the plot is. There are no clear goals from our three coincidence maker characters, no obvious conflict. But it’s just hidden and ultimately plays out beautifully. The second half is just an avalanche of events and threads coming together. The ending is sweet but not overly so. The originality was intriguing.
some very occasional moderately strong language; no sexual content; minimal violence
Reader’s Choice Nominee Fall 2019
Book Blog
The more I think about it, the more I am impressed with this book. The premise is original: There are human-like beings who have jobs like arranging coincidences, making dreams, and being imaginary friends. Despite the fantasy premise, it reads more like a contemporary, so I have no idea what genre to label this.
(I had this crazy coincidence a few years ago where I ran into friends at Disneyland. A number of factors had to play out just right for that to happen. It had to have been contrived.)
At the beginning it’s not clear just what the plot is. There are no clear goals from our three coincidence maker characters, no obvious conflict. But it’s just hidden and ultimately plays out beautifully. The second half is just an avalanche of events and threads coming together. The ending is sweet but not overly so. The originality was intriguing.
some very occasional moderately strong language; no sexual content; minimal violence
Reader’s Choice Nominee Fall 2019
Book Blog
February 24, 2018
A clever and inventive concept that made me think differently about coincidences and how a carefully orchestrated series of events can make a difference in situational outcomes. One simple tweak or a more elaborate plan makes no matter, these highly skilled confidence makers will ensure their tasks are done. What a cool but stressful job making each piece fit together! In one instance, a simple rearranging of a teacup at the edge of a table snowballs into something so much bigger. An engaging read with a good mix of fantasy and reality. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2018
I have a rule for every book I read.
I won’t put it down for good until I have finished my rule of three.
* Read the first 3 chapters
* Read at least 30 pages
* Make 3 attempts to get interested in the story
On page 45 I was so bored I stopped reading to watch cartoons with my kids. I even caught myself watching commercials with singing boxes instead of reading.
Needless to say I probably missed a lot but I cannot say I care to pick the book back up again and read. It’s been three days and I am moving on.
I won’t put it down for good until I have finished my rule of three.
* Read the first 3 chapters
* Read at least 30 pages
* Make 3 attempts to get interested in the story
On page 45 I was so bored I stopped reading to watch cartoons with my kids. I even caught myself watching commercials with singing boxes instead of reading.
Needless to say I probably missed a lot but I cannot say I care to pick the book back up again and read. It’s been three days and I am moving on.
June 18, 2017
הקדמה
לאחר שסיימתי לקרוא את הספר הקודם, מותש ומתוסכל, ישבתי בבוקר שבת והרוח העיפה את העיתון שקראתי ודיפדפה בעדינות במוסף הספרים (שאיני קורא אף פעם) אל עמוד שבו שורה של סופרים ואנשי ספרות ממליצים על "הספרים של השנה". לא, "מצרפי המקרים" לא הופיע שם, אבל אחד הממליצים היה לקוח עבר שלי. מכיוון שהייתי "בין ספרים", החלטתי לחפש המלצות שלו על ספרים אחרים וראיתי שהוא לוקח חלק בתוכנית תרבות, שלא הספקתי לראות באותה השבת.
ביום ראשון בצהריים קיבלתי לפתע מייל מאותו הלקוח (שנים לא שמעתי ממנו) המבקש שוב את שירותיי. התקשרתי אליו לשיחה ראשונית וקבענו להדבר בהמשך השבוע. הלכתי ושמעתי את התוכנית ובמהלכה הוא הקריא רשימה של ספרים ובהם ציין ספר אחר של יואב בלום. התקשרתי שוב לקבוע פגישה עם אותו הלקוח, רצה המקרה והמועד היחידי שהיה נוח לו, הוא בדיוק המועד שבו יכולתי להפגש במשרדי החדש, שרק במקרה מצוי ליד ביתו של הלקוח. בסוף השבוע, כאשר חיפשתי כאן ספרים של יואב ב��ום, לא מצאתי את הספר הממולץ האמור וכך הגעתי דווקא "למצרפי המקרים" בעקבות הביקורת המשבחת של Anatoly.
תקראו לזה צירוף מקרים - אבל אחרי הספר הזה זה די ברור שגיא או אמילי או אריק או כל מצרף מקרים אחר הוביל אותי לקרוא את הספר הזה.
לביקורת עצמה:
הספר שייך לז'אנר המציאות הפנסטסטית שאני מאוד אוהב אבל הוא לא רק ספר מד"ב, אלא ספר שעוסק במתח שבין מעשה ואי מעשה, בין בחירה וגורל והוא גם ספר רומנטי. על אף שזה נשמע יומרני, הספר קליל, מלא הומור הוא נותן התחלה לשאלות עמוקות ותהיות אנושיות בלי "לחפור" לעומקן. אישית הדמות של גיא, אדם עם המון כוח בידיים שעדיין מרגיש חסר ��ונים, קובע גורלות שמרגיש נסחף עם הזרם הקסימה אותי. לא רציתי שהספר יגמר ושנגמר הייתי מרוצה.
האם זה היה סתם צירוף מקרים שקראתי דווקא אותו?
לאחר שסיימתי לקרוא את הספר הקודם, מותש ומתוסכל, ישבתי בבוקר שבת והרוח העיפה את העיתון שקראתי ודיפדפה בעדינות במוסף הספרים (שאיני קורא אף פעם) אל עמוד שבו שורה של סופרים ואנשי ספרות ממליצים על "הספרים של השנה". לא, "מצרפי המקרים" לא הופיע שם, אבל אחד הממליצים היה לקוח עבר שלי. מכיוון שהייתי "בין ספרים", החלטתי לחפש המלצות שלו על ספרים אחרים וראיתי שהוא לוקח חלק בתוכנית תרבות, שלא הספקתי לראות באותה השבת.
