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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
I always have to have an audiobook on the go, and I don't pay for them, so I listen to what is available through my library at the time I need a new book. That's a long way of saying that the audiobooks I listen to are not necessarily books from my TBR. I recognised the author's name from a new release from New Zealand, last year, and gave it a go. Set in the UK and Africa, though with one character from New Zealand, I found it to be an engaging, often relatable, and moving look at complex life and family situations; mental health, infertility, teenage pregnancy, domestic abuse. I found it a touch dated and at times some characters seemed a little over the top, but I would definitely read her more recent novels.
YAH A NEW ZEALAND WRITER.
I'm a fan of Charity's easy contemporary fiction novels and this was no exception. Well written, good character development, and I was invested in the story enough that I wanted it to turn out one way. I'm not divulging how close to the actual storyline I 'guessed', but nevertheless if you're a fan of her other novels this will stand up to scrutiny.
I'm a fan of Charity's easy contemporary fiction novels and this was no exception. Well written, good character development, and I was invested in the story enough that I wanted it to turn out one way. I'm not divulging how close to the actual storyline I 'guessed', but nevertheless if you're a fan of her other novels this will stand up to scrutiny.
Warm, insightful and poignant, Freeing Grace tells the story of David, curate of an inner-city parish, and Leila, his Nigerian-born wife. Unable to have children of their own, they're desperate for a family. When they finally hear they've been approved to adopt a baby, Grace, they can scarcely believe their good fortune.
There's just one problem for which David and Leila cannot plan; Grace's birth family - the enigmatic, charismatic Harrisons. Enlisting their friend, the feckless, charming New Zealander, Jake Kelly - who's half in love with all of them, one way or another - the Harrisons send him on a quest that will force a confrontation. Ultimately, each has a terrible decision to make.
Everyone only wants what's best for Grace - but who can say exactly what that is?
After having read two more recent Charity Norman books which I loved I was pleased to find this book which was her first novel. All I can say is that her writing has greatly improved! I didn't feel engaged by any of the characters, the story was good but it lacked depth. I found myself not really caring what happened to anybody in the book. A disappointment but at least it was her first book and not her most recent...
There's just one problem for which David and Leila cannot plan; Grace's birth family - the enigmatic, charismatic Harrisons. Enlisting their friend, the feckless, charming New Zealander, Jake Kelly - who's half in love with all of them, one way or another - the Harrisons send him on a quest that will force a confrontation. Ultimately, each has a terrible decision to make.
Everyone only wants what's best for Grace - but who can say exactly what that is?
After having read two more recent Charity Norman books which I loved I was pleased to find this book which was her first novel. All I can say is that her writing has greatly improved! I didn't feel engaged by any of the characters, the story was good but it lacked depth. I found myself not really caring what happened to anybody in the book. A disappointment but at least it was her first book and not her most recent...
A lovely read and quite emotive at times. A story about the gift of children, love and loss.
Different from anything i've read before.
Bit long winded and drawn out in places but a pleasant read
Different from anything i've read before.
Bit long winded and drawn out in places but a pleasant read
I love this author. The depth of each character makes me very emotionally involved. I also never know which way its going to go.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yet another book for which I am not the target audience; this tells the story of a teen pregnancy that ends with a tragic death, and a baby caught in custody proceedings.
CW: emotional abuse, gun violence, car crash, animal cruelty, suicidal ideation
It's not my favourite flavour of entertainment to have a story told from the point of view of entitled Capitalists. The main characters are people of means who spend time planning expensive trips and things. One of the protagonists is a supposedly "charming" Kiwi bloke but his unassuming approachability just comes off as lazy and entitled rubbish wrapped in a casing of emotionally repressed masculine posturing.. then again he was a banker.
I was very put off by the pervasive air of casual Sexism, Racism and Ableism peppered through the whole book. I nearly stopped reading a third of the way into it, because every single character seemed to get Rated when they were described (because it's not enough to say that someone was tall - for some reason you need to hear in detail, whether or not their assets were attractive enough or their smile made them seem beddable) and that both the male and female characters had the habit of slut-shaming, describing forthright women as "stroppy", and using unkind names for women likening them to dogs and pigs. The way that mental health and anxiety were dealt with was not fun for me at all. It was all heavily stigmatised, and there was a lot of victim blaming. The only mention of homosexuality was a woman challenging her own homophobia as she tried to figure out her feelings about her husband leaving her for another man.
Written in 2011 I was struck by how old fashioned this story felt. The idea of a phone hanging on the wall and ringing at inopportune times placed this story firmly in the past, for me.
By far, the most likeable characters in the story were the prospective adoptive parents, and I nearly stopped reading again halfway through the book because the tension in it just made the whole situation seem unwinnable. It was a heck of a mess and I felt like an easy resolution would be possible if only people actually talked to each other. I felt like most of the conflict in the entire story was caused by people not communicating or trusting those around them. That sort of things is a huge chore for me to read through.
For all its disaster, I almost liked the last quarter of the book, but it was hardly a payoff or my investment. This was yet another example of my compulsive and masochistic desire to complete things that I start... somebody save me from myself.
CW: emotional abuse, gun violence, car crash, animal cruelty, suicidal ideation
It's not my favourite flavour of entertainment to have a story told from the point of view of entitled Capitalists. The main characters are people of means who spend time planning expensive trips and things. One of the protagonists is a supposedly "charming" Kiwi bloke but his unassuming approachability just comes off as lazy and entitled rubbish wrapped in a casing of emotionally repressed masculine posturing.. then again he was a banker.
