This is a charming story about a cranky, solitary, and firmly set in her ways thank you very much 85-year-old woman named Eudora who has decided to end her long life on her own terms. And then 10-year-old Rose Trewidney and her family move in next door and Eudora's well-planned life (and death) are thrown for a loop.
Rose is a loquacious, precocious, and self-proclaimed fashionista with a flair for sparkles and bright colours who enters Eudora's life and changes it forever. It is their touching relationship - and their friendship with elderly (and recently widowed) Stanley - that will warm even the coldest of hearts. These two secondary characters shine within the pages and become Eudora's family by choice and their banter and connection are truly touching.
The story is told in current day, but readers are also taken into Eudora's past. Through these looks back readers understand why Eudora is the way she is and why she prefers to be alone with her crosswords, solitary lane swimming, equally curmudgeonly cat and has closed herself off from much of the outside world. That is, until Rose and Stanley come along.
The strength of this book is in its characters, their connections and in the generous heart with which this story is told. While it wasn't quite as emotional as I had expected (it takes a LOT to make this reader squeeze out a tear or two), this sweet story has a wonderful balance of heart, depth and realistic characters that will have readers devouring this book in a couple of sittings. This is a story about family (in its many forms), friendship, belonging and letting go. I am so happy to have met Eudora Honeysett.
"Life is precious and as long as we have a reason to continue, we should follow that path"
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Author: Annie Lyons
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Type and Source: Hardcover from public library
Pages: 372
Publisher: William Morrow
First Published: September 8, 2020
Opening Lines: When Eudora Honeysett hears the flip-clunk
of the letterbox on this particular Tuesday morning,
her heart skips before she pulls it back down to earth
like a rapidly descending hot-air balloon.
Book Description from GoodReads: Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Be Frank with Me, a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live.
Eudora Honeysett is done with this noisy, moronic world—all of it. She has witnessed the indignities and suffering of old age and has lived a full life. At eighty-five, she isn’t going to leave things to chance. Her end will be on her terms. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland, a plan is set in motion.
Then she meets ten-year-old Rose Trewidney, a whirling, pint-sized rainbow of color and sparkling cheer. All Eudora wants is to be left alone to set her affairs in order. Instead, she finds herself embarking on a series of adventures with the irrepressible Rose and their affable neighbor, the recently widowed Stanley—afternoon tea, shopping sprees, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, pizza parties.
While the trio of unlikely BFFs grow closer and anxiously await the arrival of Rose’s new baby sister, Eudora is reminded of her own childhood—of losing her father during World War II and the devastating impact it had on her entire family. In reflecting on her past, Eudora realizes she must come to terms with what lies ahead.
Sounds charming, thanks for sharing your thoughts
ReplyDeleteIt was a very sweet read. :)
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