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A review by shelleys_book_nook
The Art of Belonging by Eleanor Ray
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was such a lovely read. I so enjoy stories with multiple generations because they show how much we can learn from each other young and old. In this tale, we have three generations of women from the same family having to live under one roof. When Grace's daughter Amelia and granddaughter Charlotte move in with her after Amelia's marriage collapses because of her husband and his financial disaster they learn to let go of past hurts and mistakes through love, perseverance and acceptance...And along the way, they learn a little bit more about each other and themselves.
The story is told from each main character's point of view and I loved how authentic each woman sounded and how clear the voice of each character was. Every one of them has insecurities, wants, needs and loves...and they all come through loud and clear. And even though their three lives are closely entwined they each had their own lives and story going on. Amelia is dealing with her separation and work, Grace is dealing with the upheaval, miniature club, her husband's death and a budding romance. Charlotte's dealing with missing her dad, a new school and new friends. The way Eleanor Ray wrote about these situations and the character's ways of dealing with them was very realistic and true to life. What I took away from this story and what the characters learned is the fact that maybe we're not so different underneath it all.
The story is told from each main character's point of view and I loved how authentic each woman sounded and how clear the voice of each character was. Every one of them has insecurities, wants, needs and loves...and they all come through loud and clear. And even though their three lives are closely entwined they each had their own lives and story going on. Amelia is dealing with her separation and work, Grace is dealing with the upheaval, miniature club, her husband's death and a budding romance. Charlotte's dealing with missing her dad, a new school and new friends. The way Eleanor Ray wrote about these situations and the character's ways of dealing with them was very realistic and true to life. What I took away from this story and what the characters learned is the fact that maybe we're not so different underneath it all.