This was character driven story with main focus on guilt and regrets. It was interesting to read John’s journey to see what would he discover on this pilgrimage, would he be able to fulfil it, would this journey absolve him from his guilt and regrets, or if it would bring him closer to his wife and son. It started with John losing his wife to cancer and death of their son, how he felt guilty for not loving and supporting his wife the way he should and made promise to his wife in her last moment to do something that can bring them closer and for that he would go on pilgrimage, walk from their home in Shimla to a Buddhist temple in Spiti Valley, his wife used to go before marriage.Īround 400 km, 11 hrs by car, but covering that much distance on foot at age 64, was sure insane.

The setting of Shimla to Spiti Valley was atmospheric and perfectly written. It was third person narrative from John’s perspective. Writing was beautiful, descriptive and flowery with long chapters and nonsequential past and present. The story was about loss, grief, guilt, regrets, family, love, and what parents had to endure on losing son at young age to substance addiction. The Winter Song was interesting and well written fiction that revolved around 64 yrs old John and his journey to fulfil promise he made to his wife before she died. It is a journey of extraordinary self-discovery that will take him to the extremities of his soul and question all he believes about life, death, and faith. Unhinged by grief, anger, and guilt, John Perera has set off on a journey, a journey to honour the love of his life and to fulfil the promise he made to her to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of their son. Somewhere between the mountains and the mist in Simla, India a widower must reconcile himself to the loss and grief that haunts him after the recent death of his wife. From the acclaimed Author of ‘The Butterfly Room’ comes a powerful afterlife drama conveying how great gifts can be hidden in death and how they can bear fruit in our lives if we have the faith to let them unfold.

Wintersong goodreads