This book is over-written. The author describes mundane details to a length that I found distracting and made the book difficult to become absorbed by. There is also an inherent lack of understanding for library employees; in my experience they would not borrow outside for the library system even if they would complete the book in two days.

Catalog of Desire and Disappearance by Ana Cruz was a beautifully written book with an eye catching colourful cover. I loved reading about East Berlin and especially in the 80's. The main character is called Anna Wolfe who is 28 years old, still living at home and has no desire to move out in to the big wide world! or even to get a boyfriend, or future partner or even to get married!!! Thats well over her head! She is a Librarian and works at Lichtenberg Public Library.
But, whilst walking home one evening, she notices something in the corner of her eye and goes to investigate, on a closer inspection she finds a hand written diary and letters. Anna wonders why it has all been thrown away like this? She then starts to read the most intriguing tale Catalogue of Desire and Deception that is captivating, and she just wants to read more of this diary etc.............

This diary and personal letters have been written by someone called Gabriella Meyer, who is a sex therapist. She loves helping others in this area and writes into great detail in throughout her diary about women and men relationships she has helped with their sex problems etc, whilst giving them lots of advice throughout.
Gabriella, is very, Very open and honest in her diary etc, writing about her own sexual encounters with her husband Berndt as well............Ohhhhhhh
The more Anna reads about Gabriella and Berndt she starts to wonder why this diary has been discarded in the manner and where are they both now?

This book is excellent from start to finish and was hard to put down. I loved the way the author Ana Cruz wrote and it will have you hooked, especially the way she wrote about the characters they just came alive. The book just flows through the years and delivers a very easy, light read with a brilliant twist at the end.

A great holiday read. I loved it. Thank you x

Big Thank you to Netgalley, Literally PR: and Ana Cruz the author for my copy

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing e-arc, "Catalog of Desire and Disappearance". The author's writing style was incredible, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story of self-discovery and passion. I give it 4 stars!

I appreciate having had an opportunity to read and review this book. The appeal of this particular book was not evident to me, and if I cannot file a generally positive review I prefer simply to advise the publisher to that effect and file no review at all.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest rate and review.

I absolutely loved this book. It was such a well thought out plot with interesting and deep characters, historically realistic in the stories of the characters and just overall a heart wrenching book about love and sexual freedom. There is representation of the LGBTQ community which I think is so important in books like these that cover topics spanning from relationships to politics and everything in between. I felt connected to and invested in the characters (main and side) throughout and truly enjoyed learning about the events recounted in the diary. The ending was the most perfect end for this book and leaves it on such a bittersweet note.

One criticism I have is that the font didn’t change when switching from Gabriella’s letters to Ana’s thoughts and feelings at the time of reading them so it was hard to identify unless the names were mentioned. Other than this I had an incredible experience with this book and would highly recommend for anyone wanting something that isn’t quite restricted to one genre!

Told in two timelines, the mind of a single, reaching 30's library worker and the diary of a woman from 1980's East Berlin who was an undercover sex educator and adult store owner. The differences between these two characters could not be much larger - a wise and confident woman, unknowingly teaching a young, socially awkward seemingly naive woman about life, love, and all the feelings that come with them.

The description of the book had me intrigued, but the beginning felt slow and much like the main character, mundane. However, with the introduction of the diary writer, the book picked up which lead me to finish it in one sitting.

I'm personally a lover of stories told in dual time-lines and from multiple characters and this book delivered on both. The entire time I read , I envisioned how well it would translate onto the big screen and am hopeful that one day it happens!

I had a few personal issues with some of the language used being inappropriate in today's culture, especially as they were not crucial to the telling of the story.

Charming, thought-provoking, and mysterious, Catalog of Desire and Disappearance was a quick and enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more from Ana Cruz and would love a sequel that dives deeper into the life of the diary writer.

3.5/5