Breakfast in Bogota

by Helen Irene Young

Bogota, 1947. British architect Luke Vosey has left his past behind to undertake a commission for Anglo-Colombian Oil in South America. For Luke, this new venture seems to offer the chance to start again. But grieving and ashamed of his role in the war, he cannot run from the past or from his nightmares.

Luke finds distraction with the whores of Las Cruces and in the friendship of a young newspaper journalist - and finally with Felisa, a young draughtswoman with a passion for politics. Through her, Luke comes to understand the true broken mood of the people of Colombia, with the country teetering on the brink of civil war. Then a bloody assassination on the streets of the capital sees everything he's worked for destroyed.

As the mob tears the city to shreds, and Luke's past is unveiled, can he survive to save others?

Publisher: Unbound
ISBN: 9781789650495
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2019

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's 1947 and in the aftermath of war, British architect Luke Vosey has taken a commission in Bogotá, Colombia, in an effort to restore his professional reputation and to ease his grief over the loss of his lover, Catherine. As the Tudor Revival style residential project La Merced draws to a satisfying, successful conclusion, a few new people come into Luke's life. First there's the affable journalist, Camilo Osorio, who's been tasked with writing a feature on the British architect for his newspaper. He in turn introduces his friend Felisa to Luke, thinking she might be suitable for the draftsman role that Luke is struggling to fill. Finally, Luke's boss at Anglo-Colombian Oil introduces him to Gabriel Osorio, a powerful figure in Bogotá, who works for the foreign ministry, and might just be the source of Luke's next commission. And yes - Camilo and Gabriel are related, but estranged.

There's a mystery, a love triangle and political tension to burn!

The big mystery is why Luke's reputation needs saving. He had been enjoying a rapid rise to success and fame before the war - his name jostled alongside Eames, Lloyd Wright and Mies on the pages of the leading architecture and design magazines. For the first half of the book Young alludes to something dark, and Luke is tormented by more than just Catherine's death, seeking solace in the arms of prostitutes or at the bottom of a whisky bottle. But I have to say, by the time Luke's big secret was revealed, I didn't care any more. I hadn't warmed to him by then, and knowing the cause of his pain didn't make any difference to me.

That's just one reason why I thought this novel, which had a lot of potential, missed the mark with me. Other readers may well have a very different reading experience.

One thing I really liked about it was the focus on architecture in Bogotá. I only visited the city once, very briefly, but my lasting impression of the neighbourhood where I was staying was the incongruousness of the building styles (which is why I specifically mentioned the style of Luke's residential project). Not at all what I expected! Furthermore, as the story is set immediately before the civil war, some of the famous grand old buildings of the early 20th century, which no longer exist, are referred to as landmarks or locations in the story, so I spent quite a bit of time searching Google images to help visualise them.

All in all I thought this was an ok read, but I had hoped for more.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to read and review.

[BookFi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the 1940’s Columbia, an English Architect ends up in Bogatá after being shunned in the UK for what he thought were moral actions that actually cost lives during The Great War. From famous architect to a failed one, work on project “La Merced” got him noticed once more, and a request to help rebuild the city centre became less of a request and more of a no choice option. A city run by the wealthy, and communist sympathisers could disappear.

Carrying the trauma of action during the war, and his past love for a woman called Catherine, Luke seeks comfort in a prostitute whom looks just like Catherine, and makes friends in the form of a journalist, Camilo, and his friend Felisa. The lives of the Camilo and Felisa become unveiled, and throughout, a suggestive undertone of things not being quite right, until the extent of the city control and corruption comes to light.

The idea for the story was interesting, a snap shot of an architects life in the 1940’s running away from the past, which continually resurfaces, with an opportunity to start again, to rebuild, but it turns out not to be so straight forward or clean cut, it comes with a price and with control, but is not anything new and untold about the region. Lust, love, trauma, action, betrayal, and friendship. The ending did seem a bit clichéd.

[Pheadra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories in this book play out in Bogotá, post-World War 2. The story which forms the background is the description of life in this colourful city, its people and ways. The other tale is of Luke a British architect who carries the burden of his role during the war when he acted as an advisor of where to place bombs to cause the most destruction. He is also plagued by his love of a woman, Catherine, from his past.
As a talented architect, his skills are required by the powers that be to give Bogotá a facelift. His interactions with his boss Karl, the prostitute he calls on, his newly employed draughtsperson Felisa and a journalist, Camilo, become intermingled with the politics of the day and the country on the brink of civil war.

I found the ending somewhat contrived following a long description of nothing is as it seems with money the only language understood and corruption rife.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read a book post WWII set in Bogota. The main character, Luke Vosey, is starting over after a failure during the war and the loss of Caroline. He wants to redeem himself with an architectural project. I felt the book started strong; however, I soon found 5he book very slow. I actually put it down and picked it up several times. It just did not work for me. 2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Unbound for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlie Beaumont · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a very well written and enjoyable book with fine characterisation. The gradual telling of the backstory of the central character, Luke, at various points in the novel was, in my opinion, highly effective, as were the descriptions of and the characters involved in the political turbulence of the country which provides a major context for the plot. I am very happy to recommend it and am delighted it was published by Unbound with crowdfunding.

