Genre Fiction
![Annie Lyons - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B00DRCE90K.jpg)
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett: A Novel
USA TODAY BESTSELLER!
"One adorably British odd couple . . . Charming." -People
Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Be Frank with Me, a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live.
It's never too late to start living.
Eudora Honeysett is done with this noisy, moronic world-all of it. She has witnessed the indignities and suffering of old age and has lived a full life. At eighty-five, she isn't going to leave things to chance. Her end will be on her terms. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland, a plan is set in motion.
Then she meets ten-year-old Rose Trewidney, a whirling, pint-sized rainbow of sparkling cheer. All Eudora wants is to be left alone to set her affairs in order. Instead, she finds herself embarking on a series of adventures with the irrepressible Rose and their affable neighbor, the recently widowed Stanley-afternoon tea, shopping sprees, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, pizza parties.
While the trio of unlikely BFFs grow closer and anxiously await the arrival of Rose's new baby sister, Eudora is reminded of her own childhood-of losing her father during World War II and the devastating impact it had on her entire family. In reflecting on her past, Eudora realizes she must come to terms with what lies ahead.
But now that her joy for life has been rekindled, how can she possibly say goodbye?
"One adorably British odd couple . . . Charming." -People
Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Be Frank with Me, a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live.
It's never too late to start living.
Eudora Honeysett is done with this noisy, moronic world-all of it. She has witnessed the indignities and suffering of old age and has lived a full life. At eighty-five, she isn't going to leave things to chance. Her end will be on her terms. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland, a plan is set in motion.
Then she meets ten-year-old Rose Trewidney, a whirling, pint-sized rainbow of sparkling cheer. All Eudora wants is to be left alone to set her affairs in order. Instead, she finds herself embarking on a series of adventures with the irrepressible Rose and their affable neighbor, the recently widowed Stanley-afternoon tea, shopping sprees, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, pizza parties.
While the trio of unlikely BFFs grow closer and anxiously await the arrival of Rose's new baby sister, Eudora is reminded of her own childhood-of losing her father during World War II and the devastating impact it had on her entire family. In reflecting on her past, Eudora realizes she must come to terms with what lies ahead.
But now that her joy for life has been rekindled, how can she possibly say goodbye?
Editorial Reviews
"One adorably British odd couple . . . Charming." - People
"The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is an exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death. In the latter, the author dares to explore a subject that many shy away from, but she does so with touching sensitivity, gentle humour and absolute honesty. Eudora's courage, dignity and wry sense of fun are beautifully drawn as she takes the reader on the heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting journey of her life and death. Everyone should read this book." - Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things and The Moon, the Stars, and Madame Burova
"Lyons' characters are unique and wonderful, portrayed with a depth that allows readers to understand their motivations and empathize with them. . . . And yet the trio's unlikely camaraderie has the power to rejuvenate them all, showing that good friendship makes life worth living. A sensitive examination of human connections that can both damage and heal." - Kirkus Reviews
"Witty, endearing . . . Lyons strikes a winning balance, reaching deep feelings while avoiding the traps of sentimentality." - Publishers Weekly
"Lyons' touching tale of intergenerational friendship is reminiscent of Frederik Backman's A Man Called Ove . . . this is a thoroughly enchanting feel-good read." - Booklist
"The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is filled with personable characters, witty dialogue and relatable moments. It's a vibrant and humorous celebration of being alive and learning to say goodbye." - Bookpage
"A charming, thought-provoking story about the healing powers of friendship and love." - Shelf Awareness
"The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is an exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death. In the latter, the author dares to explore a subject that many shy away from, but she does so with touching sensitivity, gentle humour and absolute honesty. Eudora's courage, dignity and wry sense of fun are beautifully drawn as she takes the reader on the heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting journey of her life and death. Everyone should read this book." - Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things and The Moon, the Stars, and Madame Burova
"Lyons' characters are unique and wonderful, portrayed with a depth that allows readers to understand their motivations and empathize with them. . . . And yet the trio's unlikely camaraderie has the power to rejuvenate them all, showing that good friendship makes life worth living. A sensitive examination of human connections that can both damage and heal." - Kirkus Reviews
"Witty, endearing . . . Lyons strikes a winning balance, reaching deep feelings while avoiding the traps of sentimentality." - Publishers Weekly
"Lyons' touching tale of intergenerational friendship is reminiscent of Frederik Backman's A Man Called Ove . . . this is a thoroughly enchanting feel-good read." - Booklist
"The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is filled with personable characters, witty dialogue and relatable moments. It's a vibrant and humorous celebration of being alive and learning to say goodbye." - Bookpage
"A charming, thought-provoking story about the healing powers of friendship and love." - Shelf Awareness
Readers Top Reviews
Cristalbecky nick
Love this book. I love the point of view from an 85 year old's perspective. I also love how it shows how much the love of a child changes things! A definite must read!
