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After Me
"I was transported to the beauty of the Alabaster Coast, to the enchantment of youthful innocence, to the sadness of its too early loss. Then, like a glorious sunrise, we are gifted the "après," the hope and goodness of "after me." - Maria Giuseppa, author of R&R: A Feast of Words
A man in France receives a package from America containing an autobiographical manuscript relating the events of a summer long ago.
When Ellande and Madeleine-Grace visit the family summer house on the Alabaster Coast of Normandy for the first time without their parents, they find themselves growing aware of the importance of their parents' choices in raising them. Under the care of their beloved Aunt Adèle, they explore their heritage and what their parents stood for while determining the value of customs and traditions of both family and France's stunning Pays de Caux. In the face of cruelty, carelessness, and shifting values, the siblings forge through hardships gracefully to learn too young what must be carried with them and preserved so that it will be available to those who come after.
The man now holding the narrative of the siblings' summer soon realizes that the author has been gravely misinformed. Seeking to shed light on what really transpired, he initiates a united search for answers over half a century later.
After Me presents a story of grief and loss, observing and growing, conscientiously learning to preserve and conscientiously abandoning. A rich canvas of characters, from children to young adults, from middle aged adults to the elderly, reveals the importance of preserving what is good and continuing traditions both personal and regional. Set amid the backdrop of the white cliffs of Normandy as well as a quiet arrondissement of Paris, the beauty of a Cauchois summer comes to life. Drives through the bocage, matches of la choule, walks to the cliffs overlooking the English Chanel, harvesting salt in the marais, enjoying aperitifs with family, sharing in household chores, and learning the traditions of prior generations make for a summer that Ellande and Madeleine-Grace will never forget.
A man in France receives a package from America containing an autobiographical manuscript relating the events of a summer long ago.
When Ellande and Madeleine-Grace visit the family summer house on the Alabaster Coast of Normandy for the first time without their parents, they find themselves growing aware of the importance of their parents' choices in raising them. Under the care of their beloved Aunt Adèle, they explore their heritage and what their parents stood for while determining the value of customs and traditions of both family and France's stunning Pays de Caux. In the face of cruelty, carelessness, and shifting values, the siblings forge through hardships gracefully to learn too young what must be carried with them and preserved so that it will be available to those who come after.
The man now holding the narrative of the siblings' summer soon realizes that the author has been gravely misinformed. Seeking to shed light on what really transpired, he initiates a united search for answers over half a century later.
After Me presents a story of grief and loss, observing and growing, conscientiously learning to preserve and conscientiously abandoning. A rich canvas of characters, from children to young adults, from middle aged adults to the elderly, reveals the importance of preserving what is good and continuing traditions both personal and regional. Set amid the backdrop of the white cliffs of Normandy as well as a quiet arrondissement of Paris, the beauty of a Cauchois summer comes to life. Drives through the bocage, matches of la choule, walks to the cliffs overlooking the English Chanel, harvesting salt in the marais, enjoying aperitifs with family, sharing in household chores, and learning the traditions of prior generations make for a summer that Ellande and Madeleine-Grace will never forget.
366 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2024
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3073 people want to read
About the author
J. Shep
2 books48 followersJ. Shep, author of The December Issue (2023) and After Me (2024), has taught at the high school and the university levels while directing plays for several decades. The Illinois resident enjoys writing, working with others on their craft, teaching, listening to music, and laughing.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 31, 2024
After Me by J. Shep presents a poignant and reflective tale set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alabaster Coast of Normandy. The novel follows two siblings, Ellande and Madeleine-Grace, as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and heritage, exploring the legacy left by their parents and the traditions of their homeland.
The story begins with the young siblings visiting their family’s summer home for the first time since their parents’ passing, under the watchful and loving care of their Aunt Adèle. As they immerse themselves in the beauty of Pays de Caux, they become increasingly aware of the weight of their parents' choices in raising them. These choices, now more evident in their absence, shape the siblings' understanding of what it means to carry forward the values and customs of both their family and their country.
Shep skillfully navigates the themes of heritage, responsibility, and the tension between tradition and change. Ellande and Madeleine-Grace, though still young, find themselves confronting the harsh realities of life, including cruelty and carelessness, that threaten to erode the values they hold dear. Their journey is not just about exploring the physical landscape of Normandy, but also about navigating the emotional terrain of what it means to preserve and honor the past while moving forward.
The novel’s strength lies in its lyrical prose and vivid descriptions, which transport readers to the sun-drenched beaches and verdant countryside of Normandy. Shep’s portrayal of the siblings’ bond is tender and authentic, capturing the complexities of sibling relationships and the shared burden of carrying forward a family’s legacy. Aunt Adèle, with her wisdom and nurturing presence, serves as a guiding figure, helping Ellande and Madeleine-Grace reconcile their parents’ teachings with the changing world around them.
After Me is a contemplative and beautifully written novel that explores the enduring significance of family and tradition. J. Shep offers readers a heartfelt story that reflects on the importance of what we choose to carry with us and preserve for future generations. The novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love and tradition in the face of an ever-changing world.
Quill says: After Me by J. Shep is a richly atmospheric and emotionally resonant exploration of family, heritage, and the values we choose to preserve and pass on to those who come after us.
