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Altered Land
Joan is a single mother who adores her son, John. They live in the west Country and John lives his life outdoors. On his 13th birthday they take a trip to London to buy his first pair of Levi jeans. Taking a wrong turn, Joan learns the devestating repercussions of a moment's hesitation.
- GenresFictionLiterature
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 27, 2020
4 for 4.5 Two parallel stories or almost four: the story from the perspective of the mother and then from her son written at present in 1999 and the time from his birth. It is a sorry of a boy who does not have a dad but a mom who loves him beyond words... A story of what was before his 13th birthday and what was after... Beautifully written...
January 26, 2013
i did enjoy the book - especially after reading a thriller. if you are looking for excitement, then this book is not for you. not much happening and it is a bit slow, but i liked the human drama and emotions.
the one thing that did annoy me is that two of the characters were described towards the end of the book and i already had a picture of them in my mind.
the one thing that did annoy me is that two of the characters were described towards the end of the book and i already had a picture of them in my mind.
June 18, 2009
beautiful.
emotionally brought me so deeply "in" the book, I sometimes felt I was a part of the world about which I was reading. I cried often.
The Bristol setting was also special to me and was wonderful to actually visualize the places where she set her story.
thank you jules hardy.
emotionally brought me so deeply "in" the book, I sometimes felt I was a part of the world about which I was reading. I cried often.
The Bristol setting was also special to me and was wonderful to actually visualize the places where she set her story.
thank you jules hardy.
March 12, 2017
4.5 stars
Loved this book! The writing is lovely. Initially I had no idea what it was about or where it was going (you soon do start to understand) and I totally fell in love with all of the characters.
It's told from two perspectives: John - told in a more traditional story-telling style. And Joan, his mother, in the form of excerpts of past and present journals. It's the story of a boy who never knew his father, his mother, and the event that changed their lives forever. It's the story of who they were and who they became and who they will become. It's a story of love: a mother's love; a son's love; a friend's love; a husband's love. It's about complicated people and complex situations where there is no real wrong or right. It's a story of brokenness and healing and courage.
It's lovely :)
Loved this book! The writing is lovely. Initially I had no idea what it was about or where it was going (you soon do start to understand) and I totally fell in love with all of the characters.
It's told from two perspectives: John - told in a more traditional story-telling style. And Joan, his mother, in the form of excerpts of past and present journals. It's the story of a boy who never knew his father, his mother, and the event that changed their lives forever. It's the story of who they were and who they became and who they will become. It's a story of love: a mother's love; a son's love; a friend's love; a husband's love. It's about complicated people and complex situations where there is no real wrong or right. It's a story of brokenness and healing and courage.
It's lovely :)
January 31, 2024
Not in my usual range at all, but very good all the same.
Early on in the book there is a twist and from that point on the story is told jumping back and forth between point of view and different times. At first I thought the twist felt a bit gimmicky but actually it's well handled and very central to the book. All of the characters feel well realised, and there are some very moving bits.
Idk who will read this but my mum wanted me to read this and given the content of the book that probably says something. Bit eye-opening and uncomfortable at times because of that but probably something worth confronting.
Early on in the book there is a twist and from that point on the story is told jumping back and forth between point of view and different times. At first I thought the twist felt a bit gimmicky but actually it's well handled and very central to the book. All of the characters feel well realised, and there are some very moving bits.
Idk who will read this but my mum wanted me to read this and given the content of the book that probably says something. Bit eye-opening and uncomfortable at times because of that but probably something worth confronting.
September 29, 2025
A book that will live long beyond the reading of it.
There is much to digest here. I won't spoil the story, but it unfolds in recognisable locations, Devon, London, France and the Cotswolds. Which, for me, added greatly.
I'm left in awe at the inspiration, work and profound understanding of our human condition evident here, between these covers.
There is much to digest here. I won't spoil the story, but it unfolds in recognisable locations, Devon, London, France and the Cotswolds. Which, for me, added greatly.
I'm left in awe at the inspiration, work and profound understanding of our human condition evident here, between these covers.
July 14, 2023
The first half, and end of the book were incredible, but it really dragged in the third quarter. I also lost sympathy for all of the characters, who were exceptionally self pitying. Aside from that, it was beautiful.
December 15, 2023
Unexpectedly really liked this dollar op shop book. Beautiful story about a deaf man, a mother and a son, a husband and a wife, that switches between the pet and the present. Didn’t think it would get me in my feels as much as I thought it would🥹
November 25, 2018
Very thought-provoking
April 14, 2020
The strong bonds between Mother and Son can be seen through flashbacks and memories from both of them.
The journey of love, sacrifices and being unselfish are what makes this book worth to read.
The journey of love, sacrifices and being unselfish are what makes this book worth to read.
May 15, 2022
This was ok. Took a while to get into it and it was a bit slow moving. Message: you never know when a particular incedent will alter your life forever.
September 1, 2022
Yes
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend.
