And The Greatest Of These Is Love

Letters To Iris by Elizabeth Noble is a beautiful contemporary novel about life and love. It is bittersweet and will tug at the reader’s heartstrings. You cannot ignore this book. It will elicit a response from you.

There is so much in this book but it can be summed up in just one word – love. A love that hangs on. A love that will not die. A love that motivates. A powerful, all consuming love.

There is the very sad theme of Alzheimer’s. “Far too proud to let anyone see that anything was wrong.” Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease robbing us of our loved ones bit by bit till only memories remain. “The only silver lining in the whole… awful cloud… They don’t know.”

Our lives are not meant to be lived in isolation. Our lives intersect with others at just the right moment. Shared experiences with strangers will form a bond and a support at some of the darkest times.

Loneliness is another theme. We can be lonely in a crowd or in a family. Everyone else’s needs are met but we appear invisible. “You didn’t see me.”

Letters To Iris shows “broken lives and smashed hopes.” It hurts when our dreams die but it is never too late to dream again.

The letters to Iris are beautiful. They bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. The great love just radiates outwards.

Family is important. “Family was everything. The maternal instinct is strong but the paternal bond seems detached at best. Fathers have needs too that may be super seeded by children.

Letters To Iris was written in two different female voices. Both took up residence in my heart. I ‘saw’ and empathised with both characters. The book is beautifully written and demands a response from the reader. Mine was one of a deep, deep love. This book will not leave you untouched.

A powerful, beautiful read.

I received this book for free from Net Galley. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON