We don’t have enough stories about nonagenarians. Or even octogenarians. Really, literature doesn’t often feature protagonists past early retirement and it’s a shame because once you’ve met Eddie, you’ll want a lot more of it.
Imagine a story that isn’t focused around the work-life balance (which reminds us of our own struggles in that area) or broken marriages or the cute neighbour who just moved in.
Our protagonist Eddie is delightful and innocent with an always positive outlook on life. He’s a 90-year-old retired academic who works in a charity shop because retirement simply doesn’t sit well with him. His unlikely friendship with Bella, a 25-year-old who comes to the shop to drop off clothes, is at the heart of the story and it’s an intergenerational bond (he’s almost too old to be her grandfather!) that blossoms and gives the story depth.
Bella is struggling with loss and Eddie seems to be the only one to be able to support her, while she shows genuine interest in him and his life.
Because the truth is: Eddie Winston, the hopeless romantic who spent his academic life discussing romance in the pages of books… is looking for love himself. While he might’ve accepted his fate, accepting birds as a reminder of his one true – but never fulfilled – love Bridie, Bella has made it her mission to find Eddie his first kiss.
The book is full of hope and kindness and it shows in the way Eddie shares his little pieces of wisdom with Bella, but also in Bella’s care for Eddie. This isn’t a project to distract her from her grief, but a genuine friendship.
Most of all though, the relationship of the two who are 65 years apart shows what interest, concern and respect look like. Unspoken between the lines we know they must have their differences, be it adaptability to situations, schedules or other commitments, yet they focus on what is important in their relationship: care, support and connection.
Eddie Winston is Looking for Love, by Marianne Cronin will be released by Doubleday on the 15th August 2024. ISBN: 9780857527219
