The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker
My rating: 3/5 cats
this isn’t ordinarily the kind of book i would pick up, since i am typically a reader of all things gritty and sinister, but miriam parker is both a dynamo and a kind-hearted lady, even though she refuses to take seriously my begging to become her assistant, so i decided to give it a whirl.
and, no – it’s not a novel that is within my personal reading preferences, but it is one that will delight a large number of readers who aren’t me, and it’s a perfect book to be released during the horrible heatwave summer of this horrible traumatic year – it’s a bright, hopeful summery lemondrop of a book, which is the perfect way to escape the myriad troubles of the world.
two different people asked me about this book while i was reading it, and when i described it, they both said “oh, it’s Sideways for girls.” which isn’t a terrible touchpoint, but from my memory of having seen the movie once a long time ago, this book isn’t as much of a bummer as most of Sideways, and the characters aren’t as douchey. but it does cover the wine and love and new beginnings and self-discovery bits, so if that’s a description that helps you weigh your desire for this book, weigh away.
it’s about burning bridges, deviating from the plan and creating a path to a new future; the risk of leaving behind the comfortable and familiar, tossing aside all the things that have been sacrificed for and achieved to seek out new impulses, dreams, and hopefully, happiness.
it’s a lighthearted and optimistic read, and if you need to feel cheered up for a few hours or would love some encouragement on your own risk-and-reward journey, this debut novel is a good place to start. it pairs well with any wine at all. or lemonade.
and if anyone would like to give me the opportunity for my own personal reinvention narrative, let me know. i work hard and i play nice and i have more than a few skills.
