Now and Again

by Charlotte Rogan

A provocative novel about the fallout from a search for truth by the author of the national bestseller The Lifeboat.

For Maggie Rayburn--wife, mother, and secretary at a munitions plant--life is pleasant, predictable, and, she assumes, secure. When she finds proof of a high-level cover-up on her boss's desk, she impulsively takes it, an act that turns her world, and her worldview, upside down. Propelled by a desire to do good--and also by a newfound taste for excitement--Maggie starts to see injustice everywhere. Soon her bottom drawer is filled with what she calls "evidence," her small town has turned against her, and she must decide how far she will go for the truth.

For Penn Sinclair--Army Captain, Ivy League graduate, and reluctant heir to his family's fortune--a hasty decision has disastrous results. Home from Iraq and eager to atone, he reunites with three survivors to expose the truth about the war. They launch a website that soon has people talking, but the more they expose, the cloudier their mission becomes.

Now and Again is a blazingly original novel about the interconnectedness of lives, the limits of knowledge, and the consequences of doing the right thing.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, War, Audiobook, Politics, Contemporary, Mystery

442 pages, Hardcover

First published April 5, 2016

About the author

Charlotte Rogan spent 25 years as a closet writer before THE LIFEBOAT was published in 2012. The book was nominated for the Guardian first book award, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and the Goldsboro Books and Historical Writers Association debut historical fiction prize. It was included on The Huffington Post's 2015 list of "21 books from the last 5 years that every woman should read" and has been translated into 26 languages. Rogan's second novel, NOW AND AGAIN, was published in April, 2016.

“Writing is my attempt at reverence—for the natural world and for the thing in people that will sometimes do the right thing in spite of the consequences to themselves and in spite of the cacophony of voices claiming privileged insight into what the right thing is.”

Reviews

[Monique · Rating 1 out of 5]

I too, am glad it's over. I never write a review here, but felt compelled to do so today because I just hated this book and thought I might be able to warn some innocents thinking about taking the plunge. My second grade teacher, Miss Derosia instructed us never to leave a book unfinished because, well you just never know. I have taken that direction very much to heart over the years, but in this case, I wish I had just called it quits.
Too many characters, no cohesion, and ridiculous phrases that left me rolling my eyes. Never again.

[Nancy Cook Lauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stories in one. A whistle-blower in a munitions factory. A group of war-damaged vets. Their lives intersect along the fringes, although never the twain shall meet. Interesting enough, but not compelling. More a slice of life than a plot-driven work, it started up with a good gust of steam, but seemed to peter out at the end. I finished it just to finish it, because after 400 pages, I'd already invested.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reader is introduced to Maggie and her family and colleagues at what appears to be a turning point in her life. Until now, she's led a very normal, everyday, quite secure life, but within the first few pages of Now & Again, she discovers something and does something that will turn her whole world upside down.

Charlotte Rogan writes with precision and sharpness that is quite enthralling at times, her characterisation is spot on and for me, it is her exploration of the moral dilemmas faced by her characters that stand out. Maggie has worked in the munitions factory for years, she only has a few years to serve and then she'll reap the benefits of long-term service, with the pension and financial comfort that will bring. However, she seems to, all of a sudden have realised that munitions actually do kill people. Added to the discovery of evidence of wrong-doings, found on her boss's desk, and Maggie makes decisions that shock everyone who knows her.

Meanwhile, a group of US soldiers, veterans of the Iraq war are also trying to expose horrific cover-ups and social injustices heaped upon them, and their people by those in power. These physically and mentally scarred men, with their horrendous experiences and memories sit well alongside the strong and determined Maggie who is compelled to carry on with her exposures despite what it means for her as a member of such a tight-knit community. Even when she takes another job, in the local prison, she cannot help but become embroiled in her imagined injustices concerning certain prisoners.

Now & Again is a complex and multi-layered story, with many characters and multiple themes. Maggie is an interesting character who will infuriate most readers at times, but it is difficult to dislike her, or not to empathise with her. For me, Captain Penn Sinclair and his group of veterans were more rounded and believable characters, and their part of the story was extremely well told.

Now & Again is longer, with more characters than Rogan's The Lifeboat. She has taken on a subject that it is clear that she feels strongly about. I think I preferred The Lifeboat, but I did really enjoy Now & Again, but would have loved a stronger conclusion to Maggie's quest. There were times that Maggie, and the story felt a little uncontrolled. However, I do enjoy Charlotte Rogan's writing very much and would recommend Now & Again to other readers.

http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...

