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The In-Between Hour
What could be worse than losing your child? Having to pretend he's still alive...
Bestselling author Will Shepard is caught in the twilight of grief, after his young son dies in a car accident. But when his father's aging mind erases the memory, Will rewrites the truth. The story he spins brings unexpected relief…until he's forced to return to rural North Carolina, trapping himself in a lie.
Holistic veterinarian Hannah Linden is a healer who opens her heart to strays but can only watch, powerless, as her grown son struggles with inner demons. When she rents her guest cottage to Will and his dad, she finds solace in trying to mend their broken world, even while her own shatters.
As their lives connect and collide, Will and Hannah become each other's only hope—if they can find their way into a new story, one that begins with love.
Bestselling author Will Shepard is caught in the twilight of grief, after his young son dies in a car accident. But when his father's aging mind erases the memory, Will rewrites the truth. The story he spins brings unexpected relief…until he's forced to return to rural North Carolina, trapping himself in a lie.
Holistic veterinarian Hannah Linden is a healer who opens her heart to strays but can only watch, powerless, as her grown son struggles with inner demons. When she rents her guest cottage to Will and his dad, she finds solace in trying to mend their broken world, even while her own shatters.
As their lives connect and collide, Will and Hannah become each other's only hope—if they can find their way into a new story, one that begins with love.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2013
65 people are currently reading
1975 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Claypole White
5 books1,151 followersBestselling author Barbara Claypole White writes hopeful family drama with a healthy dose of mental illness. Originally from England, she lives in the forests of North Carolina with her beloved of thirty years, the Prof. She is passionate about her family, her garden, and chipping away at the stereotypes and stigma of OCD--a chronic illness her husband and son both battle. They are her real life heroes.
Barbara's novels include: THE UNFINISHED GARDEN (2013 Golden Quill Best First Book); THE IN-BETWEEN HOUR (Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Winter 2014 Okra Pick); THE PERFECT SON (Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Best Fiction 2015); ECHOES OF FAMILY (finalist for the Women's Fiction Writers Association 2017 Star Award); and THE PROMISE BETWEEN US, a 2018 Nautilus Book Awards Winner and 2019 American Fiction Awards Finalist.
She is currently hard at work on novel six, THE GIN CLUB.
To connect with Barbara, visit www.barbaraclaypolewhite.com.
Barbara's novels include: THE UNFINISHED GARDEN (2013 Golden Quill Best First Book); THE IN-BETWEEN HOUR (Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Winter 2014 Okra Pick); THE PERFECT SON (Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Best Fiction 2015); ECHOES OF FAMILY (finalist for the Women's Fiction Writers Association 2017 Star Award); and THE PROMISE BETWEEN US, a 2018 Nautilus Book Awards Winner and 2019 American Fiction Awards Finalist.
She is currently hard at work on novel six, THE GIN CLUB.
To connect with Barbara, visit www.barbaraclaypolewhite.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
July 2, 2017
This was an interesting read. Hannah Linden and Will Shepard are two people who are broken when they first meet. The book deals with grief, and mental illness. It was really well-written. The characters are really compelling and well-characterized. This book tugs on the heartstrings. I really liked Barbara Claypole White's writing style. She really delivered a story about love, redemption and grief. I can't wait to read more books by this author. She made me a fan of her writing. Overall, a great read.
November 12, 2013
I was fortunate enough to recieve an advance copy of Barbara Claypole White's THE IN BETWEEN HOUR, and was struck by the author's ability to climb down into the skin of her damaged and complex characters. She enters thier hearts and heads with such genuine feeling, probing wounds and exposing scars in a way that makes it impossible not to keep turning pages. The In Between Hour is a beautifully woven story of grief and guilt, of second guessing and second chances, and about the lies we must sometimes tell ourselves in order to live with the truth--the poignant and often gritty stuff of real life told in a way that will make you more than a little sorry when that last page is turned.
