Abby’s Appraisals - Little Library Book Review - "Juliet's Answer" by Glenn Dixon

Juliet’s Answer by Glenn Dixon

“Any man who can write is able to answer a letter”  

-William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 4)

I check our little library daily…admittedly sometimes twice per day because I dare not miss a book that may happen to be on my wish list or simply a marvellous and unexpected find. The timing of “Juliet’s Answer” by Glenn Dixon in the library could not have been more perfect. My 14 year old son was right in the thick of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” for his grade nine English class and I, having a degree in English literature, am always desperate to chat about books and bestow my love of reading and analyzing stories upon my reluctant, non-reader (Sob! ~ how on earth did this happen???) children. Alas! The perfect novel arrived allowing me to refresh my memory and torment, ahem, engage my son.

Another factor that had me tucking this one into my bag to take home was that it takes place in Verona, Italy. Sad little story: my husband was planning to take me to Italy for my 40th birthday. A dream come true! Italy has long been on my bucket list and I suspect he has waited to so long to plan this adventure for me because he fears I may never return home once I have been exposed to the real life land of Under the Tuscan Sun and Eat Pray Love…(book reviews for another day!). I have been transported there many times over the years through the magical power of the written word. It was my turn to see it in real life. Enter global pandemic.

While my trip to Italy may be postponed for now, I will continue to travel there in my imagination using vehicles such as this heartwarming, feel good travel memoir. Dixon’s easy language and relatable tale of heartbreak and reclaiming life and love is accessible to everyone.

Dixon’s story tells us of his efforts to heal his broken heart: He escapes to Verona, a city in Italy famous for being home to Romeo and Juliet according to William Shakespeare, and it is here that the iconic balcony at Juliet’s house is one of the city’s main tourist attractions. It is also home to a mail box where many send tales of woe to Juliet and the headquarters where the answers are composed by volunteers. Jilted lovers from around the world write hundreds of letters to Juliet seeking solace and advice still today. Dixon’s book encapsulates his experience spending a summer volunteering as one of “Juliet’s secretaries” at the landmark answering the letters written in English in an attempt to bury his own sadness and heartache.

It is a feel good story that I finished in one sitting. It reads like a classic love story with travel writing interwoven throughout making it the perfect escape read. I found myself googling points of interest in Verona that Dixon mentions and bookmarking them for my own adventure planning. I am totally going to be trying the world’s best gelato from Gelateria Savoia and I will be asking for chocolate in the bottom of my cone on Dixon’s advice; my mouth waters just thinking about it. He even includes a sweet little map in the back of the book of the town centre and the notable sites that he mentions.

I give this one a four out of five stars. If you love Shakespeare, you will adore this cute and quick autobiography. However, I have sold Melissa on it and so now she has taken it home to read. As soon as it makes its way back to the our Little Library, I will be sure to let you know that it is there for you.