The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett

Genre: Fiction

This is the story of Eudora Honeysett. She's 85 years and living in England, when we first meet her. Eudora has outlived her mother, father and younger sister, and most of her friends are gone too. But a new family has recently moved across the street. Rose is ten years old and quite the talker. She's moved to town with her mom, Maggie (who is pregnant with Rose's new baby sister), and dad, Robert. Before long, Eudora and Rose will become fast friends and will add a couple more new friends to their posse. Eudora will soon find out that being surrounded by good friends is just what she has been missing, and that maybe this will change her mind about some of her life choices. Told alternately between the present and the past, Eudora's story unfolds and we meet a woman who has lived a life of sacrifice, and whose past choices don't have to predict her future ones. This is a story of friendship and love and, for Eudora, both come in different forms and from different kinds of people.

What is it about these cranky old people that I love so much? There have been a couple in the past few years whom I've adored: in particular, Ove from A Man Called Ove and Britt-Marie from Britt-Marie Was Here, both by Fredrik Backman. This book and story is of the same spirit. Eudora is a cranky older woman, but when you peel back the layers and her story unfolds, you realize she's lonely and has lived a difficult life. I was thinking about why I love this book so much (knowing full-well that it will not stay with me). I think, initially, it was about Eudora and the cast of characters, but maybe there's more to it. I think it's the kind of book that you know will have a good ending, and I need good endings now. We probably all need good endings now. This story was just right and now on to others.