Safe Within

by Jean Reynolds Page

A novel of how family happens—whether you like it or not

Elaine and Carson Forsyth have returned to the tree house—Elaine's childhood home, a cabin nestled high in the branches of two oaks beside a North Carolina lake—where forty-nine-year-old Carson has chosen to spend the waning days of his life. As Elaine prepares for a future without her beloved husband, their solace is interrupted. Carson's mother, Greta, has set loose a neighbor's herd of alpacas and landed herself in police custody. While Carson, remarkably, sees humor in the situation, Elaine can only question what her obligations are—and will be—to a woman who hasn't spoken to her in more than twenty years.

In the wake of Carson's death, Elaine and their grown son, Mick, are thrust into the maelstrom of Greta, the mother-in-law and grandmother who never accepted either of them. Just as they are trying to figure out their new roles in the family, Mick uncovers unexpected questions of his own. A long-ago teenage relationship with a local girl may have left him with more than just memories, and he must get to the bottom of Greta's surprising accusations that he's not Carson's son at all.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2012

Reviews

[Jaylia3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newly widowed, 40-something Elaine and her 20-something son Mick are trying to figure out how and when to restart their lives after the death of Elaine’s husband--Mick’s father--Carson. Meanwhile they are living in Elaine’s childhood home, a tree house built by her bohemian parents near a lake in the North Carolina hometown that Carson wanted to come back to for his final few weeks. Apart from the usual difficulties of life after the loss of a spouse, Elaine is forced to deal with her stubborn, hot-headed mother-in-law Greta, a woman she’d just as soon forget. Greta has never liked Elaine or her ‘hippie” parents, never believed that Mick was her grandson, and recently she has been acting erratic enough to get herself arrested by releasing her big shot neighbor’s herd of alpacas. Both Elaine and Mick have secrets and unresolved issues from the past that are making it more difficult to move forward. With its nuanced look at issues of trust and rebuilding a meaningful, connected life after loss, its interesting, multi-dimensional main characters, and its appealing, well-evoked Southern small town setting, Safe Within has a lot going for it. A mild mystical quality occasionally surfaces that isn’t completely to my taste: an abused puppy who trusts no one instantly bonds with the unwilling person who needs him most, blue lights appear in the sky just before someone dies, and Greta’s home companion is eerily insightful about someone she’s barely met. That personal preference quibble aside, this is a penetrating and heartwarming book with an ending that is satisfying without tying everything up too neatly.

I received a copy of Safe Within for possible review from the publisher, but there was no obligation and the opinions are all mine.

[Running · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most common theme that I have noticed in Page's books is the idea of forgiveness, and this book had a lot to do with coming to terms with things long past and learning to deal with these past hurts. This book was very much the same, the idea of this woman having to learn to forgive her mother-in-law following the death of her husband, was the focus. Although it stands to be said that it was more about Greta, the mother-in-law forgiving everyone else.

I found this book to be pretty funny, like when Greta, the elderly stubborn matriarch went head to head with her former BFF and threw down some pretty good zingers. The line that stands out to me the most though was Elaine talking to her 24 year old son and saying that "Greta is apparently different things to different people. For us she might be a character-building exercise. For Morty...? Who knows?" I felt that not only was that line pretty clever, but it also characterized Greta's relationship with her son's family perfectly, she may have been so nice to other people but for this family she had nothing but contempt.

I always love going on these journey's with characters because of how you gather the information. Very slowly at first until you have the whole picture and then you can decide how you feel about what happened. Plots like that, although intricate and wonderful, make the job of reviewer harder because I don't want to give too much away!

The character in this book are so vivid from Elaine, the new widow who can't seem to grasp her new life, to her son who has to keep his hormones in check, to the supporting cast of gossipy, wicked, towns people. This book is a quick mellow read with undertones of forgiveness and moving on after a great loss.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been a 5 star............The ending was NOT what I thought it should be. Felt like it should have been "fleshed" out more.

[Vainvt · Rating 2 out of 5]

My neighborhood book group read this after one of our members met the author. Unfortunately, I did not like it.
I felt the tone was self-conscious and contrived and as a result, I never had the feeling that the characters were acting or thinking with integrity. The characters also had too much wisdom and understanding, which resulted in unrealistic relationships. Finally, the deeply flawed Greta had a warm and mature relationship with Mattie but was unable to see the slightest good in her daughter-in-law.
We will discuss this in September, so it will be interesting to find out how others felt about it, but I would not read another book by this author.

[Terri]

very good book. I really enjoyed it

[Terry Confer Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a simply great book Grab some kleenex and enjoy this story

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The read I needed

This was interesting. It kept my attention. It made me thoughtful and reflective. It touched on so many emotions that it felt real.

[Andrea at Reading Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/15/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

Safe Within tells the story of family drama surrounding the marriage of Elaine and Carson Forsyth. Secrets from long ago still hound the couple and have caused Carson's mother, Greta, to deny her grandson his entire life and refuse to have anything to do with any member of the family other than Carson. Things might have stayed in their constant pattern of distrust and anger if it hadn't been for Carson's diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The cancer will eventually pull him from his family and force the two halves to find away to exist as a whole. Jean Reynolds Page knows southern families and brings them to life in this poignant story of love, loss, regret, and new beginnings.

I have long been a fan of stories set in the South. I suppose we always gravitate toward the familiar and this one caught my interest originally because it is set in North Carolina, a state that is near and dear to my heart. Reading books set in places that I know and love often makes the stories come alive in more dazzling colors, playing within my mind like a movie. Safe Within is no exception to that rule - between my personal knowledge and Page's excellent writing - this novel was incredibly visual. One of the most unique elements that was the most fun for my imagination to conjure was Elaine's childhood home built in the trees bordering a lake. I always wanted to live up in the trees after seeing Swiss Family Robinson as a kid; I was obsessed with trying to figure out how to make that type of home my very own someday. Sadly, my dream never became a reality, but it is nice to see others who are inspired by such whimsical living arrangements. The tree house also becomes a dominant feature throughout the entire novel. For me, it was a symbol of the old and new coming together to form something entirely different; it truly is the one place where Carson's life before marriage and life after find a way to coexist.

The moments before Carson's death tore at my heartstrings. He isn't present for very much of the actual novel - memories of him dominant the pages - but it was so touching to see how much he meant to those he loved. I can't even imagine losing my husband at such a young age. I would hope that, like Elaine, I would have the strength to hold onto the memories while attempting to pick up the pieces and construct a new existence for myself. Elaine is one of those characters you have to admire. She has a strength and grace about her that isn't always present in the grieving. One of Elaine's thoughts sticks out in my mind as being the crux of the matter, "She'd pledged till death, but it didn't end there. Love didn't end anywhere. It simply endured the absence of the beloved" (pg. 53). I really like the concept that this line of thinking brings to my mind. Death is always portrayed as such a gloom and doom part of life, but Page somehow finds a way to paint death in a way that provides some comfort. It is not an easy task as nobody truly knows what happens to us when we die, but I'd like to think that Page has it right.

The concept of regret is also a dominant feature of this novel. Greta is dealing with the regret that she has pushed Elaine and Mick away for 20+ years. She chooses to believe rumors that Mick is not Carson's son and allows them to dictate her interactions with her family. Without Carson around, Elaine and Mick are the only family she has left. Moving past her stubbornness isn't something Greta is comfortable doing, but she may not have a choice as her eyesight keeps failing and things in her world keep changing drastically. She's not the only one at fault. Elaine and Mick have done their fair share of being in the wrong. What I really like about this novel is that nobody is labeled as the bad guy. All of the characters involved in the disagreement are in the wrong at some point and have to struggle to a place where they can admit that. Each one of them grows in tremendous ways and learns more about themselves throughout the course of the book. The ending leaves things open for the reader to imagine what the next step will be for Elaine, Mick, and Greta.

This novel is one that encourages me to not waste any moment; life is too short for regrets. In the end, family is often all we have.

One Last Gripe: I wish I knew for sure that all these characters were going to be okay. The narrative ended too soon for my taste.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The characters and watching them work through their struggles

First Sentence: Elaine pulled into the lot beside the Roseville Municipal Building.