ביום ראשון בצהריים קיבלתי לפתע מייל מאותו הלקוח (שנים לא שמעתי ממנו) המבקש שוב את שירותיי. התקשרתי אליו לשיחה ראשונית וקבענו להדבר בהמשך השבוע. הלכתי ושמעתי את התוכנית ובמהלכה הוא הקריא רשימה של ספרים ובהם ציין ספר אחר של יואב בלום. התקשרתי שוב לקבוע פגישה עם אותו הלקוח, רצה המקרה והמועד היחידי שהיה נוח לו, הוא בדיוק המועד שבו יכולתי להפגש במשרדי החדש, שרק במקרה מצוי ליד ביתו של הלקוח. בסוף השבוע, כאשר חיפשתי כאן ספרים של יואב ב��ום, לא מצאתי את הספר הממולץ האמור וכך הגעתי דווקא "למצרפי המקרים" בעקבות הביקורת המשבחת של Anatoly.
תקראו לזה צירוף מקרים - אבל אחרי הספר הזה זה די ברור שגיא או אמילי או אריק או כל מצרף מקרים אחר הוביל אותי לקרוא את הספר הזה.
לביקורת עצמה:
הספר שייך לז'אנר המציאות הפנסטסטית שאני מאוד אוהב אבל הוא לא רק ספר מד"ב, אלא ספר שעוסק במתח שבין מעשה ואי מעשה, בין בחירה וגורל והוא גם ספר רומנטי. על אף שזה נשמע יומרני, הספר קליל, מלא הומור הוא נותן התחלה לשאלות עמוקות ותהיות אנושיות בלי "לחפור" לעומקן. אישית הדמות של גיא, אדם עם המון כוח בידיים שעדיין מרגיש חסר ��ונים, קובע גורלות שמרגיש נסחף עם הזרם הקסימה אותי. לא רציתי שהספר יגמר ושנגמר הייתי מרוצה.
האם זה היה סתם צירוף מקרים שקראתי דווקא אותו?
July 10, 2021
3,75/5.
Sam zamysł fabuły był bardzo ciekawy,tak samo jak wykorzystany motyw. Jednak jak już każdy z nas wie-sam zamysł to nie wszystko. Może go popsuć wykonanie,czyli tak jak w „Zakochanym Przez Przypadek”.
Książka była niesamowicie chaotyczna. Nieposkładana w odpowiedni sposób,wiele mieszała,nie wyjaśniając praktycznie nic czytelnikom. Szkoda,że tak wyszło,bo mogła być bardzo ciekawa.
Sam zamysł fabuły był bardzo ciekawy,tak samo jak wykorzystany motyw. Jednak jak już każdy z nas wie-sam zamysł to nie wszystko. Może go popsuć wykonanie,czyli tak jak w „Zakochanym Przez Przypadek”.
Książka była niesamowicie chaotyczna. Nieposkładana w odpowiedni sposób,wiele mieszała,nie wyjaśniając praktycznie nic czytelnikom. Szkoda,że tak wyszło,bo mogła być bardzo ciekawa.
Read
February 8, 2018Йов Блум - "Творци на съвпадения", изд. "Изток-Запад", прев. Ивинела Самуилова
Годината едва е навлязла във втория си месец, а аз вече съм готова да наредя "Творци на съвпадения" от Йов Блум сред най-впечатляващите книги, които прочетох. Ей така, небрежно я започнах, преди няколко дни, казах си: ще прочета едни двайсетина страници да видим дали ще се харесаме, и ако да - утре си продължавам. Време за четене точно сега имам колкото си искам, за никъде не бързам.
Това си казах преди три дни в ранния следобед, когато започнах да я чета.
Няколко часа по-късно, очите ми пареха от умора, страниците летяха, моментът на чудене: "Аз в какво се забърках?" отдавна отмина, и се опитвам да не мисля колко ми се спи, защото не искам да оставям книгата.
Както стана ясно, това беше преди три дни.
Дочетох книгата тази сутрин.
И искам да кажа едно: тази книга не се поддава на описание или "категоризиране". Някъде прочетох, че била жанрово определена като YA - мразя го това "янг адълт", предпочитам "старомодното" определение "юношески роман" или "книга за млади читатели". Позволявам си да не се съглася с това определение. И то не само защото персонажите в тази книга - доколкото изобщо може да се говори за персонажи - не са на типичната за героите в тези романи възраст. А и защото книгата не засяга никоя от типичните за този жанр теми. Няма постапокалиптичен свят, няма кошмарни конфликти, няма зли президенти, които бавно, но сигурно унищожават собствените си държави.
Има обаче нещо, което няма как да не е занимавало мислите на всички ни в един или друг момент. А именно: Случайни ли са нещата, които стават в живота ни? Има ли такова нещо като "съвпадения"? А случайности? Сами ли вземаме решенията си? Имаме ли наистина избор?
На тези въпроси се опитва да отговори книгата на израелския автор Йов Блум. Там, където много хора виждат "пръста на съдбата", той описва вместо този "пръст" една цяла организация от хора, които "създават" нашите "съвпадения". Признавам, че тази идея ми се видя колкото интересна, толкова и плашеща. Защото понякога всеки от нас си е мислил, че може би има "нещо" или "някой" "там горе", което или който предопределя и подрежда живота ни. И е наричал това "нещо" или "някой" с различни имена - Бог, Съдба, Предопределение, Провидение. Но каквото и име да му е давал, общото винаги е било едно - че това е някаква по-висша сила, която няма човешки облик.
Именно с това е по-страшна идеята на "Творци на съвпадения". Защото поне външно те имат човешки облик. Имат човешки вид, желания, копнежи, чувства. И... са просто служители, които си вършат работата. Без да имат право на глас, без да могат да променят нещо в изпълнението на задачата си, с "теоретично" право на отказ, от което не смеят да се възползват.
Хареса ми идеята за видовете съвпадения, за използването на "клишетата". Бяха ми интересни и различните "длъжности" на "творците" - и през цялото време си мислех, че сигурно е огромна отговорност да бъдеш "въображаем приятел". И, честно казано, се зачудих кой е този "тъкач на сънища", който редовно ми изпраща един и същ повтарящ се сън.