About a mother and son who after an incident in London continues with their lives on 2 date planes.
Good read recommend
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend.
About a mother and son who after an incident in London continues with their lives on 2 date planes.
Good read recommend
October 6, 2023
oh I loved every single word of this book. A few surprises in there (I won't tell!). So descriptive and well written plus a unique story line. A pleasure to read and certainly un-put-downable :)
October 19, 2023
Lovely story, heartbreaking every once in a while, honest characters and depiction of emotions.
April 10, 2025
Wonderful. Love and life in all it's colours. Loved this book
December 24, 2014
The first section of this book was one of the best opening sections to any book I’ve ever read. It happens sometimes, when I pick up a book by someone I haven’t previously heard of, and think “wow, this is amazing”, and immediately know I want to read everything else they have ever written. It happened with this one – such great writing, hopping from subject to subject with ease, ignoring what is boring and concentrating on what is interesting, imagery that helped rather than hindered. I loved that it fooled me, too – having read the synopsis and then the first section I was thinking: “OK, so what’s the big problem?” and then I got to the end of the chapter and immediately went back and read through it again and sure enough, the clues were there.
The next couple of chapters continued this powerful writing, but it was once the book reached the halfway mark that I began unexpectedly to fall out of love with it. It was as though all its messages had been conveyed in that first half and all that was left was to go over and over old ground. I found I had less and less interest in Joan’s life in the 1970s; having been told “I was very very beautiful” and “I was very very clever” so many times it was like a mantra, now we were being told “I was very promiscuous”, and it was a bit like being beaten around the head with a blunt instrument.
So, a book of two halves. So much promise, humour and interest at the start but a bit of an anti-climax to finish, and one I was ultimately glad to put down. Was it worth it? On balance, I think yes
The next couple of chapters continued this powerful writing, but it was once the book reached the halfway mark that I began unexpectedly to fall out of love with it. It was as though all its messages had been conveyed in that first half and all that was left was to go over and over old ground. I found I had less and less interest in Joan’s life in the 1970s; having been told “I was very very beautiful” and “I was very very clever” so many times it was like a mantra, now we were being told “I was very promiscuous”, and it was a bit like being beaten around the head with a blunt instrument.
So, a book of two halves. So much promise, humour and interest at the start but a bit of an anti-climax to finish, and one I was ultimately glad to put down. Was it worth it? On balance, I think yes
March 3, 2016
This is one of my favourite books, although that said it is not like any of my other favourites! It was one of those I just grabbed for the beach from the hotels mini library, and not an author I had read before.
I was hooked! Although it was a bit slow to begin with, the story unfolds with a few surprises on the way. When something is revealed, it makes you run back through the pages looking for clues!
I also liked how the narrative changes from mother to son, seeing how relationships develop and grow, or not.....
Give it a go, you might be surprised! It's not too big either so you will whiz through it! Enjoy.
I was hooked! Although it was a bit slow to begin with, the story unfolds with a few surprises on the way. When something is revealed, it makes you run back through the pages looking for clues!
I also liked how the narrative changes from mother to son, seeing how relationships develop and grow, or not.....
Give it a go, you might be surprised! It's not too big either so you will whiz through it! Enjoy.
August 9, 2016
a stunningly good book , highly engaging which exceeded my expectations. Its the early 1970s and.a beautiful woman takes her son for a birthday day trip to London ....parks the car and detonates a bomb in which she is cruelly disfigured and John looses his hearing having been close to death. But it doesnt dwell on the blast , it is ultimately about their journey towards healing physically first and then mentally. I liked the character of Joan particularly as she no longer has lovers, can no longer lecture and becomes a heavy drinker. She has lost so much but her courage in helping her son to heal can only be admired .
October 9, 2016
Very enjoyable. The shifting time and perspective was sometimes a bit disconcerting, but for the most part it worked really well as it revealed all the layers of truths behind the situation that they found themselves in. So many layers all intricately woven into a story that I found engrossing - about different ways we understand ourselves and who we are and how our relationships define us, about parenthood and love; responsibility and guilt.
September 28, 2014
I found this book hard going. I didn't empathise with the characters except Ellen. This came highly recommended by many friends so don't let my feelings deter you from selecting it yourself. I did take a long time to finish it too which never helps.
July 16, 2014
A book that you keep on "reading" while it's actually on your shelf; where you can relate to the characters in a way that every time you stop reading, the real world seems a bit unreal...Great book, fascinating and honest.
January 24, 2015
wonderful and moving read, initially it took me a little while to put together pieces as written in different time sequences, one of those books I shall re read and no doubt find many things I missed the first time round.
June 10, 2012
Found this book to have too little plot for my taste and too much psychological analysis of the characters and retrospective memories of past events.
March 12, 2013
Very moving tale of a mother's love for a son.Written in alternating chapters as viewed by the mother and son.
November 1, 2013
My life was enriched by the reading of this book. I feel in my heart it is a Woman's read, but would be very happy to have that comment rubbished.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews