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calturner's review
5.0
As someone who adored The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes I was overjoyed when I heard that Anna McPartlin had written a sequel to her much loved book, although I do have to admit to feeling a little bit worried that it wouldn’t be able to live up to the pure perfection of its predecessor. But I needn’t have worried as Anna McPartlin has done it again! Below the Big Blue Sky is (in my humble opinion) even better than the first book.
Although a sequel to The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes, Below the Big Blue Sky could easily be read as a standalone. It begins directly after the last book ends, which is with the passing of forty year old Rabbit Hayes after a long battle with breast cancer. We are instantly drawn back into the lives of the wonderful Hayes family as they begin the process of mourning their loss.
We have Molly, Rabbit’s larger than life mother, who begins to question her faith in God after the loss of her youngest daughter. With her colourful language and side splitting Irish humour, Molly will have you howling with laughter one moment and then crying with emotion the next.
Then there’s Jack, Rabbit’s distraught father, who ‘goes out to lunch’ by hiding away in the attic and losing himself in his memories of the past as he pores over his old diaries of happy times gone by, talking to his beloved Rabbit as if she is still there.
Rabbit’s brother Davey finds himself as guardian to her twelve year old daughter, Bunny (now only wanting to be known as Juliet) after promising Rabbit he would take care of her after she was gone. But how is Davey going to be able to help Juliet come to terms with the loss of her mother, when he can barely cope with his own loss as it is?
And then there’s Grace, Rabbit’s older sister, who as well as struggling to come to terms with her grief, is doing her best to look after her husband and four sons, all at the same time as having to cope with a decision that has the potential to change her life forever.
Below the Big Blue Sky is a beautifully written story that draws you back into the lives of the Hayes family as if you had never been away. It feels like coming home, almost like slipping into a pair of comfy slippers at the end of a long day, as you find yourself caught up in their lives, feeling every emotion right alongside Molly and her family. And even though she is no longer with them Rabbit is still very much present throughout, her voice a constant companion to her family as they slowly begin to navigate their way through their ‘new normal’.
How is it even possible to do this beautiful, moving, often hilarious, but always emotionally satisfying book justice? Anna McPartlin brings the Hayes family so vividly to life you feel as if you really know them. I felt bereft as I turned the last page of this warm, at times heartachingly sad, but ultimately uplifting story.
Below the Big Blue Sky is the story of a family as they try to come to terms with an unbearable loss, each dealing with it in their own individual way. It’s about learning to live with grief and, eventually, finding the strength to move forward with your life, at the same time as keeping your loved one’s memory alive in your heart. But most of all it’s a very real, very human story of hope and how the love of those around you can help you through even the most testing of times.
I honestly can’t praise this book highly enough. Anna McPartlin is an extraordinarily gifted story teller and I can’t wait to read whatever she comes up with next.
Although a sequel to The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes, Below the Big Blue Sky could easily be read as a standalone. It begins directly after the last book ends, which is with the passing of forty year old Rabbit Hayes after a long battle with breast cancer. We are instantly drawn back into the lives of the wonderful Hayes family as they begin the process of mourning their loss.
We have Molly, Rabbit’s larger than life mother, who begins to question her faith in God after the loss of her youngest daughter. With her colourful language and side splitting Irish humour, Molly will have you howling with laughter one moment and then crying with emotion the next.
Then there’s Jack, Rabbit’s distraught father, who ‘goes out to lunch’ by hiding away in the attic and losing himself in his memories of the past as he pores over his old diaries of happy times gone by, talking to his beloved Rabbit as if she is still there.
Rabbit’s brother Davey finds himself as guardian to her twelve year old daughter, Bunny (now only wanting to be known as Juliet) after promising Rabbit he would take care of her after she was gone. But how is Davey going to be able to help Juliet come to terms with the loss of her mother, when he can barely cope with his own loss as it is?
And then there’s Grace, Rabbit’s older sister, who as well as struggling to come to terms with her grief, is doing her best to look after her husband and four sons, all at the same time as having to cope with a decision that has the potential to change her life forever.
Below the Big Blue Sky is a beautifully written story that draws you back into the lives of the Hayes family as if you had never been away. It feels like coming home, almost like slipping into a pair of comfy slippers at the end of a long day, as you find yourself caught up in their lives, feeling every emotion right alongside Molly and her family. And even though she is no longer with them Rabbit is still very much present throughout, her voice a constant companion to her family as they slowly begin to navigate their way through their ‘new normal’.
