Book Review: The Seventh Book of Wonders by Julianna Baggott

Does anyone else out there have an entire book shelf full of books that you’ve bought but have yet to read? For me, that book shelf acts almost like a buffer. When I am running low on new and exciting books, I pick up one from the shelf. That way, I am never in between books and always have something I’m reading. This is where I discovered The Seventh Book of Wonders. Left on my unread bookshelf for a number of years, I finally picked it up with absolutely no memory of where it came from or how it came into my possession.

What It’s About:

For me, The Seventh Book of Wonders is about different types of love and the ways in which we might love someone, yet still push them away. Baggott details the history of a family through the perspectives of three different generations. The story is told by a respected writer named Harriet Wolf, her daughter Eleanor, and Eleanor’s two daughters Ruth and Tilton. After a family emergency reunites Eleanor and her two daughters, the family is forced to confront Harriet’s legacy and their own complicated past.

Who Should Read it:

Originally, this book did little to inspire me. Though the story itself was never slow, there was not much about this book that necessarily stood out. What changed my opinion, however, was when I was in the middle of writer’s block a week later. I found myself subconsciously returning to Harriet’s story and her love for Eppitt. Their storyline specifically stood out to me for its fantastic love and perseverance. When Harriet turned to her writing for solace, I was able to identify with her need to put her life into words. If you are a writer, specifically a writer interested in dramatic somewhat surrealist love stories, then you should read this book.

3/5

As I said above, this book wasn’t necessarily a stand out. I didn’t become as emotionally invested in The Seventh Book of Wonders as I normally do in books. That being said, I will admit that I have unusually high standards, and there is much to enjoy in this story. Harriett and her story have stuck with me far longer than I had imagined they would. Throughout the book, there were a number of moments that startled me with their emotional resonance.