The Graphologist''s Apprentice

January is bored in her life, unhappy and friendless, and she is absorbed in a fantasy romance she has invented with a married man. Through an advertisement in a paper, January meets Mae, an elderly woman, who is a graphologist looking to pass on her knowledge. Mae teaches January graphology skills - how to learn about a person's character from their handwriting - and the two become friends, until Mae challenges January about her fantasy affair. Mae finds 'love letters' that January has written, but are supposedly from her lover. In fury, January retaliates by destroying Mae's life work. All seems lost, but January seeks to win back her friend and begin building a new life. Wonderfully enjoyable, imaginative, moving and funny. Great characters, especially January and Mae - they'll stay with me for a long time. Renee, novelist and playwright.