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The Schnabel Family #1
Dinner mit den Schnabels
You can marry into them, but can you ever really be one of them?
A novel about marriage, love and family.
Things haven't gone well for Simon Larsen lately. He adores his wife, Tansy, and his children, but since his business failed and he lost the family home, he can't seem to get off the couch. Simon is permanently unemployed and permanently unshaven.
His larger-than-life in-laws, the Schnabels - Tansy's mother, sister and brother - won't get off his case.
To keep everyone happy, Simon needs to do one little job: he has a week to landscape a friend's backyard for an important Schnabel family event.
But as the week progresses, Simon is derailed by the arrival of an unexpected house guest. Then he discovers Tansy is harbouring a secret. As his world spins out of control, who can Simon really count on when the chips are down?
Life with the Schnabel family is messy, chaotic and joyful, and Dinner with the Schnabels is as heartwarming as it is outrageously funny.
A novel about marriage, love and family.
Things haven't gone well for Simon Larsen lately. He adores his wife, Tansy, and his children, but since his business failed and he lost the family home, he can't seem to get off the couch. Simon is permanently unemployed and permanently unshaven.
His larger-than-life in-laws, the Schnabels - Tansy's mother, sister and brother - won't get off his case.
To keep everyone happy, Simon needs to do one little job: he has a week to landscape a friend's backyard for an important Schnabel family event.
But as the week progresses, Simon is derailed by the arrival of an unexpected house guest. Then he discovers Tansy is harbouring a secret. As his world spins out of control, who can Simon really count on when the chips are down?
Life with the Schnabel family is messy, chaotic and joyful, and Dinner with the Schnabels is as heartwarming as it is outrageously funny.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 2022
82 people are currently reading
1442 people want to read
About the author
Toni Jordan
24 books279 followershttps://www.tonijordan.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authortonijo...
Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson.
She is the author of six novels including the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, Nine Days, which was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards and was named in Kirkus Review's top 10 Historical Novels of 2013, and Our Tiny, Useless Hearts, which was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award.
Toni has been published widely in newspapers and magazines.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts.
Toni lives in Melbourne.
https://www.facebook.com/authortonijo...
Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson.
She is the author of six novels including the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, Nine Days, which was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards and was named in Kirkus Review's top 10 Historical Novels of 2013, and Our Tiny, Useless Hearts, which was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award.
Toni has been published widely in newspapers and magazines.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts.
Toni lives in Melbourne.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
June 21, 2022
This is a lovely heartwarming book about a man, Simon Larsen, who is struggling to find himself after losing his architectural company and his house as a result of the global pandemic. He now lives in a cramped, shabby two bedroom apartment with his wife and two children and spends most days on the couch, unshaven, unmotivated and drinking too much. He loves his wife Tansy but feels she deserves better and feels guilty that he can no longer afford to send his children to private school.
Tansy's estranged father David Schnabel died during the lockdown and Tansy and her siblings and mother were unable to attend his funeral in a country town where he was living with his second wife and daughter. Now they are planning a memorial at a friend's house and Simon has been charged with landscaping the garden in time for the event. He has a week to do this but unexpected events keep postponing his good intentions.
Toni Jordan has a light touch in describing Simon’s inner thoughts and views on his situation. He makes many wry observations about parenting and modern day life which will resonate with many readers. There is also much humour in his interactions with his children, his difficult mother in law and Tansy’s perfect brother and fierce sister. The ending was a delight I wasn’t expecting and rounded off a very enjoyable read.
Tansy's estranged father David Schnabel died during the lockdown and Tansy and her siblings and mother were unable to attend his funeral in a country town where he was living with his second wife and daughter. Now they are planning a memorial at a friend's house and Simon has been charged with landscaping the garden in time for the event. He has a week to do this but unexpected events keep postponing his good intentions.
Toni Jordan has a light touch in describing Simon’s inner thoughts and views on his situation. He makes many wry observations about parenting and modern day life which will resonate with many readers. There is also much humour in his interactions with his children, his difficult mother in law and Tansy’s perfect brother and fierce sister. The ending was a delight I wasn’t expecting and rounded off a very enjoyable read.
April 28, 2022
This was a good story, told from Simon Larsen’s point of view he is an architect, husband and father and he and his family live in Melbourne Australia, they have just lived through the covid pandemic and it was not good to Simon, his life has change dramatically but he loves his wife Tansy and their two children Mia and Lachie and life seems to be moving very slowly for him at the moment.
With his failed business and the loss of the family home, Tansy is working full time and Simon is staying at home, his in-laws, mother-in-law Gloria, brother-in-law Nick and sister-in-law Kylie keeping constant tabs on him as he sees it, they are always pushing him, so to keep everyone happy he takes on a job to landscape Tansy’s best friend’s garden so as it is ready for the memorial service for one of the Schnabel’s family member.
He is given a week to do this in and there seems to be something happening all the time to slow him down not even counting the arrival of the half-sister Monica which upsets the household in Simon’s opinion he is not sure how he feels about her at all. Simon’s mind is constantly going back in time with his thoughts and thinking about the future and his dialogue is quite amusing at times and there are many laugh out loud moments with him and the family.
This is a well written story that is heart-warming and poignant as well as very funny, Simon has been through a lot in the last two years and has found it hard to cope, I really enjoyed the ending with his lightbulb moment when everything seemed to fall into place for him. There are wonderful characters in this story that are bought to life and I must be honest and say that at times some of them really frustrated me but I had to know how everything ended up for Simon and his family, an enjoyable story that I am sure will be well read.
My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.
With his failed business and the loss of the family home, Tansy is working full time and Simon is staying at home, his in-laws, mother-in-law Gloria, brother-in-law Nick and sister-in-law Kylie keeping constant tabs on him as he sees it, they are always pushing him, so to keep everyone happy he takes on a job to landscape Tansy’s best friend’s garden so as it is ready for the memorial service for one of the Schnabel’s family member.
He is given a week to do this in and there seems to be something happening all the time to slow him down not even counting the arrival of the half-sister Monica which upsets the household in Simon’s opinion he is not sure how he feels about her at all. Simon’s mind is constantly going back in time with his thoughts and thinking about the future and his dialogue is quite amusing at times and there are many laugh out loud moments with him and the family.
This is a well written story that is heart-warming and poignant as well as very funny, Simon has been through a lot in the last two years and has found it hard to cope, I really enjoyed the ending with his lightbulb moment when everything seemed to fall into place for him. There are wonderful characters in this story that are bought to life and I must be honest and say that at times some of them really frustrated me but I had to know how everything ended up for Simon and his family, an enjoyable story that I am sure will be well read.
My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.
December 20, 2022
Dinner With The Schnabels is the sixth novel by award-winning, best-selling Australian author, Toni Jordan. The audio is narrated by Ian Bliss. Simon Larsen is happily married to Tansy Schnabel (and, if not quite so happily, to her family), and is the loving father of two wonderful children, Mia and Lachie. But, robbed of his practice as successful architect by the prolonged lockdown, he has spent much of the last two years feeling guilty and deficient as they live in a cramped flat while Tansy works to support them.
Suddenly, though, he is meant to drag himself out of his depressive slump to landscape a backyard. A combination of unreliable contractors and the urgent need for a venue for a memorial service mean he has committed to transforming the backyard of Tansy’s oldest friend, Naveen into the beautiful space he knows it could be, by Saturday. It’s Monday morning: no pressure, really!
The memorial is for David Schnabel, the father who left Tansy’s mother Gloria to raise three children on her own. Formidable woman that she is (read scary), Simon knows Gloria is highly sceptical of his ability to achieve this. Nor do her siblings, Kylie and Nick, radiate confidence in him. He absolutely cannot let Tansy down.
