This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Victoria Sutton
Alice is a wanderer. She has always felt like she didn’t quite fit in and uses travel as her way to escape. When her father’s terminal illness forces her back to the family home, she is forced to face up to the events that caused her most recent departure and also finds herself reminiscing about the past. She has very different relationships with her sisters and has never felt as close to their father as they are. In fact, Alice almost feels she is blamed for how their lives apparently changed when she was born.
Daniel wanders the streets of London. One day he found himself homeless and for years he has remained that way – lost in his memories of childhood and the love affair he never got over. The City of London is his home and we see it through his eyes. He identifies different colours as words and letters and, as he travels the streets, he gathers items and forms sculptures that spell out the name of the daughter he has never met.
Alternate chapters focus on the two main characters telling their different stories until it becomes apparent that they are separated only by a secret and their very different worlds could be about to collide…
I do love a good list (I have notebooks and post it notes everywhere filled with them!) and I liked how each chapter in this novel began with a list of ‘ten things’. It was a clever tool to reveal facts and give insight into the two main characters quickly and concisely. I did find the story a little slow as it progressed – almost as though I was waiting for something more to happen – but I became involved in both Alice and Daniel’s stories so I simply had to read on.Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love is a tale about families, relationships and loves lost and found. It was a subtle and moving read and although I was undecided on whether or not I liked it, the story has certainly stayed with me weeks after I finished.
6/10