The Peacock Emporium by Jojo Moyes

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Suzanna isn’t sure about much these days, but one thing she is sure about is that she needs a space that is entirely her own. Not her family’s, not her husband’s, but hers. Since moving back to her parents’ estate from London, despite living in a cottage separate from them, she feels she can hardly breathe. But in her shop, her Peacock Emporium, she can be herself, she can make it her own. Unfortunately, she finds that folks seeking coffee are often seeking conversation as well, and is not exactly up to this task. Lucky for her, one of her first customers, a pretty young mother who is as chatty as they come, foists herself upon Suzanna, making it apparent that Suzanna needs Jessie as much as Jessie needs this job. In some ways, they open up each other’s worlds, and in some ways, they both resist change. And when tragedy ensues, Suzanna sees how one can get stuck in that resistance.

This is a sweet story that, again, shows how we can get mired in our past and be blinded to what is in front of us. We stay in relationships that are toxic because it’s too hard to make a change. We wallow in past wrongs, don’t forgive, and only hurt ourselves. And we allow our past to haunt us rather than living in the moment or pivoting toward our the future. But what we might learn from this story is how to hope. Although sadness, anger, and dreadful situations cannot always be avoided, love pushes through and this can give us hope.

And yes, this is corny – and is reflective of the story itself. But we must give in on occasion to the slightly predictable, the slightly mushy, just because corny and mushy and loving may be just what we might need sometimes.

Is this not exactly one of those times?

Paris for One by Jojo Moyes

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

This compendium of short stories, including a short novella, Paris for One, is a delightful collection of stories about love: discarded and reborn, withered and blossoming. In the story Paris for One, we find Nell as she is poised for her romantic weekend with Pete, her boyfriend whom she’s convinced to join her for her first impulsive move ever: a weekend away in Paris. Not surprising to anyone who cares about Nell, Pete doesn’t show up to the airport and Nell finds herself alone in a city where she knows no one and doesn’t speak the language. Nell surprises especially herself when she, in fact, makes the very best of it! And in each story, there are similar, fun twists that will keep you guessing and turning every page.

My favorite story is the one called Between the Tweets. It is short, hilarious, and fully unexpected. It is, in my opinion, an example of the perfect short story!

While it is certainly a mix, and some stories are better than others, this is a wholly entertaining, satisfying book of short stories. [Of note, there is one that is the seed for a novel that I’ve actually written about here in this blog… but I’m not going to give away which one!]

If you’re into love stories, and/or short stories, this is for you!

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

In the aftermath of WWII, when many soldiers were returning home to England from wherever they’d been serving during the war, there were also many women being brought to England as well – namely, the brides these soldiers had acquired while in service to their country. This story hones in on four women from Australia from quite disparate backgrounds: Jean, a poor but very outgoing and lively bride; Avice, a privileged society girl breaking away from her family for the first time; Margaret, a farmer’s daughter who’s been caring for her brothers and father since the painful loss of her mother; and Frances, a very reserved and quiet nurse with a mysterious past. As these four women share very cramped quarters on a ship to London, they also share their past, their anxieties about their futures, and many unsettling experiences on their adventure across the oceans to their new destinations.

This is a fascinating piece of historical fiction that is beautifully narrated by Moyes. From the very first paragraph we are transported back in time, into the lives of each of these very different but equally engaging characters. While we might connect with some over others, they each display their own quirks and vulnerabilities, each having their darker side, their frustrations – their humanity. Each of these women is also subject to the norms of her time: the assumptions, the judgements, and the limitations thrust upon her in that era. This is depicted in many ways, both subtle and overt.

I loved this book and am reluctant to say more about it because I don’t want to give any of it away. I highly recommend it and, yes, I believe it is a MUST READ! Read and enjoy!

Night Music by Jojo Moyes

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Laura is nearly out of patience, having waited on the ungrateful, sickly Mr. Pottisworth for so many years, with only the hope that he will leave his home, her dream house facing the lake, to her and her husband, Matt. While she has her doubts, Matt seems to retain his confidence that this house will become theirs, and that the plans they have for it will come to fruition.

Meanwhile, on what feels to be another planet (the city of London), another family has just been devastated by the untimely death of the father. The mother, Isabel, who, although loving, has been swept up in her career as a musician, traveling often for performances, rehearsals, and leaving the details of her children’s lives to their nanny. Her husband’s death, and their sudden financial reality has brought this to a skidding halt, and she realizes now that it is up to her to be the grown-up in the room.

The way in which these two families’ lives collide becomes the talk of the small town, but also becomes a reawakening of sorts for all of them.

It took me a bit of time to get into this story, and I believe it was because I did not, initially, completely like the central characters. While I felt compassion for their tragedies, I felt as if they each took no responsibility for their circumstances, as if they were detached from their own realities. Of course, for example, Isabel was not responsible for her husband being killed in a car crash, but it was certainly on her to know her family’s financial situation and the details of her children’s lives. Likewise, Laura was absolutely not the cause of Mr. Pottisworth being so cruel and ungrateful, but she knew better than to rely on her husband and his plans,  as he had proven unworthy of trust in the past. Only when they each began to take control of their lives did I begin to form some respect for them and perhaps connect more with their stories.