But with the best will to get started on the work, he is thwarted: Tansy insists on covertly watching the (days-early-for-the-memorial) arrival by train of the half-sister she and her siblings have never met, the child for whom their absent father was present. That backfires when Monica, young, kooky and unpredictable, spots them, and Simon watches in horror as his failure to provide for his family is put on display for a stranger.
Over the next days, Simon’s work is derailed multiple times: a long wait for a tardy refrigerator repairman; babysitting wrongly delivered pavers to prevent their theft; a mentoring coffee with a young former colleague who drops a bombshell; a bewildering meeting with the children’s headmistress revealing a problem that renders Simon incredulous; and a hint at marital infidelity that stuns him. Can he overcome all that to get the job done?
Jordan’s characters will be familiar to the reader, people we all know amongst our acquaintances, and their dialogue and behaviour is what we hear and see in our daily lives. Mia and Lachie are an utter delight, providing some priceless “what kids say” moments, while Gloria, the matriarch who is unequivocally convinced she knows what is best, is hugely entertaining.
Simon, always earnest and well-intentioned, often exhibits eye-rolling naïveté about modern life, venturing into cluelessness quite a bit, saying (or thinking) some truly groan-worthy things. But perhaps some of his vagueness is the product of his low mood.
His inner monologue reveals that incidents viewed through the prism of his depression and inadequacy take on quite a different slant when explained by others or later seen with the benefit of hindsight. It is satisfying to see that it perhaps takes hitting rock-bottom to crystallise for Simon just what truly matters in life.
As well as giving them some wise words and insightful observations, with her unfailing talent for writing humour Jordan endows her characters with plenty of wit and hilarity. And she does manage, within a page, to have the reader laughing out loud, then welling up with tears. Funny and heart-warming, Toni Jordan’s latest novel is an unalloyed pleasure to read.
Suddenly, though, he is meant to drag himself out of his depressive slump to landscape a backyard. A combination of unreliable contractors and the urgent need for a venue for a memorial service mean he has committed to transforming the backyard of Tansy’s oldest friend, Naveen into the beautiful space he knows it could be, by Saturday. It’s Monday morning: no pressure, really!
The memorial is for David Schnabel, the father who left Tansy’s mother Gloria to raise three children on her own. Formidable woman that she is (read scary), Simon knows Gloria is highly sceptical of his ability to achieve this. Nor do her siblings, Kylie and Nick, radiate confidence in him. He absolutely cannot let Tansy down.
But with the best will to get started on the work, he is thwarted: Tansy insists on covertly watching the (days-early-for-the-memorial) arrival by train of the half-sister she and her siblings have never met, the child for whom their absent father was present. That backfires when Monica, young, kooky and unpredictable, spots them, and Simon watches in horror as his failure to provide for his family is put on display for a stranger.
Over the next days, Simon’s work is derailed multiple times: a long wait for a tardy refrigerator repairman; babysitting wrongly delivered pavers to prevent their theft; a mentoring coffee with a young former colleague who drops a bombshell; a bewildering meeting with the children’s headmistress revealing a problem that renders Simon incredulous; and a hint at marital infidelity that stuns him. Can he overcome all that to get the job done?
Jordan’s characters will be familiar to the reader, people we all know amongst our acquaintances, and their dialogue and behaviour is what we hear and see in our daily lives. Mia and Lachie are an utter delight, providing some priceless “what kids say” moments, while Gloria, the matriarch who is unequivocally convinced she knows what is best, is hugely entertaining.
Simon, always earnest and well-intentioned, often exhibits eye-rolling naïveté about modern life, venturing into cluelessness quite a bit, saying (or thinking) some truly groan-worthy things. But perhaps some of his vagueness is the product of his low mood.
His inner monologue reveals that incidents viewed through the prism of his depression and inadequacy take on quite a different slant when explained by others or later seen with the benefit of hindsight. It is satisfying to see that it perhaps takes hitting rock-bottom to crystallise for Simon just what truly matters in life.
As well as giving them some wise words and insightful observations, with her unfailing talent for writing humour Jordan endows her characters with plenty of wit and hilarity. And she does manage, within a page, to have the reader laughing out loud, then welling up with tears. Funny and heart-warming, Toni Jordan’s latest novel is an unalloyed pleasure to read.
April 5, 2022
What an absolute delight this novel was to read. For a start, laugh out loud funny, which is honestly all too rare, so many authors try too hard with comedy, and it can often seem over blown. Here though, the wit and humour was just so intelligent, cutting, and on point. The dialogue was particularly entertaining, likewise all of Simon’s introspection, along with his analysis and internal impressions on what was going on around him and the people he was interacting with at any given time. This is the sort of novel that is both uniquely Australian yet universally appealing.
Simon has been having a bad run. Since the pandemic, he has lost his business, his house, his self-esteem, and his self-worth. Across the course of a week, we move in with Simon and his wife Tansy, their two children and his wife’s half-sister, squeezed into a two-bedroom flat, and we get to know all the ins and outs of this family, the good, the bad, and the even worse. Simon has one week to landscape a backyard in preparation for a memorial service. What could go wrong? So much. So, so much.
Along the way, in amongst the laughs and whiplash moments with the in-laws, we gain insight into the way in which two years of repeated pandemic lockdowns have taken their toll on Australian families, particularly those who owned their own businesses. For all the humour, Simon’s experiences are all too real and his situation may be relatable to many.
This is one novel that would make a brilliant TV series in the right hands with the right actors. If you’re looking for sharply intelligent humour, on point feels, and that magic of not wanting to put the book down until the very end, Dinner with the Schnabels needs to be your next read.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
Simon has been having a bad run. Since the pandemic, he has lost his business, his house, his self-esteem, and his self-worth. Across the course of a week, we move in with Simon and his wife Tansy, their two children and his wife’s half-sister, squeezed into a two-bedroom flat, and we get to know all the ins and outs of this family, the good, the bad, and the even worse. Simon has one week to landscape a backyard in preparation for a memorial service. What could go wrong? So much. So, so much.
Along the way, in amongst the laughs and whiplash moments with the in-laws, we gain insight into the way in which two years of repeated pandemic lockdowns have taken their toll on Australian families, particularly those who owned their own businesses. For all the humour, Simon’s experiences are all too real and his situation may be relatable to many.
This is one novel that would make a brilliant TV series in the right hands with the right actors. If you’re looking for sharply intelligent humour, on point feels, and that magic of not wanting to put the book down until the very end, Dinner with the Schnabels needs to be your next read.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
December 6, 2021
Dinner With The Schnabels is the sixth novel by award-winning, best-selling Australian author, Toni Jordan. Simon Larsen is happily married to Tansy Schnabel (and, if not quite so happily, to her family), and is the loving father of two wonderful children, Mia and Lachie. But, robbed of his practice as successful architect by the prolonged lockdown, he has spent much of the last two years feeling guilty and deficient as they live in a cramped flat while Tansy works to support them.
Suddenly, though, he is meant to drag himself out of his depressive slump to landscape a backyard. A combination of unreliable contractors and the urgent need for a venue for a memorial service mean he has committed to transforming the backyard of Tansy’s oldest friend, Naveen into the beautiful space he knows it could be, by Saturday. It’s Monday morning: no pressure, really!
The memorial is for David Schnabel, the father who left Tansy’s mother Gloria to raise three children on her own. Formidable woman that she is (read scary), Simon knows Gloria is highly sceptical of his ability to achieve this. Nor do her siblings, Kylie and Nick, radiate confidence in him. He absolutely cannot let Tansy down.
But with the best will to get started on the work, he is thwarted: Tansy insists on covertly watching the (days-early-for-the-memorial) arrival by train of the half-sister she and her siblings have never met, the child for whom their absent father was present. That backfires when Monica, young, kooky and unpredictable, spots them, and Simon watches in horror as his failure to provide for his family is put on display for a stranger.
