Tuula Pere’s The Old Rose Villa is a heartfelt story about family, perseverance, and the ties that bind us to our past. The story follows Mihir, a boy who grows up in the mountains, making a treacherous journey to school each day, driven by the hope of a better future. His parents, who are hardworking and struggling, encourage him to pursue education so he doesn’t share their fate of laboring in the fields and on construction sites. Mihir eventually succeeds, moving abroad and becoming a respected engineer. When he returns home, he surprises his parents with a beautiful house in the same villa where his father once carried bricks as a laborer. What unfolds is a touching exploration of love, duty, and the inevitable passage of time.

One of the things that struck me most about this book was its deep emotional core. Mihir’s love for his parents is unwavering, and the way he repays their sacrifices is genuinely moving. When he buys them the Old Rose Villa, it’s not just about providing comfort but also about restoring dignity to the people who shaped him. There’s something incredibly powerful about that moment when his father realizes the very house he once labored over now belongs to his son. It’s a rare kind of storytelling that doesn’t just tell you a happy ending but makes you feel the weight of every step taken to get there.

The writing is simple, yet it carries a strong emotional punch. Pere doesn’t overcomplicate the prose, and that works in favor of the story. The descriptions of the villa, the rose garden, and the everyday lives of the caretakers are vivid without being flowery. The dialogue feels natural, especially in moments like when Mihir’s father hesitates to accept luxury, saying, “It feels strange to have servants. I’m almost embarrassed.” That line hit me because it captures the humble nature of a man who has spent his whole life working, never expecting anything in return. It’s those small, quiet moments that make the story linger long after you finish it.

What really made me think was the theme of returning home. Mihir, despite all his success, feels the pull of his childhood, the familiar roads, and the people who watched him grow. When he finds the lucky coin he buried as a child, it’s like the past is reminding him of his dreams. But there’s also the bittersweet realization that time moves forward, and we can never fully return to what once was. The final moments, with Mihir contemplating whether he should move back, feel incredibly real. Success and progress are wonderful, but what good are they if they leave behind the people and places that made us who we are?

I’d recommend The Old Rose Villa to anyone who enjoys stories about family, nostalgia, and personal growth. It’s especially perfect for those who appreciate tales with emotional depth but don’t want to wade through overly complex prose. If you’ve ever felt torn between moving forward and holding onto the past, this book will resonate with you. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt read that reminds us that home isn’t just a place, it’s the people who make it special.

Pages: 54 | ISBN : 952820077X