Favorite Character: Elaine

Least Favorite Character: Laurie

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elaine and her dying husband move back to their childhood home of North Carolina, to spend his final days. After he dies, Elaine and their son, Mick, aren't quite sure what to do, but it feels like they should stay in town for a while longer, so they do. Their only relative in town in Elaine's mother-in-law, Greta, who's never liked or approved of Elaine and has spent her entire life believing that Mick was not her husband's son - that he's the product of Elaine having an affair. Greta has refused to talk to or even be civil to Elaine or Mick for her entire marriage, but Elaine's husband had wanted to keep a relationship with his mom, so they'd meet up every so often on their own, never once talking about the other family members. Now that he's gone, Elaine feels like she should be able to just let go of that tie holding her in this city, but she also feels like she has some sort of responsibility to take care of her husband's mom. Complicating matters, Mick has now heard Greta's claims that he's not Elaine's son, so he's decided to investigate these rumors on his own.

The author did a good job showing the complicated relationships in the town. Particularly well done was Mick's former relationship with a local girl; things hadn't ended well between them, and he still feels weighed down with guilt about the way he'd treated her. Some of the strongest parts in the book were when Mick was trying to move on in his life by spending time with another girl and make up for his past by helping his ex-girlfriend's family. I loved the interactions between Mick and his ex-girlfriend's little brother; although they didn't have a ton of interactions, they did have good chemistry together and it felt very genuine.

The writing in this book was very smooth and polished throughout. My favorite came when Mick is thinking about the past: Was anything ever as intense as it seemed at seventeen? What a beautiful sentiment! The narration bounced around between characters, giving you a very rounded idea of all the action; however, although Greta does have a sweet side to her (when she's not interacting with or thinking about Elaine or Mick!), she never seems to fully redeem the judgmental, awful side of her personality. It was hard to see her as a sympathetic character or understand why anyone (either Elaine or her husband) would want to make things right with her.

Everything seemed to all fall into place - or fall out of place, depending on your perspective - as the book went on, but there didn't seem to be a real reason why all the plot twists were suddenly happening. I felt like there was no genuine momentum pushing the plot forward. For example, the biggest part of the plot dealt with Greta's accusations of Mick not being her grandson and being terrible to everyone because of it, yet Elaine was willing to look past this (after 25 years of this!) and Mick was suddenly curious about why Greta has hated them, deciding he should investigate on his own. It never seemed truly genuine or believable; it all just happened because the story required it. I also didn't find it believable that Elaine and her husband had such a "perfect" marriage, yet he'd continued to keep a close relationship with his mother that never really affected their marriage. I guess, for me, too much time had elapsed since the problems had begun to understand why they were now being addressed in a somewhat productive manner.

I would have enjoyed a little more depth to the story or a little more realistic portrayal of family problems, but the book was still decent overall. This is a quick read that definitely invokes a very beautiful setting in North Carolina but has a slightly lacking plot. Though I enjoyed parts of the book, it's not one that left a lasting impression.

I received a free copy of this book through the First Reads program.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received Safe Within in exchange for a review. I found that I was having trouble reading for any length of time, in the beginning. It wasn't that the story was bad, it just seemed to be too slow to unfold. When I kept at it I found the story got moving, for me, about one quarter of the way through. At that point, the story came to life and I found that I was thinking of excuses to sit and read, not the opposite. The story is about death, but it is also about the living and the lives that need to be rebuilt after a death. While the book was sad, it had many light, funny times. I felt that the underlying theme was that gossip can take on a life of its own and destroy many lives. When a situation is seen and taken out of context, it breeds curiosity and when no one sets the record straight from the onset, it can be used as a weapon for someone wanting to hurt another.

Carson has lived a wonderful life, with a loving wife & son. He also has a mother he loves deeply but his wife, son and mother do not get along. By way of rumor and gossip, Greta, Carson's mother has held a deep seated anger toward his wife, Elaine and through that she has chosen not to have a life with her only grandson, Mick. Carson has always asked his mother to trust him and to let Mick in, but she will not. Carson has cancer and upon his death Elaine wonders if his mother will be out of the picture for good. But, that and actions beyond her control bring them closer instead of further apart. While all are dealing with the grief of losing a father, husband or child they also have their own lives to rebuild, a lost past to overcome and the knowledge that righting a wrong can sometimes be too much to deal with.

