I am very selective when it comes to recommending novels, resisting anything that smacks of the latest must read or is now darling of book clubs everywhere. That stuff – and by "that stuff," I mean the literary detritus that makes its way from blockbuster to Blockbuster, film adaptation following only months after the release of some heavily publicized book – all of it leaves me pining for a sudden bout of illiteracy. Or a stroke, which would accomplish the same thing. Thankfully, I recently discovered a novel that makes me proud to be a reader; the book reaffirms my belief that good authors need not write in obscurity. All of which is to say, Melodie Bowsher (www.melodiebowsher.com) is a writer of exceptional talent and grace.
Her latest novel, My Lost and Found Life, involves a character named Ashley Mitchell who goes from a life of glamor to a world of criminal suspicion and family disruption. Bowsher’s narrative devices – and I won’t spoil the fun by revealing too much – make the story intriguing and transformative: we develop a personal interest in Ashley, and learn about the redemptive powers of friends and life itself — all set in one of my favorite cities, San Francisco. Bowsher writes beautifully, combining great dialogue with superb timing. Her book deserves your attention. Buy it!
