Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
This book is utterly gorgeous.
Julietta Henderson gives us the most heart-warming story about a 10 year old boy, Norman, and his mother Sadie, dealing with losing Norman’s best friend Jax by making the decision to fulfil his life’s ambition of performing in the Edinburgh fringe.
Light-hearted and witty, with wonderful characterisation, Henderson draws us into Norman and Sadie’s world through alternating chapters of first person prose. She introduces other characters slowly, who are equally endearing...and whilst the plot line is farcical comedy...her characters are captivating and real. I had a particular soft spot for Leonard.
Henderson takes on difficult subjects and tackles them with sensitivity, and intelligently employs comedy around the edges that assist in processing the themes, but does not make light of them. I will include trigger warnings for: suicide, drug use, and dementia.
My only criticism is that there were about 50 pages too many, and some of the more humerous scenes played out just a little too long.
However, I loved this book! It will make you smile, and give you a lump in your throat and I would highly recommend if you are looking for a touch of positivity and optimism in your reading pile!
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for providing me with an advanced copy of this gorgeous gorgeous book!
Julietta Henderson gives us the most heart-warming story about a 10 year old boy, Norman, and his mother Sadie, dealing with losing Norman’s best friend Jax by making the decision to fulfil his life’s ambition of performing in the Edinburgh fringe.
Light-hearted and witty, with wonderful characterisation, Henderson draws us into Norman and Sadie’s world through alternating chapters of first person prose. She introduces other characters slowly, who are equally endearing...and whilst the plot line is farcical comedy...her characters are captivating and real. I had a particular soft spot for Leonard.
Henderson takes on difficult subjects and tackles them with sensitivity, and intelligently employs comedy around the edges that assist in processing the themes, but does not make light of them. I will include trigger warnings for: suicide, drug use, and dementia.
My only criticism is that there were about 50 pages too many, and some of the more humerous scenes played out just a little too long.
However, I loved this book! It will make you smile, and give you a lump in your throat and I would highly recommend if you are looking for a touch of positivity and optimism in your reading pile!
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for providing me with an advanced copy of this gorgeous gorgeous book!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have to thank Penguin House for gifting me a copy of this utterly wonderful, light hearted, charming tale of Norman Foreman and his Mum Sadie.
Ms Henderson takes the reader on a beautiful journey (quite literally) from Penzance to Edinburgh as Norman pilgrimages to The Fringe Festival celebrate the loss of his (rolls bloody royce) best and only friend (Jax) meeting a host of potential dads while discovering a whole lot about himself along the way.
I was captivated by Sadie and Normans stories and laughed and cried along with them both, my heart was breaking for this poor young boy and his awful Psorasis and could completely empathise with Sadie and all her emotional maternal fears for Norman. Leonard is wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed his charm and wit, his story was like a warm hug around the central characters and I just wanted to keep reading more and more about his life.
A smashing 5 star read that will war your heart and make you sob - so tissues at the ready!
Ms Henderson takes the reader on a beautiful journey (quite literally) from Penzance to Edinburgh as Norman pilgrimages to The Fringe Festival celebrate the loss of his (rolls bloody royce) best and only friend (Jax) meeting a host of potential dads while discovering a whole lot about himself along the way.
I was captivated by Sadie and Normans stories and laughed and cried along with them both, my heart was breaking for this poor young boy and his awful Psorasis and could completely empathise with Sadie and all her emotional maternal fears for Norman. Leonard is wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed his charm and wit, his story was like a warm hug around the central characters and I just wanted to keep reading more and more about his life.
A smashing 5 star read that will war your heart and make you sob - so tissues at the ready!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
This is a beautiful story that made me want to laugh and cry at the same time.
Norman and Jax are best friends. They have been completely inseparable since they met at the age of 6. They think of themselves as a comedy duo and at the age of ten, they come up with a Five Year Plan which ends with them performing at the Edinburgh Fringe and becoming rich and famous.
When Jax dies just before his twelfth birthday, everything changes. Jax was always the outgoing, boisterous one while Norman is more reserved. Following Jax's death, Norman decides to rewrite their plan; Do Edinburgh Fringe, Look after mum, Find dad.
The chapters alternate between Norman and mum Sadie's points of view. Sadie has been a single mum for all of Norman's life. Her motherly and unconditional love for Norman is beautiful. He is everything to her and she will do anything to make him happy, so she agrees to help him find his dad on the way to the Fringe. Leonard, an elderly man she works with, agrees to help her whittle down the potential dads and do the driving up to Edinburgh from Penzance, with a few stops along the way.
Henderson writes beautifully and it is an easy read. Heartbreaking but also hilarious. The character developments of both Norman and Sadie are wonderful to read.
Norman and Jax are best friends. They have been completely inseparable since they met at the age of 6. They think of themselves as a comedy duo and at the age of ten, they come up with a Five Year Plan which ends with them performing at the Edinburgh Fringe and becoming rich and famous.
When Jax dies just before his twelfth birthday, everything changes. Jax was always the outgoing, boisterous one while Norman is more reserved. Following Jax's death, Norman decides to rewrite their plan; Do Edinburgh Fringe, Look after mum, Find dad.
The chapters alternate between Norman and mum Sadie's points of view. Sadie has been a single mum for all of Norman's life. Her motherly and unconditional love for Norman is beautiful. He is everything to her and she will do anything to make him happy, so she agrees to help him find his dad on the way to the Fringe. Leonard, an elderly man she works with, agrees to help her whittle down the potential dads and do the driving up to Edinburgh from Penzance, with a few stops along the way.
Henderson writes beautifully and it is an easy read. Heartbreaking but also hilarious. The character developments of both Norman and Sadie are wonderful to read.
What a wonderful book. Laughs, tears, thought provoking and heart warming. I cannot recommend this book enough. Hold tight you are in for a bumpy ride.
Not something I’d normally read but I really really enjoyed this book! It was funny and yet so sad throughout the entire book. I wanted to know more about what happened to the characters once I’d finished the book, always a sign of a good book ( for me anyway)
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
This one was recommended on Libro.fm for fans of Fredrik Backman and that’s a perfect description. I loved it so much.
Absolutely loved it. One of my favourite books is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce and this novel has similar heart. Perfect uplit.