Ambrose Zephyr, a quiet and content man, lived with his wife Zappora (nicknamed Zipper) in a Victorian terrace full of books. Ambrose was a London advertising specialist and his wife is a literary editor. The couple seems to have a well balanced life filled with good books, good cuisine and a tastefully decorated home but this careful balance explodes when Ambrose is given one month to live after his annual medical exam.
And so Ambrose decides that they must set out to see the world from A to Z. Instead of putting his affairs in order or seeking alternative therapies, Ambrose composes a curious list for example, see A is for a portrait in Amsterdam and G for the great pyramid at Giza. Meanwhile, Zipper, who is usually cool and collected, doesn't quite understand her husband for the first time.
As the two travel through the list a sweet love story unfolds. The background of their life from their family history to how they met is told and along the way there are little details that bring each character to life. One particular passage which really struck a chord with me was when Zipper buys a journal to record their trip and finds she cannot write in it. As she clutches her journal a thousand words form in her mind but grief and panic at what is happening prevents her from being able to write anything at all.
For such a short story the author manages to give the reader two characters they can connect with and care about. For me there also seemed to be an urgency at what would happen in the end because certainly a love story like this one must go on right? Well it's up to you to find out what happens in the end so get a copy of this lovely little story and savor it in a sitting.
Added 11/07