Settling Day: A Memoir

by Kate Howarth

The much-awaited sequel to The Age Non-fiction Book of the Year winner Ten Hail Marys.

Following on from Ten Hail Marys, which chronicled her volatile upbringing and the fight to save her son from the forced adoption practices of the time, Kate Howarth’s extraordinary life continues in Settling Day.

Thrust out of her son’s life while he is still a toddler, teenaged Kate has to rely on her wits and courage to start life anew. Filled with remorse and an unwavering determination to be reunited with her son, so begins Kate’s journey as she fights injustice and prejudice to create a better life. She amasses a fortune helping to build one of Australia’s most successful recruitment companies, only to lose it all in a contentious legal battle. Kate once again manages to rebuild her life after a major injury, but is always haunted by her lost son.

Settling Day is a remarkable story of resilience that highlights the still prevalent injustices that many women face at work and at home. It took Kate Howarth more than 50 years to discover the true meaning and power of unconditional love.

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2015

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Haworth has written a powerful account of her amazing life. I found this book absorbing and moving. I admired Kate's brilliance as recounted in her business successes and her practical achievements. Yet at times I could barely read the next sentence as she let her heart rule her head with some truly tragic outcomes. Still she has lived and loved deeply and I feel so lucky to have come across this well written account of a life well lived.

[Felicity · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps should rate it 2.5. I found it a bit frustrating....some of the decisions that she made, and kept making throughout her life; some of the relationships that she made, without much thought of the consequences; putting so much money into some ventures and then pulling out and changing directions; that online friendship that she pursued that she really shouldn't have. Good on her, she battled through, but she could have made things easier for herself.

[Michelle Ham · Rating 1 out of 5]

I kept hoping she was sincere about tracking down her son but instead she purchased motorbikes and ran off overseas to marry a man she just met, etc. That would be a lot more palatable if she didn't pretend it was all for her son's sake. Couldn't finish this.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Ten Hail Mary's, I loved his book.
The story continues from Kate moving on without her son and explores her fascinating life and adventures.
This is so well written, it was like having a chat with an old friend. A cliche, but it is so true.
Kate Howarth is a wonderful writer.