Maria's Book Banter is off and running in the new year and
it’s wonderful to be back! I stumbled on the title The Wish Collector by
Mia Sheridan while taking a break from this blog. Its description compared it to
Phantom of the Opera; one of my favorites. So, I was eager to get
started. As I discovered, this book has many flavors to it, making this review
a bit formidable to write.
Professional dancer, Clara just moved to New Orleans to perform
with the city’s ballet company. She's having a difficult time adjusting to her
new surroundings when she hears the heartbreaking story of the Windisle
Plantation and its Weeping Wall. Where legend has it, if a written wish is
slipped through a crack in the wall, it will be granted.
Clara becomes obsessed with this haunting tale and
eventually pays the Weeping Wall a visit. As she places her wish through a
crack, Clara detects movement behind the wall. After investigating further, she
could tell that there is someone back there and asks who it is. A male voice
answers saying that his name is Jonah.
After some friendly conversation between Clara and Jonah,
she learns that he lives at Windisle. Then she realizes that he had the paper
that she wrote her wish on and that he probably collects all the wishes that come
through that wall. That’s when Clara nicknamed Jonah the Wish Collector. They eventually
make a “date” for her to come back so he could tell her about the history of
the plantation. This story has gotten off to a good start. I'm happy to be on
this journey with Clara and Jonah to see where it takes them.
From there, the narrative takes us back in time to 1860
to Windisle Manor, where we meet Angelina and John. Angelina is the daughter of
a slave and slave owner, and John is a soldier. Their love story is the basis
of the lore of Windisle Plantation, where supposedly the spirits of Angelina
and John are trapped because of a curse. This romantically tragic storyline is
revisited throughout the book.
Back to present day, Jonah is a broken man with a
mysterious past that left him scarred physically and emotionally. He has been living
as a recluse at Windisle for some time. It surprised him that he agreed to meet
with Clara again. Was it out of pour loneliness? Yet, there was something about
her that intrigued him. Particularly, the wish she wished for; it was something
he had never seen. Her wish was to help free Angelina’s spirit by breaking the
curse.
Clara would come back to the Weeping Wall time and time
again. Jonah recognized loneliness and sadness in Clara, but he could tell she
is a pretty girl with a sweetness to her. He also saw a certain strength about
her too. Talking to Clara makes him smile - something seemingly he hasn’t done
in a while. However, Jonah doesn’t say much about himself. Why?
On her end, Clara opens up to him about her life’s
struggles, bringing her peace and making her a better dancer. Was he a Wish
Granter as well as a Wish Collector?
From my perspective as a reader, It’s kind of nice to see
these two individuals who have such a need for personal connection come
together.
Finally, Jonah makes a shocking, regret-filled confession
about his life. His startling admission could put him in a completely different
light in Clara’s eyes. Would it? Clara has really grown to care for him and
value their friendship. How would this revelation affect their unusual relationship?
If you have read this blog in the past, you know I'm not a huge fan of romance novels. The Wish Collector definitely has those amorous aspects as well as an overly dramatic ending. However, it is so much more than a simple love story. There are complex characters living complicated lives who have to make difficult choices. It’s also a beautifully written story of hope, forgiveness, generosity and taking risks too.
I will also add that I wasn’t crazy about the part where Clara
is trying to break the curse. It wasn’t totally clear to me what her motivation
was. Nevertheless, I can overlook this novel’s flaws somewhat because Clara and
Jonah’s arc is just so lovely. I wanted to keep reading to see what happens.
Would they have a happy ending that I wish for them? If you read The Wish
Collector, I think you would feel the same.
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