The Story Collector: Even Ordinary People Have Stories to Tell... by Evie Woods (Author)

With a taste for the magical in everyday life, Evie Woods's latest novel is full of ordinary characters with extraordinary tales to tell.

Synopsis - 

In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything…

One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life.

In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

Review - 

This is the 3rd title I have read by author Evie Woods.  I was a little worried the 3rd time around as while the stories are different, there is a strong similarity too. We have someone, or some people, who are dealing with personal struggles.  They land in a new place and as they immerse themselves in this new life, healing begins and love is found. There is also a story from the past unfolding along the way that gives depth to what is happening in the present. And, as always, a touch of magic. 

In The Story Collector, Sarah Harper is fleeing the aftermath of a devastating loss and an ensuing divorce.  Instead of landing at her sister's home as she intends, she winds up in a small town in Ireland. How? Well there was some alcohol involved.  Once there she finds the separation she needed. No one knows her, so no one can ask questions, offer advice or give pitying looks.  It was just what she needed. 

On one of her outings alone, she discovers a 100 year old diary tucked in a tin and hidden in a tree.  From that moment on we move between the parallel worlds of teenage Anna in the past and Sara in the present.  And the magic? This time is the stories of fairies - a subject embedded in Celtic culture. Are they real or just myths?  After reading this book I so want to believe. I think this book was my favorite of the three. 

Buy the book: Amazon CA ~ Amazon US

The Lost Bookshop Review HERE
The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris Review HERE

Meet the Author - 

Evie Woods is the author of The Lost Bookshop, the #1 Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times, Spiegel and Amazon Kindle bestseller, which was shortlisted for a British Book Award, and translated into 31 languages. Her new novel, The Mysterious Bakery On Rue De Paris will be published in March 2025.

Evie lives on the West Coast of Ireland where she escapes the inclement weather by writing stories that push the boundary between what is real and what we wish were so. Drawing inspiration from the unseen forces that shape our lives and the healing power of storytelling, she invites the reader to embrace the magic that exists in our ordinary lives.

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