Glaciers

You know a girl living in Portland has a story to tell. You know a child of divorce has a story to tell. You know a librarian has a story to tell. Of course Isabel as a sorry to tell.

This book was so sweet. I loved that it took place over the course of a day and was a little novella. I loved that Isabel romanticized so much about her life and was so comfortable with her self/coming to her own. I loved the aesthetics, the characters, everything. Realistically a 4.5/5, only because my 5-star ratings are for books that I really think have changed my life in some way. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a warm, emotional, cute read (especially after something draining).

The summary is a jumping off point for this novelette, but the story itself is a series of Isabel's remembrances. The turns of phrase describing Portland and observations of other people are spare and vivid. The vintage dresses and old postcards pulled me in but Isabel's wistful wanderlust and endearing awkwardness sat me down until the last page.

Shh! I read this today at work, in between patron requests and whatever else it is I am supposed to be doing. Smith's prose is so beautiful, and Isabel's world is not unlike my own. My fortune cookie might have read “You will read a book that will reflect some of your soul”. I forget how sometimes I should just wander the stacks and find new titles. Sometimes I get lucky and pull out a real gem, like Glaciers.

Delightful. Charming. Delicate. These are the words that first come to mind as I reflect on Glaciers. There's not much substance in these 174 pages, but I was nonetheless happy to have spent the time with them. In many of the novel's short chapters, Alexis M. Smith discusses the small things, the photos and relics Isabelle cherishes; with superb skill, Smith has crafted each chapter with the same vivid detail and want for nostalgia that these photos conjure.

There are some really wonderful sentences in this short work. And the characters, though we barely get to know them, are fresh and interesting. The story is enough to keep moving forward, though it is sparse. But I don't think the focus here should be on story. It's about images. Glaciers is a box of photographs. Sift through them. Pick out your favorites. And make up your own story to fill in what little you know.