[Livia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn't work for me, I tried to make myself read a bit more, but ended up giving up before the middle of the book

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first foray into Latin American history, my window into Post World War II Bogotá. I very much appreciate the opportunity to learn about this time in history, and most of all about Jorge Eliécer Gaitán and the Socialist Movement which he led in Colombia in the 1940's. The main character was a tormented soul and we followed his attempts at rebuilding his life after some mishhapennings that befell him during the War while he was in the service of the British Army. After having lost his reputation and his one true love, he set off on a path of redemption in a new country amongst those who did not know of his past. We experienced through him the living condition and social strata of the pueblo. The book depicted the mass riot that followed the assassination Jorge Eliécer Gaitán who was at that time, in April 1948, the Liberal Leader and Presidential Candidate and left us at the starting point of La Violence - the ten year Civil War in Colombia from 1948 to 1958, between the Colombian Conservative Party and the Colombian Liberal Party, fought mainly in the countryside. The book provided a reference point to further research into the plight of the people of Colombia during this tumultuous time.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1947 Luke Vosey is a British architect who has started a new venture for Anglo-Colombian Oil in South America, based in Bogotá. It's an opportunity for Luke to start again after the events of the Second World War but his connection and memories of the past are about to threaten the stability of his future.

Luke discovers that his time in Bogotá is made all the more complicated by the relationships he makes, particularity with the prostitutes of Las Cruces, and one in particular who reminds him of Catherine, a woman he once loved. His interaction with Felisa, a young draughts-woman, and also with Camilo who is a journalist involved in the political mainstream, adds another interesting dimension to what is, after all, quite a complicated look at this troubled time in Latin-American history.

The author writes well, with a genuine passion for story-telling bringing to life the political and social turmoil of an unsettled time, after all Columbia was on the brink of Civil War, and so her descriptions of place, and time, have a definite authenticity to them.

Overall, Breakfast in Bogotá is an interesting story about an unsettled time in the country's Latin-American history delivered with skill and fine attention to detail..

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading I thought 'Is this for me?' Not my usual genre, House of the Spirits by Isabelle Allende being my only foray into Latin American history, but I became hooked. I love the main character Luke in spite of his flaws (particularly his visits to a brothel - but who am I to judge). Then along comes Felisa and I love her even more. Tough and sensitive - she is my perfect heroine. She has been through so much and is caught up in the politics of the country which will put her through even more. Is she being naive? Not as much so as Luke but we love them both anyway. She is principled and cares for the 'pueblo'. There are lots of other interesting characters, Gabriel Osorio, Camilo, Karl. I won't say any more. It's a marvellous book, but don't expect a quick, happy denouement. This is reality not Mills & Boon. Enjoy.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for giving me the opportunity to read outside my comfort zone, and to my fellow Pigeons and to the author without whose participation this would not have been such a fantastic experience.

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Breakfast in Bogota is set in post WWII Bogota, Colombia right before the countries civil war. This is a story driven by characters and not plot. The main character, Luke Vosey, is a British architect who has come to Bogota to escape his war past. He is working at finishing up his first commission in Bogota and has now been offered a new one by the government as a plan to modernize the capital as part of the Pan-American conference.

Luke meets a journalist, Camilo Osorio, who does a profile on him and introduces Luke to his new draftsman/draftswoman, Felisa. Around the same time Luke becomes acquainted with Osorio's estranged uncle. The story is a love story set during the formation of a revolution. The issue I had with the book is that I did not necessarily care for any of the characters.. I was not drawn to them enough to care about what happened to them.

That being said the book was not bad and if you are a fan of character based stories you might enjoy this one.

[Terese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breakfast in Bogotá has a strong start. The narrative in underpinned by a sociopolitical history of post war Colombia which was fascinating. The descriptions of the city and the riots are vivid.
Luke Vossey appears to be a weak character and easily led. He unwittingly becomes enmeshed in a complex political intrigue, it’s almost like he is sleepwalking, lurching between rival political camps. He has left behind a failed love affair in England and there is a cloud over his war service. Neither of these are fully explored.
In the aftermath of an assasination and no longer sure who to trust, Luke is in danger. Much of the storyline is unresolved at the end, I sense a sequel.
An enjoyable read, thanks to Pigeonhole and the author.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Breakfast in Bogota was a semi-enjoyable novel, but I could never quite grasp or understand the main characters motives and I never felt invested in the storyline. After reading the description of this novel, I really wanted to read it, but it just fell flat. Having said that, I became more interested in reading about Bogota and her tumultuous history.

I received an advance copy of this novel and all opinions are my own.

[Petro Kriel-Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to be honest:

I have not read a complete book in a couple of years. (Having little children does that).
I decided the only way is to read this book a couple of chapters per day and finish it.

The beginning of the book I really struggled to follow (but that is because I needed to retrain myself to use my imagination again!)

This book is full of suspense, twists and a good dose of drama.

Thank you!!!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a bit of a slow burner to start. However, the fantastically evocative writing, coupled with two great characters in Luke and Felisa, won me over.

The story is set in Bogata in the 1940s when Luke arrives to assist in planning new development of the city spaces. He is unwittingly drawn into the corrupt world of those in power and their hangers on.

A great read.

[Gail Wylde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed this book and learnt about a time in history that I didn't know, I found it slow and hard to get into. The writing was good but I did not really connect with the characters.

I want to thank Pigeonhole and Helen Young for giving me the chance to leave my comfort zone and read this book.

[Kriss · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, the pueblos ‘ struggle is real to this day... Told through the liaison between a British architect and a Colombian native. The intrigue of power struggles and the price paid by the oppressed... it is all here

[Pamela Burger gazzard]

I read this book via Pigeonhole. A thoroughly enjoyable & interesting read.

[Christina Mama-Kyriacou · Rating 4 out of 5]

In general, an enjoyable read.

[Gail Vesely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Exciting! Interesting!