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A review by kelly_e
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Title: The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett
Author: Annie Lyons
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5.0
Pub Date: September 8, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Humorous • Uplifting • Witty
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eighty-five-year-old Eudora knows she doesn't want her final days to be in a hospital bed hooked up to machines, which is how her mother's life came to an end. And so she decides to take her death into her own hands by getting in contact with a clinic in Switzerland, where she can die on her own terms and timeline.
When ten-year-old Rose, and her family, move in next door, she barges into Eudora's life and claims her as her best friend. Rose is so full of life and cheer and even though Eudora wants nothing more than to be left alone, she finds herself embarking on different adventures with Rose and recently widowed Stanley. Rose is a constant reminder of what it means to be alive.
A powerful story of unlikely friendships, of how the past shapes us, and of what it means to live and die.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is an uplifting and charming read that I won't soon forget. I completely fell in love with the cast of unique characters, particular the unlikely and quirky trio of Eudora, Rose and Stanley. Annie Lyons really brought the characters to life, in such a way that I wanted to join in on their many adventures. Rose, wise beyond her years is so full of sunshine that I couldn't help but laugh at her curiosity and spirit.
There's an interesting structure here, with a section of Eudora's past at the end of most chapters, but it worked really well for the story. It gave a glimpse into Eudora's past, and how it shaped her into the person she is, while driving the story forward at a steady pace.
Beyond the cast of characters and feel-good writing, the reason I cannot stop thinking about this story is the power of human connection and the exploration of death. In Western culture, it's the cultural norm to deny death and shy away from talking about it. Yet through the characters'honesty and curiosity it presents a different view of death. It can stimulate conversation surrounding death, but also about how we live. As the author talks about in 'about the book' section at the end "to face death not with fear, but with hope and honesty."
Overall, a profoundly enjoyable reading experience exploring the power of kindness, human mortality with humour and hope. Another book to add to my list of growing books with a curmudgeon (#grumplit) that I love. One that will be found on my favourites shelf for years to come.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• all readers!
• fans of A Man Call Ove
• books clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'I always used to think it was silly when people said life was short, but I completely get that now. We're here for such a limited time. The least we can do it try to be kind to the people around us. Humans seem to forget that so easily.'"
"People don't talk about death. Not really. People fear it. Ignore it. Deny it. They're happy to blow one another's heads off in those infernal video games or devour horrific films where people are murdered in the most gruesome of ways, while refusing to face the reality of what death is or to have a grown-up discussion about what it means."
Author: Annie Lyons
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5.0
Pub Date: September 8, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Humorous • Uplifting • Witty
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eighty-five-year-old Eudora knows she doesn't want her final days to be in a hospital bed hooked up to machines, which is how her mother's life came to an end. And so she decides to take her death into her own hands by getting in contact with a clinic in Switzerland, where she can die on her own terms and timeline.
When ten-year-old Rose, and her family, move in next door, she barges into Eudora's life and claims her as her best friend. Rose is so full of life and cheer and even though Eudora wants nothing more than to be left alone, she finds herself embarking on different adventures with Rose and recently widowed Stanley. Rose is a constant reminder of what it means to be alive.
A powerful story of unlikely friendships, of how the past shapes us, and of what it means to live and die.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is an uplifting and charming read that I won't soon forget. I completely fell in love with the cast of unique characters, particular the unlikely and quirky trio of Eudora, Rose and Stanley. Annie Lyons really brought the characters to life, in such a way that I wanted to join in on their many adventures. Rose, wise beyond her years is so full of sunshine that I couldn't help but laugh at her curiosity and spirit.
There's an interesting structure here, with a section of Eudora's past at the end of most chapters, but it worked really well for the story. It gave a glimpse into Eudora's past, and how it shaped her into the person she is, while driving the story forward at a steady pace.
Beyond the cast of characters and feel-good writing, the reason I cannot stop thinking about this story is the power of human connection and the exploration of death. In Western culture, it's the cultural norm to deny death and shy away from talking about it. Yet through the characters'honesty and curiosity it presents a different view of death. It can stimulate conversation surrounding death, but also about how we live. As the author talks about in 'about the book' section at the end "to face death not with fear, but with hope and honesty."
Overall, a profoundly enjoyable reading experience exploring the power of kindness, human mortality with humour and hope. Another book to add to my list of growing books with a curmudgeon (#grumplit) that I love. One that will be found on my favourites shelf for years to come.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• all readers!
• fans of A Man Call Ove
• books clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'I always used to think it was silly when people said life was short, but I completely get that now. We're here for such a limited time. The least we can do it try to be kind to the people around us. Humans seem to forget that so easily.'"
"People don't talk about death. Not really. People fear it. Ignore it. Deny it. They're happy to blow one another's heads off in those infernal video games or devour horrific films where people are murdered in the most gruesome of ways, while refusing to face the reality of what death is or to have a grown-up discussion about what it means."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
Minor: Bullying