December 30, 2013
I really liked this book, it wasn't all easy reading, there were issues explored that some might find it hard to be with, yet I loved the characters, the setting and the way in which the author explored love and heartbreak. Also how childhood impacts on us as adults. A story of unconditional love and some heartbreak. The characters will long stay with me.
January 2, 2014
An emotional story of the struggle to survive tragedy, grief and loss, The In-Between Hour probably wasn't the best choice of reading for the festive season, but it was a compelling and thought provoking novel which ultimately reveals a message of healing and hope.
Will Shepard is mired in grief after the death of his five year old son in a horrific car accident, and he doesn't have the heart to repeat the news to his father whose Alzheimer's allows him the relief of forgetting his loss. Instead Will, a bestselling author, tells Jacob a story of young Freddie traveling the world with his mother, a story his father unexpectedly latches on to, a fiction that both sustains, and traps, them.
A holistic veterinarian, Hannah Linden has always prided her self on her ability to offer comfort, nurturing and care, but her oldest son, Galen, seems beyond her reach. When Will and his father temporarily move into her guest cottage their broken relationship proves to be the distraction she needs from her own failings, but it cannot shield her from the devastating heartbreak to come.
Exploring grief, love, loss, forgiveness and redemption, Will and Hannah battle the past in order to deal with the present, and find a path to future happiness. They slowly become enmeshed in each others lives, finding unexpected solace and strength in each other, to deal with the challenges they are faced with.
With Jacob the victim of Alzheimer's and Galen of severe depression, the tragedy of mental illness is a major theme of the novel. In addition we learn that Will's mother was an(undiagnosed) bipolar and Hannah's father and grandfather both had a history of depression. Claypole-White explores the issues with sensitivity and compassion not only for the sufferers, but also for their loved ones.
Beautifully written, the characters of The In Between Hour are richly and realistically drawn, and the story compelling. A poignant, moving novel, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
December 22, 2013
I was very fortunate to have won and ARC copy of this book from the author. Every bit as compelling as her first novel, The Unfinished Garden, if not more so. What I find so compelling to me, is that it is very hard to "mourn" a loved one who is still alive. Much different than mourning someone who has actually passed. My mother has mental illness and has not spoken to me in years. I do not see her although I know she is alive, but mourning someone you know there is a possiblilty of seeing again is very hard. I relate my personal story to this book because although one of the main characters is dealing with the actual grief of the loss of his son, he is also maintaining an illusion that his son has not passed for the sake of his father. I wont say too much more, other than the characters and the dynamics of love, grief, and relationships are a powerful draw into this novel that is highly recommended! Official release is January 2014 and I truly recommend a pre order of this wonderful novel!
September 28, 2019
A great story about the ravages of grief, dementia and depression. A delightful old man, who has CRS, a young author who is stove totally in by grief and a kindly vet, with her own passel of strays. I do not like to summarize stories, because I feel too much might be given away.
This is a very good book, by a very good writer, who understands many mental issues and researches what she doesn't understand. I found the very beginning a little distracting, but after that the book soared.
This is a very good book, by a very good writer, who understands many mental issues and researches what she doesn't understand. I found the very beginning a little distracting, but after that the book soared.
December 24, 2020
Found White almost by accident, by joining an online group called Reader's Coffeehouse. She's fast becoming a favorite for me, and I'm slowly adding her books to my TBR and read pile.
This was another stunner, dealing with family, mental illness, beautiful North Carolina, and a touch of romance.
There's just so much to relate to in White's books, as a mother, an older woman, etc.
This was another stunner, dealing with family, mental illness, beautiful North Carolina, and a touch of romance.
There's just so much to relate to in White's books, as a mother, an older woman, etc.
June 30, 2022
My rockstar poet son (my most trusted beta reader) and one of our local booksellers have always told me THE IN-BETWEEN HOUR is their favorite of my novels. After re-reading it this week, I might agree. I loved researching and writing this book, which started out as a ghost story.
I think my son might be right, too, when he calls it, "A quiet novel that screams."