How is it even possible to do this beautiful, moving, often hilarious, but always emotionally satisfying book justice? Anna McPartlin brings the Hayes family so vividly to life you feel as if you really know them. I felt bereft as I turned the last page of this warm, at times heartachingly sad, but ultimately uplifting story.
Below the Big Blue Sky is the story of a family as they try to come to terms with an unbearable loss, each dealing with it in their own individual way. It’s about learning to live with grief and, eventually, finding the strength to move forward with your life, at the same time as keeping your loved one’s memory alive in your heart. But most of all it’s a very real, very human story of hope and how the love of those around you can help you through even the most testing of times.
I honestly can’t praise this book highly enough. Anna McPartlin is an extraordinarily gifted story teller and I can’t wait to read whatever she comes up with next.
bookloverjenn's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lyrabelaqa's review against another edition
5.0
J'ai de nouveau pleuré à la fin. C'est un sans faute pour Anna McPartlin pour moi.
shb26's review
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
read_intheclouds's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
caoimhekilleen's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, and Cancer
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
alisonannk's review
5.0
This is that unique kind of book that will make you laugh almost as much as you will cry. I cannot even begin to explain how much I loved it!
The story of the Hayes family continues in this book after the death of Rabbit Hayes. This might be the follow up to The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes, but I hadn't read the first book and did not feel disadvantaged for not having done so. I most certainly will be going back to read it though!!
The characters in this book are so vividly described that I felt like I could reach out and touch/hug/slap them!
Molly, the matriarch is the kind of woman I want to be. She is a plain talking, no nonsense type. Her husband Jack can be morose but he has a heart of absolute gold. Both are struggling with grief in their own way.
Added into the mix are Rabbit's sister Grace, who discovers she has the same cancer gene which killed her sister, and her family. Her three sons are all very different but you can tell that this is one huge loving family.
Next up, we have Rabbit's daughter who is cared for by Rabbit's free-spirited brother. Again, we follow the ups and downs as Juliet adapts to being mother-less and cared for by her uncle. There is the added complexity of Rabbit's best friend Marjory and her relationship with certain members of the family.
This book has it all - relationships, bereavement, grief, comedy, family bonds, coming of age, adjusting to change and every single bit of it feels so authentic.
The detail is real and their struggles completely broke my heart on more than one occasion.
I cannot wait to read more by Anna McPartlin and I do hope she revisits the Hayes family.
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for access to this book in ten daily installments. It has been one of my favourite books of the year so far.
The story of the Hayes family continues in this book after the death of Rabbit Hayes. This might be the follow up to The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes, but I hadn't read the first book and did not feel disadvantaged for not having done so. I most certainly will be going back to read it though!!
The characters in this book are so vividly described that I felt like I could reach out and touch/hug/slap them!
Molly, the matriarch is the kind of woman I want to be. She is a plain talking, no nonsense type. Her husband Jack can be morose but he has a heart of absolute gold. Both are struggling with grief in their own way.
Added into the mix are Rabbit's sister Grace, who discovers she has the same cancer gene which killed her sister, and her family. Her three sons are all very different but you can tell that this is one huge loving family.
Next up, we have Rabbit's daughter who is cared for by Rabbit's free-spirited brother. Again, we follow the ups and downs as Juliet adapts to being mother-less and cared for by her uncle. There is the added complexity of Rabbit's best friend Marjory and her relationship with certain members of the family.
This book has it all - relationships, bereavement, grief, comedy, family bonds, coming of age, adjusting to change and every single bit of it feels so authentic.
The detail is real and their struggles completely broke my heart on more than one occasion.
I cannot wait to read more by Anna McPartlin and I do hope she revisits the Hayes family.
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for access to this book in ten daily installments. It has been one of my favourite books of the year so far.
dianesmillie's review
5.0
Following on from Rabbit Hayes, this book continues to follow the Hayes family as they go forward in their life after rabbits death. Tears all through this book. With sorrow one minute and laughter the next. All the character are so familiar and lovable and you just want to be part of their family. Lovely family read with such a strong family theme through it that it will stay with you well after you have finished it