Annie Lyons
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons opens with eighty-five-year-old Eudora Honeysett having reached a momentous decision. With no surviving relatives and experiencing the aches and pains that come with an aging body, Eudora decides she wants to die on her own terms. Accordingly, she contacts an agency in Switzerland that specializes in assisted suicides. She has to fill out forms, overcome various hurdles, and pass protocols before the agency agrees to assist her. As Eudora works through meeting their requirements, new neighbors move in next door–a young couple with their ten-year-old daughter, Rose.
Rose is a vibrant, inquisitive, rumbunctious, and chattering ball of energy with a penchant for clothing in loud, mismatched colors. Reluctantly, Eudora finds herself swept up in the whirlwind that is Rose. That the curmudgeonly Eudora can form a wonderful friendship with a precocious ten-year-old is surprising and delightful. Their circle of two expands to a circle of three when Rose invites Stanley, an elderly neighbor, to join in their activities.
Eudora’s anti-social behavior and cynicism are explained in the vivid flashbacks describing her childhood and early adult years, all of which are interspersed throughout the novel. Her father dies in World War II. Left alone with her mother and baby sister, she feels a responsibility beyond her years to nurture her mother and sister and to act as a buffer in their contentious relationship. After her sister’s betrayal, Eudora becomes the sole caretaker of their mother, remaining single all her life and sacrificing own happiness for her mother. She harbors guilt for what happens to her sister. She feels unloved, unloving, and redundant. That is, until Rose explodes into her life.
All the characters have depth and are well rounded. Underneath her crotchety mannerisms, Eudora has a heart of gold. She is drawn with empathy and compassion. Stanley, having recently lost his wife, is sentimental and prone to fits of tears. The rumbunctious Rose, with her exuberance and persistence and unbridled joy, embraces them in her circle of love. Her talent for drawing them into fun activities serves to rejuvenate her elderly friends. The trio’s camaraderie brings out the best in all. The dialogue is witty, vibrant, and full of relatable moments. Rose is especially delightful with her incessant comments and questions and stubborn refusal to take no for an answer.
This tale of intergenerational friendships illustrates the comfort to be derived from meaningful relationships. It is a heart-warming, wonderful celebration of life and shows how love can be found even in the most unexpected places.