The Cartographers audiobook

this book is a map that will carry you through the world of academia, personal histories, and paper towns. its a diagram for daring adventures and charts a course to uncover mysterious secrets.it will take you down winding trails and bumpy turns, but will never lead you astray.and boy, i cant think of a better travel companion to have.↠ 5 stars

Peng Shepherd does it again! For anyone who's into academic drama, map-making, nerd sleuthing and magic, this is for you.

In a Nutshell: When I finished reading this, I was on a book high. But as the day went by, I began to see a few logical loopholes in the plot. So as long as you don’t overanalyse this book, it can be one heck of an entertainer!Story:Nell Young has always been passionate about cartography. But after a very public spat with her illustrious father (who is also a respected cartographer), Nell’s career track has been a standstill. But now, after seven years of no contact with him, she learns that her father has been found dead under mysterious circumstances, that too in his office at the New York Public Library. In his possession is the same map the two had had a fight over a mass-produced highway gas station map. Why is this ordinary map still with him? Did he die or was he killed? What is the secret behind the conspiracy that seems to be ballooning every day? The story comes to us mainly in a limited third person narrative of Nell and her ex-beau Felix, but with some first person interludes from other key characters.Where the book worked for me:😍 The storyline was innovative enough to keep me hooked till the end. Yes, it had some flaws that kept it from becoming a perfect narrative, but its uniqueness and pace made me forgive and forget most of the problems.😍 I loved the way the book mixed up its genres and does justice to almost every one of them. Part family drama, part friendship saga, part crime thriller and part magical realism, the book straddles all these with ease without going over the top. I especially loved the magical realism bits. They were so unexpected and imaginative. 😍 I found the pacing working very much to my liking. With its constant tempo and a steady unfurling of events without much of rambling musings, I could complete this within a day. 😍 I learnt so many things about maps! Every detail connected to cartography is almost like an eye-opener. I especially loved knowing about phantom settlements. Who knew! What an idea to ensure copyright protection! 😍 While there is the mandatory romantic arc in the plot, it never overpowers the main focus of the story and never feels artificial. 😍 All the main characters are geeks, and that too, highly intelligent ones. So when the reader is also a geek (albeit in a different subject area), it is a match made in heaven. I drooled over the tech terms and cartographical insights. (It reminded me of my initial experiences with Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon books. It is fun to see braniacs at work when they aren’t being pompous about it.) 😍 The author’s note at the end about something crucial in the story was just mind-blowing! I have nothing to say but WOW! 😍 Yay for the representation, and a bigger YAY for the way it is seamlessly woven into the story. There are characters from many backgrounds but nowhere is present a stereotypical stress on their ethnicity/nationality and never will you feel that they are there just for a token representation. There’s also an LGBT character and again, this person is a routine part of the story. I felt like I was interacting with these characters as I would in real life; it just felt so natural. Simply loved the handling of diversity in this book!Where the book could have worked better for me:😑 The first person perspectives didn’t work very well in the book. With a similar-sounding voice across multiple characters, it became very confusing to remember who was narrating that specific flashback. I’d have preferred having the third person narration even for the flashbacks. 😑 The methodology of presenting scenes was quite jarring at times. For instance, the first person flashbacks contained some references that no one in real life would recount while narrating a story. There are some well-timed coincidences, some farfetched decision, and some minor plot points that never get explained. (Then again, it is a magical realism story. Not everything will get explained.) The writing is a bit repetitive and simplistic.😑 There is a secret villain in the story but it doesn’t take any genius to figure out who the villain could be. So if you are reading this primarily as a crime thriller, you will be disappointed. Luckily for me, I was reading it more for the cartographical details and the magical realism part. So I was okay with the crime detection going for a toss. (The book still offers many thrills, just not as the crime thriller.)Despite these minor flaws in the execution. I still find myself highly satisfied with the book. The writing style wasn't too good but the plot kept me invested. Every geeky cell in my body was engrossed in the narrative. I relished the story and look forward to reading more books by this author. Definitely recommended if you are looking for a cerebral entertainer. 4.25 stars from me. My thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Cartographers”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.***********************Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.

