by Apple Gidley
Genre: Novel
Published: 2025
Summary:
Amelia is a recent widow. Her husband was a well-known artist. However, due to the husband’s decline in health, they lived a secluded life in Papua New Guinea for several years. Amelia sells the home, takes a few of her favorite pieces from her husband’s collection, and moves to Italy. A place where there are no memories of them together. A place where she can begin to find herself, the once-forgotten Amelia. Her two daughters believe she has gone mad until they visit and see that this adventure is exactly what their mother needs. Through Amelia’s new friends, she finds herself – and she finds serenity. Though, not in ways she ever expected.
Recommendation
This is not about a TCK, but it is about expat living. We watch a woman grieving her loss, processing her late husband’s mistakes, all the while learning a new language and culture. She makes friends with the “locals” and becomes one of them. Since Apple is a TCK herself, I believe she intentionally adds one character in her novel that is. Amelia has a clever conversation with this TCK, and in just a few sentences, one reads the facts of growing up outside your passport. This TCK says, “That’s the trouble with a nomadic upbringing. One tends to feel at home in many places.” He then shares that his sister had a rough time and hasn’t moved since after university.
If you are looking for a fun book to read this summer or for a long flight, I recommend this book. You can escape to the vineyards of Italy and the many cafes while reading something you understand even if you have never stepped foot into Italy.
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