This afternoon I stepped outside to pick up my husband at work and I felt like I swallowed the ocean. My eyes moved back and forth across the garage and I blinked. Was I still in Minnesota? Maybe I was transported to Hawaii or some tropical island. The blacktop grounded me back to home. Since when had living up North gone beyond August weather on a hot day?
I just shook my head and wondered if I was walking in a different dimension. Once I climbed inside my car and saw the green light of the air conditioning I relaxed. A smile filled my lips as I watched the screen connect to my phone. Portable libraries are the best invention. I feel too old for story time at the local library but maybe the idea of finding a book club for adults, where we read books out loud. Preferably one with a reader who has an accent, someone who can become any literary character.
In other words, if you know of such groups, let me know in the comments because my hunger for summer reading is still searching for more reading material. I have to say that if any writer wants to learn about smooth transitions and perspective, then read The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis. Not only will you find a book shop owner with a tragic past and a real sense of a book’s emotion, you will find the story of two old lovers.
The way she wove the lives of the present characters with the two past lovers and changes perspectives from chapter to chapter made me turn the pages faster. I only heard the sound of a well written story. No cringing at the writing style. I just wanted to know the ending but dreaded the last words because it would be over. I was caught between needing a good cry and having a good cry. I know I was engrossed in the story because I wanted to push the characters along to resolve their issues, yet dreaded the moment the last page turned.
Like a child, I didn’t want story time to end. This story will take you back to the time when World War II started but it stays focused on the lives of one young woman and an aspiring writer trying to finish his assignment of the family. Did I mention that there are characters who are writers in this novel? Another plus for me.
Back to the pages. Their story wouldn’t have been discovered if it wasn’t for the special talent of the book shop owner. Her curiosity over the owners of books that give off such strong feelings sends her on a quest of her own. Somehow, Barbara, managed to build and add the characters in as the chapters move forward effortlessly. I mean, she added in the details of the characters while I was hooked on the story. I wanted to know what was next, I wanted to discover every detail with the book shop owner. I saw myself in the shoes of the characters when the perspectives changed.
At the end, if felt myself having strong enough emotions because I wanted to have the characters choose differently in certain parts of the story because I wanted a happier ending. Is there a happy ending? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out. Me, I’m keeping this one in my library of resources.
I may pout about the book for a few days because I’ve finished the story. I thought I would share this book, just in case you need a good summer read. Let me know if you’ve come across another good read.
Until the next book!
Imagine Inspire Create: 52 Weeks of action and gratitude is available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09S6XCLFY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_Q7MHM9CFBSASDG56YMJQ
Get closer to your writing goals with my Writer’s Journal filled with writing prompts and exercises. You can find a copy at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0931QRL7C/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VTHN0QSHXRYK6RJ1XSWQ.
Writer's Block Inc 