“The Stolen Child” is a beautifully written book and Jefferson Mays provided exceptional narration in the audio version. We move among characters from Nick, first shown in WWI in a trench in France; to Jenny, a 19 year old college dropout waitressing at IHop in the early 1970’s; to Enzo, a Nativity set craftsman in Naples in the 1950s, who is a bit too introspective for his brash older brother.
When Nick was a young soldier in the trenches, he met Camille, the very unhappy, very pregnant wife of the farmer who owns the land he and his comrades inhabit. She is an exceptional artist and they strike up a friendship of sorts when she finds Nick painting a mural. As the Germans approach, Camille flees. She finds Nick and thrusts two packages in his arms, her baby “Laurent” and her paintings. “Save them.” Nick’s decision as to what to do is that of a frightened teenager, far from home. And he spends his whole life regretting the choice he made. His wife is dead. His doctor nephew has told Nick that he is dying of cancer. And Nick decides, now decades later, to look for the baby. Nick hires a helper, Jenny and they embark on a trip to Europe. Their starting place is Paris to look for Camille’s paintings somewhere as they are so good they are likely to be found in galleries and very identifiable by a blue smudge in each one. Camille was about to have a showing there back in 1917, after the baby’s birth.
Along the way, we meet some contemporaries of Jenny’s. First is Daniel, who is studying the poet Pablo Neruda, a 1971 Nobel Laureate (so recent in the novel). Yes, I plan to read him. Secondly, we meet Russell, her ex-boyfriend. And next we travel with Charlie, a hippie type who acts as a guide for Jenny and Nick and befriends them.
Here and there, we readers learn how Enzo is doing. He has created a “Museum of Tears” in his workshop. He collects and identifies the tears of joy and sorrow of people he meets and talks to. He carefully documents each vial of tears by name of the person, year and why they were crying. Enzo falls in love with an Irish tourist who came to see his museum. He is a lovable, somewhat sad, introvert, too thoughtful for his small world.
The hunt for the (very adult) baby takes Nick and Jenny to many locations with possible sources and numerous dead ends, given the time that passed. Nick the curmudgeon who’d advertised for a helper who does not talk much finds Jenny does not fit that requirement. Their relationship is a core part of the sweetness of the novel. Each has a deep sorrow that ties into their quest. The resolution of the story is bittersweet and I thought it was well thought out. Some will be disappointed. Highly recommend.
They Called me Bookworm 