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There are currently 20 member reviews
for The Stolen Child
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Ariele T. (Orinda, CA)
The Stolen Child
I received a copy of this book as part of the First Impressions program. I was drawn to review it because of the engaging plot description of two lost souls whose lives intersect in a beautiful, believable way.
Told alternately through the eyes of Jenny, a young American woman learning to claim her place in the world, and Nick, a World War II vet who made a long-ago choice that shattered his belief in himself, Ann Hood captures a compelling world of possibility, romance, and hope. As Nick and Jenny jorney to Europe to pursue the truth behind Nick's long ago decision and the secrets it spawned, they ultimately learn deep truths about themselves, each other, and the nature of forgiveness.
This is a lovely book - you will not be disappointed!
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Mary M. (Swansea, MA)
The Stolen Child
I enjoyed reading The Stolen Child by Ann Hood. As I live very close to the RI border and went to school in RI,it was fun to read the many references made to sites/landmarks in and around the Providence area. As the book progressed I found the major characters to be interesting and believable, They were real people who changed throughout the course of the story. While some of the occurrences in the book seemed a bit disjointed, the story itself was intriguing and somewhat different than other post war tales. I was most impressed, by far, with Hood's imagination creating of The Museum of Tears! This concept is truly exceptional/appealing with limitless possibilities!
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Martha P. (Issaquah, WA)
Good, not great
This was a fast and easy read that I mostly enjoyed. Most of the story takes place in the 1970s so we are spared cell phones, GPS and online searches for missing people, etc. Jenny, a waitress at IHOP, is bored and wanting to reinvent herself after dropping out of college to have a baby which was put up for adoption. Nick is a WWI veteran who, while fighting in the trenches in France, is entrusted with the safekeeping of a newborn and the mother's artwork. I'm not sure how she thought an 18-year-old trying to stay alive was a good choice for her baby and it wasn't because Nick abandoned the baby in a nearby town. He is haunted by what he did and in his last days he is determined to find out what happened to the child. Jenny is hired by Nick to help (Nick is very ill) as they set off for France and Italy to solve the mystery. The characters are well developed and early on the reader surmises who Enzo is. Hood is a good writer and keeps the story moving smoothly. Some things were resolved a little too easily, imo, and I'm still not sure how Nick got back to the U.S. without a wallet or passport. Anyway, a fairly simple read and I would recommend it for something light between your heavier reads.
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Donna M. (East Falmouth, MA)
Keep Reading
I have read two books by Ann Hood and was drawn into those stories from the beginning. However, the short chapters at the beginning of this book were very choppy. The characters and the different span of years made it difficult to be drawn into the story. Eventually, when the characters started to interact with each other, the plot became more understandable. The premise of the book was interesting and the characters were likable. I found the plot somewhat contrived.
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Joyce W. (Rochester, MN)
A Beach Read
I was disappointed in this book. I felt it was formulaic. Jenny breaks away from her family to find herself. She then has casual sex while drunk and thinks she is in love with two men. She deals with Nick (an old curmudgeon) who grudgingly learns to like her. Something sad has to happen and does. I never felt I was given enough information to solve the riddle of who is the baby. The author did tie it up nicely at the end although the premise that Nick spent his whole life haunted by his actions as a young soldier was a little far fetched.
I appreciate being given the book to review but felt it was lacking a romantic flow and think it could have been better written.
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Maribeth R. (Indianapolis, IN)
Not My Cup of Tea
It is always a pleasure to write when the reader is excited about a book, and it is hard to know what to say when the book does not meet expectations. Generally speaking, novels relating to WW I or WW II capture my attention. However, in this novel, I was never quite pulled into the story. The plot line always seemed implausible, and the characters did not appear to be fully-developed. Although I usually am not distracted by timelines that move back and forth, I found this timeline confusing. I have read Ms. Hood's books in the past and have given them much higher rankings. This time, however, I felt the book fell short of what I had hoped for. It must always be recognized that in any review, it may be the book or it may be the reader that generates the final perception of what was written, Perhaps other readers may find a book they love. Sadly, this book didn't work for me. As always, I am grateful to BookBrowse for the opportunity to preview a book and offer an opinion.
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