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gweiswasser's review against another edition
4.0
Full review at: http://everydayiwritethebookblog.com/2017/07/awkward-age-francesca-segal/
If you enjoy seeing families in distress under a microscope and watching them squirm, then you will enjoy The Awkward Age by Francesca Segal.
The cast of characters: 46 year-old Julia, widowed and newly in love with James, a 50-something American OB/GYN; Julia’s sullen 16 year-old daughter Gwen, who is still grieving the loss of her father; and James’ 18 year-old son Nathan, who is about to graduate high school and go to a prestigious college to study medicine. Julia and James move in together in London, merging their families, while Gwen and Nathan hate each other… until they don’t.
Gwen and Nathan’s relationship turns romantic, which is terribly awkward for Julia and James, at also puts them at odds for the first time in their relationship. And then, Gwen gets pregnant, which sends the whole difficult situation into overdrive. How will they, as a family, handle this mess? How can be it resolved in a way that doesn’t cause terrible pain? Are James and Julia ready to be grandparents – to the same baby?
Francesca Segal relates her story with detail, compassion and that beautiful eloquence that so many British writers have. The Awkward Age is told mostly from Julia and Gwen’s perspectives, but there are additional characters with a stake in this family, and Segal lets us into their heads too. We see the action unfold from several perspectives, with much attention paid to their inner turmoil these characters are in.
What I liked: the writing, the very plausible dialogue, the theme of the awkwardness of love at any age.
What I didn’t like as much: how spoiled Nathan and Gwen were (it detracted from the plausibility of the story), the claustrophobia triggered by pages of dialogue (internal and spoken) among the same small family. Sometimes I just needed a break!
Overall, I liked The Awkward Age and would recommend it to people who enjoy domestic drama.Segal conveyed empathy for each character, even babyish Gwen – it never felt as if she was judging them or their circumstances – which I think was her point. Life can get awkward, and we just need to deal with it.
If you enjoy seeing families in distress under a microscope and watching them squirm, then you will enjoy The Awkward Age by Francesca Segal.
The cast of characters: 46 year-old Julia, widowed and newly in love with James, a 50-something American OB/GYN; Julia’s sullen 16 year-old daughter Gwen, who is still grieving the loss of her father; and James’ 18 year-old son Nathan, who is about to graduate high school and go to a prestigious college to study medicine. Julia and James move in together in London, merging their families, while Gwen and Nathan hate each other… until they don’t.
Gwen and Nathan’s relationship turns romantic, which is terribly awkward for Julia and James, at also puts them at odds for the first time in their relationship. And then, Gwen gets pregnant, which sends the whole difficult situation into overdrive. How will they, as a family, handle this mess? How can be it resolved in a way that doesn’t cause terrible pain? Are James and Julia ready to be grandparents – to the same baby?
Francesca Segal relates her story with detail, compassion and that beautiful eloquence that so many British writers have. The Awkward Age is told mostly from Julia and Gwen’s perspectives, but there are additional characters with a stake in this family, and Segal lets us into their heads too. We see the action unfold from several perspectives, with much attention paid to their inner turmoil these characters are in.
What I liked: the writing, the very plausible dialogue, the theme of the awkwardness of love at any age.
What I didn’t like as much: how spoiled Nathan and Gwen were (it detracted from the plausibility of the story), the claustrophobia triggered by pages of dialogue (internal and spoken) among the same small family. Sometimes I just needed a break!
Overall, I liked The Awkward Age and would recommend it to people who enjoy domestic drama.Segal conveyed empathy for each character, even babyish Gwen – it never felt as if she was judging them or their circumstances – which I think was her point. Life can get awkward, and we just need to deal with it.
fionayule's review against another edition
2.0
I just couldn’t get what this book was, a Young Adult teenage drama, or just a drama.
It’s well written, and the language is poetic and times but as often happens the novel is full of selfish people who only seem to think of themselves.
Unfortunately another one that was just not for me.
It’s well written, and the language is poetic and times but as often happens the novel is full of selfish people who only seem to think of themselves.
Unfortunately another one that was just not for me.
kk0sanda's review against another edition
3.0
Wikipedia was *not* kidding. I spent half the novel trying to figure out each suitor’s motives! Good on Nanda for not settling. (Or does she?) Longdon seems like a great guy, if misguided due to being stuck in the past.
Anyway, I did like the writing and the description. I couldn’t quite get into the writing style like I can with a Jane Austin novel, but oh well.
Anyway, I did like the writing and the description. I couldn’t quite get into the writing style like I can with a Jane Austin novel, but oh well.