The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Have you heard the saying: “never judge a book by its cover”? As a self proclaimed bibliophile, I take this saying seriously, both in its literal meaning and in the philosophical sense. However, in the case of The Curious Charms Of Arthur Pepper, this book is just as adorable as it’s cover.
This book grabbed my eye as I was perusing the aisles of a big chain bookstore. The cover was the initial draw, however, the book description further intrigued me and thankfully my local library had a copy on the shelf. The Curious Charms Of Arthur Pepper, while dealing with some complex issues, is truly a simple, bittersweet story that leaves you in love with Arthur Pepper.
*Spoilers*
Our story opens on the one year anniversary of the passing of Miriam Pepper. Her husband, Arthur, has decided it is time to pack her clothes and other belongings for donation, as he should be “moving on” or so his children keep telling him. In the process, he discovers a charm bracelet that he has no recollection of ever seeing before. There are several charms on the bracelet and the piece reflects a luxury that he and his wife never aspired to live. As luck would have it, the first charm has a phone number engraved on the back and with a combination of reluctance and curiosity, Arthur dials that number and unlocks the door to a multifaceted life his wife had long before Arthur Pepper.
The author does a fabulous job in this book of exploring the very unique process that one goes through when mourning the passing of a significant other. Beyond just mourning the loss of that person, there is the process of redefining who you are when you are no longer a “we”. In his journey to discover who his wife was before he met her, Arthur Pepper discovers there is a way to continue living his life without dismissing Miriam’s role in it.
Not only did I deeply enjoy this book, it will probably make it into my Top 3 Books of 2017.
Thanks for reading, have a great day.
Bigger On The Inside 