markw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Nice easy holiday read (listen), not one of Moggach's deeper books. But enjoyable for sure
dianaparkes's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
always_need_more_books's review against another edition
4.0
Since his wife died, intellectual James, once an eminent professor has been living alone in the Cotswolds, becoming increasingly frail in his old age. His children, Robert and Phoebe are both in their early 60s and have their own busy lives and need someone to care for their father so they are overjoyed to find Mandy from Solihull. 50 years old, overweight with Rosemary West specs, she comes highly recommended and James immediately takes a liking to her which means Robert and Phoebe can return to their lives knowing their father is in safe hands.
Robert lives in a large house in Wimbledon with his wife, a breakfast news reader on the TV. His children have left home, he has lost his job in the city, misses his dog and yearns to write a novel, hiding away in his garden shed. Phoebe lives alone in a small Welsh town, is a an artist, and is sleeping with Torren, a hippy who lives in a hut in the forest.
Mandy makes James happy – they go on jaunts together to hedgehog sanctuary’s and shopping centres and enjoy watching the birds together in the garden. To begin with the siblings are happy with Mandy’s care of their father but they soon become worried. Their father is becoming even more frail and forgetful, he visits his solicitor, the siblings find Mandy has been going through some personal items of their father and she starts making little digs at them about their lifestyles.
I really enjoyed this family drama. The cast of characters are all pretty unlikeable but with reason. Robert and Phoebe are both pretty spoilt and despite neither having jobs or commitments, they are both “too busy” to take care of their elderly father, They both feel inadequate in his eyes and still feel resentful of how distant he was in their childhood.
There are secrets a plenty that are revealed and it didn’t go the way I expected it to. It is a very knowing book – the idea of caring for an elderly parent is a modern day nightmare for many and siblings often battle to pass the care to the other. It is something both my husband and I have had to deal – both our mums had cancer and juggling work, childcare and our own lives wasn’t easy but I think we did our best and I hope our mums would of agreed with that. There was definitely resentment between my sister and I though!
Looking at family relationships, the insecurities children feel and the rivalry between siblings, I really enjoyed this very honest look at family life. I think it was perfectly suited to someone of my age (mid 40s) as I think I could relate to the themes more. I’m glad to have finally read this author.
Robert lives in a large house in Wimbledon with his wife, a breakfast news reader on the TV. His children have left home, he has lost his job in the city, misses his dog and yearns to write a novel, hiding away in his garden shed. Phoebe lives alone in a small Welsh town, is a an artist, and is sleeping with Torren, a hippy who lives in a hut in the forest.
Mandy makes James happy – they go on jaunts together to hedgehog sanctuary’s and shopping centres and enjoy watching the birds together in the garden. To begin with the siblings are happy with Mandy’s care of their father but they soon become worried. Their father is becoming even more frail and forgetful, he visits his solicitor, the siblings find Mandy has been going through some personal items of their father and she starts making little digs at them about their lifestyles.
I really enjoyed this family drama. The cast of characters are all pretty unlikeable but with reason. Robert and Phoebe are both pretty spoilt and despite neither having jobs or commitments, they are both “too busy” to take care of their elderly father, They both feel inadequate in his eyes and still feel resentful of how distant he was in their childhood.
There are secrets a plenty that are revealed and it didn’t go the way I expected it to. It is a very knowing book – the idea of caring for an elderly parent is a modern day nightmare for many and siblings often battle to pass the care to the other. It is something both my husband and I have had to deal – both our mums had cancer and juggling work, childcare and our own lives wasn’t easy but I think we did our best and I hope our mums would of agreed with that. There was definitely resentment between my sister and I though!
Looking at family relationships, the insecurities children feel and the rivalry between siblings, I really enjoyed this very honest look at family life. I think it was perfectly suited to someone of my age (mid 40s) as I think I could relate to the themes more. I’m glad to have finally read this author.
snoakes7001's review against another edition
4.0
The first few chapters of The Carer are told from the perspective of Phoebe and her brother Robert. Their ageing father James is in need of full-time care, but as he lives in the Cotswolds neither Phoebe in Wales or Robert in London are in a position to look after him themselves. And so Mandy the carer, with her antimacassars and forthright nature, enters their lives.