[Laurel-Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a beautiful lake in North Carolina, in a treehouse cabin, Carson and Elaine Forsyth have chosen to spend his final days.

It was Carson's idea to return to the lake and to the home where Elaine grew up. In the small town where the two of them first met.

But that same small town also hosts the gossip, resentments, and secrets from the past. And Carson's mother Greta, who has not spoken to Elaine for twenty years. And who, for whatever reason, will not accept their son Mick.

The scene is set for a lot of pain, so why would Carson insist on bringing them back to this place? As much as Elaine loves the treehouse, she isn't keen on the idea of revisiting the past.

After Carson's death, she is left to deal with it all. Mick has joined her at the lake, and separately and together, the two of them will meet the past head-on and confront the ghosts that linger.

I thoroughly enjoy a story full of secrets that unfold, layer by layer, until the core is revealed. "Safe Within (P.S.)" was such a story, and the settings surrounded the characters and gently enfolded them with the warmth of a Southern small town that is cozy, even as its people are occasionally mean-spirited. I felt as though I were walking amongst them, learning how they felt and what they wanted from life. And in the end, I felt as though I could belong.

The ending surprised me, though; not that it happened the way it did, but that it came upon me so abruptly. I wanted it to linger a bit more, not sneak up on me. As I reread it, I could see the beauty in that particular ending. But I wanted more. Four stars.

[Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is the book about?

Elaine and her husband Carson, who is dying of pancreatic cancer, are returning to their childhood home in North Carolina. They stay with Carson's mother in a cabin by a lake, where it might just be Carson's final resting place at only 49 years old. Carson's mother, Greta holds a lot of grudges towards Elaine because she believes Mick, their son, isn't really Carson's son.

After Carson passes away, Elaine and Mick are put in a situation where they forced to stay with Greta, despite her refusal to accept them as family and keep to her presumptions that Elaine was not a faithful wife to her son. Her anger towards them goes so far that she goes out of her way to avoid Elaine and Mick, even at the funeral.

What did I think of the book?

Dealing with the rumors and gossip in such a small town in a depressing time as Carson comes back to town with his family is a lot harder than it seems. Poor Carson, you think you're going home to pass away in a safe place, but instead he is around others who question his paternity to the son he help raise. You bounce back and forth in time, and watch the characters bounce and forth between forgiveness and compassion. You never really expect what happens next with the inconsistency in the characters opinions.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book might be for anyone who might not get along with their inlaws, because I am pretty sure Greta at the beginning of this book can trump them all.The tension between Elaine, Mick and Greta are so thick I was actually uncomfortable reading about this at first, especially when you mix in the grief caused by the death of a parent, husband and son.



Carson Forsythe was beloved by his family - his mother Greta, his wife Elaine, and his son Mick. Unfortunately, Greta had always hated Elaine and her boho parents, and consequently hated Mick, not believing him to be Carson's son. There was so much bad blood between the families, you wondered if things could ever be reconciled.



When Carson died, it cause a huge emptiness in the lives of those who loved him. I had my fingers crossed the whole book for this to happen, for who better to grieve with and share stories with and heal with then the people who loved the deceased the most? This book kept you wondering what could be next, and was emotionally intense at times to read. However, I couldn't put it down, rooting for this family to heal together the whole time.

[Christa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good beach read--light, fluffy, but able to hold your interest.

I really liked the portrayal of the small Southern town and the people who lived there. In fact, the town may have been my favorite "character" in the book--it seemed to have more heart, more secrets, than any of the people who inhabited it.

The main character, Elaine, was okay, but didn't seem very real. For instance, we're often told about how much in love Elaine and Carson were, and all the challenges they weathered together, but never anything about any snags. Both of them are portrayed a bit too saintly for my taste.

