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Take Me Back
The triumphant return of New York Times bestselling author Sally Mandel presents an intimate multigenerational portrait of the troubles and triumphs of a 20th century family.
Lily Adams is the animating spirit of those around her, even in her twilight years. Perhaps none is more touched by her presence than her granddaughter, Amy, whom Lily saves from a teenage crisis. The family saga of three generations of the Adams clan is filled with crises of identity and the pains of romance, with Lily's presence profoundly felt throughout.
TAKE ME BACK focuses precisely, poignantly, and sometimes painfully, on the spaces between us, emphasizing the impact we can have on the lives of those around us, even in the mere echo of ourselves after we have gone.
Lily Adams is the animating spirit of those around her, even in her twilight years. Perhaps none is more touched by her presence than her granddaughter, Amy, whom Lily saves from a teenage crisis. The family saga of three generations of the Adams clan is filled with crises of identity and the pains of romance, with Lily's presence profoundly felt throughout.
TAKE ME BACK focuses precisely, poignantly, and sometimes painfully, on the spaces between us, emphasizing the impact we can have on the lives of those around us, even in the mere echo of ourselves after we have gone.
172 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 14, 2013
Magnificent!
Do not be fooled by the synopsis that does not prepare the reader to the beauty of words, text and poignant story of the Adam's family wonderfully told by an amazing author.
Frankly, by reading the summary my curiosity was not piqued. I could have easily miss this book. But when Angela contacted me to participate to this tour something caught my attention... Today, I am delighted to have opened this wonderful novel!
From the first lines of the introduction, written by the author, I had a lump in my throat...
Determined, Sally Mandel takes courageously up her pen after a brain injury. While insurmountable obstacles stood in her way, her resolution to succeed in writing again was the prime mover of my desire to devour this book.
Such a passion for writing could only be reflected in the story and this is a beautiful example of courage given by the author.
By following the last days of Lily Adams' life, I was immediately caught by the author's style and humor behind her character. The ending of a rich life, lived by a complex woman that we will discover through her relationship with her daughter, Stella, and her daughter Amy. Also through the men who have marked the lives of the ones she loves. The relationships of this three generations of women are very well told especially the sad or joyous events experienced through life and love.
Far from being depressing, this story is full of hope and life!
The reader follows the characters and the more they reveal of themselves, the more you want to listen to them, to know and support them.
Sally Mandel gives also a great view about the loss of a loved one. The pain and suffering can be sometimes a devastating presence, if it is not put to rest, and if it is a source of guilt. But it can also become an incredible force, an inspiration to live if we choose to honor and celebrate its life. It's poignant!
A very beautiful, poetic and realistic story about love and life. The ending made me shed a tear as I was touched by this exquisitely narrative!
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
Do not be fooled by the synopsis that does not prepare the reader to the beauty of words, text and poignant story of the Adam's family wonderfully told by an amazing author.
Frankly, by reading the summary my curiosity was not piqued. I could have easily miss this book. But when Angela contacted me to participate to this tour something caught my attention... Today, I am delighted to have opened this wonderful novel!
From the first lines of the introduction, written by the author, I had a lump in my throat...
Determined, Sally Mandel takes courageously up her pen after a brain injury. While insurmountable obstacles stood in her way, her resolution to succeed in writing again was the prime mover of my desire to devour this book.
Such a passion for writing could only be reflected in the story and this is a beautiful example of courage given by the author.
By following the last days of Lily Adams' life, I was immediately caught by the author's style and humor behind her character. The ending of a rich life, lived by a complex woman that we will discover through her relationship with her daughter, Stella, and her daughter Amy. Also through the men who have marked the lives of the ones she loves. The relationships of this three generations of women are very well told especially the sad or joyous events experienced through life and love.
Far from being depressing, this story is full of hope and life!
The reader follows the characters and the more they reveal of themselves, the more you want to listen to them, to know and support them.
Sally Mandel gives also a great view about the loss of a loved one. The pain and suffering can be sometimes a devastating presence, if it is not put to rest, and if it is a source of guilt. But it can also become an incredible force, an inspiration to live if we choose to honor and celebrate its life. It's poignant!
A very beautiful, poetic and realistic story about love and life. The ending made me shed a tear as I was touched by this exquisitely narrative!
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
March 19, 2019
RATING: 3.5 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
The matriarch Lily Adams is in the twilight years and is reflecting back on her life. There is her granddaughter, Amy her kindred spirit and the love of her life, who rushes to be by her side when Lily takes a turn for the worse. She worries over Amy's lack of a stable relationship or career. Stella, her only child, has never understood her mother and always takes life as it comes. She wonders if Stella will be okay and move forward in her life. Stella's ex-husband, Steve is Lily's friend Grace's son and becomes like his mother in America. As her daughter's marriage falters she cannot help but be in her son-in-law's life. Finally, there is her late husband, William whom she married because of his sheer determination to have her.
Take Me Back is novel broken into smaller stories told from five characters point of view. It spans decades giving us vignettes of Lily's life through her own stories and those most important to her. Mandel's writing invites you in their lives as if you are a friend of the family. The one drawback was the stories of Steve and William as they did not seem to add much to the story as a whole. It felt almost forced rather than flowing with the women's section. I would have liked more stories from the women and seen the men through their eyes only.
