As Arthur Pepper tackles sorting through his deceased wife's belongings he comes across a hidden charm bracelet. A bracelet that he believes he has never seen or heard about, but definitely stirs his curiosity. And so the transformation begins...
This odyssey takes Arthur to India, Paris and London, as he searches for answers. Along the way he begins to doubt his 40 year marriage to Miriam. As he meets the people who correspond with the charms on the bracelet he sees another side of his wife ~ her life before him. He questions her love for him, he questions his acceptance by his grown children, and he questions why Miriam would stay with him and their uneventful routine life.
This book is the story of slow healing, better understanding those you love, and not only accepting the things you cannot change, but also changing with life's journey.
I really like the character development in this book. I started out not liking Arthur and ended up loving him. There were spots in the book that were very touching, that in fact, brought me to tears. Arthur's journey was realistic, as were most of the accompanying characters. The novel was a heartfelt, well written, easy read, in the manner of Elizabeth Berg or Anne Tyler, and one that you don't want to put down. This is the debut novel for this author, but I am sure not the last.
Received this ARC from First Reads for an honest review~~
This odyssey takes Arthur to India, Paris and London, as he searches for answers. Along the way he begins to doubt his 40 year marriage to Miriam. As he meets the people who correspond with the charms on the bracelet he sees another side of his wife ~ her life before him. He questions her love for him, he questions his acceptance by his grown children, and he questions why Miriam would stay with him and their uneventful routine life.
This book is the story of slow healing, better understanding those you love, and not only accepting the things you cannot change, but also changing with life's journey.
I really like the character development in this book. I started out not liking Arthur and ended up loving him. There were spots in the book that were very touching, that in fact, brought me to tears. Arthur's journey was realistic, as were most of the accompanying characters. The novel was a heartfelt, well written, easy read, in the manner of Elizabeth Berg or Anne Tyler, and one that you don't want to put down. This is the debut novel for this author, but I am sure not the last.
Received this ARC from First Reads for an honest review~~
This was a fun light read that my book group universally enjoyed. However, I don't actually recommend it as a book group book if you're used to more serious literature. It's a great read but didn't provoke a lot of discussion beyond, "What would be on your charm bracelet?" Arthur is a completely likable character, but we had trouble believing some of his adventures and didn't understand why his grown children were estranged from such a nice guy. It made me think about my hopes and fears for different life stages.
The fact that the word "charm(s)" was used in the title of this book is brilliant! The fact is, this story WAS charming!
Arthur Pepper is led on a type of scavenger hunt when he discovered a charm bracelet belonging to his deceased wife, and each charm reveals things about her that he never knew!
The story is a great journey and reading the book was a delightful journey!
Arthur Pepper is led on a type of scavenger hunt when he discovered a charm bracelet belonging to his deceased wife, and each charm reveals things about her that he never knew!
The story is a great journey and reading the book was a delightful journey!
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
This is an enjoyable, light read. A widower who has been "stuck" in his routine and mourning the loss of his wife begins to clear out her things on the one year anniversary of her death. He finds a mysterious charm bracelet she had tucked away and begins a journey to discover the meaning of the charms. This leads him to revelations both good and bad but he begins to find himself along the way, as well.
Marilyn M. (IndulgeYourself) -
4.5 stars on this one. Very simple, easy to read, story. Sweet, sad at times, and fulfilling as this widower learns about his wife's life before they wed. I loved how the stories of her life that she never told him about drew him out of his grief and breathed new life into him. I loved it!
