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Last updated on October 26th, 2024
Have you ever read a book that felt like it came to you at the perfect time?
In No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister, the author shows the power of a remarkable book and its profound impact when it touches a reader at the right moment. This book is a love letter to anyone who loves to read.
The story is told through a series of short stories featuring 10 characters and has a full circle ending that will leave your heart feeling bittersweet once it’s over.
This is easily one of my top reads of 2023, and I encourage you to give this one a try.
TWs: grief, suicide
Told through a series of short stories that weave together, No Two Persons explores the power of a remarkable book and its profound impact when it meets a reader precisely when they need it the most. One of my favorite books of 2023 and a great option for book lovers.
Synopsis
One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives.
That was the beauty of books, wasn’t it? They took you places you didn’t know you needed to go…
Alice has always wanted to be a writer. Her talent is innate, but her stories remain safe and detached until a devastating event breaks her heart open, and she creates a stunning debut novel.
Her words, in turn, find their way to readers, from a teenager hiding her homelessness to a free diver pushing himself beyond endurance, an artist furious at the world around her, a bookseller in search of love, and a widower rent by grief.
Each one is drawn into Alice’s novel; each one discovers something different that alters their perspective and presents new pathways forward for their lives.
Together, their stories reveal how books can affect us in the most beautiful and unexpected of ways—and how we are all more closely connected to one another than we might think.
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Characters
Let’s take a quick look at the characters we meet in this book…
The writer’s book, Theo, forever changed the lives of many people from different walks of life. I loved getting to know each character and seeing Theo through their eyes.
Each chapter was unique and interesting and kept me invested in everyone’s story.
Over time, some of the characters’ stories overlapped, and it was delightful to see how they intertwined. Despite having many characters, I never felt overwhelmed because each chapter had its own unique storyline that came together nicely at the end.
Writing
The writing in this piece is absolutely beautiful. It is intimate, thought-provoking, and pleasantly insightful. It reminds me of the writing by Ann Napolitano.
Like Napolitano, Bauermeister is able to convey a lot with just a few words, and I have always admired writers who can do that.
The writing is sharp and encourages you to see things from a new perspective. I have so many highlights from this book that I could make an entire blog post about it.
Here are some of my favorites (more can be found in the quotes section below):
Plot
No Two Persons is heavily character-driven. So, for those who love character development like myself, there is no shortage of it.
As each character is introduced, more of Theo’s story is revealed. These revelations are tied into the individual stories of each character.
The pacing is perfect, with Theo’s revelations in sync with the characters’ journeys. And the full circle moment at the end was absolutely brilliant!
I didn’t want this book to end. But when it did, I was smiling from ear to ear because Bauermeister crafted such a comforting story that it felt like a warm hug.
Best Quotes
“Books spoke to specific people for specific reasons, and it had everything to do with where they were in their lives.”
Conclusion
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister is a perfect blend of carefully crafted characters and impactful writing.
I highly recommend it to everyone, especially book lovers, as it captures how a single well-written story can move you.
This is undoubtedly one of my favorite reads this year and one of my top favorite books overall.
