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mabechel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Definitely worth reading because it explores the process of aging and dying in a refreshingly straightforward way. The characters are a bit 2D sometimes and the plot a bit predictable/fanciful in spots.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Abandonment, War, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Medical trauma, and Miscarriage
laheath's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Easily 4.5 stars. Although the characters are the heart of this story, the title character is initially not so loveable. Eudora is 85 and lives alone with her cat, who is also not so loveable. Eudora has no family or friends and has decided she is done with life, so she makes arrangements with a clinic in Switzerland where they will help her end her life on her terms, with dignity. As she is awaiting a decision from the clinic, she begins to encounter people in her neighborhood that stretch her beyond her comfort zone, in a good way. At the end of each chapter, there are flashbacks to various years in her past which tell of key moments in her history and help to explain how she turned into the woman she is today. Naturally, the cast of characters changes as it would in any life. As the reader begins to sympathize with Eudora, there's also a transformation beginning in her that gives some hope that she will reconsider her decision with the clinic. Unfortunately, Eudora has put too many walls up around her heart over the years, but maybe her 10 year-old neighbor, Rose, or the widower, Stanley, can help her see that life is still worth living.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Bullying, Car accident, Infidelity, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Child death, and Animal death
yvo_about_books's review
4.5
Finished reading: March 13th 2023
“Life is precious and as long as we have a reason to continue, we should follow that path.”
I have a weak spot for contemporaries with older main characters, and I've been meaning to read The Brilliant Life Of Eudora Honeysett ever since it was first published back in 2020. I also love a story with a focus on unlikely friendships, and the connection between Eudora, Rose and Stanley sounded wonderful. What I can say is that I'm definitely kicking myself for not reading this story sooner! I highly enjoyed my time with this book, and I can understand why it has such a high rating. The Brilliant Life Of Eudora Honeysett can be divided into two storylines: the present with the focus on the unlikely friendship between Eudora, Rose and Stanley and Eudora's decision to end her life on her own terms, and the flashbacks to different points in Eudora's past. I do have to say that I thought the present timeline was stronger and I felt more invested in what happened there. Not that the flashbacks aren't interesting, but they are quite bleak and especially Eudora's younger sister Stella was horrible. I'm never a fan of a cheating element either... Thankfully, the present does manage to distract you from the past, and the flashbacks do help explain why Eudora is the way she is. What made this story work so well for me has a lot to do with the fact that it's so easy to connect to Eudora and the rest of the cast in the present, and I loved seeing the connection between her and both Rose and the other characters grow. It's a character driven story, and as such their development is strong and realistically done. I liked the balance between lighter moments and more serious topics, and the ending itself was refreshing. All in all The Brilliant Life Of Eudora Honeysett definitely turned out to be a winner for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Animal death, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Bullying, Dementia, and Suicide attempt
silversparkles50's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Cancer, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Title: The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett
Author: Annie Lyons
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5.0
Pub Date: September 8, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Humorous • Uplifting • Witty
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eighty-five-year-old Eudora knows she doesn't want her final days to be in a hospital bed hooked up to machines, which is how her mother's life came to an end. And so she decides to take her death into her own hands by getting in contact with a clinic in Switzerland, where she can die on her own terms and timeline.
When ten-year-old Rose, and her family, move in next door, she barges into Eudora's life and claims her as her best friend. Rose is so full of life and cheer and even though Eudora wants nothing more than to be left alone, she finds herself embarking on different adventures with Rose and recently widowed Stanley. Rose is a constant reminder of what it means to be alive.
A powerful story of unlikely friendships, of how the past shapes us, and of what it means to live and die.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is an uplifting and charming read that I won't soon forget. I completely fell in love with the cast of unique characters, particular the unlikely and quirky trio of Eudora, Rose and Stanley. Annie Lyons really brought the characters to life, in such a way that I wanted to join in on their many adventures. Rose, wise beyond her years is so full of sunshine that I couldn't help but laugh at her curiosity and spirit.