Много ми допадна описанието на начина, по който всеки един от основните "творци" си тръгна от "служба". Признавам, че в първия случай, с Емили, леко се стреснах, защото не го очаквах, но после си казах, че това всъщност е един добър начин да си отидеш - не на последно място и защото за пръв път можеш сам да си създадеш реалност.
И все пак, от всички видове творци в тази история, може би най-много ме впечатлиха възпламенителите. Изчетох последните страници може би с по-голямо вълнение, отколкото цялата останала книга. Защото възпламенителите са там, където свършва и където започва всичко, там, където секва последният дъх и се ражда първият. Те са тези, които виждат пълния кръговрат на нещата.
Хареса ми идеята за това, което се случва с творците на съвпадения, щом престанат да бъдат такива. Защото те ще бъдат вече от другата страна и може би - може би - вече някой друг ще твори за тях. А те ще могат просто да обичат, да чувстват... да бъдат човеци.
Не казах всичко, което исках да кажа за тази книга. Може би още не мога да я осмисля, може би после ще дойдат и още думи. Но сега, в заключение, искам да кажа това: Ако често сте си мислили за случайностите и съвпаденията, ако вярвате в синхроничността, ако сте с отворен ум - прочетете я. Тя ще има какво да ви каже.
Годината едва е навлязла във втория си месец, а аз вече съм готова да наредя "Творци на съвпадения" от Йов Блум сред най-впечатляващите книги, които прочетох. Ей така, небрежно я започнах, преди няколко дни, казах си: ще прочета едни двайсетина страници да видим дали ще се харесаме, и ако да - утре си продължавам. Време за четене точно сега имам колкото си искам, за никъде не бързам.
Това си казах преди три дни в ранния следобед, когато започнах да я чета.
Няколко часа по-късно, очите ми пареха от умора, страниците летяха, моментът на чудене: "Аз в какво се забърках?" отдавна отмина, и се опитвам да не мисля колко ми се спи, защото не искам да оставям книгата.
Както стана ясно, това беше преди три дни.
Дочетох книгата тази сутрин.
И искам да кажа едно: тази книга не се поддава на описание или "категоризиране". Някъде прочетох, че била жанрово определена като YA - мразя го това "янг адълт", предпочитам "старомодното" определение "юношески роман" или "книга за млади читатели". Позволявам си да не се съглася с това определение. И то не само защото персонажите в тази книга - доколкото изобщо може да се говори за персонажи - не са на типичната за героите в тези романи възраст. А и защото книгата не засяга никоя от типичните за този жанр теми. Няма постапокалиптичен свят, няма кошмарни конфликти, няма зли президенти, които бавно, но сигурно унищожават собствените си държави.
Има обаче нещо, което няма как да не е занимавало мислите на всички ни в един или друг момент. А именно: Случайни ли са нещата, които стават в живота ни? Има ли такова нещо като "съвпадения"? А случайности? Сами ли вземаме решенията си? Имаме ли наистина избор?
На тези въпроси се опитва да отговори книгата на израелския автор Йов Блум. Там, където много хора виждат "пръста на съдбата", той описва вместо този "пръст" една цяла организация от хора, които "създават" нашите "съвпадения". Признавам, че тази идея ми се видя колкото интересна, толкова и плашеща. Защото понякога всеки от нас си е мислил, че може би има "нещо" или "някой" "там горе", което или който предопределя и подрежда живота ни. И е наричал това "нещо" или "някой" с различни имена - Бог, Съдба, Предопределение, Провидение. Но каквото и име да му е давал, общото винаги е било едно - че това е някаква по-висша сила, която няма човешки облик.
Именно с това е по-страшна идеята на "Творци на съвпадения". Защото поне външно те имат човешки облик. Имат човешки вид, желания, копнежи, чувства. И... са просто служители, които си вършат работата. Без да имат право на глас, без да могат да променят нещо в изпълнението на задачата си, с "теоретично" право на отказ, от което не смеят да се възползват.
Хареса ми идеята за видовете съвпадения, за използването на "клишетата". Бяха ми интересни и различните "длъжности" на "творците" - и през цялото време си мислех, че сигурно е огромна отговорност да бъдеш "въображаем приятел". И, честно казано, се зачудих кой е този "тъкач на сънища", който редовно ми изпраща един и същ повтарящ се сън.
Много ми допадна описанието на начина, по който всеки един от основните "творци" си тръгна от "служба". Признавам, че в първия случай, с Емили, леко се стреснах, защото не го очаквах, но после си казах, че това всъщност е един добър начин да си отидеш - не на последно място и защото за пръв път можеш сам да си създадеш реалност.
И все пак, от всички видове творци в тази история, може би най-много ме впечатлиха възпламенителите. Изчетох последните страници може би с по-голямо вълнение, отколкото цялата останала книга. Защото възпламенителите са там, където свършва и където започва всичко, там, където секва последният дъх и се ражда първият. Те са тези, които виждат пълния кръговрат на нещата.
Хареса ми идеята за това, което се случва с творците на съвпадения, щом престанат да бъдат такива. Защото те ще бъдат вече от другата страна и може би - може би - вече някой друг ще твори за тях. А те ще могат просто да обичат, да чувстват... да бъдат човеци.
Не казах всичко, което исках да кажа за тази книга. Може би още не мога да я осмисля, може би после ще дойдат и още думи. Но сега, в заключение, искам да кажа това: Ако често сте си мислили за случайностите и съвпаденията, ако вярвате в синхроничността, ако сте с отворен ум - прочетете я. Тя ще има какво да ви каже.
January 3, 2018
„Творци на съвпадения“ ще разлеят кафето ви, ще ви бутнат пред автобус и ще променят съдбата ви: http://azcheta.com/tvortsi-na-savpade...
