Sarah & Gerald by Christopher Geoffrey McPherson

Sarah & Gerald
written by Christopher Geoffrey McPherson          
published by Christopher Geoffrey McPherson

find it here: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: The author asked that I review this book of his. I had previously read and reviewed another book by Mr. McPherson, News on the Home Front. (I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book but not as much as I enjoyed News on the Home Front. 

Sarah & Gerald is a sweet short story that chronicles a brief period in the title characters’ lives while in France after World War I. This was a quick read. All of the characters were likeable. Some characters are clearly based on famous individuals from that time period even though the author doesn’t come out and declare that directly in the narrative. 

Sarah and Gerald enjoy some grand adventures with their three children while living in France. They also get to travel to California for Gerald’s brief stint as a set designer for silent movies. This book isn’t all happiness though. Tragedy does strike each of the characters in some way…some more devastating than others. However, that is life…not all happiness all of the time. 

Would I recommend it: If you like historical fiction that is fairly light, then read this book. 

Will I read it again: I will not read this book again. But I will read more by Christopher McPherson. His books have been good reads for this reviewer. 

About the book – from Goodreads: In the years after the great war, life was golden and happy for those who had survived it. An entire generation of young men died so others could sit on a beach and splash in the water and have sandwiches on the sand. It was a golden time for American expatriates — like Sarah and Gerald — to be in Paris. Everything had worked out so well for them: they had money, they had friends, they had three golden children and they had each other. And everyone was so young. Gerald was a painter and his bold new painting would shock the French art world; but the consequences of his artistic success would soon bring tragedy to Sarah and their family. Despite doing everything right, things would soon start going very wrong.