Mia by Robert Nathan; (4*)

As autumn approaches winter, Thomas Baggot, a Cape Cod resident sets out to write his autobiography. The moderately successful author is in an introspective mood. He feels his life and the time for personal relationships have all passed for him. By chance he meets Emmeline, a neighbor lady who lives just over the little hill from him. She is an introvert spinster with not much self confidence who also seems regretful about her past But Thomas sees something within her, a kindred spirit.
As the two begin to spend time together, Thomas also meets a young, peculiar girl, Mia, who possesses an eerie quality about her. Unlike most girls her age, full of life and excited about the adventures to come she, much like Emmeline, is quite melancholy and regretful. Everything ties together when Thomas is invited to Emmeline’s house for dinner and comes across an old school album. As he skims through the book he thinks he’s seen a ghost when he discovers a photograph of a young girl identified as Emmeline and yet baring a remarkable resemblance to Mia. In the end, Thomas discovers that Mia is Emmeline’s 'younger sel'” and is there to warn him of things yet to come in his life.
In his trademark style, Robert Nathan conjures up a story of the mysterious essence of youth, of years past, and of time held in its flight by the sudden astonishment of love.
Robert Nathan never fails to take me out of myself and I love him and his writing for giving me that gift. ( )