This is a gentle, charming book that has you rooting for Arthur in this adventures. He is a likeable man desperate to come to terms with the death of his wife and mend his broken relationships with his children. The writing is subtle, the characters well drawn and its an excellent 'feel good' read.

What a beautiful and heartwarming book. I was so charmed by Arthur, and his journey to understand the wife he may not have known as well as he thought. Arthur had a lot of learning to do about himself and the space he allows himself to occupy now that his wife has passed. His children seem distant, he is very lonely, and nothing quite seems worth it anymore. After finding a jewelry piece from his late wife that he knew nothing about he goes on a strange journey to learn more about her secretive past, and in turn he learns more about himself and what it means to live.

I will absolutely be on the look out for more from this author!

I cannot believe it took so long for me to get around to read this little gem of a book … Arthur mourning the loss of his beloved wife Miriam finally decided to clear out her clothes and discovers a unseen charm bracelet hidden in an old boot … the discovery sets Arthur on new adventures finding out many Shelton’s that were hidden in his wife’s closet … did he really know her ??? A book about love grief families and how you carry on when you lose the love of your life - I loved it !!!

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick was just what I needed. At first it sounds like you'd be reading a book just about grief, but in the end you are reading a book about grieving, letting go, living in the moment and embracing those you love.

Arthur was the kind of man who wasn't ready for change after his beloved wife's passing, so he never removed a single thing of hers from the home. His daily routine was strict and predictable until the day he decided it was okay to let go of some things.

I enjoyed following Arthur along his journey of discovery, both about his wife's past and his future via the charm bracelet he finds while finally cleaning out his wife's things. He doesn't remember ever seeing this bracelet and it upsets him at first. Then he decides to learn more about each charm to better understand a part of his wife's life that he feels he's never known.

Not only did this bring him all over the world, but it also brought him closer to his children and helped him to meet new people.

In the end, I've decided I need to buy a copy for my shelves so that when I need that gentle reminder that those we lose are never truly gone - I can reread this lovely story to gently help me.

Patrick has created a likable, curmudgeonly character in Arthur Pepper. Arthur and the quirky cast of others radiate from the page as they grow and change (albeit somewhat reluctantly). The different travel settings, family dynamics and a little bit of mystery add together for a delightful, introspective reading journey.
Arthur Pepper feels like he has just been surviving during the past year since his wife Miriam died. His two children are grown and don’t have much time for him, and he barely tolerates his neighbor’s contribution of home-baked sweets to his regimented lifestyle. When Arthur finally decides it’s time to clear out Miriam’s clothes, he discovers a hidden gold charm bracelet. As he embarks on a quest to find out more about his wife’s past, he just might find out some things about himself as well.

Nice, light read. Recommended to patrons who liked The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye and Fredrik Backman. We have a lot of seniors who are always looking for good books with older protagonists. This one fits the bill perfectly.

I loved this book! The characters are charming and very relatable. The storyline is delightful. It’s wonderful to see them all learn so much about each other and themselves. This is one of three marvelous books I read over he past few months focusing on the older generation and showing them as real people with solvable problems, wonderful personalities, wisdom and a lot of living left to be done.

Listen to The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper for a sentimental novel that will charm you, make you laugh, and brighten your worst day. This quintessentially British tale is as perfect for a winter day as a cup of tea and a hand knit afghan. If your book club is looking for relief from reading too many heavy tomes, this will be a “blinding” (excellent) choice. Full review: http://hungryforgoodbooks.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-curious-charms-of-arthur-pepper-by.html

While this novel about a widower who finds a charm bracelet that he didn't know his wife had (and that subsequently leads him out of his depressed funk and on an adventure to learn who his wife was before she was his wife) is not my normal fare, it was a somewhat charming and uplifting story.

I found, at times, that it was a bit heavy handed with the life lessons and the revelations that the main character had (the reader is not allowed to make her own discovery or conclusion about what he's learned, it's force fed to you), and that it was a bit more quaint that I care for, but I know many readers out there love these sorts of stories. The writing was clean enough, the characters interesting, and the conclusion was satisfactory if a tad too sunny for my taste.

Overall, not a bad little story.