The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

“The Shell Seekers” by Rosamunde Pilcher is one of those books that I stumbled upon (happily) almost by accident.  Published in 1987, Pilcher’s much beloved novel is apparently out of print and not available.  If you are lucky, you either have your own dog-earred copy or your library has a copy to borrow.

This book is irrestible…even if you are not normally a fan of “romance” novels or romantic stories, which I normally never read.  Pilcher’s main character, Penelope Keeling, is widowed, independent and knows her own mind, much to the chagrin of two of her three adult children: Noel and Nancy.  Penelope’s daughter, Olivia, is a kindred spirit – level headed and pragmatic but also generous and loving, much like her mother.  The book revolves around a painting entitled “The Shell Seekers” which was painted by Penelope’s father, Lawrence Stern, an artist who works are appreciated only after he has been dead for years (in the novel, Penelope is in her sixties).  Noel and Nancy scheme to finance their ridiculous dreams of wealth by persuading their mother to part with her greatest treasure.  But Penelope, true to her character, has her own dreams for her father’s legacy and with strength and determination bring them to fruition while helping those people who mean the most to her.  In addition to “The Shell Seekers”, Pilcher authored many other novels set in England which are romantic but also believable and all of which leave you wishing you could meet each and every character.