A moving and pleasant journey

• Book: The Curious Charms Of Arthur Pepper
• Location: England, Paris
• Author: Phaedra Patrick

Review Author: Serendipitous writer

I won a copy of this in a giveaway from the TripFiction website. It took me a little while to get into it, because Arthur Pepper, though pleasant and sympathetic, was, quite simply, dull. But then his life becomes more interesting when he comes across a charm bracelet while clearing out his deceased wife’s wardrobe (this section was written with great poignancy; anyone who has ever had to do such a thing would find it moving and cathartic). He follows the story behind each charm to discover all sorts of things he hadn’t known about his wife – and it’s all very life and love affirming when he does, although the tension of the story lies in his self doubt and self discovery along the way. There’s his personal journey, the journey he makes through the world, and the journey his wife and children made and make, all interlocking.

I didn’t believe some aspects – for example, that his son would have abandoned him and his daughter not attended her mother’s funeral. But it ended up a satisfying, slightly quirky read, kind of Pilgrimage of Harold Fry meets Best Exotic Marigold Hotel while 100 Year Old Man Climbs out of the Window. It was a pleasant story to pick up and carry on with at the end of a busy day, and I was entertained gently, inoffensively and without violence, which makes a lovely change. Another strength was the way it shows how different people are during their lives with different partners – this is a more unusual theme and could be explored more. I imagine too that anyone who had recently suffered deep grief would find this book meant a great deal more.

It’s a very nicely produced hardback edition too – a pleasure to hold and read.

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