Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind

Imagination. The power of imagination is on full display in Alexander McCall Smith’s novel titled, Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind. Each chapter opens with an old sepia image. What follows is the writer’s imagination running off with what is seen in the image and creating a story that will lead a reader to take another look at the photograph. I used my second examination of the photo as a jumping off point for my own imagination to conjure a different story. In Smith’s imagination, all the images lead to stories of happiness, friendship, even love. Readers are reminded of how much a picture can contain, and how what looks simple can be deeper and more complex. Readers who love to indulge one’s imagination can have a field day with this little book. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Pianos and Flowers from amazon.com.