In a Nutshell Reviews - The Senior Edition

 

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

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The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on April 7, 2020
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction

Goodreads

The world has changed around seventy-nine-year-old librarian Millicent Carmichael, aka Missy. Though quick to admit that she often found her roles as a housewife and mother less than satisfying, Missy once led a bustling life driven by two children, an accomplished and celebrated husband, and a Classics degree from Cambridge. Now her husband is gone, her daughter is estranged after a shattering argument, and her son has moved to his wife's native Australia, taking Missy's beloved only grandchild half-a-world away. She spends her days sipping sherry, avoiding people, and rattling around in her oversized, under-decorated house waiting for...what exactly?

The last thing Missy expects is for two perfect strangers and one spirited dog named Bob to break through her prickly exterior and show Missy just how much love she still has to give. In short order, Missy finds herself in the jarring embrace of an eclectic community that simply won't take no for an answer--including a rambunctious mutt-on-loan whose unconditional love gives Missy a reason to re-enter the world one muddy paw print at a time.

Filled with wry laughter and deep insights, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael is a coming-of-old story that shows us it's never too late to forgive yourself and, just as important, it's never too late to love.

The alternate title for this book was Saving Missy, and I have to say, that might be a more fitting title. When I met Missy, she was on her own after rearing two children and being married for over fifty years. Alone and grieving, a chance meeting in the park brings two lovely women into her life, and one of them, brings a dog into Missy’s life. Did the dog save her? I don’t know, but Bob served as a source of love and someone for Missy to love. Bob helped her reconnect with people and make new connections in her neighbor. Allowing Bob into her life resulted in a bigger life.

But there was a love story. Piece by piece, Morrey reveald the love story of Missy and her husband Leo. There were many pivotal moments shared, and these recollections helped me better understand who Missy was, as well as who she had been. But what I loved most was that Missy realized it wasn’t too late for her to still have a life.

This was a lovely and heartbreaking story. As we age, we gain experiences and memories, but we also tend to rack up more losses. Missy had been a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, and now she was alone. He world started to slowly expand when Bob (the dog) came into her life. She was trying new things, making connections, and also mending some fences. I love the idea that it’s never too late, and that was the heart of Missy’s story.

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The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
Published by MIRA on January 29, 2016
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction

Goodreads

In this poignant and sparkling debut, a lovable widower embarks on a life-changing adventure

Sixty-nine-year-old Arthur Pepper lives a simple life. He gets out of bed at precisely 7:30 a.m., just as he did when his wife, Miriam, was alive. He dresses in the same gray slacks and mustard sweater vest, waters his fern, Frederica, and heads out to his garden.

But on the one-year anniversary of Miriam's death, something changes. Sorting through Miriam's possessions, Arthur finds an exquisite gold charm bracelet he's never seen before. What follows is a surprising and unforgettable odyssey that takes Arthur from London to Paris and as far as India in an epic quest to find out the truth about his wife's secret life before they met--a journey that leads him to find hope, healing and self-discovery in the most unexpected places.

Featuring an unforgettable cast of characters with big hearts and irresistible flaws, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is a curiously charming debut and a joyous celebration of life's infinite possibilities.

When Arthur’s wife of forty years passed away, he stopped living. In an attempt to deal with his grief, Arthur begins to box up his wife’s belongings for donation. That was when he discovered a charm bracelet which set him off on a journey of discovery, and what a wonderful journey it was! For a story about grief, this was rather up-lifting.

Books like this are so good for my heart because they fill me with so much joy. It was about the power of love, connection, and memories, and it was really touching. I am also on a kick with these older main characters and loving it! It was beautiful seeing Arthur discover that he wasn’t too old for change or adventures. Digging into his wife’s past helped propel him into a future where he wanted to work harder on some relationships while building some new ones as well. My eyes are wet and my heart is warm, and that’s the best!

What’s a great name for a dog?
Let us know in the comments!