
So let’s start with a confession. When I found this book in one of my ‘To read’ boxes in the loft, I had little recollection of buying it. And for the life of me I couldn’t really think why I’d bought it. I knew it wasn’t a gift though and was sure it had been one of my own purchases.
In a remarkable coincidence though, a Facebook memory popped up soon after and I was informed that I’d bought it 3 years previously in a book splurge at a discount shop called The Works. I still had to work out what had attracted me to it though, but a bit of perusing did the trick. Turned out I’d made a very good choice.
‘Love Anthony’ is a novel about friends, and love, as well as the challenges of autism and family life. It tells the tale of two families; Olivia, David and their son Anthony and Beth, Jimmy and their three daughters. The first family face the enormous challenges of their son’s severe autism and the heartbreaking feeling that they’ll never be able to ‘get through’ to Anthony as a result. Meanwhile, Beth and Jimmy face their own challenges despite everything initially seeming to be pretty much stable with their lives.
The action takes place on Nantucket, which was almost certainly one of my reasons for buying the book. (I have a cousin who lives there.) The stark beauty of the island definitely adds something to the story and it’s on Nantucket where we find new arrival Olivia who’s life and marriage have fallen apart. The beaches of the island unwittingly bring Olivia and Beth together and yet their lives continue on seperately, despite everything they have in common. Their brief meeting has a profound effect on Beth, who when her own world seems to be falling apart, falls back on the memory to begin writing.
Only later do the two women become entangled in each others’ lives. There’s another meeting on the beach, this time through a family photoshoot, booked by Beth and to be undertaken by Olivia, now a family photographer. Memories are jogged, favours asked and when Olivia finally reads Beth’s book, lives are changed seismically.
‘Love Anthony’ is a great read. Heartbreaking at times as we read about Olivia and her desperate attempts to engage with and protect her son, Anthony, but life-affirming at others, as likeable characters triumph in adversity. There’s an element of the feel good factor about the book, despite some traumatic events, but then there are a number of twists which are sure to leave you racing through the pages. Hearts are broken, lives are shattered and then rebuilt and throughout it all you’ll find yourself rooting for characters like Beth and Olivia in their pursuit of a small chunk of happiness.
A wonderfully written book that deserves your attention.
I give ‘Love Anthony’
Great review! I love books that are set in Nantucket – the area is on my travel bucket list. I appreciate when authors include characters with challenges and Lisa Genova does this exceptionally well. Thanks for the recommendation.
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My cousin used to paint the houses on Nantucket – a year round job apparently. Once you’d finish the last one, the first needed doing again!
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Thanks for recommendation. I think it’s a good story. It’s something new. Looking forward to read it.
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Great review! This sounds like a really interesting read dealing with some hard hitting themes. Really need to read more fiction – I’d be keen to give this a go at some point. Thanks for sharing!
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Great review! This sounds like such an interesting read and a really lovely story. I didn’t know what Nantucket looked like so I quickly Googled it and it looks beautiful, seems like the perfect setting for a story like this!
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I read this book a long time and it was so sad. Lisa is a good writer I have read other books by her.
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This sounds really good. I love it when you are able to really root for the characters. Sounds like it delves deep into the emotions!
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Would love to read that book.
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I find myself buying books because of the setting of the story. This is a good read and a heartwarming story based on contemporary times.
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Excellent review! I have yet to read anything by Lisa Genova, but have had Still Alice on my to read list for a while. Looks like I’ll be adding another one to the list! Thanks for the recommendation!
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It was a really random choice on my part, but I’ll definitely be looking for others.
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Fab review, I guess I will have to see if I can find it in the libraries here (probably in Dutch though…) because this sounds like a good book to read. Plus, I liked Lisa Genova’s other book: Still Alice. 🙂
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