I was very put off by the pervasive air of casual Sexism, Racism and Ableism peppered through the whole book. I nearly stopped reading a third of the way into it, because every single character seemed to get Rated when they were described (because it's not enough to say that someone was tall - for some reason you need to hear in detail, whether or not their assets were attractive enough or their smile made them seem beddable) and that both the male and female characters had the habit of slut-shaming, describing forthright women as "stroppy", and using unkind names for women likening them to dogs and pigs. The way that mental health and anxiety were dealt with was not fun for me at all. It was all heavily stigmatised, and there was a lot of victim blaming. The only mention of homosexuality was a woman challenging her own homophobia as she tried to figure out her feelings about her husband leaving her for another man.
Written in 2011 I was struck by how old fashioned this story felt. The idea of a phone hanging on the wall and ringing at inopportune times placed this story firmly in the past, for me.
By far, the most likeable characters in the story were the prospective adoptive parents, and I nearly stopped reading again halfway through the book because the tension in it just made the whole situation seem unwinnable. It was a heck of a mess and I felt like an easy resolution would be possible if only people actually talked to each other. I felt like most of the conflict in the entire story was caused by people not communicating or trusting those around them. That sort of things is a huge chore for me to read through.
For all its disaster, I almost liked the last quarter of the book, but it was hardly a payoff or my investment. This was yet another example of my compulsive and masochistic desire to complete things that I start... somebody save me from myself.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
London, 1990s.
In a hospital ward, Cherie, 16, black, gives birth to Grace Serenity. Shortly afterwards she flees the hospital and dies in a car crash.
David Edmunds, white, parish priest, and his black Nigerian wife, Leila, are finding that their childlessness causes more problems than their mixed marriage. Desperate to have a family, they undergo IVF without success. As the book opens, an adoption process is under way.
Jake Kelly, 40-year-old New Zealander, can’t commit to his relationship with Anna, who wants a child before she gets too old. She decides to end their relationship and asks Jake to move out. On the same day, Jake quits his job as an investment banker. A colleague, Lucy, clever, attractive, invites him to her parents’ home in the country for the weekend. Lucy’s young half-brother, Matt, is into loud music and drugs.
After the shocking opening, we become involved with two families – the Edmunds in their search for a child, and Lucy’s family, the Harrisons, who draw Jake into their convoluted life and the secrets they are hiding. Why has Lucy’s stepmother, Deborah, not returned from an assignment in Africa? Why is 16-year-old Matt so confused and desperate?
Adoption is the theme of this book. The slightly clunky title, Freeing Grace, is explained late in the story during the adoption hearing that forms the climax.
The main characters, with a strong supporting cast, are well drawn, credible and memorable. The story moves between the two families, following parallel paths, until finally they are brought together by baby Grace. The prose flows easily and we are always sure where we are and which thread we are following. Jake tells his story in the first person which further helps to keep the story on track.
The plot is interesting, with many surprises. We go with Jake to Africa, briefly, in strong contrast to the cool, misty weather of the English countryside. The story is moving, funny and absorbing. It’s up to date and relevant with its themes of childlessness, mixed marriage, prejudice, adoption, teenage pregnancy, drugs, alcohol and mental illness.
Thoroughly recommended as an engaging, entertaining read, with enough depth to make you care about the characters. This is Charity Norman’s first novel. I hope she writes more.
Jo Rudd 28/5/2011
In a hospital ward, Cherie, 16, black, gives birth to Grace Serenity. Shortly afterwards she flees the hospital and dies in a car crash.
David Edmunds, white, parish priest, and his black Nigerian wife, Leila, are finding that their childlessness causes more problems than their mixed marriage. Desperate to have a family, they undergo IVF without success. As the book opens, an adoption process is under way.
Jake Kelly, 40-year-old New Zealander, can’t commit to his relationship with Anna, who wants a child before she gets too old. She decides to end their relationship and asks Jake to move out. On the same day, Jake quits his job as an investment banker. A colleague, Lucy, clever, attractive, invites him to her parents’ home in the country for the weekend. Lucy’s young half-brother, Matt, is into loud music and drugs.
After the shocking opening, we become involved with two families – the Edmunds in their search for a child, and Lucy’s family, the Harrisons, who draw Jake into their convoluted life and the secrets they are hiding. Why has Lucy’s stepmother, Deborah, not returned from an assignment in Africa? Why is 16-year-old Matt so confused and desperate?
Adoption is the theme of this book. The slightly clunky title, Freeing Grace, is explained late in the story during the adoption hearing that forms the climax.
The main characters, with a strong supporting cast, are well drawn, credible and memorable. The story moves between the two families, following parallel paths, until finally they are brought together by baby Grace. The prose flows easily and we are always sure where we are and which thread we are following. Jake tells his story in the first person which further helps to keep the story on track.
The plot is interesting, with many surprises. We go with Jake to Africa, briefly, in strong contrast to the cool, misty weather of the English countryside. The story is moving, funny and absorbing. It’s up to date and relevant with its themes of childlessness, mixed marriage, prejudice, adoption, teenage pregnancy, drugs, alcohol and mental illness.
Thoroughly recommended as an engaging, entertaining read, with enough depth to make you care about the characters. This is Charity Norman’s first novel. I hope she writes more.
Jo Rudd 28/5/2011
This book was so full of emotion, I loved it. There was a pretty stressful moral dilemma in this; give the baby to the birth family that doesn't really want it, or to adoptive parents that do? Can you really just take a baby away from it's family? By swapping between the perspectives of both sides, you really get to fall in love with everyone, and that makes the decision so much harder. Sometimes, I felt no doubt in who I wanted to get this baby, then I'd swap a few chapters later. What I do wish is that there was a little bit more of those sad scenes; I didn't cry once, and I fully expected to.
TBC
TBC