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shadowteabooks's review
5.0
The emotions run high in this book! But I loved every minute of it! The ups, downs and in between’s and in the end I almost required tissues!
I’m glad everything worked out for the Wilde kids in the end! Such a great story!
I’m glad everything worked out for the Wilde kids in the end! Such a great story!
busyreading's review
5.0
The Son-In-Law is a brilliantly written book.
This story had me hooked from page one.
Joseph has been released from prison after serving three years of a six year sentence for the manslaughter of his wife Zoe.
He now hopes to have a relationship with his children Scarlet,Theo and Ben.
For the past three years the children's grandparents Frederick and Hannah have been caring for them.
Of course the children,Frederick and Hannah want nothing to do with Joseph.
This then starts a series of court cases which put a huge strain on everyone especially Frederick.
Frederick's health starts to decline which then puts even more pressure on everyone.
I LOVED this story from the first page right through to the last page.
I found this book to be a very emotional read and I would HIGHLY recommend it.
This story had me hooked from page one.
Joseph has been released from prison after serving three years of a six year sentence for the manslaughter of his wife Zoe.
He now hopes to have a relationship with his children Scarlet,Theo and Ben.
For the past three years the children's grandparents Frederick and Hannah have been caring for them.
Of course the children,Frederick and Hannah want nothing to do with Joseph.
This then starts a series of court cases which put a huge strain on everyone especially Frederick.
Frederick's health starts to decline which then puts even more pressure on everyone.
I LOVED this story from the first page right through to the last page.
I found this book to be a very emotional read and I would HIGHLY recommend it.
shelleyrae's review
5.0
In the heat of the moment, Joseph Scott lashes out at his wife, Zoe, and unwittingly destroys everything he loves. Three years later Joseph is released from prison and his first priority is to re-establish contact with his children, thirteen year old Scarlett, ten year old Theo and four year old Ben. The children have been in the care of their maternal grandparents, Hannah and Frederick, who blame Joseph for their daughters death and fight to deny him access. Compelling and thought provoking, The Son-In-Law is a moving story of forgiveness and redemption.
The Son-In-Law is told from the alternating perspectives of Joseph, Hannah and Scarlett, unveiling a tale of tragedy and domestic drama. Zoe's death left her family reeling and three years on they are still struggling to come to terms with her absence. With remarkable insight and compassion, Norman explores the intense emotions of her protagonists- Hannah's righteous bitterness and anger, Scarlett's vulnerability and confusion and Joseph's sadness and fierce love for his children. My support was constantly shifting as the author revealed the complexities of the issues involved in decided what was best for the children. On balance, it was the children who engendered most of my sympathy, caught as they were between the adults whose good intentions were compromised by their own desires.
The only way for this shattered family to heal is to find forgiveness from one another but it is a journey fraught with hurt, anger and confusion. Their conflicts seem irreconcilable but slowly Norman's characters edge towards an understanding of each other and their needs. Norman challenges the reader to negotiate this emotional and moral minefield and our notions of what is best, and what is right.
Beautifully written, The Son-In-Law is a harrowing and powerful story. I was utterly engrossed by the realistic characters, their precarious relationships and the heartwrenching circumstances of this family tragedy, and I think you will be too.
sarahrobins11's review
4.0
3.5 stars
This book wasn’t what I expected it to be. But I did really enjoy it. Story that you feel could be a real life story. Loss and emotions and broken families and illness. Well written and completely sucks you in. I even sobbed at the end.
This book wasn’t what I expected it to be. But I did really enjoy it. Story that you feel could be a real life story. Loss and emotions and broken families and illness. Well written and completely sucks you in. I even sobbed at the end.
snazzybooks's review
4.0
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
This month’s book club choice was mine! I picked The Son-in-Law by Charity Norman. I hadn’t read anything by this author before but heard lots of good things, particularly by my mum who recommended this novel! I thought it would also be a good change from the usual thrillers/crime novels I tend to pick. It’s always nice to try something a little different!
This was a resoundingly popular choice! Everyone reported that they really enjoyed it, with one of my friends saying it was one of her new favourite books because she really enjoys novels about real life, that are realistic and revolve around every day situations with a dash of added drama! I believe it’s part of the ‘domestic noir’ genre that is seems to be gaining more and more popularity in recent years- for those who haven’t encountered this term before, the definition from novelist Julia Crouch, who originally started applying the term to novels, is:
“In a nutshell, Domestic Noir takes place primarily in homes and workplaces, concerns itself largely (but not exclusively) with the female experience, is based around relationships and takes as its base a broadly feminist view that the domestic sphere is a challenging and sometimes dangerous prospect for its inhabitants.”
The characters are so well crafted in The Son-in-Law, and that’s what really draws you in. You care about what happens to them, and the sides you think you’ll take at the beginning are really challenged as you find out more and more about what really happened that fateful night. It resulted in a lot to talk about because it’s all quite controversial situations and outcomes! Charity Norman’s skilful writing is both easy to read whilst encouraging the reader to think about how they’d feel if they were in any of the character’s situations.
The story has drama but is never overe the top, and the pace is just right- giving enough detail to create a beautifully crafted story without being too much. This is just a brilliant slow burner of a read, and I would really recommend it.
This month’s book club choice was mine! I picked The Son-in-Law by Charity Norman. I hadn’t read anything by this author before but heard lots of good things, particularly by my mum who recommended this novel! I thought it would also be a good change from the usual thrillers/crime novels I tend to pick. It’s always nice to try something a little different!
