melaniesreads's review against another edition
4.0
You can tell the author has written numerous short stories as every chapter is it’s own little story. Set from early May to late September we meet the ever changing inhabitants of number 23. Each escaping to the seaside for various reasons which soon becomes clear.
It begins with Martha or should we say celebrity actress Selena who is fleeing the headlines and after a diy cut and colour is also hoping to be incognito. After her story unfolds and her stay is coming to an end she leaves a letter and a gift for the next occupant. This is the start of a tradition and it was just as exciting to find out what gift would be left next as it was to meet new characters. Arthur was my favourite a widow who is mistaken for Father Christmas by little Archie staying with his mum next door.
The stories are heartfelt, sometimes a little bit sad and covering quite difficult subjects. The book is like the tides of the sea showing the highs and lows so I was more than pleased when it came full circle at the end. The author also caught you up to date with them all in the epilogue. By the end of the book I felt part of The Strand so that was a very welcome touch.
It begins with Martha or should we say celebrity actress Selena who is fleeing the headlines and after a diy cut and colour is also hoping to be incognito. After her story unfolds and her stay is coming to an end she leaves a letter and a gift for the next occupant. This is the start of a tradition and it was just as exciting to find out what gift would be left next as it was to meet new characters. Arthur was my favourite a widow who is mistaken for Father Christmas by little Archie staying with his mum next door.
The stories are heartfelt, sometimes a little bit sad and covering quite difficult subjects. The book is like the tides of the sea showing the highs and lows so I was more than pleased when it came full circle at the end. The author also caught you up to date with them all in the epilogue. By the end of the book I felt part of The Strand so that was a very welcome touch.
julesg's review
3.0
This was a slow read for me. It took me a lot of time to get into the story - or should I say stories - and even then I had the feeling the dialogue was very stilted. At least, I have never had dialogues like that in all of my life - not with friends, nor with strangers. That was the biggest pet-peeve I had with this book. I liked the idea behind the book, I liked how that summer in Devon came with chance meetings and stories that went along with it, but I hated the dialogue and hence had a very hard time to connect with the characters.
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