The Shell Collector: A Novel

The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle is a sweet, inspiring story. It is one of those novels that makes you feel good. It is the perfect type of book to read while relaxing by the pool or while on vacation. We get to meet Amanda Whittier and her children along with Paul Grant and Maeve Lindsay. I just loved Maeve who is a free-spirited woman who enjoys life to the fullest. The friendship between Maeve and Amanda was touching. The point-of-view switches between Maeve, Amanda, and Paul. This allows readers to see things from each of their perspectives. The Shell Collector is an emotional story that will tug on your heartstrings. I thought The Shell Collector was well-written with developed characters and a beautiful setting. I just loved the sound of Whelk's Island. I liked the small-town community as well as the beautiful beach. The shell descriptions allowed me to imagine what they looked like. I thought it was creative for someone to write inspirational messages inside shells and leave them where they can be found. It seemed the right shell was found by the person who needed it at that time. One of my favorite quotes from The Shell Collector is, "Unfortunately no life is free of sadness, be it from pain, loss, ill, or…, well, you get the idea. It's all a necessary part of a life well lived." In life we need both the good and the bad so that we have balance. The other is, "When the tide goes out, we get to appreciate the treasures it reveals. And when it comes in, new life is washed ashore. There's beauty in both." I did feel the story was a tad too long. It could have been fifty pages shorter. I also felt the characters were too perfect especially Paul and the kids. I cannot imagine kids behaving as good as Amanda's two children (they were polite, corrected themselves if they made an error, played together nicely). Faith is at the forefront of The Shell Collector. Our three main characters are Christians who knows God is there for them. They pray for his guidance and know that all things happen in His timing. This is a story about wisdom, friendship, a second chance at love, and finding joy in nature's beauty. The Shell Collector is a touching tale with cute kids, a playful pooch, special seashells, a mournful mother, a free-spirited friend, superannuated soldier, and a gracious God.