The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

 

Title:  The Story She Left Behind

Author:  Patti Callahan Henry

Narrated by:  Julia Whelan and Theo Solomon

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 26 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank-you!

What's the most beautiful book cover you own?  I think the cover of The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry is beautiful.

In 1927, a devastating fire burned down young Clara’s house, but even more devastating, her mother disappeared shortly after.  Now in 1952, Clara is a single mother raising her daughter Wynnie.  She is contacted by a mysterious Englishman, Charlie, who tells her that he has discovered her mother’s lost dictionary in his late father’s library.  Clara’s mother, Bronwyn, is a famous author who wrote her first novel at the age of 12.  Her second book is in her made-up language and has been unable to be translated.  Will this dictionary be able to help translate the second novel?  Will Clara be able to find out whatever happened to her mother?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this in March for the Brenda Novak Book Group.  It was a great Facebook meeting at the end of the month and interview of author Patti Callahan Henry.

·       This was an intriguing story that had everything – a literary mystery, family, beauty of nature, wandering the world, love, etc.

·       The audiobook was great, and it kept me intrigued on some long drives for work last month.  I enjoyed that there were two main narrators.

·       The riveting story of the London Smog showing the real danger during that time period in London, especially for those with asthma.  The main characters have to make a harrowing journey to get out of London.  It was fun during the Brenda Novak interview that Patti Callhan Henry discussed the smog episode of The Crown, which was excellent.  When I was teaching an environmental compliance class, I taught about this event as it was a precursor to our Clean Air Act.  Environmental regulations don’t come out of the blue.  Usually, a tragedy occurred that killed people and spurred new laws to be written.

·       I was fascinated by the author’s note at the end.  The story was based on real life author Barbara Newhall Follett.  Follett was a child prodigy and disappeared never to be seen again when she was 25 years old.

·       I loved the fairy tale like feel when Clara and Wynnie visit the Lake District in England.  I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the scenery, and it really made me want to visit the Lake District.

·       There was also a fun exploration of children, make believe, and magical worlds.

Overall, The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry is a beautiful historical literary mystery.  I thought the descriptions were beautiful and story was very engaging.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

 

What is the last book or movie that made you cry?

In Once Upon a Wardrobe, Megs Devonshire is a seventeen-year-old math student at Oxford in 1950.  Her seven-year-old brother George has a weak heart and is dying.  He has just read a wonderful new book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.  He knows that C.S. Lewis is a professor at Oxford, and he ask Megs to find out, where did Narnia come from?  Megs follows C.S. Lewis home and is discovered sitting on his fence by his brother Warner.  They invite Megs in and start to tell her the story of his life.  What do all of these stories have to do with where Narnia comes from?  Megs takes the train home on the weekends and tells her brother the stories of “Once Upon a Wardrobe.”  Why can’t Megs get a straight answer from “Jack” Lewis?

This was a beautiful story.  It was the story of the love between siblings, and how to deal with the end of the life of someone that you love.  It is also the story of “Jack” Lewis growing up and how these formative years played into his writings.  I felt for Meg. As a mathematician she wanted a direct answer – what is the meaning of the book?  How can she save her brother?  But life sadly is not a math equation with a direct answer.  The book was sad and made me cry, but it also had a heartwarming ending.

I really need to read Patti Callahan’s novel about the wife of C.S. Lewis, Becoming Mrs. Lewis.  There is a note at the end of the novel by actor Douglas Gresham, one of Lewis’ stepsons from his marriage to Joy.  He fully endorses the novel and Becoming Mrs. Lewis.  It was a nice surprise.

Favorite Quotes:

“Reason is how we get to the truth, but imagination is how we find meaning.”

“Some babies are born closer to the end of their story than others, and this little boy was one of those.”

“With stories, I can see with other eyes, imagine with other imaginations, feel with other hearts, as well as with my own. Stories aren’t equations.”

Overall, Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan is a beautiful and unique story.  I highly recommend it.

Book Source:  A Review Copy from NetGalley and Harper Muse.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.