Novel set in England and Paris (an absolutely charming read)

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

Review Author: tripfiction

Location

Content

“Why look back at the past if you’re happy with the present”. Why indeed….

This is the truly charming story of widower Arthur Pepper, who at 69 has lost the light and life of his life, his wife Miriam. It is almost one year since she passed away and perhaps now is the time to tackle some of her possessions and decide on their disposal.

IMG_3767As he is rummaging through her shoes, he comes across a gold charm bracelet, which, as far as he can remember, he has never seen and he is quite taken aback by its discovery. There is a mixed selection of charms and the first that catches his eye is a tiny elephant with an emerald coloured stone. On further inspection, he discovers a telephone number engraved into its tiny body.

Now, Arthur is a stickler for routine, so much so that his grieving has morphed into a lacklustre life of very little consequence and daily structure. The links to his children are tenuous. He has truly turned in on himself, there is no joie de vivre any longer as he has lost his soulmate and his direction. Forty years of marriage and now?

However, bravely he discovers the wherewithal to set himself the task of discovering more about this enigmatic piece of jewellery, and his adventures are only starting when he dials the telephone number engraved on the elephant. As he explores, he finds himself leaving behind his quiet life on the outskirts of York as he heads for Bath and London and Scarborough and even Paris, on his quest to find the clues that each charm – whether a tiger, a painter’s palette of a flower – holds. Why a palette? The flower charm appears to be acrostic, a Victorian tradition, whereby the first letter of each gemstone spells out a message.

The Miriam he discovers is a very different person to the one he thought he knew. Yet rather than allowing each new discovery to detract from their relationship, he actively embraces his the new knowledge of his beloved wife, which in turn bring an immense amount of colour and experience to his own life. It is truly a story of discovery. And beautifully told.

It is a delightful novel with a quintessentially British feel to it, and it is sure to do well and join the ranks of Harold Fry and Ove… (and if I am honest I think this book has the edge over the other two!)

This review first appeared on our blog, where we also chat to the author about writing and charm bracelets and more….

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