It's a warm-hearted easy read that leaves you with a nice glow at the end. The characters are a little stereotypical - both James's children are clearly privileged and yet somewhat dissatisfied with their comfortable lives, whereas the considerably poorer working-class Mandy has a breezy spirit and is full of fun. But the story doesn't go where you expect it to, it's frequently funny and very entertaining.
It's a warm-hearted easy read that leaves you with a nice glow at the end. The characters are a little stereotypical - both James's children are clearly privileged and yet somewhat dissatisfied with their comfortable lives, whereas the considerably poorer working-class Mandy has a breezy spirit and is full of fun. But the story doesn't go where you expect it to, it's frequently funny and very entertaining.
emily7823's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
What an emotional read. In areas it is sad, I felt despondent and sorrowful for a large part of this book, but the author’s interesting plot lines and gentle reveals moderately compensated for this. The characterisations are superb, her descriptions make them spring to life on the page.
I found it a realistic read.
Although I wouldn’t re-read it, it was a reflective read that touched on human flaws, lessons learned and the morals of judgement, love and forgiveness.
I found it a realistic read.
Although I wouldn’t re-read it, it was a reflective read that touched on human flaws, lessons learned and the morals of judgement, love and forgiveness.
almondcookies's review against another edition
3.0
This is the story of two grown adults in their 60s who hire a carer to take care of their elderly father (who's in his 80s? 90s? Something like that), only to grow jealous of how well said carer and father are getting along. They were ignored as children and now that they try to give their father a taste of his own medicine, he is instead having the time of his life with the hired help.
This story was a very unexpectedly good one - I say unexpected because I came into it completely anticipating I wouldn't like it. I hate conflict and drama, family drama most of all. But damn, Moggach has this way of making you see two sides to every situation and casting new light on what is the 'established norm'.
This story was a very unexpectedly good one - I say unexpected because I came into it completely anticipating I wouldn't like it. I hate conflict and drama, family drama most of all. But damn, Moggach has this way of making you see two sides to every situation and casting new light on what is the 'established norm'.
wendoxford's review against another edition
2.0
A book of two halves.
I found Part 1 gripping and convincing...found the other sections silly, contrived and cliched
I found Part 1 gripping and convincing...found the other sections silly, contrived and cliched
emmap2023's review against another edition
4.0
I ate this up in 2 whole sittings, it is the family drama of an ailing father James and his relationship with his children Robert and Phoebe.
The parental relationship is strained so Mandy joins them to care for their father.
A number of situations ensue which both draw the siblings together with their father and pull them apart.
This book was so relaxing to read but also brought a chuckle at times to my lips as events unfolded.
I would definitely recommend it xx
The parental relationship is strained so Mandy joins them to care for their father.
A number of situations ensue which both draw the siblings together with their father and pull them apart.
This book was so relaxing to read but also brought a chuckle at times to my lips as events unfolded.
I would definitely recommend it xx
kchessrice's review against another edition
3.0
This was a spur of the moment purchase when it flashed up at 99p on Kindle deals, which I got because I remembered enjoying Tulip Fever a few years back. 'The Carer' flips between Phoebe and Robert's narratives, so you get to understand their feelings about their parents and the unresolved tensions between them all. When Mandy comes on the scene to look after their father, the narrative builds up into you thinking that perhaps Mandy isn't quite the caring angel she appears, but Moggach puts in an interesting twist that changed the direction and added a deeper layer about families and what it means to love someone.
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable enough read but it didn't quite have enough 'oompf' for me. I think that I am a little out of the target demographic (I think if you have parents that you care for or have to think about arranging care, this might get you a bit more than me).
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable enough read but it didn't quite have enough 'oompf' for me. I think that I am a little out of the target demographic (I think if you have parents that you care for or have to think about arranging care, this might get you a bit more than me).
sharonrhh's review
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0