On or about his fiftieth birthday, Ambrose Zephyr failed his annual medical exam. An illness of inexplicable origin with neither known nor foreseeable cure was discovered. It would kill him within the month. Give or take a day.
It was suggested he might want to make arrangements concerning his remaining time. — p. 5 of The End of the Alphabet
Ambrose Zephryr and Zappora “Zipper’ Ashkenazi are a married couple with very little time remaining. After hearing the news of his impending death, Ambrose decides he wants to travel. The couple begin their journey with place names starting with the letter ‘A,’ then ‘B,’ and so on.
This very small book (only 119 pages) was meant to be little. It is indeed indicative of the fleeting amount of time the couple have left to spend together.
I appreciated this novella for its poignancy and tenderness, and its sad portrait of the utter helplessness of its characters. It is a book that can be read in one sitting and/or re-read again and again.
Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best First Book
2007, 119 pages
Sounds so sad! But noteworthy
[posting comments lost in a blog crash]
Author : raidergirl3
URL : http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/
Comment:
This is a book I’d like to read. Glad to hear it is good, and short. And a prizewinner. Bonus.
Author : Vasilly
URL : http://classicvasilly.wordpress.com
Comment:
I love this book! I reread it every year. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Author : pusserboots
URL : http://www.pussreboots.pair.com
Comment:
The End of the Alphabet is one of those books I’ve been coveting for a while. Thanks for the review.
Author : Sandra
URL : http://freshinkbooks.blogspot.com/
Comment:
I enjoyed this book very much myself. Glad you liked it too.
Author : Joy
URL : http://thoughtsofjoyblog.blogspot.com
Comment:
I have this one on my TBR List. I’m glad to see you thought it was a worthy read.
Author : kailana
URL : http://myreadingbooks.blogspot.com
Comment:
When I first heard about this book I wasn’t sure it was for me, but now that I have heard about more about it I am going to have to read it very soon!
Author : Teddy
URL : http://teddyrose.blogspot.com
Comment:
Great review. I really liked it to. For such a little book, it packed a punch.
Author : Dawn – She Is Too Fond Of Books
URL : http://www.sheIsTooFondOfBooks.com
Comment:
I rec’d THE END OF THE ALPHABET from my Secret Blogging Santa this year – what a gem! (the book and the blogger, Kim from Page after Page)