And on the same note, Carson's mother, Greta, seemed like a one-dimensional monster through the first 3/4 of the book--and not only in the sections that focused on a Elaine or her son, Mick, who would be expected to focus on her meanness. She just seemed like a terrible, terrible person, which got a bit tiresome after awhile. The flashback to how she treated Mick as a toddler was simply awful, and I'm not sure how anyone in the family would even have thought of continuing a relationship with her after that.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a savory kind of book. Although not long and wordy, the author sets the scene of complicated family relationships weighted down by the realities of life, the present and the past. Written in flowing prose, the book bounces between points of view and provides a more complete picture of the complexity of the individual, the relationships in differing schemes, and the town.

Elaine and Mick return with Carson, husband and father, who is dying of cancer, to the town where they began. As with any small town, rumors take on life of their own and rumors are the interest. Mick's paternity is called into question. Family is defined and redefined. Forgiveness is given and taken away. Throughout the book, Carson remains central and steadfastly like a compass. Even after he dies, he is very much the center of the book in a steady way.

Three generations are looking for peace. I love a nice, tidy ending where everything is wrapped up in a bow but I absolutely loved the open ended ending of this book. There is hope and possibility. Jean Reynolds Page is an artist on the written canvas.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carson is dying. Elaine brings her husband home to die and comes face to face with her estranged mother-in-law, a woman who has refused to speak to her for twenty years.

I should have known what I was going to get with a cover like this one. The cover shows two pairs of women’s legs in rolled-up pants, hanging out of a canoe, with a book in their laps. The story, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with canoes or reading at all, but the cover photo does foretell that the story inside will be a comfortable tale of women’s fiction, a story you might like to read with your pants rolled up and your legs hanging over the edge of a canoe.

I did know what I was going to get after reading nothing more than chapter one. It is that predictable.

Nothing wrong with that. Just don’t go into this book expecting anything more.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was an interesting one, filled with many twists and turns. I found it difficult to keep track of the characters, and particularly which character we were talking about, as the story jumped around in time; it took a lot of concentration. I also found too many different conflicts all presented in one story; although this may be true to life for some people, it certainly isn't representative of the kind of life I have lived, so it was sometimes tough for me to relate. I also didn't care for the seeming lack of resolution, even though that IS more true to life than the "happily ever after" or even "happily resolved for now" kind of ending I've come to expect in a book. In spite of these issues, it was an enjoyable read.

[Tiffanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carson and Elaine have been together a long time they have a grown son. But carsons mom don't like Elaine or their son. Rumors were that while Carson was away at school Elaine cheated with her best friend Jameson and that Elaine's son isn't carsons so his mom never wanted anything to do with them. But Carson has passed away and his mom is needing some help. Their all trying to find their new place in the world without Carson

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a happy book. But, it is a good book. It's quite sad. A loss of a loved husband, a mother-in-law from hell who is going blind and helpless, misunderstandings of the past that haunt people 20 years later, and a variety of other problems. That isn't to say this is a hopeless book. In fact, the book is very much about hope.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out my full review at Kritters Ramblings

A main character that is twice my age, but a story that hit very deep in an emotional sense - I thought this book had a less than positive central story, but the reader doesn't feel left down in the dumps.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but I just could not get beyond the second chapter. The premise is intriguing but the character development is awkward. There are too many new characters introduced and flashbacks come too early in the novel.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was difficult to muddle through. I didn't really understand the overall plot, and the ending didn't really resolve much.

[Lisa]

"I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads."

[Julie Dalle · Rating 2 out of 5]

KiNd of boring. Very slow, predictable (of what little plot there was) and typical.

[Crystal Falconer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review:

http://librarycrystal.wordpress.com/2...

[LInda L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, but very sad. I commented on this before, but as many are: it's gone.

[Stephy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just didn't do it for me. Open plots. Ending disappointed me I expected more.

[Meredith DeBrunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, really draws you in. The ending leaves you wanting more, but still leaves you feeling that there has been some closure.

[Caren]

Unfortunately, I found the prose mediocre and decided to leave the book. Story was not compelling enough and there are so many wonderful books yet to be read.

[B. Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Families intrigue me and this one is no exception. Well-written, as so many are. Compelling even.