The relationships between the three women are so rich but it felt a bit like you were just getting a taste of it when it ended. Yet overall, the ending was satisfying and left you still thinking about the three generations of women that made this family vulnerable yet strong. The sign of a good novel is that it still lingers in your mind days later.
***I received an ARC from NetGalley***
(Review Not on Blog)
The matriarch Lily Adams is in the twilight years and is reflecting back on her life. There is her granddaughter, Amy her kindred spirit and the love of her life, who rushes to be by her side when Lily takes a turn for the worse. She worries over Amy's lack of a stable relationship or career. Stella, her only child, has never understood her mother and always takes life as it comes. She wonders if Stella will be okay and move forward in her life. Stella's ex-husband, Steve is Lily's friend Grace's son and becomes like his mother in America. As her daughter's marriage falters she cannot help but be in her son-in-law's life. Finally, there is her late husband, William whom she married because of his sheer determination to have her.
Take Me Back is novel broken into smaller stories told from five characters point of view. It spans decades giving us vignettes of Lily's life through her own stories and those most important to her. Mandel's writing invites you in their lives as if you are a friend of the family. The one drawback was the stories of Steve and William as they did not seem to add much to the story as a whole. It felt almost forced rather than flowing with the women's section. I would have liked more stories from the women and seen the men through their eyes only.
The relationships between the three women are so rich but it felt a bit like you were just getting a taste of it when it ended. Yet overall, the ending was satisfying and left you still thinking about the three generations of women that made this family vulnerable yet strong. The sign of a good novel is that it still lingers in your mind days later.
***I received an ARC from NetGalley***
October 17, 2013
How will I even start? It was so real from page one until the last and only one word could best describe this novella: inspiring. I liked how it showed various issues of the different generations in a family.A realization occurred to me and it was manifested on the book, too, that the lives of the family members will forever be connected and intertwined. The said issues will involved everyone as much as we like it or not. In the story, the prominent figure was Mrs. Lily Adams. Clearly, she was able to put control everything. She was the foundation and the core of the whole thing. In a way, she was able to influence, motivate an give hope to the other family members. She was their mediator, their medium that reached out to them whenever necessary or even if it's just to say hello.
I also have to give it to the author, Sally Mandel, for making sentimental fragments of memories when put together, creating a beautiful picture of life. As the title says, the story will take you back to the past and the author will let you weave your own way to meet, learn and understand the characters. It was an interesting way of engaging the readers. The author really gave way to a reader's imagination to come to play. More importantly, if it wasn't for the introduction of the book, maybe I wouldn't have known. To tell you honestly, I thought it was just a come back novel after a long hiatus from writing. But for Sally, it was not the case. I would like to commend her for being such an inspiration to everyone. A unforeseen event that changed her whole life happened and it was something a writer will never dream of. Some would have thought that her condition might be a major setback--that it would be difficult for her to return to her old life as a writer. But she proved us wrong. I salute her determination and passion for writing that she still persevered and didn't let it stop her from doing so. I would have clapped now through words so you can hear it if I could.
Overall, Take Me Back are full of life lessons, insights and realizations that will inspire and touch your hearts.
I also have to give it to the author, Sally Mandel, for making sentimental fragments of memories when put together, creating a beautiful picture of life. As the title says, the story will take you back to the past and the author will let you weave your own way to meet, learn and understand the characters. It was an interesting way of engaging the readers. The author really gave way to a reader's imagination to come to play. More importantly, if it wasn't for the introduction of the book, maybe I wouldn't have known. To tell you honestly, I thought it was just a come back novel after a long hiatus from writing. But for Sally, it was not the case. I would like to commend her for being such an inspiration to everyone. A unforeseen event that changed her whole life happened and it was something a writer will never dream of. Some would have thought that her condition might be a major setback--that it would be difficult for her to return to her old life as a writer. But she proved us wrong. I salute her determination and passion for writing that she still persevered and didn't let it stop her from doing so. I would have clapped now through words so you can hear it if I could.
Overall, Take Me Back are full of life lessons, insights and realizations that will inspire and touch your hearts.
January 13, 2014
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A book told in short stories that are linked by the narrators being all in the same family. From grandmother, daughter to granddaughter and some of the men in their lives, the short stories jumped from time to time and at times felt a little disjointed.
Lily Adams, the grandmother, was the central character, but her family definitely took center stage at times and each had issues that they were trying to deal with - from drugs, to abusive relationships to job dissatisfaction the author put almost any negative personal struggle in the book.
A book told in short stories that are linked by the narrators being all in the same family. From grandmother, daughter to granddaughter and some of the men in their lives, the short stories jumped from time to time and at times felt a little disjointed.
Lily Adams, the grandmother, was the central character, but her family definitely took center stage at times and each had issues that they were trying to deal with - from drugs, to abusive relationships to job dissatisfaction the author put almost any negative personal struggle in the book.
September 29, 2013
This was a good story about a grandmother, her daughter and her granddaughter each chapter varies between various people in Lily's life. I love Amy, the granddaughter and her struggles growing up.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews