Janet Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 "]The Outcast by Sadie Jones The 'Blurb' [from Fantasticfiction.co.uk] It's 1957 and Lewis Aldridge is travelling back to his home in the South of England. He is straight out of jail and nineteen years old. His return will trigger the implosion not just of his family, but of a whole community. A decade earlier, his father's homecoming casts a different shape. The war is over and Gilbert reverts easily to suburban life - cocktails at six-thirty, church on Sundays - but his wife and young son resist the stuffy routine. Lewis and his mother escape to the woods for picnics, just as they did in wartime days. Nobody is surprised that Gilbert's wife counters convention, but they are all shocked when, after one of their jaunts, Lewis comes back without her. Not far away, Kit Carmichael keeps watch. She has always understood more than most, not least from what she is dealt by her own father's hand. Lewis's grief and burgeoning rage are all too plain, and Kit makes a private vow to help. But in her attempts to set them both free, she fails to predict the painful and horrifying secrets that must first be forced into the open. Whatever you think about Richard and Judy (and personally I don't watch them - I always plan to watch the book reviews on Wednesdays but the timeslot is a bad one with children so I never quite get round to it) - they've picked some good books in their Bookclub, and The Outcast is another very enjoyable read. I think you might like this if you liked The House at Riverton by Kate Morton - it has that feel about it, although it's maybe not quite so good. Someone on Amazon described this as like watching a car crash unfold in slow-motion, and I think that sums it up rather accurately. It feels a bit long-winded in places, and yet I read it really quickly (for me) and overall thought it was very enjoyable - especially as it's her début novel. I shall certainly look forward to her future books. The paperback is 441 pages long and is published by Vintage Books. The ISBN number is 978-0099513421. 7½/10 (Read June 2008) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 This looks good. I'll keep my eyes open for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inver Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Think this is the one I thought I might read out of all the choices this year. But I can't possible add anymore to my TBR pile....it will fall over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KW Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I enjoyed this book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyD Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I'm going to read this one, too. Gorgeous cover as much as anything else! (I am so shallow...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyD Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 I thought this was a fantastic book - so elegantly written and almost painful to read at times. Brilliant first novel - really vivid characters and I thought the tension held up all the way through. I was desperate for there to be a happy ending for Lewis and Kit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyanddandy Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 A stonking good read. Up very late finishing but I just couldn't go to sleep. Poor old Lewis, completely misunderstood after his mother drowned. I kept thinking about my OH, his mother died unexpectedly when he was 14 and his brother was 11 years and he didn't cry but just went to school the next day. So awful. I would recommend this book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Such great reviews, I have started reading it but stopped it, I am going back to read it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I picked it up again this evening and I am on page 267, its a page turner:readingtwo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I finished! It was a really good read, really well written, I felt so bad for Lewis, he was so misunderstood and dramatic I know but I felt his pain over his self harming. My blood absolutely boiled at the parts with Dicky, what a poor excuse for a man! I was on the edge of my seat at the end, I really wanted Kit and Lewis to be together, it was a lovely ending. Great book, most certainly a keeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyanddandy Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Agreed Paula - Dicky was a stuffed shirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 He was just awful, what a fool he was, so pretentious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Why oh why did I read this thread? Now I'm desparate to read ANOTHER book:irked: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopyloo100 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Just read this myself and I thought it was a fantastic read. Can't rate it highly enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Me again, it is a really good read, I think Sadie Jones put across the character of Lewis, I genuinely felt quite protective of him and I was so frustrated that no one was seeing what was wrong but that had a lot to do with the time the book is set in (the old 'stiff upper lip', etc) because there is so many things happening behind closed doors, Dicky's abuse, Dicky's wife (whose name I can not remember -sorry) tolerance of the abuse, etc. A great read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wordsgood Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 This one looks good. Just added it to my "Must buy and read" pile! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 I'm reading this at the minute and love it. I'll be finished in a day or two - would people like me to set this up as a bookring? I'm more than happy to let others read this book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KW Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Though I wanted to see a HE ( happy ending ) I liked that the author ended realistically. ( as authors of Lit often do ) It was enough seeing them in the train station with a bit of hope...IMO anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Definitely a car crash unfolding, you could see it all happening. The stultifying nature of the 1950s was so fabulously portrayed. Did anyone else find Tamsin fairly evil as well as Dick? Could not get my head round her bringing Kit downstairs and playing with the kitten as if nothing had happened, chilling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kernow_reader Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 I've been long tempted to read this one. Ah well, go on! Chuck another on the tbr pile. What's one more book between friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkoe Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Oh my goodness!!! I started reading the book this morning & have done nothing else. Finished at 6pm!! It has been a while since I have read a book in one sitting.... I suppose I ought to do something sensible now like catch up with some work, get something to eat, feed the parrot etc etc !! I feel oddly diconnected from life after reading for so long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted September 13, 2008 Author Share Posted September 13, 2008 I take it you enjoyed it then?! I've been reading all day long too - naughty me! </Ignores ironing pile> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkoe Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Hi Janet, yes I did thanks. Get that ironing done!! (She says... with a huge pile she has merely thrown into the spare room so she doesn't have to see it!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kernow_reader Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Well, no need to 'fess up to how I've spent my day then....and there was definitely not an iron in sight.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 I took part in the bookring for this one and I have to say I was pleasantly suprised. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting with this book but it was nothing compared to the story you get sucked into. Fantasticly vivid characters that you either loved or hated and it fits so well into the time period. Highly recommended this one, so if you haven't put your name down for it yet, nip on over and do so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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