Over the next days, Simon’s work is derailed multiple times: a long wait for a tardy refrigerator repairman; babysitting wrongly delivered pavers to prevent their theft; a mentoring coffee with a young former colleague who drops a bombshell; a bewildering meeting with the children’s headmistress revealing a problem that renders Simon incredulous; and a hint at marital infidelity that stuns him. Can he overcome all that to get the job done?
Jordan’s characters will be familiar to the reader, people we all know amongst our acquaintances, and their dialogue and behaviour is what we hear and see in our daily lives. Mia and Lachie are an utter delight, providing some priceless “what kids say” moments, while Gloria, the matriarch who is unequivocally convinced she knows what is best, is hugely entertaining.
Simon, always earnest and well-intentioned, often exhibits eye-rolling naïveté about modern life, venturing into cluelessness quite a bit, saying (or thinking) some truly groan-worthy things. But perhaps some of his vagueness is the product of his low mood.
His inner monologue reveals that incidents viewed through the prism of his depression and inadequacy take on quite a different slant when explained by others or later seen with the benefit of hindsight. It is satisfying to see that it perhaps takes hitting rock-bottom to crystallise for Simon just what truly matters in life.
As well as giving them some wise words and insightful observations, with her unfailing talent for writing humour Jordan endows her characters with plenty of wit and hilarity. And she does manage, within a page, to have the reader laughing out loud, then welling up with tears. Funny and heart-warming, Toni Jordan’s latest novel is an unalloyed pleasure to read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Hachette Australia
Suddenly, though, he is meant to drag himself out of his depressive slump to landscape a backyard. A combination of unreliable contractors and the urgent need for a venue for a memorial service mean he has committed to transforming the backyard of Tansy’s oldest friend, Naveen into the beautiful space he knows it could be, by Saturday. It’s Monday morning: no pressure, really!
The memorial is for David Schnabel, the father who left Tansy’s mother Gloria to raise three children on her own. Formidable woman that she is (read scary), Simon knows Gloria is highly sceptical of his ability to achieve this. Nor do her siblings, Kylie and Nick, radiate confidence in him. He absolutely cannot let Tansy down.
But with the best will to get started on the work, he is thwarted: Tansy insists on covertly watching the (days-early-for-the-memorial) arrival by train of the half-sister she and her siblings have never met, the child for whom their absent father was present. That backfires when Monica, young, kooky and unpredictable, spots them, and Simon watches in horror as his failure to provide for his family is put on display for a stranger.
Over the next days, Simon’s work is derailed multiple times: a long wait for a tardy refrigerator repairman; babysitting wrongly delivered pavers to prevent their theft; a mentoring coffee with a young former colleague who drops a bombshell; a bewildering meeting with the children’s headmistress revealing a problem that renders Simon incredulous; and a hint at marital infidelity that stuns him. Can he overcome all that to get the job done?
Jordan’s characters will be familiar to the reader, people we all know amongst our acquaintances, and their dialogue and behaviour is what we hear and see in our daily lives. Mia and Lachie are an utter delight, providing some priceless “what kids say” moments, while Gloria, the matriarch who is unequivocally convinced she knows what is best, is hugely entertaining.
Simon, always earnest and well-intentioned, often exhibits eye-rolling naïveté about modern life, venturing into cluelessness quite a bit, saying (or thinking) some truly groan-worthy things. But perhaps some of his vagueness is the product of his low mood.
His inner monologue reveals that incidents viewed through the prism of his depression and inadequacy take on quite a different slant when explained by others or later seen with the benefit of hindsight. It is satisfying to see that it perhaps takes hitting rock-bottom to crystallise for Simon just what truly matters in life.
As well as giving them some wise words and insightful observations, with her unfailing talent for writing humour Jordan endows her characters with plenty of wit and hilarity. And she does manage, within a page, to have the reader laughing out loud, then welling up with tears. Funny and heart-warming, Toni Jordan’s latest novel is an unalloyed pleasure to read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Hachette Australia
April 24, 2023
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Dinner with the Schnabels was a delightful and intelligently witty novel by talented author Toni Jordan who writes the funniest and most heart warming characters.
Simon Larsen is struggling with his life, he’s lost his business and home as a result of the Covid global pandemic. Simon, his wife Tansy and their two children are now living in a cramped two bedroom apartment and he spends most of his time on the couch, unmotivated.
Tansy’s estranged father passed away during the lockdown and the family were unable to attend the funeral so there’s going to be a memorial at Tansy’s friend s house.
Simon has been tasked with the job of landscaping the friends yard for the memorial event. Will he manage to get off the couch and finish it in time?
I loved this dysfunctional family and all the drama, especially the difficult mother in law Gloria, she was hilarious.
Quirky and extremely well written, this entertaining read would make a great sitcom.
Publication Date 01 March 2023 (This edition)
Publisher Hachette Australia
I received this book as part of the #PrettierIfSheSmiledMore Tandem Global Realalong. Thank you so much Tandem Collective Global and Hachette Australia for a copy of the book.
Dinner with the Schnabels was a delightful and intelligently witty novel by talented author Toni Jordan who writes the funniest and most heart warming characters.
Simon Larsen is struggling with his life, he’s lost his business and home as a result of the Covid global pandemic. Simon, his wife Tansy and their two children are now living in a cramped two bedroom apartment and he spends most of his time on the couch, unmotivated.
Tansy’s estranged father passed away during the lockdown and the family were unable to attend the funeral so there’s going to be a memorial at Tansy’s friend s house.
Simon has been tasked with the job of landscaping the friends yard for the memorial event. Will he manage to get off the couch and finish it in time?
I loved this dysfunctional family and all the drama, especially the difficult mother in law Gloria, she was hilarious.
Quirky and extremely well written, this entertaining read would make a great sitcom.
Publication Date 01 March 2023 (This edition)
Publisher Hachette Australia
I received this book as part of the #PrettierIfSheSmiledMore Tandem Global Realalong. Thank you so much Tandem Collective Global and Hachette Australia for a copy of the book.
April 25, 2022
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
3.5 stars
From a literary mystery novel to a pandemic inspired satirical family drama, Toni Jordan has branched out with her latest novel. Dinner with the Schnabels is a story of relationships, love, marriage, family ties, support networks, personal strains, usefulness, self-worth and discovery. Toni Jordan’s new release is a timely and connective contemporary fiction title.
An observant story about the choices we make and the pitfalls we face in family life, Dinner with the Schnabels is a pandemic situated modern fiction piece from Australian author Toni Jordan. Simon Larsen is Toni Jordan’s main narrator in Dinner with the Schnabels. When we meet Simon, we see a man tested to his limits. Despite a happy marriage and a loving family, Simon is struggling to deal with his employment misadventures and the loss of his home as a result. Simon feels useless and has struggled to find any motivation to help his cause. However, Simon’s in-laws are determined to help him, as they cannot bear to see Simon at such a loss. With the help of his wider family circle, Simon is issued with a special project, he must help a friend to get their backyard ready for an upcoming event. With a number of roadblocks put in Simon’s way, including a marital secret and an interfering figure, will Simon be able to transform his friend’s garden in time?
Well regarded Australian novelist Toni Jordan is a diverse writer, who has penned six very different novels in her successful and award-winning writing career. I have only read one novel penned by this respected author, The Fragments. I enjoyed this novel very much and I have since purchased two other titles by this widely published author. I hope to get to these titles soon. In the meantime, I was lucky to be gifted an opportunity to review Dinner with the Schnabels. Toni Jordan’s new novel is a sharp witted and attentive tale, perfect for our current mode of living with an ever-looming pandemic.
