When my mom was downsizing to go into a nursing home, she asked all of us what we wanted. One of my main requests was her address book. She not only had address of friends and family but birthdates and dates for marriages and years that their children were born - a small history of her friends and family. Her connection with address book is what first made me want to read The Red Address Book and I was thrilled when I won a copy from Bookish Firsts. I definitely enjoyed the novel. Yes, it was sad throughout but I also found it full of love and the acceptance that a well lived life that was coming to an end.
Doris is 96 years old and has a red address book that her father gave to her as a child. She crosses out each entry when the person dies and at her age there are more people crossed out than not. She uses the address book to remind herself of her earlier life and adventures and is then writing those down for her niece Jenny. Jenny lives in San Francisco and Doris in Stockholm so Doris doesn't know if they'll see each other again and she wants Jenny to know about her life. I thought that the story of Doris's life was lovely and full of fantastic memories. She traveled from Sweden to Paris to American and then back to Sweden and her life was full of adventures. I find her life quite exciting.
Overall, this is a wonderful but sad book about the memories of an elderly woman as her days on earth are coming to an end. I highly recommend it.
Doris is 96 years old and has a red address book that her father gave to her as a child. She crosses out each entry when the person dies and at her age there are more people crossed out than not. She uses the address book to remind herself of her earlier life and adventures and is then writing those down for her niece Jenny. Jenny lives in San Francisco and Doris in Stockholm so Doris doesn't know if they'll see each other again and she wants Jenny to know about her life. I thought that the story of Doris's life was lovely and full of fantastic memories. She traveled from Sweden to Paris to American and then back to Sweden and her life was full of adventures. I find her life quite exciting.
Overall, this is a wonderful but sad book about the memories of an elderly woman as her days on earth are coming to an end. I highly recommend it.