Scan barcode
dunnadam's review
5.0
I saw Brian Francis read from this book at a literary festival and knew I must have it. It's a fantastic, moving, funny book. I read slowly near the end as I knew the book was going to break my heart.
The author spoke about the idea of shame around deaths from AIDS in the early 80's and wondered what those parents felt now, and this is the foundation for the book.
A real character piece, Joyce Sparks comes vividly to life on every page. I have heard others saying they liked her sometimes and wanted to smack her other times but I was very engrossed and was quite happy to sit back and watch the story unfold.
A great novel about acceptance and self and the things we hold on to. Highly recommended.
The author spoke about the idea of shame around deaths from AIDS in the early 80's and wondered what those parents felt now, and this is the foundation for the book.
A real character piece, Joyce Sparks comes vividly to life on every page. I have heard others saying they liked her sometimes and wanted to smack her other times but I was very engrossed and was quite happy to sit back and watch the story unfold.
A great novel about acceptance and self and the things we hold on to. Highly recommended.
booksconnectus's review
4.0
4.5
Try not to laugh. Try not to tear up...try not to be a better parent or adult child.
Try not to laugh. Try not to tear up...try not to be a better parent or adult child.
leahtee's review
5.0
Very well-written, great pace. Being a young woman, I wasn't sure I could connect with an elderly woman or appreciate the emotion behind her relationship with her son, but Francis does a wonderful job of making the characters and their emotions relatable. The flashbacks to the different phases of Joyce and John's lives are the key here to allowing readers at all life-stages connect with the characters.
Parts of it have the intensity and likeness of a mystery story without the typical elements of the mystery genre.
Overall, a wonderfully engaging read.
Parts of it have the intensity and likeness of a mystery story without the typical elements of the mystery genre.
Overall, a wonderfully engaging read.
jannie_mtl's review
5.0
Stunningly beautiful novel about acceptance, even when, in some sense, it's too late. Written from the point of view of elderly Joyce Sparks, she reflects on the difficulty she had coming to terms with her gay son. The writing is beautiful and speaks to a time when these things were secrets, unspoken, and unacknowledged, even between spouses. This novel kept me up reading late into the night, and will remain in my mind for days.
I first read Francis' writing in his novel [b:Fruit|745599|Fruit|Brian Francis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1410978721s/745599.jpg|731750] (another 5-star read) and will look forward to anything else he puts to paper.
Highly recommended.
I first read Francis' writing in his novel [b:Fruit|745599|Fruit|Brian Francis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1410978721s/745599.jpg|731750] (another 5-star read) and will look forward to anything else he puts to paper.
Highly recommended.
bstaats's review
2.0
Summary: Natural Order begins with Joyce in a nursing home. She's elderly and reflecting back on her life, and in particular the life of her only son who died in his 30s. The book is a collection of memories which stand out to her, and how they impacted her as she grew up.
This book makes you think, and it definitely makes you feel. It's about relationships and how we view other people, as well as how we treat them. It's about how we learn to deal with life and its difficulties.
The story was heartbreaking to read. The constant fear of rejection and feelings of isolation on both the parts of Joyce and John ring so true to real life. Francis raises questions regarding the parent-child relationship and how expectations can be so harmful to it.
That being said, I didn't particularly like this book. My main complaint about this book is how disjointed the story feels as the author moves between time periods from Joyce's present to her past. I would love to see more indication as to what time period the sections of the book are referring to. As well, I felt that the author spent too many pages trying to drive his point home about how the reader should feel towards Joyce. I almost felt like the writing was trying to force a reaction out of me, which was tiresome as a reader.
I was kindly provided with an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway for this book.
This book makes you think, and it definitely makes you feel. It's about relationships and how we view other people, as well as how we treat them. It's about how we learn to deal with life and its difficulties.
The story was heartbreaking to read. The constant fear of rejection and feelings of isolation on both the parts of Joyce and John ring so true to real life. Francis raises questions regarding the parent-child relationship and how expectations can be so harmful to it.
That being said, I didn't particularly like this book. My main complaint about this book is how disjointed the story feels as the author moves between time periods from Joyce's present to her past. I would love to see more indication as to what time period the sections of the book are referring to. As well, I felt that the author spent too many pages trying to drive his point home about how the reader should feel towards Joyce. I almost felt like the writing was trying to force a reaction out of me, which was tiresome as a reader.
I was kindly provided with an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway for this book.
millielusson's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
ladylucky's review
4.0
I liked the book. It puts a human face to a controversial subject and shows that people are not simply good or bad, black or white. While I did find that it jumped about a bit and was, at times, confusing, I did very much enjoy the story and would recommend it to others.
rebsvstheworld's review
The only issue I had with the novel was not knowing the place in time the various stories are occurring.
Otherwise, the book was well written and the voice of Joyce rings true. She reminds me very much of my own mother.
Otherwise, the book was well written and the voice of Joyce rings true. She reminds me very much of my own mother.
chantale's review
3.0
Humorous and heartbreaking. Dragged a little in spots. Joyce is a headstrong mother who tries to protect her son and ends up smothering him. She is looking back on her life and regrets how it turned out. Throughout the book she denies and then begins to recognize and come to terms with who her son really was. The story is juxtaposed between memories of the past and the present day.
Recommend A Better Mother by Jen Sookfong Lee which also partly takes place during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's and deals with families who fail to communicate well with each other.
Recommend A Better Mother by Jen Sookfong Lee which also partly takes place during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's and deals with families who fail to communicate well with each other.