New Release Book Review: The Gifted Son by Genevieve Gannon

Title: The Gifted Son

Author: Genevieve Gannon

Published: January tenth 2023

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Pages: 384

Genres:  Fiction, Contemporary

RRP: $32.99

Rating: 4.5 stars

A Sydney household’s picture-perfect life is upended in an unputdownable new novel from the bestselling creator of The Mothers.

What if the worst day of your life seems to be the making of you?

Lillian heard her daughter’s footsteps hurry up the passage. She ran her fingers beneath her eyes, able to greet her son. But when Kate appeared within the doorway her face was white. ‘Mum,’ Kate stated. ‘You’d higher come. It’s the police.’

With two brilliant youngsters, a wonderful house and a husband she’s all the time trusted, Lillian Hogarth considers herself blessed. Until, on her son Jamie’s closing day of highschool, he fails to return house. Hospitalised by a coward’s punch, Jamie has been the sufferer of a muck-up day celebration that went too far.

Lillian’s assist is unflinching, whilst her world begins to crumble. A son whose destiny hangs within the stability, a teenage witness who refuses to call the one who threw the punch, and a husband who’s hiding a secret that might destroy their marriage . . .

Is this the top of the Hogarth household’s good luck? Or will Jamie’s dedication—and Lillian’s love—be the making of them?

Review:

I used to be first launched to the work of Australian creator Genevieve Gannon in 2020 because of her gold star novel, The Mothers. I’ve been twiddling my thumbs ever since in anticipation for her subsequent novel. The Gifted Son is Gannon’s newest triumph. A story that rocks the reader with extremely topical themes resembling assault, damage, sickness, rehabilitation, lies, the afterlife, privilege, household estrangement and bullying within the personal faculty system, The Gifted Son is a stimulating learn.

Lillian Hogarth leads a charmed life, or so it appears. Lillian is the mom of two excessive reaching youngsters and a reliable husband. The Hogarth household have all the pieces they need and wish, however all this comes crashing down one fateful day. The final day of Jamie’s highschool profession ends in tragedy when he’s severely injured by a one-punch assault. Jamie is hospitalised and faces a really lengthy highway to restoration. Lillian rallies behind her son as greatest she will, however her good family begins to endure from the affect of Jamie’s accident. Justice for Jamie proves to be tough to achieve, particularly when the important thing witness to his assault refuses to disclose who’s accountable for the fateful punch. Jamie’s father John additionally seems to be hiding one thing from his household of their hour of want. What is John withholding from his household? The Hogarth household should summon all of the energy and braveness they’ll as Jamie faces the battle of his life.

The Australian psychological fiction area is blessed to have the highly effective voice of Genevieve Gannon main the cost. Thanks to Gannon’s earlier ethical dilemma fashion novel The Mothers, together with this newest launch from the Sydney based mostly creator, we now have a improbable chief within the area of conflict-based fiction. I admit to forming fairly excessive expectations of The Gifted Son which was based mostly on my love of Gannon’s final novel. The Gifted Son proved to be one more profitable learn from Genevieve Gannon.

In a nod to the good Jodi Picoult, Genevieve Gannon’s newest presentation gives readers a improbable fusion of genres resembling psychological fiction, home drama, the paranormal and authorized issues. I used to be actually taken in by this one, The Gifted Son held me fully captive for a current five-hour aircraft journey. With the story relayed from varied shifting factors of view, that are all fastidiously marked, Gannon delivers loads of character introspection. We hear from Lillian, the matriarch of this story, a girl who shows a relentless quantity of assist for her son in his time of want. We hear from Jamie, the sufferer of the assault, as he grapples with the recollections of his tragic assault. John Hogarth is a secretive determine, who seems to be hiding one thing crucial from his household. Jamie’s older sister Kate weighs in on the ordeal from a unique angle. While the ultimate voice comes from Jez, one in every of Jamie’s fellow classmates, who may simply maintain the important thing to unlocking the thriller surrounding who injured Jamie. The mixture of those contrasted voices is consuming and fascinating. I couldn’t put this one down, irrespective of how laborious I attempted. The plot is nicely constructed and Gannon inhabits every character completely, so we really feel like a necessary a part of this emotional attempting state of affairs. I do know I used to be intrigued to see how it could all eventuate.

Gannon’s setting is nicely rendered, notably in reference to her privileged and unique personal highschool stage. When the motion strikes to the hospital wings, I felt a way of excessive authenticity. We observe Jamie’s restoration course of, which has its ups and downs. Gannon ties in Jamie’s childhood sickness of leukaemia and stem cell donation into the novel, which provides one other spin to his lengthy restoration journey. Health care, rehabilitation, train, dedication and occupational remedy is fastidiously built-in into this emotive story. I discovered these areas of The Gifted Son actually fascinating. We additionally acquire an perception into household estrangement, the afterlife and metaphysical experiences, which shaped a few of my favorite elements of the story.  Gannon examines problems with bullying, highschool friendships, loyalty, youth psychological well being and charitable work. In Jamie’s dad and mom, we see how rapidly a lifetime of privilege might be shattered. The pressure on Jamie’s dad and mom quickly turns into obvious because the fallout from the assault impacts them in methods they by no means thought possible. A take a look at the police investigation and authorized processes concerned in an assault like Jamie’s types one other key ingredient of this novel. There isn’t any denying that Gannon has issued her readers with an awesome deal to replicate on and talk about as she strikes her newest story to a poignant shut.

The Gifted Son is putting novel that reminds us of the significance of hope, overcome tragedy, household assist, acceptance, deadly errors, forgiveness and unconditional love. I extremely suggest The Gifted Son to all booklovers.

The Gifted Son by Genevieve Gannon was printed on tenth January 2023 by Allen & Unwin. Details on find out how to buy the guide might be discovered right here.

To study extra concerning the creator of The Gifted Son, Genevieve Gannon, go to here.

Advertisement

Privacy Settings



Source link