fulfilling my 2022 goal to read one book each month that was not published in my country that i wanted badly enough to have a copy shipped to me from abroad and then...never read.this wasn't an appropriate book for this particular challenge, but i will nestle my explanation 'bout that beneath a spoiler tag for easy skippability because i know it's pretty self-indulgent to dwell on such an irrelevant matter, but i am powerless to resist my need to justify my LIFE CHOICES. come into my confessional, or don't.(view spoiler)[hello. so, this book was supposed to come out in 2021 and was delayed until 2022, which was frustrating to me because i loved The Book of M so muchand then we hit 2022 and i started to panic again because there was so much conflicting information about the pub date—i was obsessively checking the dates on bn and ingram and amazon and william morrow—some said march, some said june or july, and it was unclear whether the US edition would come out with this (excellent) coveror this yukky oneunable to get a consensus about pub date or cover, i ended up preordering it from book depository, which listed it as march with the cover i wanted. and then it turned out to be pubbing in the US in march with the cover i wanted AND the copy i got was a US edition ANYWAY, somehow, so there we go. even though this goal is meant to get me reading books that have been sitting here unread despite the WANTING of them being so great that i went to the effort and expense of importing them, and this one was only waiting here for a month before i could get to it, my intentions were good, since i thought i was getting it several months early, and i regret nothing. (hide spoiler)]okay, that's sorted. now to the book.i initially gave this five stars, but i brought it down to a four because five stars puts it on the same level as The Book of M, which it is not.it's a completely different beast than my very-beloved The Book of M, which is haunting and measured and examines huge themes of identity, community, and memory. The Cartographers is more of a romp—very fast-paced and zippy, very light in tone. and at first i appreciated its zippiness as a contrast to the gravitas of The Book of M, because it showcases the breadth of shepherd's range. but while i'm sad to see so many negative reviews of this, i can't disagree with some of the points being made against it. this one doesn't go so deep. and the relationships between the characters are not particularly complex. and there are, perhaps, too many characters. and it leaves itself open to a lot of questions about why characters did or didn't do things that seem like pretty obvious ways to avoid decades of headaches. it's a breezy adventure story, and i loved that about it, but it doesn't ultimately stick to yer ribs.still, although the character motivations and decisions are somewhat murky and invite "why, though" scrutiny, that's true of any fairy tale fantasy, which is how i'm choosing to think of this one—just a sparkling bit of magical realism that you can enjoy on that level. dissecting this one won't bring you any joy. i'm not saying people shouldn't have questions or are wrong to want something with import and resonance, and to them, i can confidently say that The Book of M will scratch that itch. this one is a bit more surface-level enjoyment, and i'm okay with that.it's light, it's lovely. there are some sad bits in it, but there's no time spent on emotional fallout—each setback is briskly dealt with and the story's energies are refocused on the obsessive hunt, the discovery, the drive towards answers. The Book of M is weightier, more profound and sad and oozing with meaningful themes. i recommended it to a friend recently and she started to read it, but said it felt too close to home, quarantine-wise, and she had to put it down. which i get. this is the opposite of that—it's an adventure story built out of pure escapist wonder, imagination, and possibilities, which is the kind of thing i appreciate more in the nowtimes, when i find myself craving something swift-but-satisfying that'll relieve some of the pressure of existing in a world on fire.i love the idea of paper towns—imaginary places included by cartographers on their maps to prevent other mapmakers from copying their work—and shepherd's afterword, in which she divulges her inspiration for the idea of a paper town becoming real is some absolutely charming real-life magic.The Book of M lives in a very special place in my heart that this didn't come close to approaching, but i enjoyed the hell out of reading it and knowing now that shepherd can write ALL KINDS OF BOOKS is thrilling to me, so i'm excited to devour whatever she comes up with next. ****************************oh my god, when did this cover drop? it is gorgeous and almost makes up for the yearlong publishing delay. i loved The Book of M, i loved The Future Library, i am so prepared to fall in love with this one.and i DID! review to come!come to my blog!["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

