Scan barcode
samstillreading's review against another edition
5.0
To say I was eagerly awaiting the release of Small Blessings is an understatement. Emily Brewin’s debut Hello, Goodbye still gives me good book feelings years later and after reading Small Blessings, I think it will have the same effect. This is a quietly powerful, more serious book but it packs no less of an emotional punch.
The story is told in alternate chapters from the point of view of Rosie and Isobel, who couldn’t be more different. Rosie is a single mum, struggling to finish Year 12, work and look after her autistic son Petey. Rosie’s also scared that her ex (and father of Petey) is going to hunt her down. Isobel is a lawyer at the top of her game with a lovely husband, house and all the trappings of wealth. But now her mum is dying and she wants a baby. Both Isobel and Rosie are scared. As their past is brought up to revisit them, they need to confront it instead of running away. For Rosie, this is complex. It involves a past that she has left behind but that may have had lasting effects on her beloved Petey. It goes back to her fractured relationship with her mother, one that is tenuous at best now. Isobel’s past also is influenced by her mother – what she was, but more importantly to teenage Isobel’s eyes, what she wasn’t. Isobel’s teenage years were coloured by the expectations of those she went to school with, and now she feels even more guilty for distancing herself from her working-class roots.
Small Blessings isn’t a huge book, but there is a lot to unpack beyond the words. Neither Rosie nor Isobel are particularly likeable characters but you can’t help but feel their pain, shame and embarrassment. They are relatable – who hasn’t felt shame at something they said or did? Or didn’t do? Both are running from a past that is shameful in their eyes but now the past is looming. Rosie is particularly ashamed of her poverty and that others find her worthless, even though she’s dug herself out of a huge hole. Isobel is guilty of this, using words to wound Rosie exactly where it hurts. Isobel is also very good at wounding herself, examining past decisions and finding herself at fault.
The supporting characters in the novel range from sweet (Petey and Rosie’s neighbour Mr Granthall) to downright obnoxious (Rosie’s mother Vera and Isobel’s brother Lachie). Some are very selfish, others attempting to do their best in their own way. The cast of characters is just what you’d expect to see throughout society, making the novel very realistic. The fact that Rosie and Isobel’s problems are internal also demonstrates that you can’t judge a person’s suffering by how they look or dress. As Isobel tells Rosie, she’s lucky even though Rosie thinks she’s sorely mistaken.
Small Blessings would be an excellent read for book clubs as there’s a lot to discuss from motherhood to the effect of teenage years on the adult. It’s an authentic representation of the struggles of moving past the past and accepting yourself as you are. I devoured this book but Rosie and Isobel will stay with me for much longer.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story is told in alternate chapters from the point of view of Rosie and Isobel, who couldn’t be more different. Rosie is a single mum, struggling to finish Year 12, work and look after her autistic son Petey. Rosie’s also scared that her ex (and father of Petey) is going to hunt her down. Isobel is a lawyer at the top of her game with a lovely husband, house and all the trappings of wealth. But now her mum is dying and she wants a baby. Both Isobel and Rosie are scared. As their past is brought up to revisit them, they need to confront it instead of running away. For Rosie, this is complex. It involves a past that she has left behind but that may have had lasting effects on her beloved Petey. It goes back to her fractured relationship with her mother, one that is tenuous at best now. Isobel’s past also is influenced by her mother – what she was, but more importantly to teenage Isobel’s eyes, what she wasn’t. Isobel’s teenage years were coloured by the expectations of those she went to school with, and now she feels even more guilty for distancing herself from her working-class roots.
Small Blessings isn’t a huge book, but there is a lot to unpack beyond the words. Neither Rosie nor Isobel are particularly likeable characters but you can’t help but feel their pain, shame and embarrassment. They are relatable – who hasn’t felt shame at something they said or did? Or didn’t do? Both are running from a past that is shameful in their eyes but now the past is looming. Rosie is particularly ashamed of her poverty and that others find her worthless, even though she’s dug herself out of a huge hole. Isobel is guilty of this, using words to wound Rosie exactly where it hurts. Isobel is also very good at wounding herself, examining past decisions and finding herself at fault.
The supporting characters in the novel range from sweet (Petey and Rosie’s neighbour Mr Granthall) to downright obnoxious (Rosie’s mother Vera and Isobel’s brother Lachie). Some are very selfish, others attempting to do their best in their own way. The cast of characters is just what you’d expect to see throughout society, making the novel very realistic. The fact that Rosie and Isobel’s problems are internal also demonstrates that you can’t judge a person’s suffering by how they look or dress. As Isobel tells Rosie, she’s lucky even though Rosie thinks she’s sorely mistaken.
Small Blessings would be an excellent read for book clubs as there’s a lot to discuss from motherhood to the effect of teenage years on the adult. It’s an authentic representation of the struggles of moving past the past and accepting yourself as you are. I devoured this book but Rosie and Isobel will stay with me for much longer.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
cactuswildflower's review against another edition
3.0
Engaging characters who grow on you as the story unfolds. I enjoyed the parallel plot and the way the book highlights that we all have our dramas, no matter what walking life we come from. Recognising and appreciating the small blessings is what gets us through.
kp68's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this novel, the writing was engaging and I was interested in the story, but as others have found, I never really felt emotionally connected to it. I would have loved if it was a little longer and the characters were fleshed out more. I spent the first half of the book waiting for the characters to meet and when they did was confused about how and why that came about. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention.
I enjoyed it enough that I would try this author again. With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy.
