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judyrigby's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wtb_michael's review
3.0
A nicely constructed novel, about grief, recovery and family. I wasn't that into the overarching conceit of the book, in which Cate, who has died, watches over her family and friends, and I could have done with a lot less of the horses, but this is otherwise a pretty impressive debut.
bianca89279's review
5.0
In The Quiet is a lovely, unique debut novel from Eliza Henry Jones.
It deals with grief, family, and moving on with life.
I was reticent to read it, as the synopsis stated that the narrator was a recently deceased mother of three, and I don’t “do” afterlife etc. But I’m so glad I did because this was astoundingly beautiful, heartbreaking and full of hope at the same time.
Eliza Henry Jones is incredibly insightful, despite her young age. Her background in psychology and grief counselling has given this novel a very authentic feel.
The novel is set on a horse farm in rural Victoria, Australia. The Carltons are reeling because of Cate’s sudden death. The husband, Bass, and their twin teenage boys, Rafferty and Cameron, and their sister, Jessa, are in shock and are stumbling through the everyday minutia of life. They’re helped by good friends, Laura and Steve, and Cate’s sister, Beatrice, who themselves have been affected by Cate’s untimely death.
In the Quiet is deliciously slow-burning. I cried quite a bit in the beginning, as the family’s sorrow was palpable and Cate’s need to be there and do all the many things a mum and wife does was absolutely heartbreaking.
Slowly, the pain subsides, everyone learns to deal with life, to make plans and build new relations. Living has a way of creeping in, although the pain is still there.
I liked so many things about this novel. The writing is excellent and a bit different. I thought it was interesting that there were no chapters, although there were paragraph breaks between what could have been chapters.
I was very impressed with this novel; it's real, relatable and very gentle.The title is absolutely perfect.
This was a quietly beautiful, unassuming, slowly unravelling novel, which will make you ponder about life and your own relationships.
In The Quiet is a very impressive debut novel. A very impressive novel. Period.
I’ve received this novel via NetGalley. Many thanks to HarperCollins Australia for the opportunity to read and review this beautiful novel.
Cover: 5 stars - perfectly matched to the feel and subject of the novel.
It deals with grief, family, and moving on with life.
I was reticent to read it, as the synopsis stated that the narrator was a recently deceased mother of three, and I don’t “do” afterlife etc. But I’m so glad I did because this was astoundingly beautiful, heartbreaking and full of hope at the same time.
Eliza Henry Jones is incredibly insightful, despite her young age. Her background in psychology and grief counselling has given this novel a very authentic feel.
The novel is set on a horse farm in rural Victoria, Australia. The Carltons are reeling because of Cate’s sudden death. The husband, Bass, and their twin teenage boys, Rafferty and Cameron, and their sister, Jessa, are in shock and are stumbling through the everyday minutia of life. They’re helped by good friends, Laura and Steve, and Cate’s sister, Beatrice, who themselves have been affected by Cate’s untimely death.
In the Quiet is deliciously slow-burning. I cried quite a bit in the beginning, as the family’s sorrow was palpable and Cate’s need to be there and do all the many things a mum and wife does was absolutely heartbreaking.
Slowly, the pain subsides, everyone learns to deal with life, to make plans and build new relations. Living has a way of creeping in, although the pain is still there.
I liked so many things about this novel. The writing is excellent and a bit different. I thought it was interesting that there were no chapters, although there were paragraph breaks between what could have been chapters.
I was very impressed with this novel; it's real, relatable and very gentle.The title is absolutely perfect.
This was a quietly beautiful, unassuming, slowly unravelling novel, which will make you ponder about life and your own relationships.
In The Quiet is a very impressive debut novel. A very impressive novel. Period.
I’ve received this novel via NetGalley. Many thanks to HarperCollins Australia for the opportunity to read and review this beautiful novel.
Cover: 5 stars - perfectly matched to the feel and subject of the novel.
ashleyposluns's review
4.0
Cate is dead. She can't remember how it happened or when or why, but she knows she's dead because she's watching her family from a distance - a distance where she can't speak to, comfort, or help them. She is forced to watch her three children - twin boys, 17, and her daughter, 14 - and husband age without her.
Each character is forced to grow up in some way and grief is a huge and heavy part of each of their lives. This is not a light read, but a fantastic (and a little heartbreaking) one.
Each character is forced to grow up in some way and grief is a huge and heavy part of each of their lives. This is not a light read, but a fantastic (and a little heartbreaking) one.
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