If you are unfamiliar with the magic of this village, I must share my yesterday’s experience with you. I was trying to write this post and when I uploaded the picture of this book, my laptop went blank! It said: “you are not connected.” I tried all possible ways and means to figure out what went wrong, I couldn’t get connected! In frustration, I gave up and went to bed, thinking I’ll finish this post in the morning. Surprisingly my phone was working fine. So I rebooted my laptop and started once again but no luck!
Hence this post got so late.
Here I am with the book review of ‘Welcome to Charm,’ the most original fantasy I have come across.
‘Welcome to Charm’ is an amazing fantasy with a gentle romance thrown in to keep you hooked. Are you tired of digital devices? Is the stress of life getting on your nerves? Do you crave a vacation in lush green surroundings with exotic flowers without paying a penny? Do you feel the pinch of inflation? Welcome to Charm – a unique village where you don’t have to pay a penny for a burger, can live in your dream house, never would have to lock it or lease it! Sounds incredible? Tonya has a surprise for you at each step, as this story proceeds.
Abby is astounded in the beginning but finds serenity the moment she learns to accept the inevitable. So intoxicated she gets by the company of Nash and the healing touch of Mother Nature; she feels that living in Charm is like living a fairy tale. She agrees to stay and discovers the real reason why she has been brought to Charm and why she couldn’t find an exit road to reach Crestview.
There is another noteworthy aspect of this book. Though it thrives on fantasy, it also returns to realism when it quotes from the poet Emerson: “there is nothing which nature cannot repair.” It reminded me of the “back to nature” call by the poets of the Victorian Era. William Wordsworth said, “To her fair works did Nature link the Human soul that through me ran.” Penrose uses this unifying theme of life and Nature most effectively.
The childlike charm of this book, the subtle wisdom and the way it has been shared makes it a superb reading experience. I would like to visit Charm!
If you want to accompany me, leave your digital devices behind, as they won’t work there.
Thank you.
– Balroop Singh
Emotional Shadows 