Mary Ann MarkoCri
Eudora, an 85 year old woman is simply done with life and she wants to end it all in her own way. She contacts a sympathetic group in Switzerland to make arrangements. Insertions of events in Eudora’s life bring the reader to an understanding of how she might come to this decision. In the meantime a new family moves next door that raises complexities as they unknowingly give her reasons to live. It is uncertain right up to the end. Even with a life full of disappointments, Eudora finds she still has the capacity to give and receive kindness.
KaylaMary Ann Mar
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I want to love it, because I feel like the main character was never REALLY loved until the end of her days. I want to dislike this book. I really do. In a way, I might a bit, because Eudora's life has been exceptionally lonely... up until a little flash of brilliance named Rose comes crashing in. Rose upends Eudora's plans &, gradually, her heart. I was expecting Eudora to have a very traveled, interesting life. That's not the case at all & there is incredible heartbreak, guilt, & feelings of worthlessness.
Sherry SharpnackK
Eudora Honeysett is a cranky, lonely 85-year-old woman. She lives alone in the house in which she grew up. She more and more contemplates a "good death," where she is in charge of how and when she exits. As assisted suicide is illegal in England, she decides to contact an assisted-suicide facility in Switzerland. As Eudora is deciding to end it all, a new family moves in next door, w/ an irrepressible ten-year-old daughter, Rose, whose fashion sense is eye-watering, to say the least. Eudora and Rose meet as Eudora is walking to the center for her daily swim. She also sees Stanley, a neighbor out walking his annoying, yappy dogs. Rose, however, is enchanted by the dogs and by Stanley. Thus begins an unlikely friendship between Rose and the two elderly folks, Eudora and Stanley. Rose is worried about starting at a new school in the Fall, as she was bullied at the last one. Her mum is also expecting a baby. Stanley is still grieving the loss of his precious wife. And at the end of each chapter, we get a flashback to Eudora's life, in chronological order from her father leaving for the War in 1944 while her own mum is expecting a baby, through the following years as the family relationship matures and fractures. The reader's heart cannot help but break for Eudora and her family. We thus see why Eudora has no one in her life, until she meets Rose and Stanley, Will Eudora continue to pursue her version of the "good death" in Switzerland, or will she choose life w/ all its warts and pain? Not only is this a smashingly good story, it addresses a great question: what does a good death look like to each of its readers? I also encountered this question upon reading "On Being Mortal" by Anul Gawande, another read I absolutely recommend to all of us closer to death than to birth. I LOVED this story about Eudora and the irrepressible Rose, as they each face their fears and move forward into the future. The ending was all that you could wish it to be! 5 very solid stars! Excellent Kindle Unlimited Choice.
NaturalistSherry
This is a book about the impact of community, loneliness, choices and neighbors of all ages coming together to care and support one another. Eudora, the octogenarian main character has spent her life caring first for her mother and sister after her father leaves for the war, then her mother throughout her life, never quite being able to move on. When a loquacious little girl, Rose, moves next door, Eudora is afraid she will never have another moment of peace, she could not have been more right. Rose is not afraid to be her unique self in ways Eudora could never imagine. Soon Rose drags neighbor Stanley and his two dogs into the mix and no one could imagine how it would change all of their lives. This heartfelt story explores what makes a family a good life and death in a manner that will make you laugh and cry.