This was a resoundingly popular choice! Everyone reported that they really enjoyed it, with one of my friends saying it was one of her new favourite books because she really enjoys novels about real life, that are realistic and revolve around every day situations with a dash of added drama! I believe it’s part of the ‘domestic noir’ genre that is seems to be gaining more and more popularity in recent years- for those who haven’t encountered this term before, the definition from novelist Julia Crouch, who originally started applying the term to novels, is:
“In a nutshell, Domestic Noir takes place primarily in homes and workplaces, concerns itself largely (but not exclusively) with the female experience, is based around relationships and takes as its base a broadly feminist view that the domestic sphere is a challenging and sometimes dangerous prospect for its inhabitants.”
The characters are so well crafted in The Son-in-Law, and that’s what really draws you in. You care about what happens to them, and the sides you think you’ll take at the beginning are really challenged as you find out more and more about what really happened that fateful night. It resulted in a lot to talk about because it’s all quite controversial situations and outcomes! Charity Norman’s skilful writing is both easy to read whilst encouraging the reader to think about how they’d feel if they were in any of the character’s situations.
The story has drama but is never overe the top, and the pace is just right- giving enough detail to create a beautifully crafted story without being too much. This is just a brilliant slow burner of a read, and I would really recommend it.
lillyalaine36's review
4.0
This book had me intrigued from the moment I first read the description on amazon. The story of a man, Joseph released from prison after serving 3 and a half years for the manslaughter of his wife Zoe and his struggle to build a relationship with the children who witnessed his crime. Having been utterly enthral led by the first Charity Norman book I read recently I knew to expect insightful and emotional writing based around a complex family dynamic.
From the outset we are left in no doubt that Joseph is guilty of the crime for which he was convicted, centralising the story around a moral dilemma in the reader in regards to how much forgiveness he should be granted. As he applies for access to his children we have to question whether we blame their grandparents for resisting every attempt he makes as he clearly killed their mother. It becomes clear quite early on though that there is more to this story than first appears and that nothing is ever just a simple story of black and white but that shades of grey are in abundance in the marriage of Joseph and his dead wife Zoe. When the big reveal did come though I must admit to being a little sceptical that actually the crime had been committed over something so seemingly small compared to the images I'd conjured up in my head.
The story is gripping and is told from the perspectives of Joseph, the grandmother Hannah and eldest daughter Scarlet who struggles in the role of go between. It is not their story's which touched me most but that of the grandfather Freddie who's health deteriorated throughout the book until we feel his greater need to reach peace at its conclusion. I cried buckets at the end of the book because of the beauty with which Norman wrote this character.
A wonderful book full of conflicting reader emotion and complex characters and a great read - Norman is fast becoming a firm favourite author.
From the outset we are left in no doubt that Joseph is guilty of the crime for which he was convicted, centralising the story around a moral dilemma in the reader in regards to how much forgiveness he should be granted. As he applies for access to his children we have to question whether we blame their grandparents for resisting every attempt he makes as he clearly killed their mother. It becomes clear quite early on though that there is more to this story than first appears and that nothing is ever just a simple story of black and white but that shades of grey are in abundance in the marriage of Joseph and his dead wife Zoe. When the big reveal did come though I must admit to being a little sceptical that actually the crime had been committed over something so seemingly small compared to the images I'd conjured up in my head.
The story is gripping and is told from the perspectives of Joseph, the grandmother Hannah and eldest daughter Scarlet who struggles in the role of go between. It is not their story's which touched me most but that of the grandfather Freddie who's health deteriorated throughout the book until we feel his greater need to reach peace at its conclusion. I cried buckets at the end of the book because of the beauty with which Norman wrote this character.
A wonderful book full of conflicting reader emotion and complex characters and a great read - Norman is fast becoming a firm favourite author.
alstrath's review
5.0
I bought this book because the title, cover & blurb looked "interesting".
I was not mistaken. You are hooked from the get go. The characters are real, the scenarios are true to life. Whilst away from the book I found myself thinking about how I would feel in the shoes of the three characters that I felt were the main characters - Hannah, Scarlet & Joseph. This is not just a book to read & forget about, the Wildes & Scotts will stay with me for a while.
I was not mistaken. You are hooked from the get go. The characters are real, the scenarios are true to life. Whilst away from the book I found myself thinking about how I would feel in the shoes of the three characters that I felt were the main characters - Hannah, Scarlet & Joseph. This is not just a book to read & forget about, the Wildes & Scotts will stay with me for a while.
katalinareads's review
4.0
This book gripped me from the beginning and I could put it down until I found out why. I was hooked from the first page. The book starts with the fast paced and deeply emotional transcript of the phone conversation between Scarlet, a 10 year old girl, and a 999 operative. The Son – in – law is the story of Joseph Scott, his three children (Scarlet, Ben and Theo), his wife Zoe and her parents – the extremely intelligent Hannah and the peacemaker and gentle Freddie.. As the story unfolds you find out why Scott was in jail, what his plans are, why he is so determined to follow his plan and what consequences his actions have on those around him. Each decision he takes affects those around him in more ways than expected. I loved reading this book and I was sad to finish it.
esilannanosnhoj's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jillheather's review
1.0
For years, Joseph Scott has been haunted by the fact that he killed his wife. But it's okay, because the book will explain how his sister (who had been abused and runs a domestic violence shelter) and mother-in-law (whose only daughter was killed) are total bitches for not forgiving him, and how in any case his wife sort of deserved it because she was mentally ill and not totally sober the night he killed her. Plus, it was an accident. Sure, he was hitting her in front of his three children while she was holding the youngest who was an infant. Sure, he hit her so hard she fell over. But if she'd just fallen in a different direction, she might not have died. His new friend, the about-to-be-nun, explains that in her past she had casual sex and also worked in a bar, so really she's a worse person than he is.