I might upgrade this to four-stars but I would have to read it again ( )

I was thrilled to find this book at my public library, but I read and read and read without really bonding with the story or the characters. Yes, I finished it, but only because it was short. ( )

When Ambrose Zephyr is diagnosed with an unidentified terminal illness and given only a month to live, he decides to make the most of his final days. Accompanied by his wife Zappora Ashkenazi (also known as Zipper) he sets off on a journey round the world, visiting each city on his list in alphabetical order. Will they make it to the end of the alphabet before time runs out for Ambrose?

At 128 pages, this is more of a novella than a novel and could easily be read in one sitting. I think the book might have lost its impact had it been any longer; I felt that the shortness of the book and the shortness of the individual chapters reflected the speed at which Ambrose’s remaining days were slipping away from him.

I loved the alphabetical theme which runs throughout the book from the characters’ initials (AZ and ZA) to the chapter titles (each stage of their journey is headed with the corresponding letter of the alphabet). Each place they visit brings back memories and evokes strong emotions for both Ambrose and Zipper. Richardson has given his characters a surprising amount of depth for such a short book; it was interesting to see how they each coped with the news of Ambrose’s illness in their own different ways.

Although there is quite a lot of dialogue in the book, the author has decided not to use quotation marks which made following the conversations unnecessarily confusing. I also sometimes found it hard to tell whether certain scenes were happening in the present or in a flashback. However, other readers will probably love his writing style.

Despite the tragic subject matter, I thought it was a warm, charming story and although I probably would never have chosen to read it if I hadn’t won a copy in a competition, it's an impressive debut novel by CS Richardson.

http://helenlovesbooks.blogspot.com/2... ( )

This is a charming little book that I read one afternoon at the beach. It is the story of a 50 year old Londoner who is diagnosed with a terminal illness and has one month to live, so he embarks on a whirlwind trip with his wife. Quirkiness and loveliness abounds. Oddly, it is not depressing, even though it's about the end of a life and the end of a relationship. This novella begins and ends with the statement "this story is unlikely," and it reads like a fable. If you read it with an eye for realism, it won't work. But as a slightly otherworldly story, it is positively enchanting.

Recommended for: readers are in the mood for a quirky, romantic little book. I can see that this one isn't for everyone--one of the reviewers called it "treacly," and although I vehemently disagree, I can see how someone might think that. But I'm not a sappy type, and I liked it a lot. A good vacation read. ( )

what a stupid book. i can't believe the reviews! ( )