Lattices of Love

Eris
Field
Genre: 
Contemporary

CROSS CULTURAL:  Emine has a PhD and teaches at a university, but at home she lives with her brother and very traditional Turkish grandmother, who refuse to believe that a 26 year-old does not need to be married to uphold the family’s honor. She has the opportunity to go to a conference in Amsterdam, but can only attend on one condition - that when she comes back, marriage is an absolute. Marc is a single father living in Amsterdam, stuck from moving on from his wife’s death, the professor is a presenter at the conference.

 

The story is an intriguing look into how other nationalities and cultures view and pursue love and marriage. With the story set mainly in Amsterdam, Ms. Field beautifully weaves the threads of differences between Marc's lifestyle and Emine's culture into a touchingly sweet love story. Both are shy and reserved, but the near-instant connection between them is undeniable. The downside?  Opportunities for gut-wrenching sorrow and soaring love were skipped, making "Lattices of Love" a deflating read.  The author hovers in the safe middle ground of “meh” from beginning to end. The conversations are stilted, sounding entirely too formal. The proverbial “last straw” incident is handled in an entirely uncharacteristic manner by Emine, reminiscent of a tween, making the happily-ever-after feel trite. A marriage between strangers seems implausible, but given their cultural backgrounds, the tale makes it seem normal, and each character has the potential to indelibly place themselves inside hearts.

 

Julie York