For fans of The Keeper of Lost Things, The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton is the story of a woman who has her heart broken, but then puts it back together again in the most uplifting and exquisite way.
Between the simple melody of running her violin shop and the full-blown orchestra of her romantic interludes in Paris with David, her devoted partner of eight years, Grace Atherton has always set her life to music.
Her world revolves entirely around David, for Grace’s own secrets have kept everyone else at bay. Until, suddenly and shockingly, one act tips Grace’s life upside down, and the music seems to stop.
It takes a vivacious old man and a straight-talking teenager to kickstart a new chapter for Grace. In the process, she learns that she is not as alone in the world as she had once thought, that no mistake is insurmountable, and that the quiet moments in life can be something to shout about …
Title: The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton
Author: Anstey Harris
Published By: Simon and Schuster
Publication Day: 10th January 2019
Our Review
Grace has her flaws but I felt such empathy for her as we gradually uncovered exactly what makes her tick and why she is the way she is.
The book described the making of a cello which is something I’d never thought about before but the language used was almost musical and I could hear the cello playing in my head. The passion for the cello, both making one and playing one came through so strongly that the cello itself was almost another character.
Talking of characters, I loved the relationship between Grace and Nadia her nineteen year old assistant and the elderly Mr Williams, together they formed a wonderfully eclectic mix.
Every part of the story was beautiful, even the shocking twists and turns of Grace’s life.
I felt so uplifted when reading this book especially as Grace had been almost held prisoner by certain events in her life so it was great to see her free herself from those shackles.
I could visualise the glamour of Paris and Italy so clearly and there was one moment involving a pale blue dress which had me in tears. This book is as beautiful as the cello music it describes.
Powerfully uplifting and totally captivating. A symphony of Joy.
Sincerely
Book Angel x
About the Author
Anstey Harris is based by the seaside in south-east England where she lives with her violinmaker husband and two dogs. She teaches creative writing in the community, local schools, and as an associate lecturer for Christchurch University in Canterbury.
Anstey writes about the things that make people tick, the things that bind us and the things that can rip us apart. In 2015, she won the H G Wells Short Story Prize for her story, Ruby. In novels, Anstey tries to celebrate uplifting ideas and prove that life is good and that happiness is available to everyone once we work out where to look (usually inside ourselves). Her short stories tend not to end quite so well...
Things that interest Anstey include her children and granddaughter, green issues and conservation, adoption and adoption reunion (she is an adopted child, born in an unmarried mothers' home in Liverpool in 1965), stepfamilies, dogs, and food. Always food. She would love to be on Masterchef but would never recover from the humiliation if she got sent home in the first round.
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