The Bookshop of Yesterdays

As a small child Miranda had a special relationship with her Uncle Billy, a bookstore owner, but then he abruptly stopped calling and dropping by to see her. He effectively disappeared from her life. Miranda does not hear from her uncle for more than a decade. During that time there is mystery and tension surrounding her memories of him, his relationship with her parents, and her occasional hope that he will reappear. When she is in her twenties and working on the other side of the country, she receives a package from her beloved uncle and then a phone call informing her that he has passed away. His final communication with her is a book with a highlighted passage. Miranda embarks on a quest to follow a string of arcane, literature referencing clues to an understanding of what the tension between her family and her uncle is all about. There are plenty of lovable, hatable, and intriguing characters woven through the story. On a deeper level, the book explores the meaning of parent child relationships, as well as, the weight we place on things like friends, family, work, and personal fulfillment. Overall, this was a fun read with a few twists and turns as well as some food for thought.