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missberlyreads 's review for:
All the Lonely People
by Mike Gayle
Oh my goodness this is an emotional rollercoaster ride - so much joy and so much heartbreak. Have lots of tissues nearby.
Hubert Bird is an 84 year old Jamaican immigrant living in London. He is a widower and his children aren't close - one is physically distant, and the other is physically and emotionally distant. He talks to his daughter Rose weekly and regales her with stories of adventures of he and his friends from the senior center. Rose lives abroad in Australia teaching at university and hasn't been home in years and his stories assure her that he has a full life and is surrounded by so many loving and caring people. When she calls with the good news that a sabbatical will bring her home for a long visit, Hubert is both thrilled and...anxious. He has been lying to Rose. He has been living the life of a hermit. Determined not to disappoint his daughter, he sets out on a mission to build the life he's been describing to Rose in the few weeks before her arrival.
This book alternates between Hubert's present and his past. We get to see Hubert as a new immigrant struggling to make his way in a new country despite the racism, falling in love, building a life with his family and all the triumphs and devastating challenges they face throughout the years until his past meets up with his present. In the present, we watch Hubert open himself up to new people and experiences. He even takes a leadership role in a very public community project! It's just glorious and heartwarming to watch his growth and to see his life expand.
I love Hubert Bird and I want to wrap him up in so much love. However, I was left wondering if Hubert has a mental health issue that goes unexplored in this book. Or maybe that's just another way grief manifests, or both and. I wish we saw him get some professional help.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is fantastic. There are a few different immigrants from places other than Jamaica. The narrator did a great job capturing the different voices and accents.
Thanks to LibroFM and the publisher for the ALC.
Hubert Bird is an 84 year old Jamaican immigrant living in London. He is a widower and his children aren't close - one is physically distant, and the other is physically and emotionally distant. He talks to his daughter Rose weekly and regales her with stories of adventures of he and his friends from the senior center. Rose lives abroad in Australia teaching at university and hasn't been home in years and his stories assure her that he has a full life and is surrounded by so many loving and caring people. When she calls with the good news that a sabbatical will bring her home for a long visit, Hubert is both thrilled and...anxious. He has been lying to Rose. He has been living the life of a hermit. Determined not to disappoint his daughter, he sets out on a mission to build the life he's been describing to Rose in the few weeks before her arrival.
This book alternates between Hubert's present and his past. We get to see Hubert as a new immigrant struggling to make his way in a new country despite the racism, falling in love, building a life with his family and all the triumphs and devastating challenges they face throughout the years until his past meets up with his present. In the present, we watch Hubert open himself up to new people and experiences. He even takes a leadership role in a very public community project! It's just glorious and heartwarming to watch his growth and to see his life expand.
I love Hubert Bird and I want to wrap him up in so much love. However, I was left wondering if Hubert has a mental health issue that goes unexplored in this book. Or maybe that's just another way grief manifests, or both and. I wish we saw him get some professional help.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is fantastic. There are a few different immigrants from places other than Jamaica. The narrator did a great job capturing the different voices and accents.
Thanks to LibroFM and the publisher for the ALC.