The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper – Phaedra Patrick

Hey Everyone,

We had another great discussion last week. We spent an hour talking about The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, by Phaedra Patrick. It was a delightful book for many of the group and a fantasy that was hard to believe for others. As you can imagine, the differences of opinion were many and the discussion enlightening to all of us. That’s exactly what book clubs are for, so I appreciate all of you for voicing your perspectives!

The book is focused on a 69 year old man whose wife had died a year earlier. On the anniversary of her death, he decides to dispose of her clothing and finds hidden in her shoe a charm bracelet that he hadn’t seen before. Arthur is particularly interested in the elephant charm and finds what he thinks might be a phone number to India. He calls the number and based on that conversation, he sets out on a journey that will take him out of his comfort zone and lead him to places he hasn’t been before.

The people he meets along the way all hold missing pieces of the puzzle – the secret life his wife led before they ever met one another. A secret it was, because the woman Arthur married seemed very different than the woman he gets glimpses of as he digs into the past. Arthur’s neighbors and his grown son and daughter are also key to the story.

As Arthur goes on his journey, he probably learns as much about himself as he learns about his wife Miriam. As improbable a journey as this might be, it becomes the impetus for self-discovery and growth – Arthur’s and everyone else’s as well. It’s a fun book to read without having to invest an enormous amount of time. I enjoyed the story and the sleuthing. If you haven’t read it, check it out if you’ve got a few hours.

Take Care,

Donna