Annie Lyons

A story that pulls your heartstrings. Was crying a at the end. It tells of a woman who felt duty bound to care for her mother and sister instead of having a life of her own. She had trouble letting others care for her and be her friend. A new 10 yr old neighbor causes her to become more open to letting others in. Kirkus: Eudora Honeysett is 85 and wants the privilege of dying on her own terms. And soon, please.Growing up in England during World War II, 10-year-old Eudora watches her father go off to fight. When a knock on the door brings the devastating news that he will not be returning, Eudora finds herself living up to her promise to take care of her mother and sister. After a life of sacrifice and heartbreak interspersed with joyful moments, she now watches the world outside her window with a jaded eye. Eudora does some research and finds an agency in Switzerland that just might be the answer to her wish to die. She soon finds herself on the phone with the agency explaining why she is ready to pull the plug. In the midst of her death plans, a rambunctious knock at the door brings an annoyance in the form of 10-year-old Rose, a new neighbor who?s irrepressibly joyful and not to be ignored. Rose introduces Eudora to Stanley, an elderly neighbor, and they soon become an unlikely trio, enjoying life at Rose?s whim. When Eudora tells her pals she?s off to Switzerland for a ?vacation,? Rose sends her off with a promise to bring back a Toblerone, and Stanley drives her to the airport. Then there is a phone call that challenges Eudora?s plans and forces her to decide what really matters. Lyons? characters are unique and wonderful, portrayed with a depth that allows readers to understand their motivations and empathize with them. Her childhood promise directed most of Eudora?s choices in life except for one that haunts her. Quirky, insightful Rose is bullied and thus gravitates to her kindly older friends. Stanley recently lost his wife and struggles to regain his footing. And yet the trio's unlikely camaraderie has the power to rejuvenate them all, showing that good friendship makes life worth living.A sensitive examination of human connections that can both damage and heal.… (meer)

This novel has all the elements I love - a heartwarming story about love, family and, of course, books. Gertie is an aging widow who is contemplating selling the bookshop she ran with her late husband Harry. As she considers this step, a longtime friend encourages her to take in a child fleeing Hitler's persecution in Germany. And so the teenage Hedy comes into Gertie's life, just as war looms on the horizon. Hedy longs to be reunited with the family she left behind and Gertie struggles to adjust to the changes in her life - changes that continue unabated. Spending more and more time in air raid shelters, Gertie and her staff create the idea of a book club to help their community through trying times. I enjoyed this novel, but I wanted it to be a little more than it was. That said, this is a charming read and recommended for those who enjoy WWII historical fiction.… (meer)