After Phoenix

by Martine McDonagh

After Phoenix is a tale of grief, love, friendship and how, at the worst of times, the absurdity and humour of family life are the only things that can pull you through...

Bristol, England. 1974. When teenager Phoenix is killed in a motor bike accident, his family is devastated by his death. His mother Katherine's mental health deteriorates and she blames her husband, JJ, for having bought him the motor bike.

Grief-stricken, journalist JJ moves into the garden shed and shifts his focus to the upcoming general election.

Meanwhile, their 15-year-old daughter, Penny, struggles to uphold normality in the absence of her parents, while contending with a further loss of her own. It's hard to imagine what might reunite them...

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2013

About the author

Martine McDonagh's latest novel is NARCISSISM FOR BEGINNERS, published by Unbound in March 2017.

‘Sonny is a brilliant creation…The final payoff, pitch perfect.’
Annabel Gaskell for www.shinynewbooks.co.uk

'I loved tagging along on this kooky hero’s quest.’ www.bookishbeck.com

‘…a highly original book...a very likeable character and, as a reader, you find yourself rooting for him as you turn each page.’
www.swirlandthread.com

'Tales of the City meets Adrian Mole meets Charles Manson.' Fleur Emery

Martine McDonagh's third novel Narcissism for Beginners is being likened to JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye.

Her first novel, I Have Waited, and You Have Come was praised in the Guardian and Red Magazine and was described by author Elizabeth Haynes as 'cataclysmically brilliant.'

Martine worked for thirty years as an artist manager in the music industry, managing bands including James for whom she also designed their famous daisy logo. She is currently Programme Leader on the MA Creative Writing & Publishing at West Dean College in Sussex.

Reviews

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Phoenix is a family drama, set against the backdrop of 1970′s Britain and tells the story of one family dealing with the loss of a loved one. After Phoenix dies, each member of the family deals with their grief in different ways – and you will feel for them every step of the way, sometimes understanding, sometimes not, the steps they take to bring their lives back into some sort of order. A very real examination of grief, and in a way redemption, this story is absorbing and well written. Heart wrenching and life affirming in equal measure, the author has managed to give real insight whilst still being entertaining and making you want to turn the pages – your heart will ache but it will also laugh..and what more, really, can you ask for from a novel? I’ll allow you to read for yourself how each family member deals with their trauma, you need to take this journey with them to really get the best out of it – anyone who has ever lost someone special will see parts of themselves in there I guarantee it. Personally my reading heart was with Penny, and her determination to just be, yours may end up going elsewhere – but you will find yourself completely in their world and hoping against hope that ultimately all will be fine. My huge thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this book – I loved it. I shall be reading more. Hopefully very soon.

[Julia Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set around the sort of time I was growing up not so faraway from Bristol but Swindon in the 70's it brought back many memories.This excellently written account of a grieving family for the loss of a son/ brother Phoenix who's life is cut short after a motorbike accident.Dad JJ moves into the shed and starts to resemble a tramp.Katherine is admitted to a psychiatric hospital and Penny Hangs around with silly friend Jackie.This book is funny,uplifting,intelligent.Its got a political background of 1974,Magic Roundabout,pop songs.What more could you ask for.Read it its Brilliant.Oh and Marc Bolan.

[Ileanatweetie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martine McDonagh's After Phoenix is well-crafted literature at its finest. Although the book is about grief, categorizing it as simply about that would be a disservice to the extraordinary story- telling by McDonagh. The way the author weaves an intricate tale about moving life forward after a catastrophe is what sets this book apart. The story is compelling, riveting, and at funny at times. Penny's ability to carry on while her family is in complete chaos is a perfect example for each of us to live our own triumphant lives.

[Araminta Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that could be depressing, dealing as it does with the death of a much loved teenage son. Martine McDonagh is however so good at writing about grief and the lonliness and isolation this brings that you are compelled by the characterisation. The daughter, Penny, also brings a lightness to the story, as does the backdrop of the late 70s political turmoi. I really loved her first novel, I have waited, and you have come and this book is just as good. Very dark in places, but ultimately a story of redemption and hope. Fantastic last scene as well, which made me cry.

[Taron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met the author at an Indie book fair and decided to give the book a try -- and did not regret it! I really enjoyed this extremely well written walk through love and loss. If anything, my one criticism is that it wasn't longer, as I wasn't quite ready for it to end. I look forward to more of her fiction and now plan to read her debut novel.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have rated this a 4 had the ending been different. I felt the ending was too sudden and the transition from 'end of the road' to 'After Phoenix' wasn't covered in enough detail. I would liked to have read about Katherine's return and how the family reconnected.

[Sue Campayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book that would probably suit older teens as well as adults. Penny was really the hero of the piece, keeping things together with fortitude while her world crumbled around her. Her parents loss and their sense of being lost were very real. Thank goodness Penny found a better friend.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a sad book, with brilliant characters that go through the process of recovering from a bereavement

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad, raw and real. Definitely worth reading. For me I was about a year younger than Penny in 1973 and a Sourh of England girl so it brought back memories. Exquisite novel about surviving grief.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This family's behaviour at the loss of a child is interesting to witness and the novel seems to comment on the British respect for normality, conformity and mundanity. The expectation seems to be that Britons must strive for reason and moderation in all things, even reactions to the sudden death of a loved one.
Interesting? Yes.
Original? Relatively.
Engaging? To a mild extent.
But does it inspire passion within me to rave and rant about it? No.

McDonagh writes simply and bluntly about very real-seeming family grief. There’s nothing substantially wrong with it, it’s just not my cup of tea.

Read more of my reviews at: http://emilykmorrison.wordpress.com/2...