[Yana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to Charlotte Rogan, Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the copy in return for a fair and honest review. You can find a copy of this review on:
https://thequidnuncblog.wordpress.com...

I have been postponing the reading of this one for a while. I was doing the delayed gratification thing, because I had such a good feeling about it. And I was devastated when I found out I was wrong.

I initially found it very difficult to get into this book. The premise makes for a good story, however, it took a while to really gain my interest. I just didn’t relate enough to the characters to care that much. It also seemed a little disjointed for me, the characters (mainly Maggie) didn’t seem to really get their teeth into the issues they had come across and then the original focus of Maggie’s attention shifted to something totally different which disappointed me. The premise seemed very interesting, and I had high hopes, but the narrative style with multiple characters I found difficult to follow.

It is true I put a hold on the book as soon as I figured out that Charlotte Rogan had another book coming out. It's not like I was a major fan of The Lifeboat. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. But she was an author I wanted to watch for.

Basically, there's way too much information, and not enough plot. What little is there doesn't bring us closer to any of the characters, they remain obscure. Maggie is the only one of them who has any definition, but she makes so many decisions that I couldn't comprehend, that even she comes across as opaque.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm really glad it's over. Definitely NOT my cup of tea.

[Chris Blocker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few years ago I was enticed by Charlotte Rogan's debut novel, The Lifeboat. A pretty cover and an intriguing premise drew me in; bad reviews and a strange similarity to a John Steinbeck story pushed me away. Ultimately, it was the Steinbeck connection that kept me at bay. Wasn't Steinbeck's script, also named The Lifeboat, pretty much the same story? One cannot mirror greatness and expect to measure up.

Now and Again, Rogan's second novel, hooked me with the same elements. I liked the cover. I liked the premise. And this time I wasn't going to let bad reviews, of which there were many, get in the way. With my previous experience, I should've known Now and Again would remind me of a bad Steinbeck rip-off.

Now and Again started off well. I liked the characters, their voices, and felt, with few exceptions, that they were mostly handled with skill. Even as far as half way into the book, I felt like Rogan might have put together an interesting read. But then the comparison became evident. This time, it was the The Grapes of Wrath. No, Now and Again bears no similarity to Steinbeck's Pulitzer-winning novel in plot or subject. In fact, in most ways, the two novels have nothing to do with one another. Where the comparison is drawn, however, is in the commentary on social injustices. The Grapes of Wrath blew apart corporate greed. It exposed a nation to the plight of migrant workers. It moved and the world felt it. Now and Again tries in similar fashion to be a social commentary... on everything. EVERYTHING. Rogan tackles war, religion, technology, ethnicity, environmentalism, television, pharmaceuticals, greyhounds, … (I'm just scratching the surface) and the result of such a wide spread blanket of injustice covers nothing. It unravels. Even though I believe passionately in many of the topics Rogan covered, I could care less with this presentation. The weight of too many causes ripped a hole through the middle of this story. And when there's a hole in the middle of a book, one cannot help but see the author, writing furiously, on the other side.

[Britt-Marie Kullin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betyg: 3 av 5.

Det enda rätta är Charlotte Rogans andra roman. Hennes första heter Livbåten, men den har jag inte läst.

Det enda rätta var en helt okej bok enligt mig, bra, men inte jättebra.

Jag tycker att boken var lite svår att förstå sig på. Och jag, som ju egentligen älskar tjocka och långa böcker, tyckte den var lite för utdragen.

Men jag ska i alla fall läsa hennes första bok, Livbåten, för den har jag läst mycket gott om.

Och jag tror nog att många kan tycka om även den här boken, även om den inte blev någon favorit hos mig.

[Cold War Conversations Podcast · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just couldn’t get into this.

It’s not often I don’t finish a book, but I could not get more than a hundred pages into this one. The premise seemed very interesting, and I had high hopes, but the narrative style with multiple characters I found difficult to follow and with 400+ pages to go I’m sorry to say I gave up…

[Abbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Charlotte Rogan, Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the copy in return for a fair and honest review.

‘ ”I learned the system is designed to preserve itself, even if it has to grind you and me into little pieces.” ’

Maggie is an ordinary woman who discovers, reads and then steals a top secret document from the desk of her boss at a munitions plant. This act changes Maggie’s view on life and morality which ultimately changes the life of her and her family. Elsewhere a group of soldiers set up a website to tell the truth about war following their experiences in the Iraq conflict.

