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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Predictable. Trying to convince you to sympathise with a baby snatcher is a hard pass for me and most of the plot is just ridiculous.
It is just after midnight on the first of January 2000 when two families in the same hospital welcome baby girls into the world. The opening chapter was so emotionally engaging and compelling that I was hooked from thereon in. Basically from the first chapters the rest of my day was cancelled as I simply could not put the book down. In those first pages as I got to know both families, there were tears (mine), characters I wanted to hug and at least one I wanted to slap!
Anna is a long suffering politician’s wife, married to Julius. He’s such an entitled annoying character, much more concerned with the appearance of a perfect family than actually contributing to making his family perfect. Their baby is long awaited and longed for. Then there’s Hope and Quiet Isaac. She’s a hospital cleaner while he is an overseas student from Sierra Leone. Theirs is an unplanned, unexpected but nonetheless welcome baby. Between them is a quiet but deeply felt love.
Although Dawn French is well known as a comedian, this is not a humorous book, although there is a touch of humour provided by one of the characters who continually uses wrong words. Instead this is a book of big emotional themes: motherhood, grief, loss and above all love. It’s a poignant, heartfelt story of mothers and daughters and the bonds between them, so beautifully and insightfully written.
Because Of You is a superb book with such a perfect last line, full of hope.One of Dawn French’s previous books was called A Tiny Bit Marvellous. Well, this one is a huge, warm, moving, glorious piece of marvellous-ness. Is that even a word? Well I’m not sure and I don’t even care. This book is simply wonderful.
Anna is a long suffering politician’s wife, married to Julius. He’s such an entitled annoying character, much more concerned with the appearance of a perfect family than actually contributing to making his family perfect. Their baby is long awaited and longed for. Then there’s Hope and Quiet Isaac. She’s a hospital cleaner while he is an overseas student from Sierra Leone. Theirs is an unplanned, unexpected but nonetheless welcome baby. Between them is a quiet but deeply felt love.
Although Dawn French is well known as a comedian, this is not a humorous book, although there is a touch of humour provided by one of the characters who continually uses wrong words. Instead this is a book of big emotional themes: motherhood, grief, loss and above all love. It’s a poignant, heartfelt story of mothers and daughters and the bonds between them, so beautifully and insightfully written.
Because Of You is a superb book with such a perfect last line, full of hope.One of Dawn French’s previous books was called A Tiny Bit Marvellous. Well, this one is a huge, warm, moving, glorious piece of marvellous-ness. Is that even a word? Well I’m not sure and I don’t even care. This book is simply wonderful.
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a great concept, but unfortunately this was a little too unrealistically executed for me.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the characters. They are emotionally complex and unique. Dawns voice-over in the audio brings out their distinct personalities via the way they speak and chose their words (eg accents and slang). Deeply insightful analysis if what it means to define family and motherhood, and motherly love. Shocking but powerful and amazing/tear jerker ending. However Dawn tries to make all her books comedy pieces. This was not a funny piece. It had great elements of humour that suited and juxtaposed the heavy themes, but her attempt to make this a comedy fell flat. I liked the diversity of the characters which was perhaps inspired by Dawn's own family.
emotional
medium-paced
Week 9 Book 10
Because of You by Dawn French
Rating: 2/5
This was a highly rated award winning book I saw on Kindle so I picked it up. It revolves around two women who give birth around midnight at the turn of the century in the same city, hospital and floor. One woman gives birth to a beautiful baby girl. The other loses her baby. The next day one woman walks out with a baby and the other is anguished at her loss. But tables have turned. The little girl grows up, oblivious to the truth. And when she finds out, everyone's life goes topsy turvy. A compelling premise but weak execution. Felt disappointed.
Because of You by Dawn French
Rating: 2/5
This was a highly rated award winning book I saw on Kindle so I picked it up. It revolves around two women who give birth around midnight at the turn of the century in the same city, hospital and floor. One woman gives birth to a beautiful baby girl. The other loses her baby. The next day one woman walks out with a baby and the other is anguished at her loss. But tables have turned. The little girl grows up, oblivious to the truth. And when she finds out, everyone's life goes topsy turvy. A compelling premise but weak execution. Felt disappointed.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Couldn’t reconcile the crime with the portrayal of the main character. We are supposed to see her as the hero of the book - didn’t feel realistic. All characters were stereotypes of class. Hope did a terrible thing and we are supposed to forgive her and think she is a fabulous living person. If she was truly such a wonderful person she would have given her back.