I think my son might be right, too, when he calls it, "A quiet novel that screams."
December 30, 2013
I really wish I had been able to read this in one sitting... this is an emotional journey that is best read uninterrupted. But, even though I had to read this bit by bit it was still a very engaging and touching story that pulled me in each time I picked it back up. I love books that afford me an opportunity to stop and reflect on what is most important in life and this one touched on emotions that I haven't felt in a while but can relate too in a very personal way. This book for me was mostly about love co-existing with grief. How do you allow yourself to be happy again when you are living with the painful loss of someone you love? It's also about acceptance and tolerance and the sometimes painful reality of living with someone you love who is struggling with depression, mental illness or just simply getting old.
I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to anyone who might be sensitive to the topic of suicide. This part of Hannah's story was difficult. As a mother, I definitely related to her feeling as if she was a failure while at the same time refusing to give up. Yes, I shed a few tears for Hannah... and, I also shed a few tears for Will as he was dealing with the reality of the things he would never get to share with his son. Okay, I bawled like a baby... especially at the end. In fact, the end of the book is what inflated this to a five star rating for me. I just loved the coming together of this couple. Very touching...
The author very cleverly laced this story with descriptions of wildlife and nature. I LOVE the mountains and nature so this really worked for me and I thought it was a nice way to pull the reader into the story. Do I think everyone will like this? Probably not... will more than likely appeal more to nature lovers like myself.
If you are like me and you like to occasionally read a book that messes with your emotions, will probably make you cry, and gives you lots of life lessons to ponder... then I highly recommend this one. But, if you're looking to check out of reality then this one is not for you.
I also loved the readers guide at the end of the book. The author gives a list a questions about the characters that would make great prompts for discussion in a readers group or just for your own personal reflection.
ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley
www.ktbookreviews.com
I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to anyone who might be sensitive to the topic of suicide. This part of Hannah's story was difficult. As a mother, I definitely related to her feeling as if she was a failure while at the same time refusing to give up. Yes, I shed a few tears for Hannah... and, I also shed a few tears for Will as he was dealing with the reality of the things he would never get to share with his son. Okay, I bawled like a baby... especially at the end. In fact, the end of the book is what inflated this to a five star rating for me. I just loved the coming together of this couple. Very touching...
The author very cleverly laced this story with descriptions of wildlife and nature. I LOVE the mountains and nature so this really worked for me and I thought it was a nice way to pull the reader into the story. Do I think everyone will like this? Probably not... will more than likely appeal more to nature lovers like myself.
If you are like me and you like to occasionally read a book that messes with your emotions, will probably make you cry, and gives you lots of life lessons to ponder... then I highly recommend this one. But, if you're looking to check out of reality then this one is not for you.
I also loved the readers guide at the end of the book. The author gives a list a questions about the characters that would make great prompts for discussion in a readers group or just for your own personal reflection.
ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley
www.ktbookreviews.com
January 8, 2014
The in-between hour, the gloaming. A magical hour, the author calls it, where one is caught between possibilities and worlds. This becomes the perfect metaphor for so much in a story of characters who struggle with love, grief, madness, and the meaning of family.
It took me a while to get into the book, but that’s my fault. I picked it up as a review copy while I was immersed in obligations that only allowed me to read in snatches. Once I hit mid-point, I didn’t want to put the story down. Barbara Claypole White had once again made me care about her characters—every single one of them. In her first book, she pushed me into the world of a hero with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and made me believe in his heroism. This one throws us into a story of grief, madness, love between an older woman and a younger man, suicide, obligation, and the meaning of family. I could go on.
It’s a rich story, well told, and absolutely worth the read. May I say that I can’t wait for Barbara’s third?
I realized I ought to add a caveat for those readers who may find the language (mostly in the first half of the book) more realistic than they like. It didn't stop me from reading--and I'm picky--but it did make me consider changing the number of stars. Still, I love the depth of the story and Barbara's images, so I'll stick to the four.
