The Red Address Book
Paperback and e-book, 304 pages
Expected publication: January 8th 2019 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
For fans of A Man Called Ove and The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared comes a heartwarming debut about 96-year-old Doris, who writes down her memories as she pages through her decades-old address book. But the most profound moment of her life is still to come . . .
Meet Doris, a 96-year-old woman living alone in her Stockholm apartment. She has few visitors, but her weekly Skype calls with Jenny--her American grandniece, and her only relative--give her great joy and remind her of her own youth.
When Doris was a girl, she was given an address book by her father, and ever since she has carefully documented everyone she met and loved throughout the years. Looking through the little book now, Doris sees the many crossed-out names of people long gone and is struck by the urge to put pen to paper. In writing down the stories of her colorful past--working as a maid in Sweden, modelling in Paris during the 30s, fleeing to Manhattan at the dawn of the Second World War--can she help Jenny, haunted by a difficult childhood, unlock the secrets of their family and finally look to the future? And whatever became of Allan, the love of Doris's life?
A charming novel that prompts reflection on the stories we all should carry to the next generation, and the surprises in life that can await even the oldest among us, The Red Address Book introduces Sofia Lundberg as a wise--and irresistible--storyteller.
My thoughts about The Red Address Book ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First line—"The saltshaker. The pillbox. The bowl of lozenges. The blood-pressure monitor in its oval case. The magnifying glass and its red bobbin-lace strap, taken from a Christmas curtain, tied in three fat knots. The phone with the extra-large numbers. The old red-leather address book, its bent corners revealing the yellowed paper within. She arranges everything carefully, in the middle of the kitchen table."
The premise of The Red Address Book intrigued me from the start. We learn about this 96 year-old woman's life through the old address book she has kept for years. So many of the people she has known and loved in the past are gone now but she still has her memories of them and the time they had together. I loved Doris and her spunkiness—what an interesting life she led. And the relationship she had with her grandniece, Jenny, was very special and heartwarming to witness.
This was a beautifully written story and I found myself totally wrapped up in the lives of Doris and Jenny. This is Sofia's debut novel and I'm excited to see what else she has in store for us as readers. What an amazing, wonderful story!
I received The Red Address Book from BookishFirst in exchange for my honest opinion.
About the author
Sofia Lundberg is a journalist and former magazine editor. Her debut novel, The Red Address Book, will be published in 28 territories worldwide. She lives in Stockholm with her son. ~ Amazon
Connect with Sofia
**********************
Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks SO much for leaving me a comment! Every single one means a whole lot to me!