I finished reading The Mill River Recluse last night and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this 99 cent Kindle book. Quick synopsis of the story:
Disfigured by the blow of an abusive husband, and suffering her entire life with severe social anxiety disorder, the widow Mary McAllister spends almost sixty years secluded in a white marble mansion overlooking the town of Mill River, Vermont. Her links to the outside world are few: the mail, the media, an elderly priest with a guilty habit of pilfering spoons, and a bedroom window with a view of the town below.
Most longtime residents of Mill River consider the marble house and its occupant peculiar, though insignificant, fixtures. An arsonist, a covetous nurse and the endearing village idiot are among the few who have ever seen Mary. Newcomers to Mill River - a police officer and his daughter a anew fourth grade teacher - are also curious about the reclusive old woman. But only Father Michael O'Brien knows Mary and the secret she keeps - on that, once revealed, will change all of their lives forever.
Okay, so when I first read that, I was thinking this might be a good mystery of psychological thriller. It turns out it isn't. Instead, it is a really touching story of learning to accept people, flaws and all. Nobody is perfect. Nobody will ever be perfect. Everybody has their own uniqueness that deserves love and acceptance and we need to start with finding that within ourselves first.
This is a quick and easy read, though as I said, so not what I was expecting, that I think would be great for anybody to read through on a cold, rainy weekend...when there is no football on.