It was really different to have a modern contemporary fiction drama narrated by a male protagonist. This immediately set Toni Jordan’s novel apart from the general modern fiction crowd. Simon is a man with the world on his shoulders when we meet him and I think Jordan offers up an accurate representation of how men across our country and also perhaps even the world at large feel thanks to the pandemic. Out of options employment and business venture wise, it is hard to feel valued as this hopeless situation takes hold. Jordan portrays these feelings and actions well thanks to her prime protagonist Simon’s experiences. Lucky for Simon he is a man surrounded by a caring family unit who will not allow him to wallow in his unfortunate predicament. The wider cast come alive at this point in the novel. Jordan’s cast inject plenty of colour, conflict, motivation and expectation to Simon’s life as it stands. I liked the use of a landscaping venture to entice Simon into the working world again. Jordan throws in some unexpected complications Simon’s way through a few jarring situations and trying figures. The fallout from this culmination of people, problems and issues directs the interesting pathway of Dinner with the Schnabels.
On the whole I did enjoy many elements of Dinner with the Schnabels, though I’m not sure if the comedy line quite clicked with me, but I did appreciate the overall situation faced by the lead character and his misunderstood network. I also felt this story was a touch too long, which I noticed has been indicated by another reviewer of this book. However, if you don’t mind reading about the world we are currently inhabiting with its constant changes and challenges, Toni Jordan’s latest release is a good novel to reach for next reading session.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
3.5 stars
From a literary mystery novel to a pandemic inspired satirical family drama, Toni Jordan has branched out with her latest novel. Dinner with the Schnabels is a story of relationships, love, marriage, family ties, support networks, personal strains, usefulness, self-worth and discovery. Toni Jordan’s new release is a timely and connective contemporary fiction title.
An observant story about the choices we make and the pitfalls we face in family life, Dinner with the Schnabels is a pandemic situated modern fiction piece from Australian author Toni Jordan. Simon Larsen is Toni Jordan’s main narrator in Dinner with the Schnabels. When we meet Simon, we see a man tested to his limits. Despite a happy marriage and a loving family, Simon is struggling to deal with his employment misadventures and the loss of his home as a result. Simon feels useless and has struggled to find any motivation to help his cause. However, Simon’s in-laws are determined to help him, as they cannot bear to see Simon at such a loss. With the help of his wider family circle, Simon is issued with a special project, he must help a friend to get their backyard ready for an upcoming event. With a number of roadblocks put in Simon’s way, including a marital secret and an interfering figure, will Simon be able to transform his friend’s garden in time?
Well regarded Australian novelist Toni Jordan is a diverse writer, who has penned six very different novels in her successful and award-winning writing career. I have only read one novel penned by this respected author, The Fragments. I enjoyed this novel very much and I have since purchased two other titles by this widely published author. I hope to get to these titles soon. In the meantime, I was lucky to be gifted an opportunity to review Dinner with the Schnabels. Toni Jordan’s new novel is a sharp witted and attentive tale, perfect for our current mode of living with an ever-looming pandemic.
It was really different to have a modern contemporary fiction drama narrated by a male protagonist. This immediately set Toni Jordan’s novel apart from the general modern fiction crowd. Simon is a man with the world on his shoulders when we meet him and I think Jordan offers up an accurate representation of how men across our country and also perhaps even the world at large feel thanks to the pandemic. Out of options employment and business venture wise, it is hard to feel valued as this hopeless situation takes hold. Jordan portrays these feelings and actions well thanks to her prime protagonist Simon’s experiences. Lucky for Simon he is a man surrounded by a caring family unit who will not allow him to wallow in his unfortunate predicament. The wider cast come alive at this point in the novel. Jordan’s cast inject plenty of colour, conflict, motivation and expectation to Simon’s life as it stands. I liked the use of a landscaping venture to entice Simon into the working world again. Jordan throws in some unexpected complications Simon’s way through a few jarring situations and trying figures. The fallout from this culmination of people, problems and issues directs the interesting pathway of Dinner with the Schnabels.
On the whole I did enjoy many elements of Dinner with the Schnabels, though I’m not sure if the comedy line quite clicked with me, but I did appreciate the overall situation faced by the lead character and his misunderstood network. I also felt this story was a touch too long, which I noticed has been indicated by another reviewer of this book. However, if you don’t mind reading about the world we are currently inhabiting with its constant changes and challenges, Toni Jordan’s latest release is a good novel to reach for next reading session.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
April 19, 2022
A 2 is generous, I did not enjoy this at all and am surprised by the positive reviews. I found Simon immensely unlikeable and completely unbelievable for myriad reasons, not least because as an architect I’m sure he’d have an appreciation of style and understand why his wife might want three (gasp, three!) handbags.
May 10, 2022
So this was fun! Jordan is always so readable and such a plotty and fun storyteller. We follow hapless, helpless and somewhat annoying Simon over the course of a week where his life seemingly falls apart. The twist, which I won’t ruin, is deliciously heartwarming and life-affirming. Family is messy and wonderful and Jordan really nicely captures that here. This was a perfect lighter read over these past couple of cold nights. Thanks to @dbinks for encouraging me to read it.
Read
April 9, 2022From the colourful cover and suggestive title, I knew I was for a fun ride with Toni Jordan’s new release, Dinner with the Schnabels. This warm and entertaining tale is my favourite of Jordan’s novels to date, with laughs on nearly every page, a crew of carefully drawn characters and a tight, week-long timeframe.
Right off the bat, Jordan evokes sympathy for the slightly hapless but immensely lovable male lead, Simon Larsen. Unbeknownst to Simon, his marriage seems set to implode, which only makes us cheer harder as he bumbles his way through an especially trying week. The characters were distinctly unique, their predicaments were familiar but funny and as well as resonating with parents, the jokes are sure to hit a note with readers who occasionally feel like out-laws, rather than in-laws.
I was lucky to meet Toni at a launch for The Fragments several years ago, and as well as penning fantastic books, she teaches writing and advocates for aspiring and emerging authors, working on the principle that authors who have entered the publishing world have a responsibility to keep the door propped open for newcomers. This ethos, and enthusiasm to share her skills and knowledge with others, has made her a much-loved member of the Australian fiction scene.
Full review and author interview at https://www.mayalinnell.com/post/toni...
Right off the bat, Jordan evokes sympathy for the slightly hapless but immensely lovable male lead, Simon Larsen. Unbeknownst to Simon, his marriage seems set to implode, which only makes us cheer harder as he bumbles his way through an especially trying week. The characters were distinctly unique, their predicaments were familiar but funny and as well as resonating with parents, the jokes are sure to hit a note with readers who occasionally feel like out-laws, rather than in-laws.
I was lucky to meet Toni at a launch for The Fragments several years ago, and as well as penning fantastic books, she teaches writing and advocates for aspiring and emerging authors, working on the principle that authors who have entered the publishing world have a responsibility to keep the door propped open for newcomers. This ethos, and enthusiasm to share her skills and knowledge with others, has made her a much-loved member of the Australian fiction scene.
Full review and author interview at https://www.mayalinnell.com/post/toni...
May 28, 2022
Warm, witty and oh so clever
October 31, 2023
Dinner with the Schnabels is a delightful contemporary Australian family drama by an author who is new to me. The paperback went around my book club but I didn’t have much of an idea of what it was about going in. Unusually, the characters are mostly unlikeable, but you end up rooting for them anyway, and I enjoyed the humour.
Simon Larsen is an unemployed architect whose business failed due to the pandemic, and now has a week to redeem himself in the eyes of his difficult in-laws by renovating a friend’s back garden ahead of a memorial service for his wife’s estranged father - but the trials of family life keep getting in the way!
