The Offing

It is said that those who don't like to read just haven't read the right book yet. I have just read the right book for me.

"The Offing" by Benjamin Meyers is a story about an adolescent named Robert Appleyard who, after finishing school, decides to explore the world before working in the coal mines, just like his father. He leaves the village of Durham and heads south, where he takes on a few jobs to survive but spends most of his time admiring nature in all its facets. By coincidence, he meets an elderly woman named Dulcie Piper. She introduces him to poetry and delicious meals. Nevertheless, Robert continues to have a longing for the offing ("the more distant part of the sea"), at the same time he is unable to leave Dulcie and the cottage, at which point he makes an interesting discovery...

The plot appears quite simple, but that's precisely what makes it so delightful. It's the concept of life and how one can do mundane things such as gardening or having dinner, whilst embracing them as beautiful and exciting moments filled with meaning.

It is a story about wanderlust, nature, and ever-lasting love. Indeed, if I didn't know better, I'd say it was written with the Romantic era at heart.

Initially, I purchased the book because the cover is the most beautiful book cover I've ever seen, minimalistic yet striking. And since one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, I didn't have particularly high expectations. It was also presented in the description as a novel about self-discovery and the great adventure before settling down as an adult. This is precisely where I am at the moment, so I figured it might be relatable to some extent.

Considering how lovely the cover is, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it's only half as lovely as the story hiding underneath it. From the first few pages, I had no difficulty reading several chapters at a time, something I used to have considerable difficulty with. However, the overall sense of flow made it impossible to put the book down. I don't think I have ever finished a book so quickly. As I read the last few chapters I realized that I didn't want the story to end, I wanted to be there for every conversation he had with Dulcie, every sunrise and early morning bath surrounded by tall grass. Reading the last few pages brought tears to my eyes. I don't want to give too much away, because I believe it's the little details that make this novel so wonderful.

The Offing has instilled in me a passion for the written word.