A Single Rose by Muriel Barbery, author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, is such a beautiful, lyrical little novel I couldn’t put it down. Quiet, guarded Rose, who has just turned 40 travels to Kyoto after her father’s death, a father she never knew. As per her late father’s wishes, she embarks on a tour of the temples of Kyoto guided by her fathers assistant. Along the way she meets some of her fathers friends including a poet, a potter, and a chauffeur and the reader is transported along with Rose to the beautiful gardens of Kyoto.

Poetic, beautifully written, transportive, a meditation on love and loss and place. This is one of the few books I plan to keep and re-read. Highly recommended.