"We all have baggage," replied Amy. She glanced back into her house. "No one travels lightly anymore."
- The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray
I loved reading about 30-something Amy Ashton who leads a solitary life and works a boring office job. Her life once included Tim, her musician boyfriend; Chantal, her best friend; and dreams of becoming an artist. But Chantal and Tim disappeared on the same day 11 years ago, and Amy hasn't been the same since.
Her house, once shared with Tim and Chantal, is now stacked rug to roof with things, things, and more things. Old newspapers, bird figurines, cigarette lighters, flower pots, cookbooks, etc. Amy's become a hoarder and can't allow anyone to see inside her home lest they take her things or force her to move. When a family with two young boys moves in next door, an accident (which is traumatic for Amy) occurs in her backyard. This leads to events that eventually impact her future in a very positive way.
In alternating chapters, debut author Eleanor Ray shares important moments of Amy and Tim's relationship which explain Amy's compulsion to add every ashtray, empty wine bottle, and coffee cup she encounters to her collections. As with many things, once the rationale behind bizarre behaviors is known, actions become more understandable.
Aspects of this poignant novel reminded me of The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, Afraid of the Light by Cynthia Ruchti, and The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons, all novels I loved reading.
The only thing I disliked is the cover. The colorful illustrated design led me to believe this would be a lighthearted comedy, and that sells this story quite short. I'm eager to read whatever Eleanor Ray writes next. Thank you to Gallery Books for a review copy; all opinions are my own.
- The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray
I loved reading about 30-something Amy Ashton who leads a solitary life and works a boring office job. Her life once included Tim, her musician boyfriend; Chantal, her best friend; and dreams of becoming an artist. But Chantal and Tim disappeared on the same day 11 years ago, and Amy hasn't been the same since.
Her house, once shared with Tim and Chantal, is now stacked rug to roof with things, things, and more things. Old newspapers, bird figurines, cigarette lighters, flower pots, cookbooks, etc. Amy's become a hoarder and can't allow anyone to see inside her home lest they take her things or force her to move. When a family with two young boys moves in next door, an accident (which is traumatic for Amy) occurs in her backyard. This leads to events that eventually impact her future in a very positive way.
In alternating chapters, debut author Eleanor Ray shares important moments of Amy and Tim's relationship which explain Amy's compulsion to add every ashtray, empty wine bottle, and coffee cup she encounters to her collections. As with many things, once the rationale behind bizarre behaviors is known, actions become more understandable.
Aspects of this poignant novel reminded me of The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, Afraid of the Light by Cynthia Ruchti, and The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons, all novels I loved reading.
The only thing I disliked is the cover. The colorful illustrated design led me to believe this would be a lighthearted comedy, and that sells this story quite short. I'm eager to read whatever Eleanor Ray writes next. Thank you to Gallery Books for a review copy; all opinions are my own.
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