Caitlin Gemmell--Blog--Enchanted Simplicity

Book Review: Once Upon a River. The most enchanting, exquisitely rendered fable.

11/27/2018

"Once Upon a River" by Diane Setterfield is an enchanting, exquisitely rendered fable about the parallels between a river's journey and the way people's lives intersect in a constant ebb and flow.

The story begins in a pub situated near the Thames River. Although there are many pubs in the area, The Swan is unique because people gravitate to it in order to listen to and tell stories. One midwinter night, the locals are listening to one of master storyteller Joe Bliss's stories as his wife and owner of the Swan (Margot Ockwell) is busy filling their glasses, when they find themselves in the middle of an unusual story.

A strange, monstrous form, who turns out to be an injured man, stumbles into The Swan. This man is clutching what appears to be a doll, but turns out to be a dead child. But looks can be deceiving. Rita, the midwife that the locals rely on more than any doctor, is called to attend to the man's injuries. After she stiches him up as best as she can, Rita goes to check on the small child. She confirms that she is in fact dead, but something about the manner in which she died seems incongrous. As Rita puzzles over what it bothering her, the child comes back to life.

What follows is an interweaving of stories of the lives of the people connected to the mystery girl and the Thames River. Their stories flow in and out and eventually merge together.

I can't get over the beauty of this book. There were many elements that stirred me and tore my heart into shreds--the relationship between publican Margot and her storyteller husband Joe, the story of Rita and the man she rescued that midwinter night, the bighearted Robert Armstrong with his gift for bonding with animals, and connecting them all is the legend of the ferryman, Quietly. I would say this is the finest work of magical realism I have read in a long time.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with a galley to review via NetGalley. This book will be published on December 4, 2018.
This is a 5 Star book!

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Book Review: The Bookshop Girl by Sylvia Bishop.

11/21/2018

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The Bookshop Girl is a charming book about a young girl who was abandoned in a bookshop when she was five-years-old. The proprietor's son (Michael Jones) discovers her and puts her in the lost property cupboard, but she is soon taken out again by his mother, Netty. She is promptly adopted by Netty, and named Property Jones.

The three members of the Jones family seem to have a cozy life, and enjoy living in a bookshop despite not having any money. Every evening they share a ritual in which each of them read the same book. It never occurs to Netty or Michael that a five-year-old child might not know how to read. At first Property is content to just mimic Netty and Michael, and then she comes to love this ritual too, but feels ashamed that she never shared her secret with them. She is clever and soon figures out how to excel at helping out in the bookshop, so that no one guesses that she is illiterate.

Six years later, their cozy life is interrupted when they decide to take their chances and enter their names in a contest to win a famous bookshop in London. To their absolute amazement, they are chosen as the winners. Property feels a sense of loss at having to leave the little bookshop behind, but shares in her mother's obvious joy. The new bookshop is wondrous and magical. They fall in love with it immediately. Property is curious as to why the owner of the bookshop, a charming man named Mr. Montgomery, would choose to give up such an extraordinary and famous shop. It isn't long before the answer becomes apparent. The Jones family have to find their courage and do something a bit unorthodox if they are to keep possession of their precious shop.

There was so much to love about this book. For one, it had just the right blend of whimsy, darkness, and humor. For another, the characters were quaint and charming. This middle grade book is perfect for any bibliophile, young or old.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free galley to review. This was a 5 star read for me.

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