It took me a while to get into the book, but that’s my fault. I picked it up as a review copy while I was immersed in obligations that only allowed me to read in snatches. Once I hit mid-point, I didn’t want to put the story down. Barbara Claypole White had once again made me care about her characters—every single one of them. In her first book, she pushed me into the world of a hero with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and made me believe in his heroism. This one throws us into a story of grief, madness, love between an older woman and a younger man, suicide, obligation, and the meaning of family. I could go on.
It’s a rich story, well told, and absolutely worth the read. May I say that I can’t wait for Barbara’s third?
I realized I ought to add a caveat for those readers who may find the language (mostly in the first half of the book) more realistic than they like. It didn't stop me from reading--and I'm picky--but it did make me consider changing the number of stars. Still, I love the depth of the story and Barbara's images, so I'll stick to the four.
January 22, 2014
I have been a fan of Barbara Claypole White's writing since I read her previous book, the brilliant "The Unfinished Garden." So I looked forward to her new book, "The In-Between Hour" with great anticipation - and I was not disappointed one bit!
This novel, revolving around two families and their ongoing dramas, is written in many voices, but all circle back to the main theme of the sustaining love of family through troubled times.
There are so many subjects addressed in this story - loss of a child, loss of a parent to Alzeheimer's, loss of self, family relationships, personal relationships, and how patience and love can help heal all of these very trying situations. There are tears and tragedy, rebellion and romance, and surprisingly a light touch of humor sprinkled here and there - making this tale one that draws the reader in and keeps them invested in the outcome.
White proves once again her mastery of storytelling with this heart-wrenching, and yet heartwarming novel. Fans of contemporary women's fiction and family relationships will find this novel to be a satisfying and memorable read. I highly recommend it!
This novel, revolving around two families and their ongoing dramas, is written in many voices, but all circle back to the main theme of the sustaining love of family through troubled times.
There are so many subjects addressed in this story - loss of a child, loss of a parent to Alzeheimer's, loss of self, family relationships, personal relationships, and how patience and love can help heal all of these very trying situations. There are tears and tragedy, rebellion and romance, and surprisingly a light touch of humor sprinkled here and there - making this tale one that draws the reader in and keeps them invested in the outcome.
White proves once again her mastery of storytelling with this heart-wrenching, and yet heartwarming novel. Fans of contemporary women's fiction and family relationships will find this novel to be a satisfying and memorable read. I highly recommend it!
January 3, 2016
A brilliantly written novel that pulled me in with the first few sentences- "Will imagined silence. The silence of snowfall in the forest". Reality came next which depicted Will's struggles with his OCD, his need to keep a secret/lie about his son, to protect himself and his aging Dad who has failing memory. Hannah also struggles with fear for her own son's depression. Hannah meets Will and brings strength, hope and light to Will as events surround both in their feelings of grief. The descriptions of nature calm the emotions with images of beautiful Occoneechee mountains, ceiling fans humming, and katydids buzzing amidst all the drama - a nice respite. In-Between Hour aptly titled, is a rich book which deals with real life trauma of mental illness, twixt the resilience of rebounding hope and love for a new life. Barbara has a unique talent for reaching the soul of people and describing the emotions they feel. An excellent book!
November 24, 2013
I just finished reading The In-Between Hour. Absolute page turner worth staying up way past bedtime! I had a roller coaster of emotions hitting home because my child has special needs mixed in with OCD and mild depression. The book is mixed with raw emotions and beautiful words to set the tempo for real life that is not always rainbows and fairy tales. The unique twist of the book was the setting; I grew up 15 minutes from Hillsborough, NC and some classmates were from the Occaneechi tribe.
I can't wait to read Ms. Claypole White's first book The Unfinished Garden and hopefully several more are in the works for publishing!
Fabulous read and I have spread the word to my circle of friends to check out The In-Between Hour. Kuddos Ms. Claypole White; this book is AWESOME and a keepsake!