I think my favorite character, in fact, was Kitty, Isabel’s brave daughter, who actually took control of the family’s situation immediately and only gradually was allowed to become an adolescent again. She was the one who named their reality, cared for those around her, connected with their new community, and called out injustice when she saw it. While she was only 15 years old, she bore the burden of being the responsible one when no one else was. 

This is definitely a worthwhile read, but it may take a minute to buy in, as it did for me.

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

What are the chances of two very different women changing in the same gym locker room at the same time, and accidentally switching bags? And even if it might happen, it sounds harmless enough, right? Well, perhaps it isn’t quite as harmless as it appears. It might just occur when their respective lives are each in crisis and this unfortunate exchange might occur at the most inopportune moment. Or perhaps, is this exactly the bit of upset that each women might need?

If you’re looking for an entertaining story with strong female characters, this is your next read! While we meet both Sam and Nisha when they are each at their lowest, with Sam at her least confident and Nisha at her most snobbish, we definitely grow to like each of them as they each grow to like themselves. We see that each, in her own way, is resourceful, resilient, even kind. Both are battling patriarchal structure and oppressors in their lives and not feeling the love from their female counterparts. As the plot progresses, it is the female bonds that form and strengthen and from which they derive their own strength – and this is what gives them both hope.

I believe my favorite character in this novel is Jasmine. She has so little and is willing to give so very much. She opens her home, her very heart to Nisha, to whom she owes nothing, and she does this asking for nothing in return. She is a great example to her daughter, a great example to us all.

This is definitely an uplifting, empowering novel – fun to read and probably fun to discuss among friends!

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Alice has recently arrived in Kentucky from England, with high hopes and romantic ideas on how she’ll begin her new life with her very handsome husband, Bennett. Sadly, she’s been quite disappointed so far. Expecting to embark on newlywed adventures, she instead finds herself living with not only Bennett, but with his very demanding and intrusive father, who has been dictating exactly everything that goes on in the home. When Alice hears about a chance to work delivering books to the folks who live in the more remote areas nearby, she sees it as her only means of escape. Only as she becomes more committed to this reputedly “radical” venture does she begin to see a way out of the hold her new family has on her.

Unknowingly, I stumbled upon yet another book about the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky in the 1930’s and 1940’s – and this story was just as gripping as the last (the last one being The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek). The plot builds and surprises and we root for Alice in a way I wasn’t expecting. The characters are strong but multidimensional. Even Alice, who appears meek at first, grows into herself and emerges as a hero in many ways. Other characters may start strong and break, just as in real life.

What is beautiful is the bonds that build amongst the women of the packhorse library – those who work together to create the team who deliver the books to the people of the area. They are as different as they could be: different ages, different abilities, different backgrounds. Yet, they work together as a team and respect each other’s talents. Their bond is what gets them through.

This is a beautiful story that depicts an interesting moment in American history – the packhorse librarians of Kentucky. It is also just a beautiful story.

Windfallen by Jojo Moyes

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld
Amazon.com: Windfallen eBook: Moyes, Jojo: Kindle Store

Lottie and Celia are almost as close as sisters – in fact, they’ve been raised as sisters for the past few years, although Lottie is acutely aware that she is only with the Holden family as long as they continue to generously support her. However, when she and Celia stumble into the acquaintance of new, artsy friends at the Arcadia estate, Lottie’s eyes are opened to a new kind of freedom, a new way of living that just might present opportunities – or perhaps danger. She is not quite sure.

Fast forward to the present time, and we meet Daisy, whose life seems to be falling apart. Her partner has walked out on her and her infant daughter, and she is left to sort out their upcoming project of restoring a controversial estate -yes, Arcadia. Will she be able to navigate this overwhelming time in her life? Her sister does not seem to think so, but she must prove her wrong. She has to…

Here is another winner by Jojo Moyes. While it did not grab me immediately, I will admit, it grew more and more magnetic with each chapter. It may be that Lottie’s character, while complex and reserved, was so, perhaps, hardened by her circumstance that she was ever so slightly less likable and therefore less relatable. On the other hand, once we meet Daisy, we find her so much more of an open book, her emotions so raw and apparent, that she breathes a sort of spark into the story, enlivening it with her heart and energy. We love her from the start and root for her until the end. Both characters are beautiful in their own ways, of course, but they differ in how relatable they are, I felt.

Moyes beautifully depicts an undertone here of the social conflict between old/conservative thought and new/liberal perspective. The setting is a small, harbor town in England, where everyone knows everyone and families have long-held histories of judging others’ families for past ills. Arcadia, with its modern design, intrinsically represents– both physically and by its inhabitants — possibility, openness, and forward thinking. The town, and its people, are always whispering against those in Arcadia, fearing what it represents and rising up against it in various ways. And Lottie, for her part, becomes caught in between, at once part of Arcadia and then fighting against it, because of what it represents to her at different junctures of her life.

This is definitely worth reading. I don’t think it rises to a “Must Read” but it comes fairly close!