Monday, December 23, 2024

Still Life by Saran Winman

 Art, life, war, luck and a sentient parrot - what more could you ask for?  I would pay to have the kind of conversations Ulysses and Evelyn have. The story begins at the close of WWII.  Ulysses is a young British soldier more likely to see good than bad even in a war. Evelyn is a much older art conservator trying to get into Florence to assess and rescue art lost and damaged by war.  Their meeting is an unlikely random chance but it is a meeting of two minds destined to connect. Ulysses returns to a messy life in a small town outside of London filled with unforgettable characters including Claude the parrot and a daughter for whom biology is an unnecessary requirement.  A most incredible set of circumstances finds him back in Florence with another group of people you just hope really exist somewhere.  It's a book that will take you to your happy place or at least Florence, Italy. And so many wonderful conversations!


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