I can't wait to read Ms. Claypole White's first book The Unfinished Garden and hopefully several more are in the works for publishing!
Fabulous read and I have spread the word to my circle of friends to check out The In-Between Hour. Kuddos Ms. Claypole White; this book is AWESOME and a keepsake!
October 2, 2013
Barbara Claypole has a knack for the damaged. She writes about people and situations that lesser authors might shy away from. Her powerful, fluid and brilliant descriptions carry the characters and circumstance while intertwining their lives and creating, chapter by chapter, a story that has the reader mesmerized. Hannah and Galen and Jacob are well fleshed out, while her protagonist, Will, is equally represented, adding a serving of sexy intrigue into the mix. The In-Between Hour is a dynamic blend of family drama and human frailties, surrounded by great writing! It's the perfect winter read!
January 12, 2014
The characters in this book have enough baggage to down a 747 but they are fighters and there is no giving up in this group. The story is about a New York based author who must travel to rural North Carolina to figure out what to do with his elderly father who slips in and out of mental acuity. While here, he meets two local women who will have a profound affect on his life. The book is so well written that is hard for the reader not to become vested in these people. This book is superior to other books published in this genre because of the care and depth given by the author to her characters.
January 1, 2014
What a wonderful book! It's about people finding help where it's needed. About families, about mental illness, about love. Best selling author Will is dealing with the sudden death of his young son and his father's dementia. No longer able to handle repeatedly telling his father of the boy's death, Will makes up a grand European vacation for his son to explain the boy's absence. Hope is found back in the North Carolina hometown that he fled ages ago and in the heart & mind of an attractive country vet living there. Highly recommended both for the writing and the character development.
October 30, 2013
The In-Between Hour is a touching, beautifully written novel of loss and hope that had me captivated from the first sentence until the last. Talented author Barbara Claypole White has crafted a cast of characters who are so genuine, so very human that they'll live in your memory as if they were your neighbors, your friends, your loved ones... Don't miss this insightful and moving story!
November 17, 2013
I had the privilege of reading an advanced reading copy of Barbara Claypole White's second novel, THE IN-BETWEEN HOUR. It is a stunning portrayal of love between parent and child and of how roles grow, evolve and transcend loss and age. White's gift with words is quickly making her one of my favorite authors.
January 13, 2014
Absolutely loved this! Loved the "reality" of it--families aren't perfect--we love them anyway. Dreams we search so hard to track down, are sometimes right in front of us. The characters were vivid, the emotions, very real. I felt like I was living on the mountain with them, and it was a beautiful place to be!
January 23, 2014
Moving and absorbing novel of love forged in the midst of the greatest loss. The generational relationships are particularly touching, and the characters are memorable. Loved it.
January 20, 2020
This was my first book to ready by Barbara Claypole White but it definitely won't be the last. This novel is such a beautiful story of damaged, broken people coming together and finding help and love. Mental illness plays a huge part in this novel---overwhelming grief, severe depression and Alzheimer's disease. White portrays not only how mental illness affects the individual but the other family members---parents and children.
February 13, 2022
A depressing, dark tale of aging, mental illness, suicide and alcoholism! I loved The Perfect Son, but barely made it through this one. Way too long and drawn out. I didn’t care what happened to any of these weird characters.
Her son’s mental issues (OCD) seem to play a huge part in here writing. I’ll try one more of her books, maybe this was just a fluke!
All those five star reviews - did I read the same book?
Her son’s mental issues (OCD) seem to play a huge part in here writing. I’ll try one more of her books, maybe this was just a fluke!
All those five star reviews - did I read the same book?
August 6, 2017
Authentic portrayal of
This book is an authentic portrayal of family dynamics; of love, and loss, grief, and the healing power of connections. WOW, just WOW...
This book is an authentic portrayal of family dynamics; of love, and loss, grief, and the healing power of connections. WOW, just WOW...
June 25, 2018
I fell in love with all of the characters because of their flaws. They were doing the best they could. I wanted to hug each and every character.