Spoiler
why did Rosie think she needed legal advice? How did she get Isobel's business card?I enjoyed it enough that I would try this author again. With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy.
jjv84's review against another edition
3.0
This story pulled at my heart strings being a mother myself. I enjoyed how the stories entwined with each other I was a little disappointed with the ending.
busyreading's review against another edition
5.0
I’m not sure why, but as soon as I picked this book up and looked at the cover I knew I was going to love it and thankfully I was right.
Small Blessings by Aussie author Emily Brewin is not just a story about unlikely friendships, but it’s also a story about motherhood, secrets and a whole lot more. For a book of this size I was surprised at just how much was packed into this story. A heartwarming story that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in highly recommending. With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
Small Blessings by Aussie author Emily Brewin is not just a story about unlikely friendships, but it’s also a story about motherhood, secrets and a whole lot more. For a book of this size I was surprised at just how much was packed into this story. A heartwarming story that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in highly recommending. With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
samstillreading's review
5.0
To say I was eagerly awaiting the release of Small Blessings is an understatement. Emily Brewin’s debut Hello, Goodbye still gives me good book feelings years later and after reading Small Blessings, I think it will have the same effect. This is a quietly powerful, more serious book but it packs no less of an emotional punch.
The story is told in alternate chapters from the point of view of Rosie and Isobel, who couldn’t be more different. Rosie is a single mum, struggling to finish Year 12, work and look after her autistic son Petey. Rosie’s also scared that her ex (and father of Petey) is going to hunt her down. Isobel is a lawyer at the top of her game with a lovely husband, house and all the trappings of wealth. But now her mum is dying and she wants a baby. Both Isobel and Rosie are scared. As their past is brought up to revisit them, they need to confront it instead of running away. For Rosie, this is complex. It involves a past that she has left behind but that may have had lasting effects on her beloved Petey. It goes back to her fractured relationship with her mother, one that is tenuous at best now. Isobel’s past also is influenced by her mother – what she was, but more importantly to teenage Isobel’s eyes, what she wasn’t. Isobel’s teenage years were coloured by the expectations of those she went to school with, and now she feels even more guilty for distancing herself from her working-class roots.
Small Blessings isn’t a huge book, but there is a lot to unpack beyond the words. Neither Rosie nor Isobel are particularly likeable characters but you can’t help but feel their pain, shame and embarrassment. They are relatable – who hasn’t felt shame at something they said or did? Or didn’t do? Both are running from a past that is shameful in their eyes but now the past is looming. Rosie is particularly ashamed of her poverty and that others find her worthless, even though she’s dug herself out of a huge hole. Isobel is guilty of this, using words to wound Rosie exactly where it hurts. Isobel is also very good at wounding herself, examining past decisions and finding herself at fault.
The supporting characters in the novel range from sweet (Petey and Rosie’s neighbour Mr Granthall) to downright obnoxious (Rosie’s mother Vera and Isobel’s brother Lachie). Some are very selfish, others attempting to do their best in their own way. The cast of characters is just what you’d expect to see throughout society, making the novel very realistic. The fact that Rosie and Isobel’s problems are internal also demonstrates that you can’t judge a person’s suffering by how they look or dress. As Isobel tells Rosie, she’s lucky even though Rosie thinks she’s sorely mistaken.
Small Blessings would be an excellent read for book clubs as there’s a lot to discuss from motherhood to the effect of teenage years on the adult. It’s an authentic representation of the struggles of moving past the past and accepting yourself as you are. I devoured this book but Rosie and Isobel will stay with me for much longer.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story is told in alternate chapters from the point of view of Rosie and Isobel, who couldn’t be more different. Rosie is a single mum, struggling to finish Year 12, work and look after her autistic son Petey. Rosie’s also scared that her ex (and father of Petey) is going to hunt her down. Isobel is a lawyer at the top of her game with a lovely husband, house and all the trappings of wealth. But now her mum is dying and she wants a baby. Both Isobel and Rosie are scared. As their past is brought up to revisit them, they need to confront it instead of running away. For Rosie, this is complex. It involves a past that she has left behind but that may have had lasting effects on her beloved Petey. It goes back to her fractured relationship with her mother, one that is tenuous at best now. Isobel’s past also is influenced by her mother – what she was, but more importantly to teenage Isobel’s eyes, what she wasn’t. Isobel’s teenage years were coloured by the expectations of those she went to school with, and now she feels even more guilty for distancing herself from her working-class roots.
Small Blessings isn’t a huge book, but there is a lot to unpack beyond the words. Neither Rosie nor Isobel are particularly likeable characters but you can’t help but feel their pain, shame and embarrassment. They are relatable – who hasn’t felt shame at something they said or did? Or didn’t do? Both are running from a past that is shameful in their eyes but now the past is looming. Rosie is particularly ashamed of her poverty and that others find her worthless, even though she’s dug herself out of a huge hole. Isobel is guilty of this, using words to wound Rosie exactly where it hurts. Isobel is also very good at wounding herself, examining past decisions and finding herself at fault.
The supporting characters in the novel range from sweet (Petey and Rosie’s neighbour Mr Granthall) to downright obnoxious (Rosie’s mother Vera and Isobel’s brother Lachie). Some are very selfish, others attempting to do their best in their own way. The cast of characters is just what you’d expect to see throughout society, making the novel very realistic. The fact that Rosie and Isobel’s problems are internal also demonstrates that you can’t judge a person’s suffering by how they look or dress. As Isobel tells Rosie, she’s lucky even though Rosie thinks she’s sorely mistaken.
Small Blessings would be an excellent read for book clubs as there’s a lot to discuss from motherhood to the effect of teenage years on the adult. It’s an authentic representation of the struggles of moving past the past and accepting yourself as you are. I devoured this book but Rosie and Isobel will stay with me for much longer.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
More...