Rules for Visiting

really enjoyed reading this for many many reasons.
1. Reading is an excursion into the world that a character inhibits and it's
a really wonderful wonderful experience to go into the world of a character as fully
realized as May Attway is. She captivated my imagination from the first chapter itself.
2. as a tree-hugging nature enthusiast, I was delighted to google the various trees she talks about throughout the story.
3. the beautifully subtle, quiet, meditative and introspective prose of this novel.
4. The writing is also so astutely observational that I highlighted many passages in this book. perhaps the biggest sign of a great book (to me).
5. her father's memorial tree research Chapters were always a highlight. They had my heart.
This whole book was a joy to read.
I don't even remember how I came across this book but really really glad I did.

Mae is a gardener. She's forty and lives with her elderly father. In her life, she has had four strong friendships. She's come to the realization that she has neglected friendships in her life. An opportunity appears for Mae to take an extended time off work, and she decides to use that time to visit her four old friends.

This book is an extended reflection on things that are important to us in life, and each page is sprinkled with wise thoughts and curated facts that contribute to a life well-lived.

And here you have a pleasant surprise. Even if May has an old soul (she acts a lot older than her 40 years of age and definitely her thoughts on relationships and technology follow suit), she has lots of very valid points and in these strange pandemic times, I confess I thought about some of it often: the shallowness of social network and the depths of real friendship, the camaraderie and gentleness that one so easily overlooks, the real story behind people. it was sweet like a hot cocoa in a windy day.