This is the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club August 2022 selection and a Summer Reading Guide Minimalist Pick.A page-turning literary mystery with a dynamite premise and a little bit of magic. Seven years ago, cartographer Nell Young lost everything—her career, her reputation, her fiancé, and her family—because of an argument over a cheap gas station map. After her esteemed cartographer father unexpectedly dies, Nell learns he’d been working on some sort of secret project connected to the map, which isn’t junk at all but an incredibly rare and hotly sought-after artifact—and her knowledge of its existence may put her very life in danger. A sophisticated scavenger hunt ensues, leading Nell to a secretive and powerful band of mapmakers called The Cartographers, and to closely guarded secrets held by her own family. A gripping and inventive story of family secrets, found family, second chances, and cartography, set against the backdrop of the storied New York Public Library. For fans of Shepherd’s The Book of M and Alix E. Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

"The Cartographers" by Peng Shepherd is this author's sophomore novel!I just love old maps, the fold-able ones from gas stations back in the day. They fit so nicely in your glove box, you knew where to find them when you were on the road, and counted on their reliability. But what if those maps hadn't been accurate? A cartographer is an individual who meticulously draws or produces maps. It might surprise you that it was once common practice for cartographers to hide intentional errors or 'phantom settlements' on maps. These small, barely noticeable inaccuracies were also referred to as 'paper towns' that never existed. This book is inspired by this confirmed secret practice with an entertaining 'magical spin' added! Nell Young studied to become a cartographer just like her hero, a legend in the field, her father, Dr. Daniel Young. They haven't seen or spoken to each other in years, not since he fired Nell after they argued over an old 1930 paper map she found in a junk box in the basement of the NY Public Library where they both worked.When Nell is notified that her father has been found dead in his office, she quietly searches his office and finds the same old map hidden in his desk. Why does he still have this old, worthless gas station map after so many years? Nell is sure there's a reason and she feels compelled to find out what it is!This story gets off and running quickly with a blend of Literary Fiction, Magical Realism and just enough Mystery to keep you reading. The pace is fast with lots happening all the way through. At times, it feels like an adventure. It offers interesting information about cartography, pre-GPS, and I was fascinated to learn that the map making business was such a cut-throat industry. Go figure! This is the longest audiobook I've read to date with 15 hours of listening time, but the subject matter is new and different so it pulls me in and the time flies. The ensemble of talented narrators and diverse group of characters is an added bonus. I enjoyed the multiple topics of family and friendship, romance and love, deception and forgiveness. My only quibble is the amount of characters being over-the-top and a bit of a 'who's who' and 'who belongs to who' dilemma. Be warned! 4.25 stars for the audiobook, 3.75 stars for the story, averaging 4 stars! I highly recommend!

If you’re looking for a twisty slice of fantastical realism wedged into a thriller populated with indelible characters, THE CARTOGRAPHERS has got you covered. I highly recommend it.If you’re looking for something delicious, I would refrain from looking between the cushions of your couch because a lot of gross stuff lives—and I do mean lives, by the time you discover those old bits of food—there. I do not recommend it.

I didn't have any expectations, but this was a fun read! Such a magical adventure. I really enjoyed it. I had a hard time putting it down. I shared it with a family member, who didn't like it as much as I did. I would recommend it to those who like a DaVinci code type books.

QUICK TAKE: I am an enormous fan of Peng Shepherd's BOOK OF M and still recommend it to friends and family. Her latest, THE CARTOGRAPHERS, is an excellent idea, but the execution ultimately left me wanting more. I love the idea of magical mapmakers, but the story is grounded a bit too much in reality. I needed more magical realism, and the ending left me a bit unsatisfied and I had trouble understanding some of the character motivations. That being said, I will read whatever Peng writes, so looking forward to seeing what else she has in store for readers.

