The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons

Eudora Honeysett is 85.  Considering her age, she is in pretty good shape.  She still lives on her own and still attends daily swim sessions at the pool.  She doesn't need anybody and she is content that way.  But she is done.  At 85, she wants to be in control of her own passing from this earth.  She's lived her life and she doesn't want to wait until she is desperately ill or incapacitated with people having to do everything for her.  She wants her end to be on her terms while she is still able to decide.  Upon hearing of a clinic in Switzerland who will help her with this, she makes her application and sets about setting things in order.  But then Rose Trewidney, a precocious 10 year old filled with a zest for life and happiness and a penchant for twirling and overly bright clothing choices moves into her neighborhood.  For some reason Rose has decided to befriend Eudora.  Resisting at first, Eudora is put off by Rose's constant interfering and suggestions but slowly the infectious Rose draws her and her other senior neighbor, Stanley into her circle.  As the three odd friends grow closer through tea parties, shopping sprees and celebrations, Eudora starts to open up her closed off heart.  And as they wait for Rose's baby sister to be born, Eudora starts to remember and reflect upon her own childhood where she lost her beloved father to WW II and the devastating impact it had on her family and in turn her whole life. 

I loved this story.  Though at first glance, it seems to be a story about choosing how and when one gets to leave this earth it turns into so much more.  It's a book about love, loss and grief.  About friendship and acceptance and the different forms it can come in if we are only open to receive and give it. It's about no matter how difficult one has found life, that if we look there is always good to be found.  And it's about hope.  With parallels to "A Man Called Ove", this story was definitely driven by it's great cast of characters.  It was sweet, engaging and emotional.   Eudora's character was at times frustrating but as her story is revealed in flashbacks, just like her heart opens to Rose, the reader's heart is opened to Eudora.   In joining Eudora on her bittersweet journey, the reader is reminded to remember that there is so much more to a person's life than what they at first present, and how much in life there really is to live for.    

I gave this a 10/10  

Reading Challenge Goal:  Book from my library list, 5+ words in the title