I call this book a letter of hope for those who are grieving, living with pain, and those who wake up each day simply trying to endure.
Mukesh Patel, in his 70s, is a recently widowed man struggling with the death of his beloved wife. Mukesh, who doesn't care much for reading, starts going through his late wife's copy of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, trying to fathom her thoughts during her last days. This book eventually connects him to Aleisha Thomas, a 17yr old working a summer job at the local library who is dealing with challenges at home. Mukesh, Aleisha, and a few others in a suburb in London, will be touched by a list of books, appearing out of nowhere, simply introduced by a line: "Just in case you need it."
And dear friend, here's the list of books, just in case you need it.
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
3. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
4. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison
8. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
As Mukesh gently reminded Aleisha, "Please try to remember that books aren’t always an escape; sometimes books teach us things. They show us the world, they don’t hide it."
I enjoyed this book not only because I have a special penchant for those which lead me to other books but more so because of its poignancy in describing loss and grieving as something persistent and life-altering rather than something to be resolved.
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