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13 Little Blue Envelopes
 | 13 Little Blue Envelopes Johnson, Maureen Date: 23 August, 2005 — $10.87 — Book Rating: |
tumor, leave Ginny with 13 blue envelopes. The envelopes contain instructions starting with buying a plane ticket
to London. Ginny is not allowed to have
any electronic communication with the United States, can not bring a camera,
and can only pack what fits into her backpack. After completing each task her aunt left her, Ginny opens another
envelope, which sends her on an unusual tour of Europe. Among Ginny’s instructions are sponsoring a
starving artist, asking an Italian boy out for cake, visiting Aunt Peg’s mentor
in Scotland, and leaving an offering to the Vestal Virgins in Rome. Along the way, Ginny encounters several
unusual characters, most notably Keith, the starving artist, and Aunt Peg’s
London friend/roommate, Richard. While
taking her European tour, Ginny is, in fact, retracing the last few months of
her aunt’s life, and learning something about herself, as well.
Suspension of disbelief is required to fully appreciate this
novel. There is no way that Ginny’s
mother, who is anything but carefree, would ever let her teenager daughter go
on a completely unsupervised trip to Europe. Aunt Peg’s instructions also become quite irritating, at times. Since Ginny is not allowed to bring a
journal, a camera, or a guide book, and only allowed to pack in a small
suitcase, she often has nothing to do. She is nearly molested by the Italian boy. Her alleged host in Amsterdam has moved without a forwarding
address, leaving Ginny homeless in a strange city. Even the ATM card her aunt left for her is left without funds
when Ginny is in Greece, causing her to call Richard who needs to buy her a
plane ticket to London.
notice, the annoying parts of the book. They’ll enjoy Ginny’s adventures, and the travelogue aspect. Girls, entering the awkward romance stage,
will identify with Ginny’s ignorance at how about to go with her relationship
with Keith. The European scenes are
wonderfully described, and definitely made this reviewer want to book a plane
ticket. And Aunt Peg’s instructions,
while nonsensical at times, do provide an element of mystery and fun. Recommended for those who enjoyed the letter
writing and the travel aspect of the The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