April 1, 2019
Magyarul. "Félúton". Lekötött, de nem kimagasló olvasmányélmény.
March 17, 2017
Great read
This is an honest story that at times is almost too real and shocking and other times a little predictable. Overall entertaining and captivating.
This is an honest story that at times is almost too real and shocking and other times a little predictable. Overall entertaining and captivating.
December 26, 2013
The In-Between Hour by Barbara Claypool White is an extremely emotional and poignant read. The various storylines converge into an incredibly powerful story of healing that I found impossible to put down.
In the aftermath of losing his young son, Freddie, in a tragic accident, Will Shepard is deeply grieving his loss when he is forced to return to North Carolina to take care of his aging father Jacob. Will is planning a quick trip to settle his dad in a new retirement home but he is soon enmeshed in the lives of his temporary landlady, Hannah Linden and her deeply depressed adult son, Galen. Unable to escape memories of his painful childhood and trapped by the falsehood he told Jacob about Freddie's prolonged absence, Will is soon desperate to escape back to his life in New York. A crisis with Galen forces Will to admit to his growing feelings for Hannah, but is love enough to heal the shattered pieces of their lives?
Will is devastated by Freddie's death and angry at the circumstances surrounding the accident that took his son's life. He loves his father but he is struggling to understand Jacob's devotion to the mother who destroyed his childhood with her untreated mental illness. The lie Will tells to protect Jacob keeps him from discussing his loss with anyone and his grief is quickly becoming all consuming as he tries to find a viable solution for Jacob. Hannah is a calming influence in both his and Jacob's lives but it is his unexpected friendship with Galen that brings the most comfort to Will.
Hannah is probably one of the most unflappable characters I have encountered. Calm and serene, she has an instant rapport with Jacob and they bond over their love of the land. Able to help everyone but Galen, Hannah finds it difficult to maintain her tranquility once her son returns home.
Desperate to maintain his dignity as he slowly declines, Jacob finds peace in returning the mountains he loves so much. Despite Will's best efforts to protect him, the knowledge of Freddie's death lingers around the edges of his fragmented memory. Watching him fight his memory loss is absolutely heartbreaking but there are also touching glimpses of the gentle and loving man he once was as well.
Galen is such an incredibly sensitive person that it is not surprising he feels life so deeply. His struggle with depression is handled with sensitivity and offer amazing insight into a little discussed illness. The descriptions of the medications' side effects, the crippling hopelessness and abject despair provide readers with an up close and personal view of depression that is not easy to forget.
A much needed counterpoint to everyone else's sadness, Hannah's lifelong friend Poppy is a bright spot in story. Vivacious and energetic, she is irreverent and funny. Although Poppy is facing a few setbacks of her own, she is always upbeat and her enthusiasm is infectious. Given her current circumstances Poppy is the logical person to become Jacob's caregiver and their relationship is quite charming.
Full of deep emotion, The In-Between Hour is beautifully written and quite riveting. Barbara Claypool White brilliantly weaves grief and loss into an uplifting and hopeful story of love that will stay with readers long after the last page has been turned.
In the aftermath of losing his young son, Freddie, in a tragic accident, Will Shepard is deeply grieving his loss when he is forced to return to North Carolina to take care of his aging father Jacob. Will is planning a quick trip to settle his dad in a new retirement home but he is soon enmeshed in the lives of his temporary landlady, Hannah Linden and her deeply depressed adult son, Galen. Unable to escape memories of his painful childhood and trapped by the falsehood he told Jacob about Freddie's prolonged absence, Will is soon desperate to escape back to his life in New York. A crisis with Galen forces Will to admit to his growing feelings for Hannah, but is love enough to heal the shattered pieces of their lives?
Will is devastated by Freddie's death and angry at the circumstances surrounding the accident that took his son's life. He loves his father but he is struggling to understand Jacob's devotion to the mother who destroyed his childhood with her untreated mental illness. The lie Will tells to protect Jacob keeps him from discussing his loss with anyone and his grief is quickly becoming all consuming as he tries to find a viable solution for Jacob. Hannah is a calming influence in both his and Jacob's lives but it is his unexpected friendship with Galen that brings the most comfort to Will.