I initially found it very difficult to get into this book. The premise makes for a good story, however, it took a while to really gain my interest.

The book, for me, was about finding yourself and trying to make a difference in the world, as we see though, can we ever really win and get the truth to be known when you are head to head with governments and big corporations? I found it rather depressing, (which for me is generally okay - I don’t always want a happy story!) but I just didn’t relate enough to the characters to care that much. It also seemed a little disjointed for me, the characters (mainly Maggie) didn’t seem to really get their teeth into the issues they had come across and then the original focus of Maggie’s attention shifted to something totally different which disappointed me. While I can see that the story was about the impact of her actions on herself and her family I would have liked a bit more gumption from her about what she had discovered. Maybe that is the fault of some human beings, however, we get defeated and feel that we cannot really make a difference.

The writing is undoubtedly good and I really like the way the book is structured, focusing on different characters. You get to see the wider impact on Maggie’s family due to her actions.

The ending started to get a little more interesting but then, for me, fell flat.
Unfortunately this book was not for me but other people may read it and love it. That’s what makes the world of reading so interesting!

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jag läste aldrig Charlotte Rogans förra bok, Livbåten, eftersom så många tyckte en del negativt om den, men när Det enda rätta kom så tyckte jag att jag väl ändå måste ge henne en chans. Trots att den faktiskt klassades som en filosofisk thriller. Om det nu är en genre som finns. Läs mer på min blogg

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked The Lifeboat very much but found this too difficult to read. The writing is good, but there are just too many characters which diffuses the strength of the narrative. The message seemed to drown the plot.

[Patsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn't get it. Not sure what to think or what the author wanted me to think! I did like this line p. 384
"Miracles were everywhere -- to see them, you only had to look. "

[Lester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't 'for the life of me' say just why I really liked this book. so many lives in the story..individual and together..but separate!!
I just really liked it. (not a very easy read)

[Christine Palkovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the beginning. Each chapter is from the perspective of a particular character. Some stories are intertwined, some are individual. It’s essentially about a woman who wants to do good in the world and things happening in her life and about a group of soldiers. The two storylines are intertwined by the fact that the woman works at a munitions plant at the beginning of the book and then her son goes off to Iraq while serving in the military. I think the book kind of ends abruptly but I guess that is the point - life goes on. The abrupt ending doesn’t take away from the book as a whole. I would actually read this one again and think I would learn more and understand the characters more. It’s excellently written and engaging.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that was confusing. I kept reading to see how it all came together but I'm still confused.

[Anne Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now and Again is an ambitious, witty and angry novel with a large cast of characters. With its multiple points of view, it takes a little getting into, but I found it an engaging and well-crafted story with some exquisite prose. I was a little sceptical about Maggie’s political awakening – so out of step with her neighbours in smalltown Red Bud – but could just about accept her as a bright woman in a job beneath her abilities looking to spread her wings as a son approaches adulthood. However, I loved the depiction of the various adjustment difficulties of the returning soldiers (especially Danny’s voice hearing) and the sadly all too realistic account of his diagnosis being changed from PTSD to personality disorder to reduce the burden on the benefits budget. Thanks to Fleet for my review copy.
Full review http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecdo...

[Lena Westman - Lenas böcker och annant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Betyg: 2,5 / 5

[Stephanie Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and thought provoking. Took me a little bit to get into it and get the characters together, but then was totally drawn in.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just learned that Charlotte Rogan wrote the book "Lifeboat" I've never liked this type of book. Even in school growing up, we'd have exercises about who would live and who would die. It wasn't until about five years ago that I thought about my own life, and realized that it may be because of a personal experience when I was 5 years old where they found me unconscious in the dead man's float that perhaps that is why it is so hard for me. I've been afraid of drowning for most of my life due to my 5 year old experience.

So when I found this book called "Now and Again" and it was written by Rogan, a red flag went up for me and I've been cautious. To a point it so far has been a decent read. There are so many characters to keep track of.

Meanwhile, a group of US soldiers, veterans of the Iraq war are also trying to expose horrific cover-ups and social injustices heaped upon them, and their people by those in power. These physically and mentally scarred men, with their horrendous experiences and memories sit well alongside the strong and determined Maggie who is compelled to carry on with her exposures despite what it means for her as a member of such a tight-knit community. Even when she takes another job, in the local prison, she cannot help but become embroiled in her imagined injustices concerning certain prisoners.

