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I found this book harder to get into than When God was a Rabbit� hence the four stars and there were sections in it at the beginning I’m not sure I understood. However, once I got a bit further in I was hooked. Sarah Winman is a truly gifted writer and so creative. There were beautiful images throughout such as descriptions of the Thames as being something alive as were the seasons, flowers, the sea which I believe is called animism. There was Marvellous herself being lifted by the kite and Peace with the bread. There’s a constant theme of magic throughout this book which put me in mind of elements in the writing of Joanne Harris. For example Vianne in Chocolat and Lollipop Shoes and the bottles in Blackberry Wine. Some of the images in this book will live with me for a long time. There are so many things I could pick out but who can forget the beautiful image of Paper Jack who had a ‘stowaway poet that lived in his soul� who ‘gave that ship [a sailing ship] his heart for safekeeping�. I loved the way that characteristics were humanised like doubt which is true as we let it in. However in this book Doubt ‘lit a big fat pipe and lay back on the bed and rubbed its stomach seductively�. I loved the ending and hopefully through it Francis/Freddy can find peace and contentment. If you like books that are a bit different, that are lyrical and exquisitely crafted you’ll love this.