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Book Jacket

Night Navigation
by Ginnah Howard

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date: 04/14/2009.
Novels, 304 pp.

Number of reader reviews: 25
Readers' Consensus: 4.0
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First Impressions: Page 2 of 4
Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Debbie (Grand Junction CO)

Night Navigation
What a wonderful book. The characters really drew me into the story. The author was able to portray the problems drugs create between parent and child, no matter what their ages. I think we often assume only teens have drug problems, we don't often read accounts of adult children and their parents. The struggle can go on for years and this book provided insight into that problem.

I enjoyed the writing and the story and look forward to other books by this author.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Melissa (McKees Rocks PA)

Dark, Sad and Beautiful
A dark yet beautiful novel made even more haunting by the knowledge of the story being derived from true events in the author's life.

I could see shades of myself in the characters, as well as others in my life; enablers and addicts alike.

The author's writing style reminded me of modern day poetry. Through her prose she drew beautiful pictures of ugly situations.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Lois G. (Redding, California)

One to recommend.
I don't know about you, but when I read a really good book, I recommend it to other people. Not just my friends, but people in bookstores with that "what to read next" look on their face. Night Navigation by Ginnah Howard is a great book to tell others about.

I enjoyed reading Night Navigation, with parts of it touching me deeply. I think it would be a wonderful book for a discussion group, due to the fact that certain parts of it may stand out to different readers.

Ginnah Howard is a talented author and I am looking forward to reading her next book. A book that I hope will not be too long in coming.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Beth (Scarsdale NY)

A unflinching view of addiction
This is not a book for the weak at heart. Having lived with addiction for too years (my mother, sister, and husband were all addicts), I know the veracity with which Ginnah Howard writes. This is an unsparing look at both sides of addiction. The frustration and confusion of a mother who tries desperately to save her son and the deception and madness of the son in the throes of his addiction are beautifully depicted. For anyone who wants to better understand addiction and wants to read a very real, deeply moving account, this book's for you.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Trez (Columbia MD)

Night Navigation by Ginnah Howard
This book would be excellent for book clubs for there are many interesting points for discussion.

The first thing that struck me about the author's method of writing was the short choppy sentences which initially I didn't like. However, as I got into the book; the mother continues her narration of her sons and husband's downfalls and I found myself feeling anxious and upset. This is how Ginah Howard draws you in and keeps you involved. You must continue to read to hear the complete story and the sentences make you feel on edge; simply because they only tell a little.

The book in some ways is very dark and puts you in a bad place, however I rated it a 4 because you are totally involved and eager to read the end. Very interesting story and method of telling the story. You are left with the question, should the mother have behaved differently in the lives of her son? Did the father plant the seed of negativity?

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Darra (Walnut Creek CA)

Like Watching a Trainwreck...
I found reading this gritty novel about the relationship between a drug-addicted, bipolar adult son and his enabling mother akin to watching a train wreck: simultaneously horrifying and mesmerizing. The language is spare - at times almost abrupt - contributing to the sense of tension and anxiety that pervades the third-person, shifting narrative. If you were grabbed by A Million Little Pieces, you might want to pick this one up ... then be prepared to keep those pages turning.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Kimberly (Chula Vista CA)

Night Navigation
Night Navigation by Ginnah Howard is a gripping, yet depressing, novel. Del, the 60+ year-old mother alternates telling the story with her 37 year-old son who is a drug addict and a perpetual source of stress for Del. The book intrigued me right from the beginning and did not disappoint through the last page. The parade of unsavory characters and Del’s inability to give her son the “tough love” he seems to be craving proved to be extremely frustrating for this reader. Ginnah Howard bases this novel on personal experiences which enhances its believability and kept me rooting for Del until the end (no matter how many times I wanted to shake her and shout NO!). This book is a terrific read but may need to be taken in small doses.

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