Review of Hattie Vavaseur

[Huini Hellen]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Hattie Vavaseur" by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

The novel Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith introduces us to Hattie, a 63-year-old memory-impaired woman whose cerebral brilliance is sophisticated and classy. The idea that life does not always stop with death is the story's central message, which is set in 20th-century England. Hattie is thrust into a mysterious world right after she passes away. With the aid of both old and new friends, she pieces together the details of her long-lost love there. She also learns about a previous existence by recalling lost memories. Her intriguing adventure is rife with paranormal activity, ghosts, psychic mediums, and skillfully woven moments of risk that will have you on the verge of a thrilling narrative.

I appreciate how the analog world managed social interaction and communication when enormous distances separated people. I believe that the use of pen-and-ink communications and even telegrams written in the sender's handwriting gave them a new feeling compared to the contemporary forms of sending messages that we currently have. The author appreciates analog communication as much as I do. She demonstrated this by providing seven letters from 1885 and telegrams from 1927 that form chapters 12 and 21 of this book. I loved the letter Hattie wrote to her best friend, filled with romantic fantasies about how her partner had proposed to her beneath an overgrown tree. I also can't help but draw attention to a stunning poem on page 113.

I admired how expertly the author constructed well-executed dialogues that established the characters and advanced the plot. They also explained the text while making it sound natural and realistic to the readers. Despite her advanced age, I enjoyed Hattie's discussions, which were often amusing or intellectually stimulating. Another treasure in the book is how well the author developed the characters as the story progressed, my favorite being Hattie. She is a character that anyone would want to follow, and I related to the relationships she established along the way and how her keen eye for details helped her unearth buried facts.

Although I found the high level of grammar used in its writing occasionally challenging, I believe any reader will enjoy the intriguing plot that flows easily and is supported by a consistent tone. I encountered no grammatical errors in my reading experience. This information persuades me that publishing this work involved professional editing on the author's part. Taking everything into account, I don't see grounds for not awarding Hattie Vavaseur four out of four stars.

There was not a single element about this book that I didn't enjoy. The author’s inclusion of letters and other earlier forms of communication gave the book an inter-textual appeal. It's what I loved most about this text. I recommend it to young adults interested in evolving romance, suspense thrillers, those looking for something unique with mystery and paranormal thrills, and those looking for a page-turner read.

******
Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes

[Riya Sarkar]

I absolutely agree with your review. I, too, simply loved this book!