Do you hear that beautiful sound? It’s Christmas Break calling! Finals for my students began today, and as of 12:15 next Tuesday, I’ll be home free until January. The break couldn’t come at a better time, because I still have a lot of reading to get done if I’m going to meet my fifty book goal.

Earlier this week, I crossed one book off the list when I finished The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper. This is a light, charming (pun intended) read that I finished up in one evening’s worth of reading.

The main character of the story is Arthur Pepper, an aging widower. When he discovers an unfamiliar charm bracelet among his late wife’s belongings, he sets out on a journey that leads him away from his routine and to new adventures.

The book was cute, if somewhat predictable, and Patrick does a nice job of keeping a large cast of quirky characters in order. While the book does touch on some good themes–loss, acceptance, finding yourself again–I felt that there were almost too many interesting characters who get brushed over as Arthur moves on in his adventure. I think that’s a matter of personal taste, though–I love books where you get to sit with a character and really learn all about them. If that’s what you’re looking for, you probably won’t find it here.

That being said, If you’re looking for something fun and different, or if you’re a charm bracelet aficionado like me, this might be a fun read for you. I somewhat regret paying as much as I did for it–it was cute and interesting, but it probably won’t be worth a second read.

That being said, it was wonderful to sit down and read an entire book from cover to cover–even if I did fall asleep for an hour and a half during that time.

What are you reading right now? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Keep Reading,

Sarah