This is one of my favorite quotes from the book, We read not to escape life but to learn how to live it more deeply and richly, to experience the world through the eyes of the other.

We are a bunch of book lovers. Throw in dual timelines, some mystery, family conflicts, romance and a little magical realism to make it a book that is hard to put down.

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Such an intriguing idea for a book! That one could experience in the present the emotions of those who have held a book in the past. This tale pulled me in and was well done. While I was invested in turning the pages and finding out what had occurred and where the story would lead, I wasn't sure it was going to be my cup of tea. Mostly because it was a tragic love story (we know this almost from the beginning). I don't like to read romance and a tragic love story at that. If you are a reader who feels that way too I will emphatically say it is worth it! I am so happy I kept reading. It takes place in 2 timelines, the 1940s around the start of WW2 and 40 years later in the 80s. The protagonist, Ashlyn has the gift (or curse) of experiencing other's emotions through the books she touches. She has experienced horrific events in her own life, some we only learn later in the book. I loved Ashlyn and her strength and determination as well as her heart. She is drawn into a book when sorting through donated boxes. It has no copyright and no one seems to know anything about it. She is compelled to read the book and solve the mystery of its origin and why it affects her so much when she touches it. The book is written about the events that occurred in the early 40s. One thing leads to another and what a story it tells! There winds up being so much more to this book than just a love story. It is a tale of tragedy, bitterness, anger and resentment but also a tale of love, hope, perseverance and most of all, forgiveness. It is an emotional journey but worth it.

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The Echo of Old Books:

- book about books
- romance, mystery, family drama
- alternating points of view
- dual timeline (1940s and 1980s) set in New England
- used bookstore named An Unlikely Story
- bookseller who feels the emotions of previous readers when she touches books
- mysterious bound book with no author or copyright information

At first, I didn't enjoy the 1940s plot with its rich socialite heroine, but the more I got to know the characters, the more I became drawn into these very emotional stories. At 440+ pages, it would've benefitted from more editing, and it includes enough subjects for two novels.

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This book is outside my comfort zone. However, the book cover hooked me. I'm a sucker for bookshops and libraries. This story concerns a young woman who finds two beautifully bound unpublished books. Before long, Ashlyn spends all her extra time reading the books. It is the story of Hemi and Belle, a pair of lovers whose love leads to tragedy. Ashlyn is tormented that Hemi and Belle are real people. She searches for more information about them.

This story seemed too long. The main characters whined and hurled constant recriminations at each other. I was sick of the book long before the last pages. I would have abandoned it long before if I had not listened to it (versus reading it with my eyes). By the last two hours of the book, I just wanted it to end - I didn't care how. This author wrote to wring every drop of drama from the story. I don't like this melodramatic style. Will I read another book by this author? No.

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