A woman’s journey through calligraphy and relationships.
Since I’ve been delving into Women’s Fiction lately, a friend recommended this novel. I really enjoyed the central conceit of a repressed 20-something calligrapher in New York, who finds inspiration for her lettering business in walking around New York City in search of creative hand-lettered signage. Clayborn describes in wonderful detail the process of lettering date planners and wedding programs for clients, among other creations, and captures the artistic dreaminess when the alphabet seems to come alive, the letters whispering liberating secrets to Meg. She finds herself in a whirlwind of life changes when a handsome former client confronts her with painting a hidden message in a project she made for him. More secrets–both liberating and painful–emerge as Meg inks her way toward new relationships with friends, lover, and clients.
I’m inspired to go hunting old signs! The artistic and calligraphy elements of the novel carried me along, despite some long stretches of emotional dithering on the part of Meg that tempted me to skim. But the intense dwelling on emotional nuances is one of the genre tropes, and surely appeals to many readers. Overall, a fun trip through New York and its signs, as they resonate in one woman’s heart.
*****
You will find The Rambling Writer’s blog posts here every Saturday. Sara’s latest novel from Book View Cafe is available in print and ebook: The Ariadne Connection. It’s a near-future thriller set in the Greek islands. “Technology triggers a deadly new plague. Can a healer find the cure?” The novel has received the Chanticleer Global Thriller Grand Prize and the Cygnus Award for Speculative Fiction. Sara has recently returned from another research trip in Greece and is back at work on the sequel, The Ariadne Disconnect. Sign up for her quarterly email newsletter at www.sarastamey.com