Readers, you’ve been asking me for recommendations
of novels similar to A Man Called Ove, The
Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and Major
Pettigrew’s Last Stand. Several of you, especially those living in areas
hard hit by winter, have asked me to suggest a charmer. So, a literal charmer
it is. The Curious Charms of Arthur
Pepper follows 69-year-old Arthur Pepper, a Yorkshire widower, as he leaves
his contented comfort zone of a home to discover the stories behind the eight
charms on his late wife Miriam’s gold charm bracelet.
Each day, Arthur got out of bed at
precisely 7:30 a.m. just as he did when his wife, Miriam, was alive. He
showered and got dressed in the grey slacks, pale blue shirt and mustard tank
top that he had laid out the night before. He had a shave then went downstairs.
At eight o’clock he made his
breakfast, usually a slice of toast and margarine, and he sat at the pine
farmhouse table that could seat six, but which now just seated one. At
eight-thirty he would rinse his pots and wipe down the kitchen worktop using
the flat of his hand and then two lemon-scented Flash wipes. Then his day could
begin. . .
But today, the fifteenth day of the
month, was different. It was the anniversary he had been dreading for weeks.
The date on his Stunning Scarborough calendar
caught his eye whenever he passed it. He would stare at it for a moment then
try to find a small job to distract him. He would water his fern, Frederica, or
open the kitchen window and shout ‘Gerroff’ to deter next door’s cats from
using his rockery as a toilet.
It was one year to the day that his
wife had died.
Arthur has a tenuous relationship with his two
grown children. Neither one attended Miriam’s funeral. His son who lives in
Australia cited the distance and business needs and his daughter who lives
nearby wasn’t feeling well. Thus, Arthur has turned inward and relies on his
daily habits to distract him from his woes. Finding the charm bracelet, a piece
of jewelry that was entirely unlike anything Miriam would ever have worn,
shakes Arthur out of his doldrums. As he heads to London and places beyond, his
naiveté leads him into trouble while each escapade offers growth.
The Curious
Charms of Arthur Pepper isn’t literature with a capital “L,” instead, it’s
a heart-warming story best told by a narrator with a British accent. This is a
book to be heard, not read. Pretend that you’re a child and listen to this book
as you sit in a cozy chair or drive off on a road trip to warmer climes. James
Langton, the novel’s narrator, was born in York, England and studied at the
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. His voice is absolutely spot-on in
evoking Arthur and those he encounters.
I’ve read several novels using charm bracelets,
letters, and other mementos as plot devices and most have been saccharine wastes
of my time. The Curious Charms of Arthur
Pepper with its wry humor, cast of unexpected characters, and yes, even the
lessons it imparted, was an enchanting trek into a life I thoroughly enjoyed
observing.
Listening to Arthur and his adventures made many a
trip on Chicago’s not so delightful expressways enjoyable. I wonder if those
who saw me as I stepped out of my car with a giant smile on my face imagined
that it was a book that had me smiling. Arthur’s grief and his probable
depression are expressed through a candid portrait of sincere emotional anguish,
but the book is never maudlin. Rarely do I drive along laughing out loud then
seconds later shed a tear while heading for my exit and I thank author Phaedra
Patrick and narrator James Langton for providing such an adventure.
Summing it Up: Listen to The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper for a sentimental novel that
will charm you, make you laugh, and brighten your worst day. This
quintessentially British tale is as perfect for a winter day as a cup of tea
and a hand knit afghan. If your book club is looking for relief from reading
too many heavy tomes, this will be a “blinding” (excellent) choice. If you
choose to read the novel in print the paperback edition was released on January
31, 2017.
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Fiction, Dessert, Grandma’s Pot Roast,
Road Food, Book Club
Publication date: May 3, 2016
Read an Excerpt: http://www.phaedra-patrick.com/chapter-one/
Author Website: http://www.phaedra-patrick.com/
Reading Group Guide: http://www.phaedra-patrick.com/reading-groups/
What Others are Saying:
Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/phaedra-patrick/curious-charms-of-arthur-pepper/
Publishers Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7783-1933-7
“Phaedra Patrick understands the soul. Eccentric, charming, and wise, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is about finding courage, generosity, and compassion, even when all seems lost. With clear-eyed prose and a moving story, Patrick reminds us how selfless people can be – she reminds us to be brave. The Curious Charms is not just for those who are mourning over love or the past. This book will illuminate your heart.” – Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop
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