This was a fun easy read, but with some serious topics, and a few hilarious moments. Most of the time I just wanted to kick Simon up the proverbial, but his redemption in his own eyes is actually the point of the story and I loved the ending. There’s a sequel about his scary sister-in-law Kylie which I’m keen to read at some point.
Simon Larsen is an unemployed architect whose business failed due to the pandemic, and now has a week to redeem himself in the eyes of his difficult in-laws by renovating a friend’s back garden ahead of a memorial service for his wife’s estranged father - but the trials of family life keep getting in the way!
This was a fun easy read, but with some serious topics, and a few hilarious moments. Most of the time I just wanted to kick Simon up the proverbial, but his redemption in his own eyes is actually the point of the story and I loved the ending. There’s a sequel about his scary sister-in-law Kylie which I’m keen to read at some point.
April 17, 2022
“Dinner with the Schnabels. It could be the title of a horror movie.”
A contemporary domestic drama, Dinner With the Schnabels is a novel about love, marriage and family from Australian author Toni Jordan.
Simon Larsen is an architect, or rather he was. Unemployed since the pandemic bankrupted his business, he’s now a reluctant house husband of sorts in the cramped 2 bedroom flat he and his family of four were forced to move into after also losing their home. With his beloved wife, Tansy (née Schnabel), working as a real estate agent to support their family, Simon feels useless and so when she asks that he landscapes a friends back yard in preparation for her estranged father’s memorial in a week, Simon is determined to prove himself capable.
What follows is a comedy of errors of a sort as Simon is repeatedly thwarted in his attempts to work on the project by a range of situations including an unexpected houseguest, a tardy tradie, an errant sock and an enterprising 8 year old. Yet at its heart this is a story about errant priorities and the quest for happiness.
Earnest and well-intentioned, if generally also a bit neurotic and hapless, Simon is a surprisingly endearing character. His perspective is both amusing, and thought-provoking, revealing a man bewildered by the unexpected route his life has taken, and floundering to find a new direction. As Simon attempts to navigate the gauntlet of everyday tribulations, his intimidating in-laws, particularly fractious matriarch Gloria, and his own emotional inertia, he’s challenged by some uncomfortable and surprising insights.
Witty, perceptive and moving, Dinner With the Schnabels is a well-written, entertaining read.
A contemporary domestic drama, Dinner With the Schnabels is a novel about love, marriage and family from Australian author Toni Jordan.
Simon Larsen is an architect, or rather he was. Unemployed since the pandemic bankrupted his business, he’s now a reluctant house husband of sorts in the cramped 2 bedroom flat he and his family of four were forced to move into after also losing their home. With his beloved wife, Tansy (née Schnabel), working as a real estate agent to support their family, Simon feels useless and so when she asks that he landscapes a friends back yard in preparation for her estranged father’s memorial in a week, Simon is determined to prove himself capable.
What follows is a comedy of errors of a sort as Simon is repeatedly thwarted in his attempts to work on the project by a range of situations including an unexpected houseguest, a tardy tradie, an errant sock and an enterprising 8 year old. Yet at its heart this is a story about errant priorities and the quest for happiness.
Earnest and well-intentioned, if generally also a bit neurotic and hapless, Simon is a surprisingly endearing character. His perspective is both amusing, and thought-provoking, revealing a man bewildered by the unexpected route his life has taken, and floundering to find a new direction. As Simon attempts to navigate the gauntlet of everyday tribulations, his intimidating in-laws, particularly fractious matriarch Gloria, and his own emotional inertia, he’s challenged by some uncomfortable and surprising insights.
Witty, perceptive and moving, Dinner With the Schnabels is a well-written, entertaining read.
Read
January 29, 2023“You can marry into them, but can you ever really be one of them?
A novel about marriage, love and family.”
This gave me major Schitt’s Creek vibes! It’s a heartwarming and hilarious story of Simon, who has lost everything. His business and family home, along with a sense of himself, due to Covid He is forced to stand back with little self esteem left and watch his beloved wife Tansy pick up the reins as breadwinner.
Honestly there’s so much to love about this story. Laugh out loud funny, a few tears and a relatable cast of characters - in particularly, family matriarch Gloria who had me in fits of laughter, I loved her!
Ultimately it is novel about family, relationships, parenting, marriage and friendships … and thrown in for good measure, In-laws! Based in Melbourne, (my home town) Toni Jordan portrays through her vivid characters, the everyday life challenges of life of a modern family.
I loved the humour and the quirky characters in this novel, and would love to be invited for dinner at the Schnabels! If you love a messy family saga with clever and original prose, then this is for you!
With many kind thanks to @betterreading and @hachette for my #gifted ad/pr review copy
A novel about marriage, love and family.”
This gave me major Schitt’s Creek vibes! It’s a heartwarming and hilarious story of Simon, who has lost everything. His business and family home, along with a sense of himself, due to Covid He is forced to stand back with little self esteem left and watch his beloved wife Tansy pick up the reins as breadwinner.
Honestly there’s so much to love about this story. Laugh out loud funny, a few tears and a relatable cast of characters - in particularly, family matriarch Gloria who had me in fits of laughter, I loved her!
Ultimately it is novel about family, relationships, parenting, marriage and friendships … and thrown in for good measure, In-laws! Based in Melbourne, (my home town) Toni Jordan portrays through her vivid characters, the everyday life challenges of life of a modern family.
I loved the humour and the quirky characters in this novel, and would love to be invited for dinner at the Schnabels! If you love a messy family saga with clever and original prose, then this is for you!
With many kind thanks to @betterreading and @hachette for my #gifted ad/pr review copy
August 8, 2023
Pure entertainment I genuinely found difficult to take a break from, I loved this book!
Having lost his business, his house, and the life he has helped his wife build for their family, Simon is depressed. He is wallowing in helplessness as he wastes away his days sleeping on his second hand couch, spending far too much time inside his own dysfunctional mind, and grappling with his private scattered and neurotic thoughts.
Then, in a semi lucid moment, Simon finds himself committing to redesigning and landscaping the garden of his wife’s childhood friend, in time for the 2 year posthumous memorial of his estranged father-in-law. The deadline? One week.
I loved the colourful protagonists/antagonists, seen through Simon’s sometimes confused or misinterpreted observations, and the laugh-out-loud character dialogue, and twists and turns that make up the storyline.
A super-fun four stars!
Having lost his business, his house, and the life he has helped his wife build for their family, Simon is depressed. He is wallowing in helplessness as he wastes away his days sleeping on his second hand couch, spending far too much time inside his own dysfunctional mind, and grappling with his private scattered and neurotic thoughts.
Then, in a semi lucid moment, Simon finds himself committing to redesigning and landscaping the garden of his wife’s childhood friend, in time for the 2 year posthumous memorial of his estranged father-in-law. The deadline? One week.
I loved the colourful protagonists/antagonists, seen through Simon’s sometimes confused or misinterpreted observations, and the laugh-out-loud character dialogue, and twists and turns that make up the storyline.
A super-fun four stars!
June 20, 2022
3.5 stars
A nice book with a bit of whimsy. I'm not sure the author has ever met a millennial or influencer though 😂
A nice book with a bit of whimsy. I'm not sure the author has ever met a millennial or influencer though 😂
July 27, 2022
Set over the course of one week, Toni Jordan’s new novel Dinner with the Schnabels (Hachette 2022) is bursting with her inimitable wit, her intimate characterisations and her unmatched examination of the dynamics of relationships. Jordan has written in a number of genres but it is this light-hearted, family-centred comedy of tragedies (also known as LIFE) where she shines the brightest. Her recognition of people’s eccentricities and habits is spot-on. Her dissection of family conflict juxtaposed with love and loyalty is perfect. Her ability to create a character that is familiar in so many ways is a result of many years of polishing her craft and honing her writing skills. Jordan is a very observant author and this results in the creation of characters that are rich, complex, flawed and empathic.