There's an interesting structure here, with a section of Eudora's past at the end of most chapters, but it worked really well for the story. It gave a glimpse into Eudora's past, and how it shaped her into the person she is, while driving the story forward at a steady pace.
Beyond the cast of characters and feel-good writing, the reason I cannot stop thinking about this story is the power of human connection and the exploration of death. In Western culture, it's the cultural norm to deny death and shy away from talking about it. Yet through the characters'honesty and curiosity it presents a different view of death. It can stimulate conversation surrounding death, but also about how we live. As the author talks about in 'about the book' section at the end "to face death not with fear, but with hope and honesty."
Overall, a profoundly enjoyable reading experience exploring the power of kindness, human mortality with humour and hope. Another book to add to my list of growing books with a curmudgeon (#grumplit) that I love. One that will be found on my favourites shelf for years to come.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• all readers!
• fans of A Man Call Ove
• books clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'I always used to think it was silly when people said life was short, but I completely get that now. We're here for such a limited time. The least we can do it try to be kind to the people around us. Humans seem to forget that so easily.'"
"People don't talk about death. Not really. People fear it. Ignore it. Deny it. They're happy to blow one another's heads off in those infernal video games or devour horrific films where people are murdered in the most gruesome of ways, while refusing to face the reality of what death is or to have a grown-up discussion about what it means."
Author: Annie Lyons
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5.0
Pub Date: September 8, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Humorous • Uplifting • Witty
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eighty-five-year-old Eudora knows she doesn't want her final days to be in a hospital bed hooked up to machines, which is how her mother's life came to an end. And so she decides to take her death into her own hands by getting in contact with a clinic in Switzerland, where she can die on her own terms and timeline.
When ten-year-old Rose, and her family, move in next door, she barges into Eudora's life and claims her as her best friend. Rose is so full of life and cheer and even though Eudora wants nothing more than to be left alone, she finds herself embarking on different adventures with Rose and recently widowed Stanley. Rose is a constant reminder of what it means to be alive.
A powerful story of unlikely friendships, of how the past shapes us, and of what it means to live and die.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is an uplifting and charming read that I won't soon forget. I completely fell in love with the cast of unique characters, particular the unlikely and quirky trio of Eudora, Rose and Stanley. Annie Lyons really brought the characters to life, in such a way that I wanted to join in on their many adventures. Rose, wise beyond her years is so full of sunshine that I couldn't help but laugh at her curiosity and spirit.
There's an interesting structure here, with a section of Eudora's past at the end of most chapters, but it worked really well for the story. It gave a glimpse into Eudora's past, and how it shaped her into the person she is, while driving the story forward at a steady pace.
Beyond the cast of characters and feel-good writing, the reason I cannot stop thinking about this story is the power of human connection and the exploration of death. In Western culture, it's the cultural norm to deny death and shy away from talking about it. Yet through the characters'honesty and curiosity it presents a different view of death. It can stimulate conversation surrounding death, but also about how we live. As the author talks about in 'about the book' section at the end "to face death not with fear, but with hope and honesty."
Overall, a profoundly enjoyable reading experience exploring the power of kindness, human mortality with humour and hope. Another book to add to my list of growing books with a curmudgeon (#grumplit) that I love. One that will be found on my favourites shelf for years to come.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• all readers!
• fans of A Man Call Ove
• books clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'I always used to think it was silly when people said life was short, but I completely get that now. We're here for such a limited time. The least we can do it try to be kind to the people around us. Humans seem to forget that so easily.'"
"People don't talk about death. Not really. People fear it. Ignore it. Deny it. They're happy to blow one another's heads off in those infernal video games or devour horrific films where people are murdered in the most gruesome of ways, while refusing to face the reality of what death is or to have a grown-up discussion about what it means."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
Minor: Bullying
aerinelf's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I haven't cried this much in years. Holy shit the last third of this book hit me as so sad. I think for someone else it might be less sad and more joyful and comforting but clearly I have some processing of grief that I still need to do because it knocked me back in time and I am inconsolable. If you are still grieving a recent loss take care to choose a time when you are feeling resilient to read this because this book is incredibly effective at reflecting back the experience of grieving for a loved one in the time where you know they are going soon but it hasn't happened yet.
