The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper Lib/E

Product Description


In this poignant and sparkling debut, a lovable widower embarks on a life-changing adventure Sixty-nine-year-old Arthur Pepper lives a simple life. He gets out of bed at precisely 7:30 a.m., just as he did when his wife, Miriam, was alive. He dresses in the same gray slacks and mustard sweater-vest, waters his fern, Frederica, and heads out to his garden. But on the one-year anniversary of Miriam's death, something changes. Sorting through Miriam's possessions, Arthur finds an exquisite gold charm bracelet he's never seen before. What follows is a surprising and unforgettable odyssey that takes Arthur from London to Paris and as far as India in an epic quest to find out the truth about his wife's secret life before they met--a journey that leads him to find hope, healing and self-discovery in the most unexpected places. Featuring an unforgettable cast of characters with big hearts and irresistible flaws, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is a curiously charming debut and a joyous celebration of life's infinite possibilities.


Review


A sweet and poignant story about marriage, grief, and memory. Readers will find bumbling, earnest Arthur utterly endearing.-- "Booklist"


An endearing celebration of life.-- "Real Simple magazine"


Charming by name, charming by nature, this book is a balm for the soul and the heart.-- "Sun (5 stars)"


Filled with colorful, complex characters and adventure...A lovely story about grief and healing.-- "Marisa de los Santos, New York Times bestselling author"


It's a sweet quest and a thoughtful reminder that sometimes the person who loves us most knows us better than we know ourselves.-- "Martha Stewart Living"


James Langdon gives a fitting narration...crisp, perfectly suiting the quirky story....[a] lovely tale about how to carry on with the adventure of life in the face of grief.-- "AudioFile"


Patrick has created a likable, curmudgeonly character in Arthur Pepper. Arthur and the quirky cast of others radiate from the page as they grow and change (albeit somewhat reluctantly). The different travel settings, family dynamics, and a little bit of mystery add together for a delightful, introspective reading journey.-- "RT Book Reviews (4 stars)"


Patrick's debut evokes whimsy and poignancy...This is a sweet story.-- "Publishers Weekly"


Pierces the heart. You root for [Arthur] every step of the way.-- "BookPage"


Tender, insightful, and surprising...a stunning addition to the popular genre of transformative stories of otherwise uneventful lives.-- "Library Journal (starred review)"


About the Author


Phaedra Patrick is the author of several novels. She studied art and marketing, and has worked as a stained-glass artist, film-festival organizer, and communications manager. An award-winning short-story writer, she now writes full time.


James Langton, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and later as a musician at the Guildhall School in London. He has worked in radio, film, and television, also appearing in theater in England and on Broadway. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002.