In this novel, we meet poor, put-upon ex-architect Simon Larson, for whom life is going very much not according to plan. He ‘looked like a man adrift’. He is stuck in a middle-aged depression after losing his house and apparently his will to live, but his one goal for the week – taking life one step at a time – is to renovate his friend Naveen’s backyard in order for it to be the perfect place to hold the memorial service for Simon’s former father-in-law. (It’s a long story). If only he can complete this one seemingly Sisyphean task, he will have proved his worth. To everyone.
But the obstacles keep coming.
His wife Tansy is continually on his back, and her mother Gloria – a perfectionist who thinks little enough of Simon as it is – is even worse. Then there are Tansy’s siblings – Kylie, who believes nothing will ever go right, especially if Simon is in charge, and Nick, who is a famous former footballer and the golden (adult) child. Mia and Lachie (Simon and Tansy’s children) are in turns bemused and befuddled by the behaviour of their various family members.
And then Monica arrives; hitherto unknown half-sister to Tansy, from her father’s second marriage. A different look, a different generation, a different set of values – Monica bursts upon the Schnabel scene to attend the memorial and, perhaps predictably, chaos ensues.
Add to this family secrets, hints of infidelity, relationship misunderstandings, a younger cohort of architects that makes Simon feel impossibly redundant, and the ever-present problem of that bloody backyard which – no matter how hard Simon wishes – will just not renovate itself, and you have a ticking time bomb of catastrophe.
If you are already a fan of Toni Jordan’s writing, you will know to expect generosity, compassion, thought-provoking ethical dilemmas and hilariously funny character depictions, along with sparkling dialogue and a complex grasp of contemporary issues. If you have never read her books, I envy you, because you can start here and then go through her impressive backlist, knowing you will find very different stories but always struck through with the same vein of humanity. This is a light-hearted, warm, funny and moving novel about regular people and ordinary situations lifted through her writing to compelling and absorbing stories.
In this novel, we meet poor, put-upon ex-architect Simon Larson, for whom life is going very much not according to plan. He ‘looked like a man adrift’. He is stuck in a middle-aged depression after losing his house and apparently his will to live, but his one goal for the week – taking life one step at a time – is to renovate his friend Naveen’s backyard in order for it to be the perfect place to hold the memorial service for Simon’s former father-in-law. (It’s a long story). If only he can complete this one seemingly Sisyphean task, he will have proved his worth. To everyone.
But the obstacles keep coming.
His wife Tansy is continually on his back, and her mother Gloria – a perfectionist who thinks little enough of Simon as it is – is even worse. Then there are Tansy’s siblings – Kylie, who believes nothing will ever go right, especially if Simon is in charge, and Nick, who is a famous former footballer and the golden (adult) child. Mia and Lachie (Simon and Tansy’s children) are in turns bemused and befuddled by the behaviour of their various family members.
And then Monica arrives; hitherto unknown half-sister to Tansy, from her father’s second marriage. A different look, a different generation, a different set of values – Monica bursts upon the Schnabel scene to attend the memorial and, perhaps predictably, chaos ensues.
Add to this family secrets, hints of infidelity, relationship misunderstandings, a younger cohort of architects that makes Simon feel impossibly redundant, and the ever-present problem of that bloody backyard which – no matter how hard Simon wishes – will just not renovate itself, and you have a ticking time bomb of catastrophe.
If you are already a fan of Toni Jordan’s writing, you will know to expect generosity, compassion, thought-provoking ethical dilemmas and hilariously funny character depictions, along with sparkling dialogue and a complex grasp of contemporary issues. If you have never read her books, I envy you, because you can start here and then go through her impressive backlist, knowing you will find very different stories but always struck through with the same vein of humanity. This is a light-hearted, warm, funny and moving novel about regular people and ordinary situations lifted through her writing to compelling and absorbing stories.
December 27, 2022
A change of pace book
Come for the heartwarming tale of the importance of what’s really important in life (clue: it’s not an Audi and a Longines), stay for the blistering eulogy from the first wife of the departed (who was dumped, and subsequently replaced).
Things have all gone to merde for Simon - his business failed, and the family home, along with all the trappings of wealth, have disappeared, the principal of his daughter’s school wants to have a Talk with them, and his omnipresent in-laws contribute their parts to his life. And then: he finds a letter from a lawyer; his wife, Tansy, consulted one about a separation.
So, therein is the impetus to Get His Shit Together. And we’re taken along for the journey, from day pyjamas loser dad to the new beginnings father. What could be mawkish preachy novel uses frequent Australian humour to provide a ride through the life and redemption of Simon Larson, with a footnote about what really is important in life - both ours and those of other people. ‘To my ex-husband, who had four brilliant and caring children, and who brought us all together,’ said Gloria. At last, thought Simon, Gloria was showing some sensitivity towards the feelings of Mon, and her own children and grandchildren. ‘Despite being a rat bastard,’ she continued.
Come for the heartwarming tale of the importance of what’s really important in life (clue: it’s not an Audi and a Longines), stay for the blistering eulogy from the first wife of the departed (who was dumped, and subsequently replaced).
Things have all gone to merde for Simon - his business failed, and the family home, along with all the trappings of wealth, have disappeared, the principal of his daughter’s school wants to have a Talk with them, and his omnipresent in-laws contribute their parts to his life. And then: he finds a letter from a lawyer; his wife, Tansy, consulted one about a separation.
So, therein is the impetus to Get His Shit Together. And we’re taken along for the journey, from day pyjamas loser dad to the new beginnings father. What could be mawkish preachy novel uses frequent Australian humour to provide a ride through the life and redemption of Simon Larson, with a footnote about what really is important in life - both ours and those of other people. ‘To my ex-husband, who had four brilliant and caring children, and who brought us all together,’ said Gloria. At last, thought Simon, Gloria was showing some sensitivity towards the feelings of Mon, and her own children and grandchildren. ‘Despite being a rat bastard,’ she continued.
August 13, 2022
I wish you could give half stars because this book is 3.5 stars. If you want a fun, easy read, I recommend this one. This is a mid-life coming-of-age story where Simon comes to understand what’s really important in life. It’s also a lesson on overthinking things. Both are lessons that we should revisit throughout life.
March 19, 2022
Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
In laws, a pandemic and low self esteem can be a lethal cocktail.
But for extra sting throw in losing your job and becoming bankrupt and you get a good portrayal of a man in dire straits.
Simon loves his wife dearly.
He knows his current rut has added pressure financially, emotionally and physically to their marriage and his family lifestyle.
A pending memorial service for his wife’s father places him under immense pressure as he committed to renovate a garden where the event was being held.
The prying eyes and snarky comments from the in-laws adding pressure and the lack of motivation hindering its progress as the deadline nears.
Suspicions arise, realisations about life are made and dedication are all revelations that shape his mental state and will either make or break him.
A refreshing and solid read that is so insightful and reflective.
A cast of strong characters especially the bigger than life Gloria and a local Melbourne setting made this so realistic and enjoyable.
In laws, a pandemic and low self esteem can be a lethal cocktail.
But for extra sting throw in losing your job and becoming bankrupt and you get a good portrayal of a man in dire straits.
Simon loves his wife dearly.
He knows his current rut has added pressure financially, emotionally and physically to their marriage and his family lifestyle.
A pending memorial service for his wife’s father places him under immense pressure as he committed to renovate a garden where the event was being held.
The prying eyes and snarky comments from the in-laws adding pressure and the lack of motivation hindering its progress as the deadline nears.
Suspicions arise, realisations about life are made and dedication are all revelations that shape his mental state and will either make or break him.