If you can handle that though, it's definitely one of the most heartwarming stories I've read and it is very well done.
If you can handle that though, it's definitely one of the most heartwarming stories I've read and it is very well done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent
linesiunderline's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I’d say this book was exactly what I expected going in - gentle, heartfelt and heartwarming, sad but with a sense of hope, wistful, and a little bit funny.
Strengths included:
- Eudora’s voice and strong personality (I’d have a cup of tea with her any day)
- Rose was utterly delightful, you could feel her joie de vivre and quirkiness springing off the page
- the dynamic between Stanley, Rose, and Eudora
- deft handling of the past and present storylines
I just wish I’d felt a sense of being in some way surprised by the book, or finding something I hadn’t anticipated in the story. It certainly was satisfying and endearing though.
Readalikes include: The Lido, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, A Man Called Ove, Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
Strengths included:
- Eudora’s voice and strong personality (I’d have a cup of tea with her any day)
- Rose was utterly delightful, you could feel her joie de vivre and quirkiness springing off the page
- the dynamic between Stanley, Rose, and Eudora
- deft handling of the past and present storylines
I just wish I’d felt a sense of being in some way surprised by the book, or finding something I hadn’t anticipated in the story. It certainly was satisfying and endearing though.
Readalikes include: The Lido, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, A Man Called Ove, Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Minor: Domestic abuse and Suicide attempt
thrillofthepage's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Last month I read The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons and was so moved I didn’t pick up another book for days! This is easily going to make my Top 10 of 2021 and might even be a contender for my book of the year. I’ve seen a lot of comparisons to A Man Called Ove, which I’m sure I’m the only person on booksta that hasn’t read it, but this book yall....it made my heart swell and gave me all the feels
Eudora is a character that will stick with me forever. She has had a challenging life, but one of her own making in a way. She’s never been content or allowed herself to be happy and has decided that she wants to die on her own terms. Eudora is definitely a curmudgeon, but I found her so endearing and real. Throughout the story we get flashbacks of her life and they broke my heart. The obligations she imposed on herself and the tragedy she encountered from a young age broke me.
Eudora is determined to follow through with her plans, but everything is interrupted when young Rose moves in next door. Oh, sweet, energetic Rose...what a girl after my own heart. Her innocence and lust for life are so uplifting! She has a no filter attitude and a fashion sense that will blow your mind. The relationship she develops with Eudora is one for the ages. Rose is so spunky and enthusiastic and as her zest for life rubs off on Eudora it left the biggest smile on my face.
I honestly can’t say enough about my feelings toward this book. It was so incredibly written and powerful. The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett will make you feel all the the things and I cannot recommend it enough!
Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
TW: assisted suicide, death of a parent, physical abuse, infant death, death of an animal
Eudora is a character that will stick with me forever. She has had a challenging life, but one of her own making in a way. She’s never been content or allowed herself to be happy and has decided that she wants to die on her own terms. Eudora is definitely a curmudgeon, but I found her so endearing and real. Throughout the story we get flashbacks of her life and they broke my heart. The obligations she imposed on herself and the tragedy she encountered from a young age broke me.
Eudora is determined to follow through with her plans, but everything is interrupted when young Rose moves in next door. Oh, sweet, energetic Rose...what a girl after my own heart. Her innocence and lust for life are so uplifting! She has a no filter attitude and a fashion sense that will blow your mind. The relationship she develops with Eudora is one for the ages. Rose is so spunky and enthusiastic and as her zest for life rubs off on Eudora it left the biggest smile on my face.
I honestly can’t say enough about my feelings toward this book. It was so incredibly written and powerful. The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett will make you feel all the the things and I cannot recommend it enough!
Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
TW: assisted suicide, death of a parent, physical abuse, infant death, death of an animal
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Murder
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