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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Keeping Lucy is a beautiful story of a mother’s enduring love and the lengths she will go to protect her children! This novel touches on life in the 60’s-70’s and the challenges, especially in that time, of raising a child with Down’s syndrome.
Highly recommended for all to read! Wonderfully written and excellent character development.
*I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Highly recommended for all to read! Wonderfully written and excellent character development.
*I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Keeping Lucy gave me all the feels. As a mother and as a woman who had a beloved family member with Down's Syndrome.
There's a reason this title has been called out by many:
PopSugar's 30 Must-Read Books of 2019
Good Housekeeping's 25 Best New Books for Summer 2019
Better Homes & Gardens 13 New Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer
While the subject matter can be seen as a little heavy, it is not a challenging book to read. Rather, it is one that will haunt your mind for hours after finishing as you wonder how you would have acted in Ginny's place. Whether you could rock the boat and go against what society has decided is the right thing to do.
And that right thing during the time period of this book is to send off your child born with Down's Syndrome. As they were considered broken and unable to thrive. Sanitariums took them in where they would often die as love was withheld and they were not encouraged to grow. That was the path doctors tried to steer my aunt towards, only she refused. In this story, Ginny was forced into it only to learn how abysmal the conditions were.
This title deserves a spot on everyone's read list.
There's a reason this title has been called out by many:
PopSugar's 30 Must-Read Books of 2019
Good Housekeeping's 25 Best New Books for Summer 2019
Better Homes & Gardens 13 New Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer
While the subject matter can be seen as a little heavy, it is not a challenging book to read. Rather, it is one that will haunt your mind for hours after finishing as you wonder how you would have acted in Ginny's place. Whether you could rock the boat and go against what society has decided is the right thing to do.
And that right thing during the time period of this book is to send off your child born with Down's Syndrome. As they were considered broken and unable to thrive. Sanitariums took them in where they would often die as love was withheld and they were not encouraged to grow. That was the path doctors tried to steer my aunt towards, only she refused. In this story, Ginny was forced into it only to learn how abysmal the conditions were.
This title deserves a spot on everyone's read list.
In 1969 Ginny's daughter Lucy is born with Down Syndrome. While she was in a medicated fog post-birth, her husband, under pressure from his father and their doctor, sent the baby to Willowridge, a school specifically equipped to assist children with challenges. Ginny is heartbroken and never quite comfortable with the idea, but she works to move on for her older son.
Two years later, articles come out stating that children at Willowridge are neglected. Ginny and her friend Marsha immediately head to Willowridge to see for themselves, and Ginny checks Lucy out for the weekend with no intention to return her, especially as she's able to more closely examine Lucy and sees evidence of the horrors she's faced. Unfortunately, it's not that simple, and Ginny fights to keep her daughter safe.
As is obvious by the description, parts of this are really difficult to read and if you love someone with Down Syndrome it might be best to skip. I loved that when Ginny understood the situation, she did the right thing despite what society was telling her and despite her fears. I also loved her relationship with Marsha and how Marsha wordlessly understood Ginny's perspective and did everything she could to support her. Great book for acknowledging the history of how people with Down Syndrome were treated, while watching a story unfold that is ultimately hopeful.
Two years later, articles come out stating that children at Willowridge are neglected. Ginny and her friend Marsha immediately head to Willowridge to see for themselves, and Ginny checks Lucy out for the weekend with no intention to return her, especially as she's able to more closely examine Lucy and sees evidence of the horrors she's faced. Unfortunately, it's not that simple, and Ginny fights to keep her daughter safe.
As is obvious by the description, parts of this are really difficult to read and if you love someone with Down Syndrome it might be best to skip. I loved that when Ginny understood the situation, she did the right thing despite what society was telling her and despite her fears. I also loved her relationship with Marsha and how Marsha wordlessly understood Ginny's perspective and did everything she could to support her. Great book for acknowledging the history of how people with Down Syndrome were treated, while watching a story unfold that is ultimately hopeful.
This is another one I listened to as an audiobook a few weeks ago. The two of us who listened to it gave it 5 stars vs. 3 stars for those who read it, so I’m not sure if that has anything to do with ratings or not but worth noting. Regardless, I was rooting for these women throughout,and while it had a bit of a cookie-cutter ending, it’s what I wanted for them. What can I say? I just need things to work out perfectly sometimes in fictional literature since that’s really not reality most of the time.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Reviewed on: Ashes Books & Bobs.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press & Netgalley for the chance to read this novel!
I really, really enjoyed my first book by T. Greenwood! Admittedly, I was nervous about reading this one. My feelings were mixed on the blurb and I didn’t know if it would be a hit for me. Luckily, as I started reading, I found I flew through several chapters in a flash. When I picked it up again, I read the final three-fourths in one day! I simply couldn’t put the book down and was surprised by just how much I loved it!
I loved that this story didn’t neatly fit into any one genre. When I began, it almost had an eerie, Thriller vibe. That continued in small doses throughout the story, but as I dug in further it gave off more of a Kristin Hannah/Women’s Fiction feel. I enjoy both, so I call that a win-win.
My favorite thing about this book was just how uniquely Lucy’s story was shared with readers. I can’t say I’ve ever read a book with a character having Down’s Syndrome and it shed plenty of light on the disorder. I hadn’t given much thought to women being encouraged to place their disabled children into permanent care facilities. I wish the book could have elaborated a bit more on this topic because I still have some questions I will have to research later on. Nonetheless, it was an eye-opening and well-crafted story. It evoked empathy and the fierce mama-bear inside of me, allowing me to relate to Ginny on a deep level.
I was torn between 4 and 5 stars, but decided to knock one star off of my overall rating due to the subtle slant of the tone of the writing that I didn’t completely care for. I felt like this was a modern view of women’s lives in the ’60s and ’70s, rather than a realistic representation of how women felt about their roles in the world. Society’s modern views often muddy the waters between factual history and fiction. I think this is a challenge for all writers of Historical Fiction because we live in this world, not the past, but it’s still something I struggle with as a reader. Despite my minor hang-ups, this was a page-turner I would eagerly recommend. I loved reading Keeping Lucy and want to keep her myself.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press & Netgalley for the chance to read this novel!
I really, really enjoyed my first book by T. Greenwood! Admittedly, I was nervous about reading this one. My feelings were mixed on the blurb and I didn’t know if it would be a hit for me. Luckily, as I started reading, I found I flew through several chapters in a flash. When I picked it up again, I read the final three-fourths in one day! I simply couldn’t put the book down and was surprised by just how much I loved it!
I loved that this story didn’t neatly fit into any one genre. When I began, it almost had an eerie, Thriller vibe. That continued in small doses throughout the story, but as I dug in further it gave off more of a Kristin Hannah/Women’s Fiction feel. I enjoy both, so I call that a win-win.
My favorite thing about this book was just how uniquely Lucy’s story was shared with readers. I can’t say I’ve ever read a book with a character having Down’s Syndrome and it shed plenty of light on the disorder. I hadn’t given much thought to women being encouraged to place their disabled children into permanent care facilities. I wish the book could have elaborated a bit more on this topic because I still have some questions I will have to research later on. Nonetheless, it was an eye-opening and well-crafted story. It evoked empathy and the fierce mama-bear inside of me, allowing me to relate to Ginny on a deep level.
I was torn between 4 and 5 stars, but decided to knock one star off of my overall rating due to the subtle slant of the tone of the writing that I didn’t completely care for. I felt like this was a modern view of women’s lives in the ’60s and ’70s, rather than a realistic representation of how women felt about their roles in the world. Society’s modern views often muddy the waters between factual history and fiction. I think this is a challenge for all writers of Historical Fiction because we live in this world, not the past, but it’s still something I struggle with as a reader. Despite my minor hang-ups, this was a page-turner I would eagerly recommend. I loved reading Keeping Lucy and want to keep her myself.
A heartbreaking yet hopeful story. I'm old enough to remember the days when babies with special needs were sent to "training schools". Basically they were committed to a facility which was understaffed. Living conditions were awful, there was poor medical care, and there was no "education". We didn't have special needs students at our schools. Also I remember the days when women could be powerless in their marriages as Ginny was. This story illustrates very well that time. Yet it ends on a hopeful note.
A gorgeous little book on female friendships, family, and being true to yourself.
This is an interesting book and hard to read at times because of the reality of the history involved. Ginny gives birth to her second child, but when Lucy is found to have Down Syndrome, the doctor whisks the baby away. While Ginny is under anesthetic, her husband, father, and doctor place the baby in an institution, telling Ginny it is all for the best.
Two years later, Ginny learns about the deplorable conditions at the institution and ends up stealing her child away and going on a long road trip with her six year old son and her best friend in order to get away from the law and her husband’s family, all of whom will force to to return Lucy.
It is hard in this modern day to see how children with Down Syndrome were treated and how little say Ginny had over her child, or even herself. She submitted to her husband’s will without much protest. However, she does a one eighty when she sees the conditions at the institution two years later, which didn’t feel completely authentic to her character up to that point.
Then there was the long, crazy road trip. It felt strange because there is no way 2 young children would have stayed in the car for days on end that way! However, it did allow for may issues to be brought up, such as women’s choices, friendship, obligations, and social changes that were happening at the time (and are still happening!).
I did like this book — it was interesting and there was lots of research that felt authentic and I wanted to see how it would all end — but I didn’t love it. It is definitely a book, however, that shows us how far we’ve come in many respects, but also how far we still need to go in terms of special needs and women’s rights.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.
Two years later, Ginny learns about the deplorable conditions at the institution and ends up stealing her child away and going on a long road trip with her six year old son and her best friend in order to get away from the law and her husband’s family, all of whom will force to to return Lucy.
It is hard in this modern day to see how children with Down Syndrome were treated and how little say Ginny had over her child, or even herself. She submitted to her husband’s will without much protest. However, she does a one eighty when she sees the conditions at the institution two years later, which didn’t feel completely authentic to her character up to that point.
Then there was the long, crazy road trip. It felt strange because there is no way 2 young children would have stayed in the car for days on end that way! However, it did allow for may issues to be brought up, such as women’s choices, friendship, obligations, and social changes that were happening at the time (and are still happening!).
I did like this book — it was interesting and there was lots of research that felt authentic and I wanted to see how it would all end — but I didn’t love it. It is definitely a book, however, that shows us how far we’ve come in many respects, but also how far we still need to go in terms of special needs and women’s rights.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.