A refreshing and solid read that is so insightful and reflective.
A cast of strong characters especially the bigger than life Gloria and a local Melbourne setting made this so realistic and enjoyable.
May 24, 2022
Dinner With the Schnabels is quite a complex family 👪 read.
What I liked about it was that it was mostly true to life and realistic.
The concept of an ex or retired architect becoming a landscape gardener due to circumstances appealed to me immensely.
Some of it was funny, some of it was sad. It wasn't all laugh out loud stuff, though.
A lot of it was serious.
Overall, an intense enjoyable read 📚 ~ perfect for a bookclub read.
What I liked about it was that it was mostly true to life and realistic.
The concept of an ex or retired architect becoming a landscape gardener due to circumstances appealed to me immensely.
Some of it was funny, some of it was sad. It wasn't all laugh out loud stuff, though.
A lot of it was serious.
Overall, an intense enjoyable read 📚 ~ perfect for a bookclub read.
September 25, 2022
Toni Jordan has a lovely style and this is such fun. Nice to read Chic lit with a male narrator. Also Jordan is great at unreliable narrators. Throughly enjoyed this and couldn't put it down.
June 1, 2022
What a disappointment this one was. Having enjoyed the last Toni Jordan I read I had high expectations that this would be a worthy read. Unfortunately I found it incredibly predictable with cardboard cutout characters. Though set in Melbourne there was no real sense of place. The protagonist, Steve, while clearly suffering from depression became such annoying character that I had very little sympathy for him. This was chosen by one of my book clubs, but a number of members gave up in despair at the poor writing. Sorry Toni, Nine Days was a much better story.
September 16, 2024
Der Garten
Die Pandemie hat seiner Firma den Rest gegeben. Eigentlich ein aufstrebender Architekt mit ein paar Angestellten war Simon Larsen plötzlich pleite. Er und seine Frau mussten das Haus verkaufen und zur Miete in eine Drei-Zimmer-Wohnung ziehen, mit ihren beiden Kindern. Und nun ist Simon schon eine ganze Weile arbeitslos und antriebslos. Seine Frau Tansy muss die Familie über Wasser halten. Für Tansys verstorbenen Vater, der ihre Mutter schon vor Jahren verlassen hat, soll es eine Gedenkveranstaltung geben. Dafür muss aber der Garten, in dem die Veranstaltung stattfinden soll, in Ordnung gebracht werden. Simon soll sich des Gartens annehmen und dafür hat er eine Woche Zeit.
Eine Woche für eine Gartenumgestaltung und das ohne Hilfe - ein ambitioniertes Projekt, das Simon erstmal damit beginnt, etwas anderes zu machen. Mit Tansy steht er am Bahnhof und wartet auf die Ankunft von Tansys Halbschwester, die die Familie eigentlich nicht kennt, bzw. von der sie beinahe nichts gewusst haben. Monica ist die Tochter des Vaters, die er mit seiner neuen Frau hatte. Die Tochter, deren Vater nicht während ihrer Kindheit verlassen hat. Als Tansy dann auch noch auf die Idee kommt, Monica einzuladen, bei ihr und Simon zu übernachten, ist Simon entsetzt. Nur die Kinder Mia und Lachie sind begeistert.
Ein Buch von der Wunschliste von einer bekannten Autorin, da kann man in der Bücherei schnell zugreifen. Und wenn es nicht so gut gefällt, kann man es zurückbringen, ohne es durchgelesen zu haben. Das war hier nicht der Fall, der Roman lässt sich gut bis zum Schluss lesen und gerade zum Ende hin dreht er richtig auf. Davor jedoch hat man etwas Mühe Sympathie für Simon, diesen Schlonz, zu empfinden. Er lässt sich zu sehr hängen. Da bringt die neue Halbschwester schon mir frischen Wind zwischen die Seiten, ihr hätte man eine größere Rolle gewünscht. Wenn man aber nach und nach mitbekommt, wer diese Schnabels eigentlich sind, wächst der Respekt vor dieser ungewöhnlichen Familie, bei denen man dann doch mal gerne zum Dinner eingeladen würde.
3,5 Sterne
Die Pandemie hat seiner Firma den Rest gegeben. Eigentlich ein aufstrebender Architekt mit ein paar Angestellten war Simon Larsen plötzlich pleite. Er und seine Frau mussten das Haus verkaufen und zur Miete in eine Drei-Zimmer-Wohnung ziehen, mit ihren beiden Kindern. Und nun ist Simon schon eine ganze Weile arbeitslos und antriebslos. Seine Frau Tansy muss die Familie über Wasser halten. Für Tansys verstorbenen Vater, der ihre Mutter schon vor Jahren verlassen hat, soll es eine Gedenkveranstaltung geben. Dafür muss aber der Garten, in dem die Veranstaltung stattfinden soll, in Ordnung gebracht werden. Simon soll sich des Gartens annehmen und dafür hat er eine Woche Zeit.
Eine Woche für eine Gartenumgestaltung und das ohne Hilfe - ein ambitioniertes Projekt, das Simon erstmal damit beginnt, etwas anderes zu machen. Mit Tansy steht er am Bahnhof und wartet auf die Ankunft von Tansys Halbschwester, die die Familie eigentlich nicht kennt, bzw. von der sie beinahe nichts gewusst haben. Monica ist die Tochter des Vaters, die er mit seiner neuen Frau hatte. Die Tochter, deren Vater nicht während ihrer Kindheit verlassen hat. Als Tansy dann auch noch auf die Idee kommt, Monica einzuladen, bei ihr und Simon zu übernachten, ist Simon entsetzt. Nur die Kinder Mia und Lachie sind begeistert.
Ein Buch von der Wunschliste von einer bekannten Autorin, da kann man in der Bücherei schnell zugreifen. Und wenn es nicht so gut gefällt, kann man es zurückbringen, ohne es durchgelesen zu haben. Das war hier nicht der Fall, der Roman lässt sich gut bis zum Schluss lesen und gerade zum Ende hin dreht er richtig auf. Davor jedoch hat man etwas Mühe Sympathie für Simon, diesen Schlonz, zu empfinden. Er lässt sich zu sehr hängen. Da bringt die neue Halbschwester schon mir frischen Wind zwischen die Seiten, ihr hätte man eine größere Rolle gewünscht. Wenn man aber nach und nach mitbekommt, wer diese Schnabels eigentlich sind, wächst der Respekt vor dieser ungewöhnlichen Familie, bei denen man dann doch mal gerne zum Dinner eingeladen würde.
3,5 Sterne
August 8, 2022
I love characters like Simon Larsen, one of the everyday 'heroes', a genuine, hard-working man who loves his family but has fallen on hard times and appears to have lapsed into depression. Whilst he has his flaws, I couldn't help but root for him throughout this novel.
Especially given his family situation.....we have all been there! Fighting against the in-laws who never seem to think we are good enough and can never truly do right in their eyes. Yet still he soldiers on determined to prove them all wrong, which he can do so long as he landscapes his friend's backyard in time for the Schnabels memorial service.....what can go wrong? Read on and find out.......
Like I say I really enjoyed this one, this book will work for you or not depending on whether you can relate or buy into Simon as a character - I certainly could. Never have I ever wanted a character to succeed more than I did Simon and he was someone I could definitely relate to.
The story was genuinely hilarious but also touched with sadness both in the story and in the character of Simon as he stumbled his way through life trying to reclaim his old self which he lost when he lost his house/business etc during lockdown.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Especially given his family situation.....we have all been there! Fighting against the in-laws who never seem to think we are good enough and can never truly do right in their eyes. Yet still he soldiers on determined to prove them all wrong, which he can do so long as he landscapes his friend's backyard in time for the Schnabels memorial service.....what can go wrong? Read on and find out.......
