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Susan_Bailey
Refreshing, inspirational, pageturner
Grief, not the easiest of topics, comes full circle in this book. Well written, four people in the depths of grief, each with a heart catching story, come together with a therapist who has sought them out to work thru their pain. Little by little we come to know each of the four, their lives, loves, worries, and pain. The author discloses it bit by bit and I was left wanting more after each chapter. The ending was a surprise, one I will not disclose, but worth the entire read. I found it really was a book I could not putdown.
Charlene_M
The Seven o'clock Club
I am blown away that this is Amelia Ireland's debut novel. It is a fascinating look into grief & how each individual character handled it. Ms Ireland inspired me to think about my own experience of losing a husband & the sensation I felt when he died. I highly recommend this book. And look forward to her next novel.
Laurie_M
Great debut
Debut authors have my heart, knowing what my own daughter goes through as she puts her soul on paper, hoping someone bites. It's not easy.
The premise of this debut novel doesn't sound unique but you'll need patience. It begins with four people, all grieving 'someone,' unknown for a long time, working as a group with a counselor.
Candidly, I wasn't sure at first if I was invested enough to continue but oh, I am so so glad that I did! The four grieving humans slowly but surely wrapped their lives into my heart. And the twist at about 2/3rds through was MIND-BLOWING.
Ireland's writing is solid, her dialogue is well-written, occasionally too much description but it is in the service of furthering her characters' development which is a good thing.
This book made me THINK and FEEL, as well as consider my own life choices, the people I have lost, and how my life has been impacted by their absence. This book reminded me that we are not static characters; we grow and change with the movement in our lives. And oh, how I love a book that lingers.
I will be pushing this book when it comes out in April, and I will be in line for her next story; well done, Amelia Ireland!
Cathryn V. (Oak Harbor, WA)
The Seven O'Clock Club
I came to know the characters in this book slowly, as layer after layer was revealed. I enjoy character driven books! I also like novels when I care about the characters. The more I learned about each character, the more I understood them.
I was taken by surprise by the revelation towards the end of the book -- in a good way. I was given something to think about... and I continue to ponder.
Tracy_B
The seven o'clock club
A cleverly written book. I was drawn into the lives of the 4 characters in the experiment. What was it about the group leader, it seemed that she wasn't sure of herself. The twist halfway through kept me even more curious. Maybe there are some other books that experiment with this subject, but I haven't read them. A throughly illustrated fascinating view of grieving. Expanded levels where one might find it.
Connie L. (Bartlesville, OK)
The Seven O'Clock Book Club
Well- written story of four strangers and their struggles.
The characters are well developed and interesting.
This is a pleasant read.
Gloria K. (Madison, WI)
The Seven O'Clock Club
As a retired psychologist and current hospice volunteer I was immediately drawn into The Seven O'Clock Club. During my career I facilitated numerous grief therapy sessions and was interested in learning about Genevieve's experimental approach. I agree with the recently published reviews in First Impressions regarding good character development and writing style. If you are considering reading this book I encourage you to do so. I think the unexpected twists in the plot which are revealed in the later half of the book will surprise you. It is my hope this compelling story will offer you hours of contemplation long after you have finished reading the book.
Marie_Webb
A Fantastic Tale
The characters in this story are English. Five strangers, four members of a group plus their leader, come together with the stated purpose of dealing with loss and grief. As they speak about their lives, they struggle with guilt, sadness, anger, love, etc., and new truths and connections come to light.
This book truly keeps the reader guessing. From the beginning, the author hints that there is more to her story than meets the eye.
There is some magical realism here, the kind that gave this reader something to fantasize about: what if all of this were real? (As a therapist who has led many bereavement groups, I'd like to ask the group leader some questions myself!)
Each chapter is narrated by one of the group members as he/she participates in the group. Thus we come to know and care about them as individuals.
I recommend this book for its creativity, humor, and warmth. I enjoyed it, and believe it would provide book groups with much material for a lively discussion!