Наистина харесах идеята на „Творци на съвпадения“ – не просто е чудата и запомняща се, но е и изключително изпипана в детайлите си. Йов Блум създава впечатлението, че творенето на съвпадения е истинска наука с теоремите ѝ и подробните описания на механизмите ѝ. Силно се впечатлих от грижливото, правдоподобно представяне на дейността, която агентите на съдбата упражняват. Тя се основава на математическа прецизност и безкомпромисно планиране. Честно казано, в този тип творчество свободата не е абсолютна, никак даже. Интересни ми бяха и откъсите от учебниците на бъдещите творци на съвпадения. Личи си колко много мисъл е вложена в концепцията, за което свалям шапка на израелския автор.
Не ми допадна обаче темпото на романа. Усещането ми може да не е общовалидно – из социалните мрежи мярнах няколко възторжени мнения на читатели, които са го изгълтали на един дъх. При мен обаче се случи точно обратното – вървеше ми изключително бавно, на границата с мудното. Бих казала, че в случая най-голямото му предимството изиграва ролята и на недостатък. Сериозният подход към науката за манипулиране на съдбата и цялата тази описателност на моменти ми натежаваха, признавам. Понякога ми се искаше действието леко да се забърза и да се случи нещо значимо, което да ме разсее от поредната метафизична отбивка в сюжета.
Наистина харесах идеята на „Творци на съвпадения“ – не просто е чудата и запомняща се, но е и изключително изпипана в детайлите си. Йов Блум създава впечатлението, че творенето на съвпадения е истинска наука с теоремите ѝ и подробните описания на механизмите ѝ. Силно се впечатлих от грижливото, правдоподобно представяне на дейността, която агентите на съдбата упражняват. Тя се основава на математическа прецизност и безкомпромисно планиране. Честно казано, в този тип творчество свободата не е абсолютна, никак даже. Интересни ми бяха и откъсите от учебниците на бъдещите творци на съвпадения. Личи си колко много мисъл е вложена в концепцията, за което свалям шапка на израелския автор.
Не ми допадна обаче темпото на романа. Усещането ми може да не е общовалидно – из социалните мрежи мярнах няколко възторжени мнения на читатели, които са го изгълтали на един дъх. При мен обаче се случи точно обратното – вървеше ми изключително бавно, на границата с мудното. Бих казала, че в случая най-голямото му предимството изиграва ролята и на недостатък. Сериозният подход към науката за манипулиране на съдбата и цялата тази описателност на моменти ми натежаваха, признавам. Понякога ми се искаше действието леко да се забърза и да се случи нещо значимо, което да ме разсее от поредната метафизична отбивка в сюжета.
June 19, 2016
An excellent debut!
The writing was simple but in a good way and was very enjoyable and fluent. The story itself was absolutely lovely and original and Blum did a fantastic work especially when at the end he connected all the dots, though some were kinda obvious (well, the book is about coincidence makers).
The writing was simple but in a good way and was very enjoyable and fluent. The story itself was absolutely lovely and original and Blum did a fantastic work especially when at the end he connected all the dots, though some were kinda obvious (well, the book is about coincidence makers).
January 24, 2018
“For every beginning, there is a beginning that proceeded it.” Intrigued by this book’s description, I contacted the author to ask for a review copy while sitting in the very small private library of an organization. He said they weren’t available unless through his publisher. As I got up to leave, a book came flying off the top shelf of the bookcase. I caught it and laughed out loud. It was an Advance Reader copy of The Coincidence Makers. True story.
I knew then that this book has its own special magic. It reveals some exquisite gems of deep truth, deftly delivered by Yoav Blum, beneath the light, fun story. A particular favorite- “After all, people were not only differentiated from one another by place. They also operated in different times. To a certain extent, they moved within a personal time bubble of their own making.”
The Coincidence Makers encourages us to perceive ourselves and our lives from a different perspective, perhaps invoking a-ha moments. It’s entertaining, engaging and enlightening. Highly recommended.
I knew then that this book has its own special magic. It reveals some exquisite gems of deep truth, deftly delivered by Yoav Blum, beneath the light, fun story. A particular favorite- “After all, people were not only differentiated from one another by place. They also operated in different times. To a certain extent, they moved within a personal time bubble of their own making.”
The Coincidence Makers encourages us to perceive ourselves and our lives from a different perspective, perhaps invoking a-ha moments. It’s entertaining, engaging and enlightening. Highly recommended.
December 7, 2024
Една от най-красивите истории, които са ми попадали.
November 14, 2017
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'I wish I could love you, but I can’t. This seat is taken.'
It took a while for me to really get into the story but once I did, what a unique tale. All those coincidences in life, small and large, often pivotal are orchestrated here by the Coincident Makers. Sometimes they are given personas by humans (children, teens, and adults in need) as they call to imaginary friends and always serving them, so much that one in particular begins to feel used. Guy, Emily and Eric learned their skills together, each now on missions to create events in the lives of their ‘marks’ to lead them to love, their purpose in life, great discoveries, anything that human beings need to accomplish everything, all if it under their watchful eyes and planning. Guy learns he must work with Pierre, a ‘black hat’ coincidence maker, la crème de la crème, who is known for creating complicated coincidences with heavy consequences such as death, illness, accidents, and even murder!
Their feelings, opinions don’t count for much, they do what they are ordered to do. Everything matters, even the seemingly inconsequential incidents, a spilled coffee, a flat tire, a flash of inspiration. Guy is full of doubt, Emily has fallen stupidly in love with him but of his heart, ‘this seat is taken’ and there is no room left for her. The one he loves may as well be a phantom for all the control they have in being together. Now, Pierre must create a chain of events in the life of one Alberto Brown and he enlists Guy for the smaller coincidences. Guy isn’t sure he will be of use, why does the talented Pierre need a small time creator like him anyway? What is so special about the future of Alberto? Alberto seems as unique as the makers themselves. The hulking Alberto has a big destiny, but what if everything doesn’t go according to plan?