Like I say I really enjoyed this one, this book will work for you or not depending on whether you can relate or buy into Simon as a character - I certainly could. Never have I ever wanted a character to succeed more than I did Simon and he was someone I could definitely relate to.
The story was genuinely hilarious but also touched with sadness both in the story and in the character of Simon as he stumbled his way through life trying to reclaim his old self which he lost when he lost his house/business etc during lockdown.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2022
This is story from the point of view of the hapless Simon who adores his wife and kids but has lost his business and gone bankrupt due to COVID shut-downs and is now struggling to get out of the rut of unemployment.
Simon takes on a garden renovation project at the urging of his wife and mother-in-law that must be finished within a week so it can be the location of an important family event. However he finds that life keeps getting in the way and the project gets pushed back and back as the days go by.
Simon is an extremely irritating character who just never seems to manage to focus on getting anything done - and his wife Tansy is an absolute saint who works around this to earn money, get the kids to school, cook dinner etc. while Simon languishes on the couch and thinks of all the things he will get to soon....
However, if you read the book with mental health/depression/anxiety in mind then Simon's behaviour makes more sense and it becomes obvious that the author has rather skilfully used comedy to delve into what can be a very serious condition.
This is a light, easy and often funny read with a strong, positive underlying message.
Simon takes on a garden renovation project at the urging of his wife and mother-in-law that must be finished within a week so it can be the location of an important family event. However he finds that life keeps getting in the way and the project gets pushed back and back as the days go by.
Simon is an extremely irritating character who just never seems to manage to focus on getting anything done - and his wife Tansy is an absolute saint who works around this to earn money, get the kids to school, cook dinner etc. while Simon languishes on the couch and thinks of all the things he will get to soon....
However, if you read the book with mental health/depression/anxiety in mind then Simon's behaviour makes more sense and it becomes obvious that the author has rather skilfully used comedy to delve into what can be a very serious condition.
This is a light, easy and often funny read with a strong, positive underlying message.
May 29, 2025
Simon Larsen hat in die Familie Schnabel eingeheiratet. Sein Architekturbüro musste er in der Corona-Zeit aufgeben. Nun soll er den Garten eines Freundes seiner Frau Tansy neugestalteten. Er hängt durch und trinkt zu viel Alkohol. Die Dynamik in der Familie Schnabel wird aus seiner Sicht geschildert. Als Leser wurde ich zum benachbartem Freund der Familie. Mit großem Interesse verfolgte ich die Entwicklung im Mikrokosmos der Familie Schnabel.
Manchmal zog sich die Geschichte jedoch ganz ordentlich. Aber so ist das vielleicht in einer "normal" dysfunktionalen Familie. Ich habe es gerne in Kauf genommen. Die unterhaltsamen Stellen waren gegenüber den langweiligen Stellen deutlich im Vorteil, in Quantität und Qualität.
Im zweiten Band wechselt die Perspektive zu Kylie, der älteren Schwester von Simons Frau Tansy. Kylie ist in diesem ersten Schnabel-Band eher eine Randfigur. Sobald "Eine fast perfekte Frau" als Taschenbuch verfügbar ist, werde ich auch diesen Roman lesen.
Manchmal zog sich die Geschichte jedoch ganz ordentlich. Aber so ist das vielleicht in einer "normal" dysfunktionalen Familie. Ich habe es gerne in Kauf genommen. Die unterhaltsamen Stellen waren gegenüber den langweiligen Stellen deutlich im Vorteil, in Quantität und Qualität.
Im zweiten Band wechselt die Perspektive zu Kylie, der älteren Schwester von Simons Frau Tansy. Kylie ist in diesem ersten Schnabel-Band eher eine Randfigur. Sobald "Eine fast perfekte Frau" als Taschenbuch verfügbar ist, werde ich auch diesen Roman lesen.
February 27, 2022
Thanks to Better Reading for my advanced copy to read and review.
Toni Jordan has written an engaging domestic dramedy that centres on Monday to Saturday through the eyes of Simon Larsen, who, over the past two years has lost his business, his family home and any semblance of motivation. He adores his wife Tansy, and their children, and the novel is choc-full of his reflections and introspections of their lives together. Reading the observations about day-to-day life, social expectations, parenting, education, work and so on, from this male character’s perspective provides some interesting insights, though his ‘expertise’ in some areas was quirkily questionable – which made me smirk and giggle.
The titular Schnables, are his in-laws, and are ever-present in their world. Gloria, his mother-in-law, is a stand-out … and I often found myself laughing out loud at some of her social commentary.
The week throws up unexpected events in Simon’s life and through the descriptive and conversational language used, we watch him (and cheer him on) trying to navigate through and juggle it all. The well-crafted dialogue provides valuable information about the characters’ personalities; and it was emotionally intense, especially as the week was ending. I was compelled to keep turning the pages to find out how things would play out.
Toni Jordan has written an engaging domestic dramedy that centres on Monday to Saturday through the eyes of Simon Larsen, who, over the past two years has lost his business, his family home and any semblance of motivation. He adores his wife Tansy, and their children, and the novel is choc-full of his reflections and introspections of their lives together. Reading the observations about day-to-day life, social expectations, parenting, education, work and so on, from this male character’s perspective provides some interesting insights, though his ‘expertise’ in some areas was quirkily questionable – which made me smirk and giggle.
The titular Schnables, are his in-laws, and are ever-present in their world. Gloria, his mother-in-law, is a stand-out … and I often found myself laughing out loud at some of her social commentary.
The week throws up unexpected events in Simon’s life and through the descriptive and conversational language used, we watch him (and cheer him on) trying to navigate through and juggle it all. The well-crafted dialogue provides valuable information about the characters’ personalities; and it was emotionally intense, especially as the week was ending. I was compelled to keep turning the pages to find out how things would play out.
March 26, 2022
"And in a flash, he knew it: Mia would not win the Nobel prize and Lachie would not win the Oscar for Best Actor, but they would live long and healthy lives, and they would grow to be kind people who cared about the world. Lachie will become the type of person who phoned friends and relatives just to say hello, as well as on their birthdays, whether Facebook told him to or not; Mia would make chickpea casseroles for her neighbours when they're ill or grieving."
Simon Larsen is not living his best life. His business went bankrupt during Covid lockdowns in Melbourne, he had to sell the family home and move the family into a small flat they can barely afford. His wife has had to go back to work, his kids have had to change schools, and he can barely get off the couch.
But now he has a project - 1 week to landscape a friend's garden to be ready for a memorial service for his wife's estranged father. In this week his life is turned completely upside down, and just maybe, turned the right side up again.
This is a family drama that will leave your heart warm and fuzzy, whilst still landing a few home truths that we all need to hear and process in our post-covid lockdown world.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Hachette Australia for an advance copy of this book to read and review
Simon Larsen is not living his best life. His business went bankrupt during Covid lockdowns in Melbourne, he had to sell the family home and move the family into a small flat they can barely afford. His wife has had to go back to work, his kids have had to change schools, and he can barely get off the couch.
But now he has a project - 1 week to landscape a friend's garden to be ready for a memorial service for his wife's estranged father. In this week his life is turned completely upside down, and just maybe, turned the right side up again.
This is a family drama that will leave your heart warm and fuzzy, whilst still landing a few home truths that we all need to hear and process in our post-covid lockdown world.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Hachette Australia for an advance copy of this book to read and review
May 26, 2022
A great read from an Australian author with a fine sense of humour. As a transplanted Kiwi, I don’t think our senses of humour are really that far apart. This is an uplifting novel about a Melbourne family who live in current (Covid-19) times, with the husband losing his job (and business) as an architect. Although the ending is a little pat and feel-good, you go with the flow. A smart and moving novel from an author I will follow in the future.
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