It is a chance to meet up and chat about summer reads -favs from previous holidays or ones people are hoping to read on next holiday? It's always good to get recommendations for good summer books!
There will be crustless cucumber sandwiches and tea in china cups on the menu! Floral dresses are optional but would really add to the occasion...of course our mascot (Baby Bookclubber) Seán will be guest of honour, maybe even bring his first book?
The read for this summer event is Leaving the World by Douglas Kennedy 
Aged thirteen, Jane makes a vow to herself and to her feuding parents - she will never marry, have children and lead the resentful life they chose. Years later, now a Harvard professor and living with Theo, a filmmaker, Jane falls unexpectedly pregnant. Resolved as she's been to childlessness, she begins to warm to the idea of motherhood, even with a partner who is increasingly absent. But a devastating turn of events takes the decision out of her hands in a way she could never have predicted. Her familiar world torn apart, Jane feels forced to leave her old life behind, and piece by piece begins to destroy the little that is left. She resigns from her job, cuts all ties with friends and family and moves to a place where no one will find her. Isolated, she feels she has finally succeeded in leaving her world. Yet when a young girl disappears, prompting a high-profile police investigation, Jane is drawn in. Convinced that the person at the heart of the case is much closer to her new community than anyone realises, she has to make a decision - stay hidden or bring to light a shocking truth.
1 comment:
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the several stories within the covers. The main character wasn't particularly likeable but understandable really with one disaster after the next unfolding throughout her life. I liked the fact she was flawed. The story did take a while to get going but it did grip me in the end. I did find it quite unbelieveable in parts especially her job changes and success no matter what she turned her hand to. It was well written and page turning in parts but overall lacked coherence and believeability. I do like douglas kennedy as an author and find it astounding that he can write so well in the voice of a woman but I did struggle a little with this book wanting to like it more than I did. Another thing that irked me about the book was the description on the back cover as the missing child is only a subplot in the book but reads like it is a huge part of the novel and I kept waiting for it to happen but was a little distracting. Overall a good read but not without mistakes.
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