Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Rekindled Love is a wistful novel that reflects on first love and how powerful memories color the present. The novel offers an intriguing setup as the author juxtaposes the protagonist's recollections with his children's underwater explorations.
Prose: The prose is clear and straightforward, if occasionally bland. The carefully detailed descriptions of Anders's everyday life lose their interest when accompanied with very little plot-propelling action.
Originality: Bjerregaard Jessen does an admirable job of blending the present day events with the protagonist's past, though the character development comes across as secondary to the novel's unique conceptual framework.
Character/Execution: While the focus on a man reflecting on a youthful love affair is potentially intriguing, the ordinariness of Anders's relationship with Cecilie weighs down this story. What's missing is a real spark of interest about their relationship.
Date Submitted: May 28, 2024