Nell Young is a cartographer and archivist who was fired from the New York Public Library and had her career ruined by her own father, a legendary cartographer. Nell found a box of old maps in the uncategorized library archives, including a seemingly random map of the kind that are passed out for free at gas stations. Her father insisted that the maps were fake, and used his reputation to get Nell and her then-boyfriend fired.Seven years later, she has not spoken to her father since the incident when he dies, and Nell finds the gas-station map, which is more or less worthless, in her father’s desk. Desperate for some sense of closure around her firing and her father’s death, Nell starts investigating the map and why it might be so important.What starts as a search for closure becomes something much bigger for Nell as she discovers that the gas-station map is actually one piece of a larger puzzle - a puzzle that leads her to abandon everything she knows in order to follow its trail. The Cartographers is an entrancing novel full of mystery, adventure, and discovery, with impeccable worldbuilding that swept me away in the story.The worldbuilding is exquisite, creating a fully realized setting that feels both familiar and strange all at once - a perfect backdrop for the unfolding mystery. I loved the characters and their intricate relationships with one another, and the plot was compelling and well-conceived. The ending is somewhat anticlimactic, but the journey is well worth taking.

When I started The Cartographers.. I thought it would a simple murder mystery? BOY was I wrong. Somewhere between The Twilight Zone, Inception, National Treasure, and Fatal Attraction, Peng Shepherd evolved a simple mystery into something more. Action-packed in a scholarly sort of way, I've never read a book that made me look at ordinary objects with so much more reverence! The mystery of Dr. Daniel Young's murder evolved quickly into a treasure hunt, a second chance lovers' romance, and the opportunity to really savor relationships built around common interests. Favorite Quote: "Maps were love letters written to times and places their makers had explored. They didn't control the territory - they told its stories." This novel is a prosaic guide to romanticizing the small things in life and I highly recommend it!!!

As a map lover, I was instantly drawn to the premise of this novel. I had no idea that it was a blend of contemporary fiction and fantasy, but I enjoyed suspending my disbelief. I didn't care for the romance between Nora and Felix. It felt juvenile and detracted from the far more interesting cerebral puzzle. Map fans will be glad to know that there are several examples in the print version. Even better, many scenes take place in the 8th Wonder of the World, The New York Public Library.

this is glorious, full RTC

Enjoyable story, I liked the secret behind the map.

Nell Young's life pivots when her estranged father dies. All of the sudden she is pulled into a world of secrets that she didn't know existed, and little by little, her father's love and protection seeps through. This is an unusual book that doesn't follow the usual scripts and I found it quite fascinating. I also liked and rooted for Nell, the disowned cartographer, finding back to herself. It's a genre straddling novel, so you need an open mind, but I definitely enjoyed it.

Dr. Nell Young is a cartographer who is following in her parents footsteps, working at the NYPL with her boyfriend, and her boss/father until the "Junkbox Incident" leaves her and Felix both unemployed, and both with ruined careers. Seven years after losing her job and Felix, she gets word her father has died in his office at the NYPL. When a seemingly worthless map and more deaths start to occur, Nell begins to investigate her father's death from a supposed heart attack, not only with Felix, but with her parents' friends also. This leads Nell on a path of discovering who her parents really are and how a seemingly worthless map can be magical. I would consider this more of a slowburn mystery rather than a thriller. I wasn't necessarily glued to the book, although I did enjoy the story. The development of the main characters was excellent and the author did a fantastic job with world building. I also enjoyed the switches in POV that we got every few chapters where we got to see what happened according to each of her parents' friends. I also enjoyed learning a little bit about cartography. I would recommend this to those who like academic mysteries and slow burn mysteries. My thanks to William Morrow, author Peng Shepherd, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.