This was a surprise gem that I discovered. The premise of a widow returning to her old home for a pencil sharpener sounds odd, but the author’s writing turned this into a must read! I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one!

This novel was interesting and I liked the idea of the story but I stopped reading about halfway through because, as much as I tried, I just couldn't feel very much for the characters. There wasn't enough emotional depth to the characters' stories or actions, although there could have been.

I enjoyed this short story. Mitzi is a elderly widow trying to hold on to her old life and resisting the changes. For her her old house represents everything she has lost. The writing is good and I enjoyed the characters. Enjoy this heartwarming story.

This is a sweet story about a widow reclaiming her life. On the pretense of getting a pencil sharpener she left behind when she sold the house, Mitzi returns to ask the new owner if she could possibly have it for her daughter, to whom the pencil sharpener would mean a lot, since it was her dearly loved father’s. While John, the new owner, goes to retrieve the pencil sharpener, Mitzi remains on the sun porch with the dog, and wanders around the nearby rooms a bit, reminiscing about her life, especially in the house. When she finally sold the house, Mitzi had reached the point where she was letting her children make decisions for her. Her daughters had moved away, and she remained with her son in his house with him and his family. Mitzi actually wishes she had retained more control in her life, and visiting the house brought all this back to her. By the end of the short story, she is determined to go forward in her way, making her own decisions.

This is a short but interesting story. The characters are well done, though many only appear in Mitzi’s memories for short periods of time. The way the author managed to pull the memories of her lifetime out was interesting to witness. I found the story fascinating, but, as is always the case in instances such as this one, too short. I think this story will appeal to anyone who enjoys nostalgia and trip down memory lane as well as reading about how others live and manage each day.

A wonderful very short story of a widow taking back her life. Mitzi lost her husband almost 2 years ago and has been content to let her children make decisions for her. They convinced her to sell the family home and move in with her son. Now that son has remarried and she is thinking of moving into a elder community. One day she stops by her old home and asks the new owner for an old pencil sharpener that was nailed to the staircase in the basement. That spark of courage has her taking control of her life. Only 30+ pages but a very fulfilling story with lots of emotion and a very strong lady.