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The Descendants
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More About the Author
Product Description
New Statesman
`Hemmings deftly treads between sweetness and schmaltz... mischievous humour propels a simple tale of a dysfunctional family's coming together.'
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Marie Claire
'Hemmings' quirkily assured touch, her grasp of the absurd ... ensures this novel's balance between heartbreak and hilarity'
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Compulsive, fun and thoughtful...,
By
This review is from: The Descendants (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
"The Descendants" is a tragicomic novel about Matt, workaholic father of two daughters and husband to the high maintenance Joanie, who is in a coma and whose life support has been switched off. The book is concerned with Matt and his daughters' quest to track down Joanie's lover and tell him that this will be the last chance to say goodbye.I really enjoyed this, despite the fact that it revolves around an irreversible coma - Joanie as revealed is so unlikeable that her fate never really depresses you. The daughters (one 10 and one 17) are finely drawn (as is Alex' sort-of boyfriend) and as for Matt, just when you think he is most whipped, he surprises you with a show of grit. I would never normally read a novel like this - not big on comic novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and the revelation about the business connections in the middle of the book was absolutely compulsive. I would definitely read something else by this author.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a superb first novel,
By
This review is from: The Descendants (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
For a first book this is a spectacular success in my opinion. Whilst the story itself is not in itself particularly breathtaking, the way in which it is written as well as the characters and the various incidents throughout make it a particularly entertaining read. The story in itself is basically that of a wealthy yet dysfunctional family viewed through the eyes of the emotionally disconnected father, who has to come to terms with the fact that his wife will not come out of her coma and that he has no idea how to look after his two daughters in her absence. What ensues is a number of incidents with his daughters as they try to come to terms with each other and the major change that will soon happen in their lives.Though this could be considered quite a heavy subject the book is written with a lot of good humour, though I do not usually laugh whilst reading this book did encourage a few giggles - something that very rarely happens with me. At the same time the book has a lot of heart, as though the main character is frustratingly unemotional you do get a clear feeling that to him life has suddenly changed violently and he is not sure how to deal with it. The characters are all rendered fantastically, especially his unusual daughter Scottie who continued to make me laugh throughout. The core of the story is adapting to change and that families will survive in one way or another. Fabulously well written.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An emotional, powerful story,
By
This review is from: The Descendants (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
This book is about a Hawaiian family whose mother (Joanie) lies in a coma in hospital following an accident on a boat. There is no chance she will recover and her life support machine is about to be turned off. This story is about the trip that Matt (the husband) makes to find his wifes lover and tell him that Joanie is going to die. His two daughters accompany him on this trip and the novel is about their journey together as a family during this difficult time and how they resolve many of the issues that they face as a family. The characters are strong and the story is powerful and well written. I would recommend it.
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