Now & Again is a complex and multi-layered story, with many characters and multiple themes. Maggie is an interesting character who will infuriate most readers at times, but it is difficult to dislike her, or not to empathise with her. For me, Captain Penn Sinclair and his group of veterans were more rounded and believable characters, and their part of the story was extremely well told.

Now & Again is longer, with more characters than Rogan's The Lifeboat. She has taken on a subject that it is clear that she feels strongly about. I somewhat enjoyed Now & Again, but would have loved a stronger conclusion to Maggie's quest. There were times that Maggie, and the story felt a little uncontrolled.

[Bill Fish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read some Amazon user reviews on this book, and I think people were a little too harsh. These characters are very fully realized, and very realistic. The story is divided between 1) Maggie's desire to do good by exposing radiation contamination at the munitions plant and innocent people being locked up for profit at the prison, and 2) veterans from Iraq who have gone through massive trauma that reveals how the war is largely pointless and the soldiers are expendable. These story lines do coincide but only tangentially. The main characters in both stories, although intertwined, do not seem to know each other exists. My problem with this well written complex book is the frustrating lack of conclusions. Maggie has stolen classified documents but doesn't do anything to bring them to light (someone else does but it doesn't amount to anything). Reverend Price is a terrible person who believes everything he does is right because God works through him, and I waited for him to get his due, which never happens. One of the veterans may have been killed, but we don't know for sure. Nothing is answered and no conclusions are even hinted at. Well written, great characters, frustrating story.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confession: I bought this book because the cover was cute and it was $1 (mistake #1). I continued reading this book even though I wanted to add to my DNF pile because about half of it is set near my hometown (mistake #2).

There are a lot of dull characters, a lot left unsaid and two storylines that are vaguely intertwined but that never really meet. The setting didnt feel genuine to me and it honestly felt like there was a lot of fluff in this book that didn't really improve anything.

Two stars since the last 50 pages or so did pick up but I still dont feel there was a real resolution to anything.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book on so many levels. Stylistically like Richard Russo - ordinary but interesting characters and a sardonic tone. Filled with ethical issues of our times. Coherent plotting. A woman author who does a good job of understanding what makes men tick. It was close to amazing!

I looked at the 1 star reviews - they all seemed to be unable to relate to the characters, which misses the point of the novel - the novel is about ethics; the characters are a way to present the moral issues in novelistic terms, rather than as a work of non-fiction.

[Andrew Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Charlotte’s previous novel, The Lifeboat, and thought it very good. I therefore didn’t hesitate to pick up a copy of ‘Now & Again’ when I came across it. More lengthy than her earlier work, it has two interwoven strands. Firstly, there is Maggie who becomes a whistleblower and the narrative involves her developing beliefs and the reactions and interactions of her family, friends and acquaintances. Secondly, there is a group of U.S. army veterans (of the Iraqi conflict) who also become whistleblowers. Charlotte writes very well and characters, events and places are developed interestingly. One minor concern = the ending appears somewhat rushed as if there had been a time deadline for submission or the author ran out of steam. But that is a quibble. I will certainly be following this author’s future output. Very enjoyable.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book read as a political rant that wasn't well disguised into a fictional narrative. The premise seemed so interesting, but it genuinely felt as though Rogan made a list of issues she's passionate about (nuclear weapons, environmental damage, prison reform, whistle-blowing, etc) and forced a narrative to fit around those issues. I don't say this often, but this is a book that I was relieved to finish simply so I could move on to a new story.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up on this book. I hate to do that, feel like a failure, but I just couldn’t get into it. Too many characters and moving parts that didn’t seem to have any connection. I like the author’s writing in many ways, but just kept waiting for it to grab me and gave up after about 150 pages. This is a long book, so I wasn’t willing to commit to taking that much of my time to plod through something that wasn’t grabbing me.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved this author's debut novel, The Lifeboat, but I did not finish this book. Read about a third of it and then quit. I could not figure out where the story was going and there were too many characters in completely different worlds who did not intersect.

[Deborah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. The description of the book made me think it would be an exciting story about whistle blowers, but that is not what happened. I was bored throughout and extremely frustrated with pretty much every character.

[Kenley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a hard read. Just way too many characters and the story wasn’t engaging at all. Also the way it’s written makes it hard to get invested into the characters/story. Got about halfway in before I DNF

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened on audio for ten minutes, ugh

[Mary Conway · Rating 3 out of 5]

bleak and sad, so many wasted lives.