Hannah is probably one of the most unflappable characters I have encountered. Calm and serene, she has an instant rapport with Jacob and they bond over their love of the land. Able to help everyone but Galen, Hannah finds it difficult to maintain her tranquility once her son returns home.
Desperate to maintain his dignity as he slowly declines, Jacob finds peace in returning the mountains he loves so much. Despite Will's best efforts to protect him, the knowledge of Freddie's death lingers around the edges of his fragmented memory. Watching him fight his memory loss is absolutely heartbreaking but there are also touching glimpses of the gentle and loving man he once was as well.
Galen is such an incredibly sensitive person that it is not surprising he feels life so deeply. His struggle with depression is handled with sensitivity and offer amazing insight into a little discussed illness. The descriptions of the medications' side effects, the crippling hopelessness and abject despair provide readers with an up close and personal view of depression that is not easy to forget.
A much needed counterpoint to everyone else's sadness, Hannah's lifelong friend Poppy is a bright spot in story. Vivacious and energetic, she is irreverent and funny. Although Poppy is facing a few setbacks of her own, she is always upbeat and her enthusiasm is infectious. Given her current circumstances Poppy is the logical person to become Jacob's caregiver and their relationship is quite charming.
Full of deep emotion, The In-Between Hour is beautifully written and quite riveting. Barbara Claypool White brilliantly weaves grief and loss into an uplifting and hopeful story of love that will stay with readers long after the last page has been turned.
July 26, 2016
The In-Between Hour is a story about memories: those repeated, to oneself and others, in order to fondly preserve the past; those that fade and, maddeningly, are lost; and those that inflame or torment so acutely they become prisons for both heart and mind. Barbara Claypole White’s vividly rendered characters find themselves circling around their own closely held memories, unaware that the people around them possess a special, often surprising inner capacity to reframe and redirect even the most constricting recollections into a path to healing. Will Shepard, Manhattan-based author of a bestselling thriller series, has writer’s block, paralyzed by the violent death of his five-year-old son Freddie and badgered by constant calls from his octogenarian father Jacob, battling both Alzheimer’s and the status quo of his North Carolina retirement center. When Jacob’s unruly behavior leads to an unceremonious eviction, Will returns to his home state, newly burdened with a needy father, who lovingly recalls his deceased mentally ill wife, the mother who made Will’s childhood a living hell. What Jacob doesn’t recall is his grandson’s recent death. Rather than subject his father to a reprise of grief, Will tells Jacob that Freddie is on an extended globe-trotting trip with his mother. Determined to find a new facility for Jacob and return to New York, Will rents a cottage from Hannah Linden, a holistic vet with her own family secrets. Older son Galen, a gifted poet too troubled to write, will soon arrive from California, freshly discharged from a psychiatric unit after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Will’s determination to leave the area, embedded with painful memories of his mother, is stymied when he can’t find a new facility for Jacob. Keeping up the pretense of his son’s vacation becomes increasingly difficult as Will struggles with his own grief. He forges an unlikely relationship with Galen, who disparages Will’s writing as little more than trash. Hannah and her friend Poppy, meanwhile, devote themselves to the forgetful Jacob, who ensconces himself in the cottage he now considers home. Alliances intertwine, the strands tightening as Hannah and Will find themselves increasingly attracted to one another, and Galen secretly rejects both his meds and contact with his California therapist. The reader can’t help but be captivated by the story’s inexorably escalating tension, its human drama mirrored in nature, whose unseasonable heat builds until the release of a violent, drought-breaking storm. As in White’s sensitive debut novel The Unfinished Garden, the characters in The In-Between Hour are vulnerable, scarred by the past, yet slowly drawn to risk themselves and share their journeys to emotional liberation with similarly burdened companions. This new narrative, while fraught with its characters’ grief, reflects a constant, if occasionally shadowed light of hope not unlike the golden window of peace and possibility offered, again and again, by the in-between hour better known as the gloaming.
