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Forever Home: THIS AUTUMN'S MUST-READ NOVEL FROM GRAHAM NORTON

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I really enjoyed the narration by Graham Norton; his easy-going voice and character kept the level of this mystery at the cozy level, infused with humor, deprecation, love, dislike, and general snarkiness. What's not to enjoy!? With a lighter tone of narration, it's not as dark as it could be and nothing is quite as tragic, even though a lot of deeper issues are uncovered. I don't believe anything is ridiculed by this lighter tone but you have to go into with it being a bit playful, maybe tongue in cheek, and therefore, a "cozy" mystery IMO.

BBC Arts has announced that Between The Covers is returning to BBC Two for a fifth series in November 2022 with Sara Cox hosting. Graham Norton is a UK based entertainer, who is best known for his television work. In 2016, the comedian released his debut fiction title, Holding, to great acclaim. Norton has followed up the success of this release with A Keeper in 2018 and Home Stretch in 2020. Home Stretch is a story of loss, desire, identity, belonging, tragedy and family ties. Graham Norton’s latest is an affective slice of fiction. From there, we look at the relationships between women - the mothers, daughters, friends, and step-children in the stories, leading towards a surprising conclusion. SHAPIRO: And yet you were well into your career before you started writing fiction. When you began as an author, you started as a memoirist. What made you decide to make that move?NORTON: Well, now, I don't know about you - I'm in awe of young people who write novels because - I don't know - when I was in my kind of late teens, early 20s, 30s, I was out. You know, I didn't have time to sit... Carol frets: “It wasn’t clear what role she could play in his life now.” As so often for women, we are asked to sublimate our needs to those of others – children, to elderly parents, to partners. Ireland 1987: A small Irish community is preparing for the wedding of two of it's inhabitants. As the friends head home the night before the wedding, there is a car accident. Thee survive the crash but three are killed. Connor. the driver of the car, survives. But staying among the angry and mourning is almost as hard as living with the shame. He decides to go travelling. He eventually settles down in New York. But secrets and regrets have come to haunt those left behind and will not be silenced. Before long, Connor will have to face his past. Sara Cox I suggest you find a quiet, comfy spot, grab a brew and brace for your ‘to be read’ pile to get even taller and more teetering, as we return with a fifth series of the world’s most welcoming book club.” — Sara Cox

The author's writing is skilled and displays an innate understanding of human nature. His story encompasses many poignant moments and serious themes interspersed with his trademark humour. Although this novel was very readable and I did enjoy the story very much, I did feel that some of the character's actions stretched credibility. Believe me, if I was Carol, there is no way I would have reacted as she did... Clare Balding joined The Graham Norton Radio Show with Waitrose to talk about her brand-new book and the dogs that inspired it. Carol’s mother and father are naturally concerned for their daughter and try to help her in anyway they can. Carol discovers that Declan’s past is full of secrets and the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance. SHAPIRO: ...What makes her so delightful - right? - is the - like, what are you doing here? Well, I guess you're here. SHAPIRO: This novel, "Forever Home," unfolds from so many different perspectives. We see chapters through the eyes of different narrators. Was there one character who was your inroad to this story?Carol Crottie has found a second chance at love with her student’s father, Declan Barry. A few years earlier, Declan’s wife Joan had mysteriously “abandoned her family” – though rumours still circulate. But her transition from teacher to stepmother drives a wedge between Declan and his children, Sally and Killian. NORTON: Well, I suppose, in my head, it's sort of my quiet, happy place. It's the only thing I do that is sort of solitary - that doesn't involve a meeting... Dark, funny, full of emotional intelligence and gripping from the start. ..beautifully written... Wonderful.' DAILY MAIL In his gripping and darkly comic new novel Norton casts a light on the relationship between mothers and daughters, and truth and self-preservation with unnerving effect.

Carol's mother is determined to get to the bottom of things, she won't see her daughter treated this way. It seems there are secrets in Declan's past, strange rumours that were never confronted and suddenly the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance.With this, his third Irish contemporary novel, Graham Norton has established his reputation as a serious writer, one who casts his eye on the limitations, judgementalism and prejudices of small town Irish communities whilst charting the more welcome shift in social attitudes through time in Irish society. In 1987, on the day before a wedding, a group of young friends get together to go to the beach, only for tragedy to occur in the form of an accident that leaves 3 dead and 3 survivors, wreaking devastation on a grieving and shattered community and the families, leaving them reeling, their lives left changed forever, the repercussions felt decades into the future. The driver, Connor, finds his life ripped apart as he faces blame for the tragedy, and his family the unbearable shame. Coronet said: “In his tense and darkly comic new novel Norton casts a light on the relationship between mothers and daughters, and truth and self-preservation with unnerving effect.” So, Carol, must vacate the house and move in with her parents Moira, her judgmental mother and Dave, her quiet seemingly spacy father who only seems to do as he is told. How could this happen to her, especially at her age? Okay, Martin is a monster. Probably a psychopath. The fact that he takes it upon himself to pursue Connor’s sister makes absolutely no sense. He could have been off in Dublin , laughing at how he got away with the whole thing, but instead he saddles himself with Ellen, so he can make them both miserable in a sham marriage. Why? Who is this supposed to be helping? It makes no sense.

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