A whimsical, moving novel about a retirement home for literary legends who spar, conjure up new stories, and almost magically change the lives of the people around them.
Alfonse Carducci was a literary giant who lived his life to excess—lovers, alcohol, parties, and literary rivalries. But now he’s come to the Bar Harbor Home for the Elderly to spend the remainder of his days among kindred … kindred spirits: the publishing industry’s nearly gone but never forgotten greats. Only now, at the end of his life, does he comprehend the price of appeasing every desire, and the consequences of forsaking love to pursue greatness. For Alfonse has an unshakeable case of writer’s block that distresses him much more than his precarious health.
Set on the water in one of New England’s most beautiful locales, the Bar Harbor Home was established specifically for elderly writers needing a place to live out their golden years—or final days—in understated luxury and surrounded by congenial literary company. A faithful staff of nurses and orderlies surround the writers, and are drawn into their orbit, as they are forced to reckon with their own life stories. Among them are Cecibel Bringer, a young woman who knows first-hand the cost of chasing excess. A terrible accident destroyed her face and her sister in a split-second decision that Cecibel can never forgive, though she has tried to forget. Living quietly as an orderly, refusing to risk again the cost of love, Cecibel never anticipated the impact of meeting her favorite writer, Alfonse Carducci—or the effect he would have on her existence. In Cecibel, Alfonse finds a muse who returns him to the passion he thought he lost. As the words flow from him, weaving a tale taken up by the other residents of the Pen, Cecibel is reawakened to the idea of love and forgiveness.
As the edges between story and reality blur, a world within a world is created. It’s a place where the old are made young, the damaged are made whole, and anything is possible….
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Well developed characters whirling through several stories simultaneously. Really enjoyed it.
Poignant and lively characters, good story and story within the story. A warm easy read.
I truly loved the characters in this book…….as it is a story within a story. The varied personalities make the book.
Uneven. Do!stoked beautifully written, some times not. But if you love books and many of the writers who make them, this will share with you an intimate portrait of aging genius as well as the power of learning from our eldets.
This book had a very interesting story line, really two stories woven together. It moves at a snail pace but the character development is good. The theme, love in many forms, is a good message for our society
Love the idea of assisted living for creatives. Reminds me of the movie Quartet. Good vacation read if you enjoy the process of writing.
Very entertaining with just the right amount of pathos to keep it from being sugary sweet.
A bit too long for book club, but I was sorry to reach the end.
I love this book! The Bar Harbor Retirement Home is for writers only!
Alphonse Carducci is one of the greats. But he evaluates the cost of appeasing all his desires while forsaking love. His greatness was of paramount importance.
He has indulged in women and alcohol.
One nuse, Cecebel, knows firsthand the cost off excess. An accident ruined her face and her sister, she tries to forget. She cannot find forgiveness for herself.
Alphonse finds in her a muse, she awakens his passion. He begins a story, taken up by other residents. Cecebel is awakened to the idea of love and forgiveness. Story and reality blur. But the damaged are made whole. A great read!
J in couldn’t really get into this and abandoned it way!!
I became bored and one of the few books I tossed aside – some of the characters were in my mind less then pleasant – life is too short to be bothered with large egos
Very slow and boring. Hard to get into. I never finished as the story line was too slow. Suppose to be a comedy but I didn’t find any of the pranks funny.
Poorly written. Especially the dialogue.
Sorry but this book did not hold my attention. I live near Bar Harbor, go there frequently, but this story did not depict the beautiful area that I have grown to love and admire. Itt was a great disappointment! Did not even bother to finish it.