April 24, 2019
Will's son, Freddie, died almost 4 months ago but his aging father still asks about him. So Will lies, tells his dad, that Freddie is vacationing in Europe. It makes his life easier and his father happier.
But then his dad, Jacob, gets kicked out of his nursing him, sending Will back to his old stomping grounds of rural North Carolina. There he meets Poppy & Hannah, and from there, his life changes.
Told from alternating views (but all in the 3rd person), The In-Between Hour is a wonderful book that explores the nature of grief, of mental illness, and what truly makes a family.
Hannah, Will, Poppy, Jacob, and Galen are the central characters and White explores how they all handle what live throws them in different ways. I highly recommend this book!
But then his dad, Jacob, gets kicked out of his nursing him, sending Will back to his old stomping grounds of rural North Carolina. There he meets Poppy & Hannah, and from there, his life changes.
Told from alternating views (but all in the 3rd person), The In-Between Hour is a wonderful book that explores the nature of grief, of mental illness, and what truly makes a family.
Hannah, Will, Poppy, Jacob, and Galen are the central characters and White explores how they all handle what live throws them in different ways. I highly recommend this book!
December 22, 2013
I just finished reading this book, and am trying to put my thoughts in to words, and am finding it difficult to express how much I loved this book! The characters were so well done, and the scenery is so vivid I felt like I was there with them.
I think my favourite character is Jacob, he is so alive and colourful even though he is getting older and losing his memory. He is so full of love, and really do what he thought was best for his son when he was younger, and it made me realise that when we are young we always see our parents as "parents" and never as "people".
The theme of mental illness is ongoing through this book, and for personal reasons there was a few times that I found myself having to put it down and take a deep breath before picking it back up again. I think that the author did a great job of getting in to someones mind that has depression and understanding where they may be coming from, and also making a point that medication is not the be all and end all of the situation, there is so much more that goes in to it.
I also really liked how all of the characters in this book were not perfect, they all came with their baggage, and yet they were all able to put it aside when one of them was in need of the others and help, it is the true meaning of family, whether born or made. The friendships that were made you can tell will last a lifetime, and I love that.
The relationship between Will and Hannah was not an easy one, there was an attraction at first sight, and I think that we can all relate to that, but they had to work at it, it did not come easily, and they turned in to friends before they were anything else, and I like when that happens in a story, I find it to be more realistic than the whole love at first sight.
There were ups and downs in this book for sure, and that is life right? Nothing goes smoothly all the time, if you are looking for a book that gives you reality over anything else, this one is for you! I give this book a 5/5!
I think my favourite character is Jacob, he is so alive and colourful even though he is getting older and losing his memory. He is so full of love, and really do what he thought was best for his son when he was younger, and it made me realise that when we are young we always see our parents as "parents" and never as "people".
The theme of mental illness is ongoing through this book, and for personal reasons there was a few times that I found myself having to put it down and take a deep breath before picking it back up again. I think that the author did a great job of getting in to someones mind that has depression and understanding where they may be coming from, and also making a point that medication is not the be all and end all of the situation, there is so much more that goes in to it.
I also really liked how all of the characters in this book were not perfect, they all came with their baggage, and yet they were all able to put it aside when one of them was in need of the others and help, it is the true meaning of family, whether born or made. The friendships that were made you can tell will last a lifetime, and I love that.
The relationship between Will and Hannah was not an easy one, there was an attraction at first sight, and I think that we can all relate to that, but they had to work at it, it did not come easily, and they turned in to friends before they were anything else, and I like when that happens in a story, I find it to be more realistic than the whole love at first sight.
There were ups and downs in this book for sure, and that is life right? Nothing goes smoothly all the time, if you are looking for a book that gives you reality over anything else, this one is for you! I give this book a 5/5!
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