Love is also a theme here, be it between the coincidence makers, or the human beings they try to bring together and each of them share a common flaw, their blind spot. It’s hard to review this quirky novel without giving everything away. It is strange at times, funny, silly, witty and my thought was- how did the author invent this story? What fun it’d be to pick his brain. This is a story of people anchored and those adrift, another world within our own and great fun to play with such an idea. Why not? The coincidence makers are often just as clueless as the humans they have to move around!
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
St. Martin’s Press
'I wish I could love you, but I can’t. This seat is taken.'
It took a while for me to really get into the story but once I did, what a unique tale. All those coincidences in life, small and large, often pivotal are orchestrated here by the Coincident Makers. Sometimes they are given personas by humans (children, teens, and adults in need) as they call to imaginary friends and always serving them, so much that one in particular begins to feel used. Guy, Emily and Eric learned their skills together, each now on missions to create events in the lives of their ‘marks’ to lead them to love, their purpose in life, great discoveries, anything that human beings need to accomplish everything, all if it under their watchful eyes and planning. Guy learns he must work with Pierre, a ‘black hat’ coincidence maker, la crème de la crème, who is known for creating complicated coincidences with heavy consequences such as death, illness, accidents, and even murder!
Their feelings, opinions don’t count for much, they do what they are ordered to do. Everything matters, even the seemingly inconsequential incidents, a spilled coffee, a flat tire, a flash of inspiration. Guy is full of doubt, Emily has fallen stupidly in love with him but of his heart, ‘this seat is taken’ and there is no room left for her. The one he loves may as well be a phantom for all the control they have in being together. Now, Pierre must create a chain of events in the life of one Alberto Brown and he enlists Guy for the smaller coincidences. Guy isn’t sure he will be of use, why does the talented Pierre need a small time creator like him anyway? What is so special about the future of Alberto? Alberto seems as unique as the makers themselves. The hulking Alberto has a big destiny, but what if everything doesn’t go according to plan?
Love is also a theme here, be it between the coincidence makers, or the human beings they try to bring together and each of them share a common flaw, their blind spot. It’s hard to review this quirky novel without giving everything away. It is strange at times, funny, silly, witty and my thought was- how did the author invent this story? What fun it’d be to pick his brain. This is a story of people anchored and those adrift, another world within our own and great fun to play with such an idea. Why not? The coincidence makers are often just as clueless as the humans they have to move around!
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
St. Martin’s Press
January 1, 2018
I won a copy of The Coincidence Makers in a Goodreads Giveaway.
3.5
The concept of The Coincidence Makers is intriguing: what if we really don’t have any control over our fate. What if there are people out there somewhere pulling the strings, causing certain events to happen - or not happen - in order to create the future you are supposed to have? What if things do not happen by coincidence but are orchestrated by people called The Coincidence Makers?
The book revolves around three such coincidence makers: Guy, Emily and Eric. On the surface, there is nothing outstanding about these three individuals but, as part of this secret organization that manipulates the fate of the world, they have a lot of power in their hands. They are given assignments, some are completed quickly but others can take months to design and implement. There is little room for error in their work because a bad outcome could have disastrous effects on the future.
It took me awhile to get into The Coincidence Makers. It is slow in places, especially where the inner workings of this organization are described. There are some chapters that appear to be snippets from textbooks from the Coincidence Makers course that Guy, Emily and Eric took. I found it difficult to relate to the characters in the beginning but, as the book progressed, more of their personalities came out and you begin to see who they really are. I was thrown by the unclear setting and by trying to figure out if these coincidence makers are actually people or something else altogether.
I think my favorite parts are the imaginary friend sections. They were both sweet and bittersweet but also charming. It is also an interesting concept and one I enjoyed very much.
While not exactly what I was expecting, The Coincidence Makers is a unique and original book. It’s hard to categorize this one. There are science fiction elements as well as mystery and romance and there’s a little bit of a thriller in there, too. If you are looking for something different and thought-provoking, give this one a try.
3.5
The concept of The Coincidence Makers is intriguing: what if we really don’t have any control over our fate. What if there are people out there somewhere pulling the strings, causing certain events to happen - or not happen - in order to create the future you are supposed to have? What if things do not happen by coincidence but are orchestrated by people called The Coincidence Makers?
The book revolves around three such coincidence makers: Guy, Emily and Eric. On the surface, there is nothing outstanding about these three individuals but, as part of this secret organization that manipulates the fate of the world, they have a lot of power in their hands. They are given assignments, some are completed quickly but others can take months to design and implement. There is little room for error in their work because a bad outcome could have disastrous effects on the future.
It took me awhile to get into The Coincidence Makers. It is slow in places, especially where the inner workings of this organization are described. There are some chapters that appear to be snippets from textbooks from the Coincidence Makers course that Guy, Emily and Eric took. I found it difficult to relate to the characters in the beginning but, as the book progressed, more of their personalities came out and you begin to see who they really are. I was thrown by the unclear setting and by trying to figure out if these coincidence makers are actually people or something else altogether.
I think my favorite parts are the imaginary friend sections. They were both sweet and bittersweet but also charming. It is also an interesting concept and one I enjoyed very much.
While not exactly what I was expecting, The Coincidence Makers is a unique and original book. It’s hard to categorize this one. There are science fiction elements as well as mystery and romance and there’s a little bit of a thriller in there, too. If you are looking for something different and thought-provoking, give this one a try.
January 5, 2019
Когато наближи времето да сменим календара обикновено изпадаме в особено състояние. Сякаш се стремим повече от всякога да се взрем в бъдещето си и да хванем юздите на съдбата си. Новогодишни пожелания, късмети, обещания и предизвикателства към себе си и света и какво ли не още. А доколко изобщо сме господари на собствения си живота и доколко той е подвластен на… на какво? На предначертаното, на разположението на звездите и планетите, на космическия хаос, на хилядите дребни, но вездесъщи случайности, които ни сполитат всеки ден? А дали е съвпадение, че именно с тази книга започнах 2019 година, или пък изборът ми е резултат от невидима за мен външна намеса? „Творци на съвпадения“ (изд. „Изток-Запад”) от израелския писател Йов Блум е книга, която ни среща с изкусните, но неподозирани диригенти на чувства, действия и събития. Запознайте се лично с агентите на съдбата. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
June 27, 2018
" Творци на съвпадения" се осланя на концепцията, че нищо в света не е случайно.
Йов Блум развива историята по един фантастичен начин, вмъквайки идеята, че за всичко, което ни се случва, внимателно се грижат помощници на съдбата. Тяхната намеса е незабележима и толкова деликатна, че никой не се усъмнява в това, че случайностите, които се нареждат, всъщност не са хаотични, а следствие от строго определен план и синхрон между всички взаимосвързаности.
Има една мисъл( не от книгата) , която много ми харесва, но така и не разбрах чия е, а именно: " Случайността е неосъзната закономерност." И сякаш идеята на " Творци на съвпадения" в голяма степен лежи върху това правило. В книгата тази закономерност се постига чрез следването на строго определен план.
" Да си творец на съвпадения е като да си магьосник- караш хората да погледнат в определена посока и правиш нещо някъде другаде. "
" Ние сме създатели на възможности, раздавачи на жокери, предизвикателно намигащи случаи, изобретатели на шансове."
" Във Вселената не съществува разточителност. "
Историята е много приятна и лека за четене, но в никакъв случай не е повърхностна. Не бих казала, че е някакъв литературен шедьовър, но определено е поднесена с изящество и създава положително чувство.
Все пак, от време на време, покрай сериозната литература, имам нужда да прочета нещо, което от една страна е разтоварващо, позитивно и непретенциозно, а от друга- смислено. Точно такова четиво се оказа за мен и " Творци на съвпадения".
=====
" Външният ни вид се отразява на вътрешната ни същност повече, отколкото вътрешната се проявява навън."
" Има два вида хора на този свят: едните виждат във всеки избор възможността да спечелят нещо, а другите виждат във всеки избор компромиса, който трябва да направят.
Хората са свободни, но забравят това през цялото време. Хората се надяват по различен начин. И се страхуват по различен начин. Има хора, които предупреждават себе си, че ако направят Х, ще им се случи У, и такива, които убеждават себе си защо У е добра причина да се въздържат от Х.
Това привидно е едно и също нещо, едно и също уравнение, но винаги има разлика между това да изследваш възможностите и да сочиш препятствията.
Куражът наистина е важен, но хората не разбират какво означава кураж. Всеки избор предполага да се откажеш от нещо, а нужният кураж да направиш тази жертва зависи от това колко силно желаеш друго. Защото в крайна сметка не можеш винаги да правиш правилни избори. Понякога ще грешиш. И не само понякога.
Разликата е проста. Щастливите хора гледат на живота си като на поредица от избори. Нещастните хора виждат само серия от жертви. "
Йов Блум развива историята по един фантастичен начин, вмъквайки идеята, че за всичко, което ни се случва, внимателно се грижат помощници на съдбата. Тяхната намеса е незабележима и толкова деликатна, че никой не се усъмнява в това, че случайностите, които се нареждат, всъщност не са хаотични, а следствие от строго определен план и синхрон между всички взаимосвързаности.
Има една мисъл( не от книгата) , която много ми харесва, но така и не разбрах чия е, а именно: " Случайността е неосъзната закономерност." И сякаш идеята на " Творци на съвпадения" в голяма степен лежи върху това правило. В книгата тази закономерност се постига чрез следването на строго определен план.
" Да си творец на съвпадения е като да си магьосник- караш хората да погледнат в определена посока и правиш нещо някъде другаде. "
" Ние сме създатели на възможности, раздавачи на жокери, предизвикателно намигащи случаи, изобретатели на шансове."
" Във Вселената не съществува разточителност. "
Историята е много приятна и лека за четене, но в никакъв случай не е повърхностна. Не бих казала, че е някакъв литературен шедьовър, но определено е поднесена с изящество и създава положително чувство.
Все пак, от време на време, покрай сериозната литература, имам нужда да прочета нещо, което от една страна е разтоварващо, позитивно и непретенциозно, а от друга- смислено. Точно такова четиво се оказа за мен и " Творци на съвпадения".
=====
" Външният ни вид се отразява на вътрешната ни същност повече, отколкото вътрешната се проявява навън."
" Има два вида хора на този свят: едните виждат във всеки избор възможността да спечелят нещо, а другите виждат във всеки избор компромиса, който трябва да направят.
Хората са свободни, но забравят това през цялото време. Хората се надяват по различен начин. И се страхуват по различен начин. Има хора, които предупреждават себе си, че ако направят Х, ще им се случи У, и такива, които убеждават себе си защо У е добра причина да се въздържат от Х.
Това привидно е едно и също нещо, едно и също уравнение, но винаги има разлика между това да изследваш възможностите и да сочиш препятствията.
Куражът наистина е важен, но хората не разбират какво означава кураж. Всеки избор предполага да се откажеш от нещо, а нужният кураж да направиш тази жертва зависи от това колко силно желаеш друго. Защото в крайна сметка не можеш винаги да правиш правилни избори. Понякога ще грешиш. И не само понякога.
Разликата е проста. Щастливите хора гледат на живота си като на поредица от избори. Нещастните хора виждат само серия от жертви. "
December 23, 2015
Wow!!
This has been a delightful read. I don't think I've ever read a book with a plot so different and new. It was a refreshing change.
When I first started this it was a little confusing and didn't know where this was going however as I went further ahead I was just amazed by the thought that has gone into this. Every little detail made sense. This is a book I would recommend to anyone. Great work by Yoav Blum!!
Happy reading!!
This has been a delightful read. I don't think I've ever read a book with a plot so different and new. It was a refreshing change.
When I first started this it was a little confusing and didn't know where this was going however as I went further ahead I was just amazed by the thought that has gone into this. Every little detail made sense. This is a book I would recommend to anyone. Great work by Yoav Blum!!
Happy reading!!
March 1, 2018
Somewhat surreal, The Coincidence Makers is a fictional fantasy where what seems to be happening by chance is actually carefully planned. Protagonists Guy and Emily have gone through training together and work as coincidence makers who receive special projects that they must enact. Whether making a piano fall from a window unto a passerby or sparking the urge in an accountant to write poetry, the coincidences they create are often life altering. A romantic undercurrent helps drive the novel forward.
Blum has penned a quick and enjoyable read. His relatable characters and relaxed tone make the book easy to get into and maintain the reader’s interest. Some of the concepts he’s developed are a little complicated or convoluted, but the text flows well and the story comes out a winner. This book would be great for fans of surreal fiction or those interested in the inner workings of the universe.
I received an advance readers’ edition of this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author/publisher for participating in the giveaway.
Blum has penned a quick and enjoyable read. His relatable characters and relaxed tone make the book easy to get into and maintain the reader’s interest. Some of the concepts he’s developed are a little complicated or convoluted, but the text flows well and the story comes out a winner. This book would be great for fans of surreal fiction or those interested in the inner workings of the universe.
I received an advance readers’ edition of this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author/publisher for participating in the giveaway.
October 7, 2020
Това , което бих искала да мога е да виждам голямата картина, получила се от малките неща , които ни се случват.
Съвпадения ? Дали някой ги случва или това са нашите избори?
Не знам дали успях добре да разчета всички послания и да вникна във всяко едно събитие, което видях в книгата. Уви, толкова забързано се случва всичко, че понякога просто преминава пред очите ни , без дори да докосне съзнанието ни.
Не обичам да чета на бегом и на пресекулки, както напоследък го правя. Не знам защо не ми остава време. Вместо всичко да става по-лесно, имам чувството , че се усложнява все повече.
"Животът е последователност, а не определено събитие."
Съвпадения ? Дали някой ги случва или това са нашите избори?
Не знам дали успях добре да разчета всички послания и да вникна във всяко едно събитие, което видях в книгата. Уви, толкова забързано се случва всичко, че понякога просто преминава пред очите ни , без дори да докосне съзнанието ни.
Не обичам да чета на бегом и на пресекулки, както напоследък го правя. Не знам защо не ми остава време. Вместо всичко да става по-лесно, имам чувството , че се усложнява все повече.
"Животът е последователност, а не определено събитие."
March 11, 2016
ספר חביב ומהנה על צירופי מקרים וההשפעה שלהם על החיים שלנו עם טוויסט קטן בעלילה בסיום הספר.
רעיון מקורי ומעניין על יישויות שאחראיות לגרום לצירופי מקרים בחיי אנשים מתוך תכנון קפדני שיצור שרשרת אירועים שתוביל למטרה הרצויה. זה לא תמיד מצליח, זה לא תמיד מחזיק מעמד, אבל זה רעיון מלבב.
ומה קורה למצרפי המקרים כשהם פורשים מתפקידם או מופרשים? את זה צריך לגלות בקריאת הספר.
רעיון מקורי ומעניין על יישויות שאחראיות לגרום לצירופי מקרים בחיי אנשים מתוך תכנון קפדני שיצור שרשרת אירועים שתוביל למטרה הרצויה. זה לא תמיד מצליח, זה לא תמיד מחזיק מעמד, אבל זה רעיון מלבב.
ומה קורה למצרפי המקרים כשהם פורשים מתפקידם או מופרשים? את זה צריך לגלות בקריאת הספר.
January 7, 2021
To było naprawdę ciekawe a do tego pięknie napisane. Do końca nie miałam pojęcia jak potoczy się cała historia, więc jestem pozytywnie zaskoczona.
Jeśli macie okazję to czytajcie!
Jeśli macie okazję to czytajcie!
November 13, 2017
Se você gosta de livros em que tudo fica 100% explicado no final, sinto muito, você vai achar este livro absurdo. Ele começa bem realista e calculado, quase pendendo pra ficção científica, mas na metade se aproxima do realismo mágico e pro final, tudo está tão louco que não se encaixa em nenhum desses gêneros. Essa que é a definição de thriller? Bom, é um livro sobre organizações secretas e destino X acaso, então você não pode reclamar que não foi avisado.
Depois de ler essa história, fiquei paranoico prestando atenção em tudo à minha volta, procurando significados e padrões. Yoav Blum traça um plano de detalhes que se encaixam tão bem que meu cérebro começou a imaginar isso aqui no mundo real também. Nós decidimos nosso destino sozinhos ou temos influência de alguma coisa acima da gente? As decisões que parecem espontâneas são realmente sem planejamento ou já estavam no nosso subconsciente? Se tudo já está traçado, vale a pena dar algum passo diferente? E esse livro nem fala nada sobre religião ou coisa do tipo! Aqui todo mundo é gente como a gente – ou quase, já que estamos falando de seres transcendentais que não envelhecem e podem mudar de aparência dependendo do trabalho que aparece.
O que me prendeu aqui foi o pano de fundo da história, a arquitetura que o autor construiu pra esses funcionários que alteram a realidade. Criadores de coincidências, tecedores de sonhos, amigos imaginários, iniciadores... Eu amaria ler outros livros neste 'universo' e descobrir mais profissões, saber o regulamento, entender o treinamento de cada um, saber a história de cada função e os principais feitos. A cada par de capítulos, esse livro traz alguns trechos do que seria a bibliografia do curso de criadores de coincidências. Artigos e teorias de estudiosos sobre o comportamento humano misturado com muito cálculo de probabilidade, parte ficção, parte real, que dão nó no raciocínio porque é tão bem explicado que parece ser uma ciência de verdade (talvez seja???), mas você sabe que é tudo inventado pelo autor (será mesmo???). Meus capítulos favoritos. (Oi, Léxico.)
