The Rise and Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman is a captivating and elegant book that explores identity, family, love, and the choices that shape our lives.

The story follows Tooly Zylberberg, a woman in her 30s, a mysterious bookseller in Wales, who is trying to piece together her chaotic past. The book shifts between three time periods – Tooly’s childhood in 1988, her adolescence in 1999, and the present day in 2011.  

Gradually the author reveals a kaleidoscope of people who have influenced Tooly’s life. We meet everyone from the manipulative and charismatic Humphrey to the secretive Sarah and the idealistic and volatile Venn. Their influence on Tooly’s journey is both heartbreaking and intense.

Rachman writes with a poetic and humorous tone, and his characters are both eccentric and memorable. Tooly is a loner who prefers the company of books to other people, and her journey to understand her past is both moving and exciting.

Although the book may seem slow due to its careful construction, patient readers are rewarded with a rich and satisfying revelation of Tooly’s life and motivations. The themes of how our past shapes our future and how we can reinvent ourselves are universal and relatable.

The structure of the novel may seem complex at first, but as the story unfolds, all the threads are knitted together in an original and satisfying way. Rachman manages to create an atmosphere that is both warm and mysterious, and his language is both clever and entertaining.

The Rise and Fall is a beautiful and fascinating novel that demands commitment but rewards the reader with an unusual story. It is ideal for those who love character-driven narratives with a philosophical touch. If you appreciate literature that challenges and moves, this book is definitely worth reading.