The Secret Papers of Madame Olivetti
By Annie Vanderbilt
(New American Library, $15)
The book’s premise appears simple: A woman travels to France to mourn the loss of her husband. Sounds like one of those Provence
books, but it’s a bit more complex than that. Aside from her grief, main character Lily has brought along her old Olivetti
typewriter. She begins pounding out the story of her life and, before long, the reader is anxious to find out what comes next.
Floridian Annie Vanderbilt’s debut novel, The Secret Papers of Madame Olivetti, gives voice to a woman in her fifties, one
who has lived a full life and has much more life yet to go. After her “remembering” is finished, Lily does what many writers
would consider a sacrilege, although months of writing brings her back to the present and into a very hopeful future. This
fast-paced read makes a delightful and thoughtful diversion. ―Wanda McKinney
