Beginning ~ on Alice's computer screen

Beginning

The story on Alice's computer screen had been finding its way into words for more than five years, or maybe forever.  Over that time, it had grown, changed, creaked, flown, gone silent, and then gained its voice again, its plot taking unexpected paths, its characters turning into people she hadn't thought they would be, just as she had.

No Two Persons ~ by Erica Bauermeister, 2023, psychological fiction, 320 pages, 9/10

One book.  Nine readers.  Ten changed lives.  The beauty of books is that they take you places you didn’t know you needed to go.

Alice has always wanted to be a writer.  Her talent is innate, but her stories remain safe and detached until a devastating event breaks her heart open.  That's when she creates a stunning debut novel.  Her words, in turn, find their way to readers ranging from a teenager hiding her homelessness to a free diver pushing himself beyond endurance, an artist furious at the world around her, a bookseller in search of love, and a widower rent by grief.  Each one is drawn into Alice’s novel, and each one discovers something different that alters their perspective and presents new pathways forward for their lives.

Together, their stories reveal how books can affect us in the most beautiful and unexpected of ways ― and how we are all more closely connected to one another than we might think.

I learned about this book from my friend Jane, whose book club is reading it at her suggestion.  Jane and I plan to discuss it together, as well.  I started reading the smidgen that Amazon allows us to read, decided I couldn't stop there, and bought it for Kindle.  I got a library copy to re-read it, and discuss it with Jane.

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts

Book Beginnings on Fridays.