O livro não leva 5 estrelas porque achei os personagens fracos. A parte do enredo é tão bem encaixada e planejada que parece que o autor não teve oportunidade de desenvolver as pessoas, principalmente os 3 protagonistas. Mas entendo que é aquele tipo de livro sobre o enredo, não sobre os personagens. E desse ângulo, cumpre muito bem o que propôs. Me prendeu, me deixou nervoso e fazendo expressões no ônibus, me deixou com vontade de mais. 4 estrelas, mas favoritado.
Depois de ler essa história, fiquei paranoico prestando atenção em tudo à minha volta, procurando significados e padrões. Yoav Blum traça um plano de detalhes que se encaixam tão bem que meu cérebro começou a imaginar isso aqui no mundo real também. Nós decidimos nosso destino sozinhos ou temos influência de alguma coisa acima da gente? As decisões que parecem espontâneas são realmente sem planejamento ou já estavam no nosso subconsciente? Se tudo já está traçado, vale a pena dar algum passo diferente? E esse livro nem fala nada sobre religião ou coisa do tipo! Aqui todo mundo é gente como a gente – ou quase, já que estamos falando de seres transcendentais que não envelhecem e podem mudar de aparência dependendo do trabalho que aparece.
O que me prendeu aqui foi o pano de fundo da história, a arquitetura que o autor construiu pra esses funcionários que alteram a realidade. Criadores de coincidências, tecedores de sonhos, amigos imaginários, iniciadores... Eu amaria ler outros livros neste 'universo' e descobrir mais profissões, saber o regulamento, entender o treinamento de cada um, saber a história de cada função e os principais feitos. A cada par de capítulos, esse livro traz alguns trechos do que seria a bibliografia do curso de criadores de coincidências. Artigos e teorias de estudiosos sobre o comportamento humano misturado com muito cálculo de probabilidade, parte ficção, parte real, que dão nó no raciocínio porque é tão bem explicado que parece ser uma ciência de verdade (talvez seja???), mas você sabe que é tudo inventado pelo autor (será mesmo???). Meus capítulos favoritos. (Oi, Léxico.)
O livro não leva 5 estrelas porque achei os personagens fracos. A parte do enredo é tão bem encaixada e planejada que parece que o autor não teve oportunidade de desenvolver as pessoas, principalmente os 3 protagonistas. Mas entendo que é aquele tipo de livro sobre o enredo, não sobre os personagens. E desse ângulo, cumpre muito bem o que propôs. Me prendeu, me deixou nervoso e fazendo expressões no ônibus, me deixou com vontade de mais. 4 estrelas, mas favoritado.
June 22, 2018
Fate versus Free Will
A concept we have all pondered; a concept we have all made our mind up about to some extent. Some of us believe a god in the sky is pulling the strings, others believe the universe in and of itself causes everything to happen for a reason. And still, others think that things just happen, and that is all there is to it.
"God does not play dice with the universe."
- Albert Einstein -
Yoav Blum throws all these concepts on their head in The Coincidence Makers. Instead of a god or the universe dealing the cards, there is a small and covert group of people who are employed by a secret society as coincidence makers, altering the lives of people, as directed by their superiors. Our understanding of free will versus manipulation will be called into question, alongside many other similar veins of thought that make this a speculative, thoughtful read.
Normally I jot down notes while reading a book to reference back to when reviewing. Sometimes it can be whole paragraphs that end up being very close to what goes in the final review; other times it is half sentences that only make sense to me. While reading The Coincidence Makers, I did not write down one thing because I was so involved with the characters, and enthralled by the world that Blum laid out for me throughout the entire 300 page novel.
Let's talk a bit about the world that Blum created. This book had the potential to fly off the rails with its huge concept. As much as I wished for more details about the logistics surrounding this realistically magical world, Blum did not indulge. He kept the novel tightly knitted; every single scene in the book was there for a story-driven reason. While reading, the book never dragged and I always had the feeling I was reading something of importance to the larger picture.
In the end, Blum's ability to stick to the meat of the story--providing only what he needed to tell the story he wanted to tell--made for a powerful ending to a unique, thoughtful, and fun novel.
I absolutely hope more of Yoav Blum's work gets translated to English in the future and sold in the US market. He has definitely gained an American fan in me.
A concept we have all pondered; a concept we have all made our mind up about to some extent. Some of us believe a god in the sky is pulling the strings, others believe the universe in and of itself causes everything to happen for a reason. And still, others think that things just happen, and that is all there is to it.
"God does not play dice with the universe."
- Albert Einstein -
Yoav Blum throws all these concepts on their head in The Coincidence Makers. Instead of a god or the universe dealing the cards, there is a small and covert group of people who are employed by a secret society as coincidence makers, altering the lives of people, as directed by their superiors. Our understanding of free will versus manipulation will be called into question, alongside many other similar veins of thought that make this a speculative, thoughtful read.
"Our role is to be exactly on the border, to stand in the grey area between fate and free will, and to play Ping-Pong there...Our objective is to light a spark on the fate side of the boundary so that someone on the free will side of the boundary will see this spark and decide to do something."
- The Coincidence Makers -
Normally I jot down notes while reading a book to reference back to when reviewing. Sometimes it can be whole paragraphs that end up being very close to what goes in the final review; other times it is half sentences that only make sense to me. While reading The Coincidence Makers, I did not write down one thing because I was so involved with the characters, and enthralled by the world that Blum laid out for me throughout the entire 300 page novel.
Let's talk a bit about the world that Blum created. This book had the potential to fly off the rails with its huge concept. As much as I wished for more details about the logistics surrounding this realistically magical world, Blum did not indulge. He kept the novel tightly knitted; every single scene in the book was there for a story-driven reason. While reading, the book never dragged and I always had the feeling I was reading something of importance to the larger picture.
In the end, Blum's ability to stick to the meat of the story--providing only what he needed to tell the story he wanted to tell--made for a powerful ending to a unique, thoughtful, and fun novel.
I absolutely hope more of Yoav Blum's work gets translated to English in the future and sold in the US market. He has definitely gained an American fan in me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 872 reviews