The story begins with the young siblings visiting their family’s summer home for the first time since their parents’ passing, under the watchful and loving care of their Aunt Adèle. As they immerse themselves in the beauty of Pays de Caux, they become increasingly aware of the weight of their parents' choices in raising them. These choices, now more evident in their absence, shape the siblings' understanding of what it means to carry forward the values and customs of both their family and their country.
Shep skillfully navigates the themes of heritage, responsibility, and the tension between tradition and change. Ellande and Madeleine-Grace, though still young, find themselves confronting the harsh realities of life, including cruelty and carelessness, that threaten to erode the values they hold dear. Their journey is not just about exploring the physical landscape of Normandy, but also about navigating the emotional terrain of what it means to preserve and honor the past while moving forward.
The novel’s strength lies in its lyrical prose and vivid descriptions, which transport readers to the sun-drenched beaches and verdant countryside of Normandy. Shep’s portrayal of the siblings’ bond is tender and authentic, capturing the complexities of sibling relationships and the shared burden of carrying forward a family’s legacy. Aunt Adèle, with her wisdom and nurturing presence, serves as a guiding figure, helping Ellande and Madeleine-Grace reconcile their parents’ teachings with the changing world around them.
After Me is a contemplative and beautifully written novel that explores the enduring significance of family and tradition. J. Shep offers readers a heartfelt story that reflects on the importance of what we choose to carry with us and preserve for future generations. The novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love and tradition in the face of an ever-changing world.
Quill says: After Me by J. Shep is a richly atmospheric and emotionally resonant exploration of family, heritage, and the values we choose to preserve and pass on to those who come after us.
February 9, 2025
As one review used the word "transported," I find myself thinking of that word first, over and over, when I reflect on this book. Shep does a great job immersing a reader in the world he is writing about, in this book actually much more so than the December Issue (also an amazing book.. very different...but amazing). His world in turn makes me feel for the characters, which is quite a trait and testament to this writing.
First, where Shep goes in this novel is enjoyable and descriptive. I felt I was on the white cliffs every time they stepped foot on them, I was like a member of the family as we listened to the World Cup game broadcasting from the radio while we ate and drank on the veranda, I was in the car as Roul drove the kids to Paris... and it doesn't end. Every scene is vivid and alluring.
Second, I saw a post on the author's social media that is someone listed this book as a top historical fiction post- WWII book. It is not exactly historical fiction, yet I can see the label. To me, it was a striking and refreshing example of literary fiction, where the writing is as quality as the characters and story. The literary flair of the author certainly affected the description but also the characters and the somewhat tragic plot.
Finally, I did not expect to see the characters in the present. What a treat despite the rather doleful revelation. Shep interweaves an optimism despite the sadness so I felt moved and fulfilled. But the characters. While I enjoyed the glimpse into their current selves, I wouldn't have cared if I didn't enjoy them so much as their story unfolds in the 1950's France and America. The absorbent Ellande, the resilient Madeleine Grace, the quirky older women, the playboy uncle Roul, the energetic Adele, and my favorite, the caring and industrious Alban...such great characters. Themes of family, loss, and hardwork abound in a touching novel by someone quickly becoming a favorite author.
First, where Shep goes in this novel is enjoyable and descriptive. I felt I was on the white cliffs every time they stepped foot on them, I was like a member of the family as we listened to the World Cup game broadcasting from the radio while we ate and drank on the veranda, I was in the car as Roul drove the kids to Paris... and it doesn't end. Every scene is vivid and alluring.
Second, I saw a post on the author's social media that is someone listed this book as a top historical fiction post- WWII book. It is not exactly historical fiction, yet I can see the label. To me, it was a striking and refreshing example of literary fiction, where the writing is as quality as the characters and story. The literary flair of the author certainly affected the description but also the characters and the somewhat tragic plot.
Finally, I did not expect to see the characters in the present. What a treat despite the rather doleful revelation. Shep interweaves an optimism despite the sadness so I felt moved and fulfilled. But the characters. While I enjoyed the glimpse into their current selves, I wouldn't have cared if I didn't enjoy them so much as their story unfolds in the 1950's France and America. The absorbent Ellande, the resilient Madeleine Grace, the quirky older women, the playboy uncle Roul, the energetic Adele, and my favorite, the caring and industrious Alban...such great characters. Themes of family, loss, and hardwork abound in a touching novel by someone quickly becoming a favorite author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
Deeply moving.
Well-paced as you steep in every scene, absorbing character but more so their emotions. While it is too much for one sitting, I kept wanting to return to it to read more. Superior writing and storytelling.
Well-paced as you steep in every scene, absorbing character but more so their emotions. While it is too much for one sitting, I kept wanting to return to it to read more. Superior writing and storytelling.
December 8, 2025
Life changing. Best book I’ve ever read
December 1, 2025
There are books and then there are books like this, ones where every word seems to seep into you and affect you, bringing you into its world. I don't mean to put it on par with Crime and Punishment or Don Quixote or Midsummer Night's Dream, but it's a book that feels like a prodigious undertaking yet so easily pulls you in. What's more is I loved the world I was pulled into, a world of feeling on the outs, even of of your own family, a world of humility and simple living even amid money, a world of traditions and family-oriented norms under attack and sun and salt and fierce children and fierce adults. I loved this world!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews