Review: Afternoon with Emily
I am often drawn to books by their covers. Now that doesn't mean I judge every book by its cover, but in this case it worked out nicely for me! I had been in a reading rut for awhile and I needed a good book to shake the cobwebs off my distracted (by summer and sun) mind.
Afternoon with Emily, by Rose MacMurray, merges a real life person, Emily Dickinson, with a fictional story. The story is about the life of Emily Dickinson as seen through the eyes of her friend Miranda Chase. I found this to be a truly beautiful book, written lyrically and lovingly by an author who was herself a poet. Her research of Dickinson's poems and letters was extensive, and it shows.
If you are a history or poetry buff, then I think you may like what is held within this books pages. The setting is described in such a way that you really get to glimpse as to what it may have been like to live through the time of the American Civil War.
This isn't my favorite book of all time and it can seem a little slow-paced at times, but it is still worthy of a few afternoons. I also thought some events were a little predictable, but overall I thought it was a good read. It is nicely written, and I found the characters and their motives interesting. If you are looking for a summery relaxing read, then I recommend picking up a copy of Afternoons with Emily, and even checking out the poetry of Emily again to complete the experience.