Faraway Smell of Lemon: From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

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So why, then, do we behave as if everything we have connected with, everything we have blessed with our loving, should be ours for keeps?

Binny did not purchase a Christmas tree or get out the box of decorations from the loft or fill the kitchen with mince pies and jars of pickle. While waiting for the 'prequel' to Rachel Joyce's "the unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Frye", I purchased her short story," a faraway smell of lemon". and read it because our book club selected her book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to read and discuss for our January 2015 meeting.It is enough to have tiptoed to that space beyond the skin, beyond our nerve endings, and to have glimpsed things that beforehand we only half knew. What sort of Christmas Binny’s children, Coco and Luke are going to get this year is anyone’s guess. While doing the morning school run, Binny escapes from the clutches of another Mum (wearing a complete Xmas “ensemble” of a festive jogging suit, with matching red fur ears and gloves) who wants to know if Binny is “ready for Christmas” or maybe even the nativity play that is on that afternoon at the school. No sermons, without sentimentality Joyce's words wash over you and through these fictional events a deeper truth is revealed. Imagine my surprise when I opened it up and discovered it was a short story, quite apt for the time of year, and indeed, for this extraordinary year!

Wonderfully written this account moves you emotionally and allows you to reflect on Christmas and truely prepare for this special time of year. A tinsy sad but at last hopeful short story, to remember of all the human beings in our life whom we care about and not to forget the importance of small things and gestures. Smitten with British author Rachel Joyce, I immediately downloaded her short e-story A FARAWAY SMELL OF LEMON to my Kindle. It is raining, her house is falling apart, the streets are jammed with people and it is all Oliver’s fault. In her busy life, while feeling sorry for herself Bin must prepare for Christmas without any joy or desire to celebrate.

I'm not much into short stories but the author has managed to infuse this short read with depth and emotion that far longer novels often fail to achieve.