My book review of 'Days of Wonder' by Keith Stuart

by Keith Stuart
Days of Wonder
by Keith Stuart

Tom is the manager of a small theatre in the West Country. Each year he gathers his actors and staff together for a unique performance to mark his daughter's birthday.

These productions started when Hannah was a toddler. She had just received a diagnosis of a life-threatening heart condition, and Tom wanted to create a distraction with the magic and joy of stories.

Now Hannah is 15 and as she recognises that her heart is failing, she strives for independence. She's too old now for make believe.

But the theatre is threatened with closure and both Hannah and Tom need to gather all their resources to face challenging times ahead.

I loved this book. It came at just the right time for me to enjoy my own escapist make believe. I dropped everything to lose myself in this world of extraordinary friendships, a close-knit community, a loving father-daughter relationship, and a sense of hope and pulling through despite all the odds. There were various truisms about living for the moment, and making memories. The characters were quirky and lovable. It's full of fun and sadness, and a great read.

Date of this review: May 2018