The Unexpected Depth of Human Life

Author Phaedra Patrick argues that there is more depth to a human life than people often suspect in The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper. On the surface, human lives may seem relatively straightforward, but this is rarely ever the case. Often, there is a side to people that others do not know about. This is clearly the case in the novel.

There was more to Miriam than Arthur believed he knew, and he learns this as he discovers the charm bracelet and follows the meaning of each of the charms with respect to his wife’s life. He learns his wife, when younger, had a varied and wide-ranging life, spanning continents, romances, and identities. He learns that his wife experienced beautiful and good adventures, as well as suffering heartache and tragedy–from her time in India to her affair with Chauffant...