The book is a quick, light, at times fun, fluff/fuzzy piece of writing. Lily is an underdeveloped character who starts out as a self-absorbed young girl and does not grow, change, or mature through her experiences/memoirs. She isn't a particularly good mother, wife, sister, daughter, or friend. There are several long, meaningless passages of "over-the-top" descriptions that drag on the story line. If the author had written the novel in a shorter time span, this reader feels the story would have been more clear, more focused, and more concise/tight. As it was, the reader could not truly identify with the main characters or care about them and what happened to them, as they were more charactures instead of real people. The story rambled, moved in strange, illogical ways, and had too many unnecessary, non-developed characters. The ending seemed a bit too contrived.

There are, however, some things to enjoy about the novel. The premise of a 50 something woman spending a month alone with a typewriter in a cottage on the coast of France could certainly appeal to many readers. Also, readers could probably transport themselves with the descriptions of place (Idaho, Wisconsin, cottage in France). The scene of Lily burning the papers in the fireplace is well done. The idea of the typewriter becoming a character is unique and interesting; however, the cat (and the writer's explanation at the back of the book) is a stretch, at best. Other than criticisms of the writing, and maybe a fantasy or two, my book group didn't find much to discuss in the book and would not recommend it to another group.

Most members of my book club agreed this is one of the favorite books ever read; it elicits a beautiful, insightful, emotional response. The descriptions of place/setting are beautifully entwined with the story. The author excels with his fully developed, rich characters who deal with the universal issues of life and death, love, loyalty, and forgiveness. Charles Martin proves he belongs to the tradition of great Southern American writers. My only complaint: the book is difficult to find. It should be made more widely available in libraries and book stores.

There is no story; it is simply an account of things that have already been written, including a couple glaring historical mistakes, that anyone would catch. It is poorly written and has no purpose since it adds nothing. Very disappointing and a waste of time.