"Adventure Angels Manifesto
I herby commit to falling in love with life in all of its manifestations of trouble and triumph, joy and grief, boredom and excitement.
I will treat each day as an adventure, full of possibility, and I will seek to be present for every moment, whether pleasant or unpleasant....
I commit to becoming an ambassador for adventure, bringing new experiences into the lives of others while engaging in them myself.
And I solemnly promise to hold sacred the confidences and stories shared in this group, along with the identities of individuals who attend.
If I should fail, I commit to picking myself up and trying again...."
-excerpts of the Manifesto, from the novel
Ophelia MacPhee is a luthier in Seattle. Don't know that term? Neither did I. A luthier is a maker/repairer of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars. When her grandfather bequeaths his business to Phee, as she is called, she is forced to make a promise to him, one with which she is uncomfortable and which will literally haunt her for years.
Braden Healey, formerly a premiere cello player, has lost use of his hands in a tragic event, and shortly after, lost most of his family and fell into the clutches of alcoholism. Braden's daughter, 17-year-old Allie, also a gifted cellist, is also burdened by guilt. Phee, who has secretly loved Braden for years, sets out to reunite the two with each other and with the music so sadly missing in their lives.
I found the story compelling and well-written so I rate the book a 4. I believe anyone who is deeply involved in the world of instrumental music would LOVE the book. Having little musical ability, I had a harder time identifying with the cello obsession which drove the plot. The themes of family dysfunction, broken promises, and redemption were more universal, of course.
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