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The Ties That Bind
The Ties That Bind is an emotionally riveting debut novel about the power of a mother’s love and the bonds among family that, though severed, can never be fully broken.On opposite sides of the world, two lives are changed forever. One by the smallest bruise. The other by a devastating bushfire. And both by a shocking secret . . .Miami art curator Courtney Hamilton and her husband David live the perfect life until their ten-year-old son Matthew is diagnosed with leukaemia. He needs a bone-marrow transplant but, with Courtney being adopted, the chances of finding a match within his family are slim. Desperate to find a donor, Courtney tracks the scattered details of her birth 15,000 kilometres away, to the remote town of Somerset in the Victorian bush. Meanwhile Jade Taylor wakes up in hospital in Somerset having survived the deadly bushfire that destroyed the family home and their beloved olive groves. Gone too are the landmarks that remind her of her mother, Asha, a woman whose repeated absences scarred her childhood.As Jade rallies her fractured family to rebuild their lives, Courtney arrives in the burnt countryside to search for her lost parents - but discovers far more . . .
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Lexi Landsman
3 books35 followersLexi Landsman is an Australian author, journalist and television producer. Her debut novel, The Ties That Bind, published by Penguin Random House, came out in 2016. Her second novel, The Perfect Couple is a psychological suspense thriller set in Florence. It will be released on 28 August 2017.
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August 23, 2017
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*4.5 stars
Television producer and journalist Lexi Landsman has turned her hand to writing fiction and her first novel, The Ties That Bind, is an absorbing tale. The Ties That Bind is about sacrifice and the lengths we go to for our children, highlighting how our family connections can be distant at different times of our life, but never beyond repair.
The Ties That Bind is a book set across two different locales, on completely different continents. In Miami in the United States, Courtney Hamilton has a dream career and a happy family. The apple of her eye is her son Matthew. When Matthew falls ill it changes everything for Courtney and her husband Davis. Their perfect world is shattered by the news that Matthew has leukaemia and consequently, he desperately needs a bone marrow transplant to survive. Courtney is faced with an impossible situation, as she is adopted the chances of finding a donor to match is unlikely. Courtney’s desperation to save her son Matthew leads her on a search to find the origins of her biological family. It is a search that takes her to the other side of the world, to Australia. Jade Taylor, a young woman from the heart of Victoria’s bush region may hold the key to Matthew’s survival. Jade has just miraculously survived a deadly fire that has destroyed her family home and livelihood. The arrival of Courtney on her doorstep is not exactly timely. Can the two women work together to save a child and heal after the shocks they have both received to their lives recently?
The Ties That Bind is an emotional story that focuses on the power of family. It delves into how situations occur in our lives when we least expect it, but although they are hard, they make us stronger. Landsman writes beautifully for a debut author, her prose instantly drew me in to the unfolding story. With the book set in two very different parts of the world, Landsman ties them together very neatly. The setting in both the USA and country Australia was depicted clearly. Landsman tackles some fairly technical dialogue in her novel, which is related to Matthew’s health battle with leukaemia. I felt much more informed about this disease after reading The Ties That Bind. Landsman makes these sections of the book accessible for her readers, without burdening them with too much medical jargon. Landsman’s in depth of research in this area of her book shines through her narrative.
Landsman’s treatment of another major event in the The Ties That Bind, the terrible bushfire that rips through main protagonist Jade’s home, was authentic. Landsman was inspired to write a novel on the Victorian bushfires that ravaged through the region in 2009. The insertion of this key event in the novel is presented in a fashion that balances a depth of insight, with the raw emotions that are attached to such an event.
The theme of family is a defining feature of this novel and is one that I appreciated exploring with the characters of this novel. Landsman’s focus on Courtney’s family crisis is handled with care and strong emotion. While reading The Ties That Bind I often felt like my heart was going to break in two. For me, with Matthew being close in age to my own son, I immediately put myself in Courtney’s shoes and wondered how I would deal with such a crisis on my own home front. On the other side, Jade’s family crisis is centered around the loss of their livelihood and family home, which is also an awful experience to go through. I did appreciate the parts of this novel that looked at the rebuilding process and the chance opportunity for romance to enter Jade’s life through the fire. The estrangement Jade experiences through her absent mother makes for an emotional read. Courtney’s battle with her mother is felt strong and hard by the reader, aided by Landsman’s prose. Many of the scenes involving this character had me shaking my head in disbelief at her actions, she was a pretty appalling character! A discussion of character in this book cannot go without a mention of Jade’s grandmother, who was a beautiful soul and clearly drawn by Landsman.
The Ties That Bind is a novel grounded perfectly in character, setting and narrative purpose. It sets itself up nicely for a fitting conclusion, that gave me sense of all is good in the world once I closed the book. Lexi Landsman looks to have a promising career ahead of her in the publishing field if her first book is anything to go by.
*4.5 stars
Television producer and journalist Lexi Landsman has turned her hand to writing fiction and her first novel, The Ties That Bind, is an absorbing tale. The Ties That Bind is about sacrifice and the lengths we go to for our children, highlighting how our family connections can be distant at different times of our life, but never beyond repair.
The Ties That Bind is a book set across two different locales, on completely different continents. In Miami in the United States, Courtney Hamilton has a dream career and a happy family. The apple of her eye is her son Matthew. When Matthew falls ill it changes everything for Courtney and her husband Davis. Their perfect world is shattered by the news that Matthew has leukaemia and consequently, he desperately needs a bone marrow transplant to survive. Courtney is faced with an impossible situation, as she is adopted the chances of finding a donor to match is unlikely. Courtney’s desperation to save her son Matthew leads her on a search to find the origins of her biological family. It is a search that takes her to the other side of the world, to Australia. Jade Taylor, a young woman from the heart of Victoria’s bush region may hold the key to Matthew’s survival. Jade has just miraculously survived a deadly fire that has destroyed her family home and livelihood. The arrival of Courtney on her doorstep is not exactly timely. Can the two women work together to save a child and heal after the shocks they have both received to their lives recently?
The Ties That Bind is an emotional story that focuses on the power of family. It delves into how situations occur in our lives when we least expect it, but although they are hard, they make us stronger. Landsman writes beautifully for a debut author, her prose instantly drew me in to the unfolding story. With the book set in two very different parts of the world, Landsman ties them together very neatly. The setting in both the USA and country Australia was depicted clearly. Landsman tackles some fairly technical dialogue in her novel, which is related to Matthew’s health battle with leukaemia. I felt much more informed about this disease after reading The Ties That Bind. Landsman makes these sections of the book accessible for her readers, without burdening them with too much medical jargon. Landsman’s in depth of research in this area of her book shines through her narrative.
Landsman’s treatment of another major event in the The Ties That Bind, the terrible bushfire that rips through main protagonist Jade’s home, was authentic. Landsman was inspired to write a novel on the Victorian bushfires that ravaged through the region in 2009. The insertion of this key event in the novel is presented in a fashion that balances a depth of insight, with the raw emotions that are attached to such an event.
The theme of family is a defining feature of this novel and is one that I appreciated exploring with the characters of this novel. Landsman’s focus on Courtney’s family crisis is handled with care and strong emotion. While reading The Ties That Bind I often felt like my heart was going to break in two. For me, with Matthew being close in age to my own son, I immediately put myself in Courtney’s shoes and wondered how I would deal with such a crisis on my own home front. On the other side, Jade’s family crisis is centered around the loss of their livelihood and family home, which is also an awful experience to go through. I did appreciate the parts of this novel that looked at the rebuilding process and the chance opportunity for romance to enter Jade’s life through the fire. The estrangement Jade experiences through her absent mother makes for an emotional read. Courtney’s battle with her mother is felt strong and hard by the reader, aided by Landsman’s prose. Many of the scenes involving this character had me shaking my head in disbelief at her actions, she was a pretty appalling character! A discussion of character in this book cannot go without a mention of Jade’s grandmother, who was a beautiful soul and clearly drawn by Landsman.
The Ties That Bind is a novel grounded perfectly in character, setting and narrative purpose. It sets itself up nicely for a fitting conclusion, that gave me sense of all is good in the world once I closed the book. Lexi Landsman looks to have a promising career ahead of her in the publishing field if her first book is anything to go by.
July 25, 2016
From the beginning of this novel my emotions were captured and that is always a good thing. The story tells of Courtney, her husband David and their ten year old son Matthew who live in America. The alternate story concerns Jade Taylor who lives in the Australian rural town of Somerset in Victoria. The descriptions of Australia and the olive groves are well done while the account of the bush fire and the devastation left behind leaves you almost feeling you are there.
As expected the two stories intertwine. Matthew, who wants to be a professional soccer player when he grows up and who has a lot of talent for the game, is diagnosed with leukaemia. The descriptions of Matthew and his family as he undergoes treatment and the emphasis on platelets and other blood count issues, was very real to me. I was right there in that hospital with Matthew and his parents and they struggled for answers. I loved the simple way David explained to his son about the blood issues, with the blood count factory. I related to David’s’ reactions on page 191 as he watched his son suffer. But it is not overdone. Snippets of fun times and memories are interspersed. I could also understand Courtney’s reaction, as she goes looking for answers about her adopted parents in an effort to find a suitable donor to help save Matthew.
The beautiful simplicity of the writing touched me. ’Courtney knew now that a secret was like a piece of clay in a potter’s hands. It could be carved and moulded, constructed and pulled apart, and then could suddenly morph into something else entirely. It could shape a life.’ Another one was ‘regret is an unbearable shadow; it follows you everywhere and haunts you.’ There is more of that one and even though I struggled to like or understands the character, I could relate to the idea of what was being said. Another that is brilliant one is on page 389 about silence. I’m not going to quote it here though, because I want people to read the story. Yes, there were tears in this novel, and anger at times as well, but it is not depressing. Ultimately it is a novel about love, family, forgiveness, and hope. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel. I found this to be an emotionally charged, riveting read. Once started I had to keep going till I finished it.
As expected the two stories intertwine. Matthew, who wants to be a professional soccer player when he grows up and who has a lot of talent for the game, is diagnosed with leukaemia. The descriptions of Matthew and his family as he undergoes treatment and the emphasis on platelets and other blood count issues, was very real to me. I was right there in that hospital with Matthew and his parents and they struggled for answers. I loved the simple way David explained to his son about the blood issues, with the blood count factory. I related to David’s’ reactions on page 191 as he watched his son suffer. But it is not overdone. Snippets of fun times and memories are interspersed. I could also understand Courtney’s reaction, as she goes looking for answers about her adopted parents in an effort to find a suitable donor to help save Matthew.
The beautiful simplicity of the writing touched me. ’Courtney knew now that a secret was like a piece of clay in a potter’s hands. It could be carved and moulded, constructed and pulled apart, and then could suddenly morph into something else entirely. It could shape a life.’ Another one was ‘regret is an unbearable shadow; it follows you everywhere and haunts you.’ There is more of that one and even though I struggled to like or understands the character, I could relate to the idea of what was being said. Another that is brilliant one is on page 389 about silence. I’m not going to quote it here though, because I want people to read the story. Yes, there were tears in this novel, and anger at times as well, but it is not depressing. Ultimately it is a novel about love, family, forgiveness, and hope. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel. I found this to be an emotionally charged, riveting read. Once started I had to keep going till I finished it.
June 15, 2016
The Ties That Bind is an impressive debut novel that opens with a somewhat tormenting prologue in which a mother turns around and can’t find her child. From this point, it segues into the life of Jade Taylor who finds herself, her father and her grandmother facing a bushfire that threatens not only a home and olive grove but their livelihood as well as the memories Jade holds so dear, leading us into the story of Courtney and David Hamilton who find themselves faced with one of the most awful predicaments any parent could find themselves in – discovering that their child is terminally ill.
Torn between staying in Miami to support and comfort her son during his treatment versus travelling to Australia on a flimsy lead to uncover the truth about her heritage, Courtney will need to make one of the hardest decisions of her life while discovering one of the harshest secrets a parent can keep from their child.
Hope permeates this novel and, in both Courtney and Jade’s search for meaning amongst the fractured fragments of their lives and families, a number of people will need to overcome (and perhaps forgive) frailties of the human flesh in order to move on and try to save a life.
I find it a bit hard to believe that this is Lexi Landsman’s first novel because she writes with the dexterity of a seasoned writer, engaging us with a style that alternates her characters’ points of view chapter by chapter while exploring her subject matter and adding a few shocking twists to the mix.
While the prologue sets the reader up for what is to be revealed later in the novel, Lexi very deftly constructs the novel around this pivotal event, keeping it well hidden until she is ready for the big reveal and I found myself driven to get to that point .
Presenting all sides with honesty and compassion, there is an underlying sense of hope that strengthens and motivates her characters as she deepens the story by treading into territory that includes child abduction, adoption as well as an extreme example of an ambivalent mother.
Whilst each of her characters has their own personal journey to traverse, Matthew’s, seen through
the eyes of Courtney and David, is the one that struck a chord with me as I became privy to not only the agony experienced by his parents after diagnosis but also the long road filled with uncertainty and despair as he begins his treatment. Lexi’s presentation of stem-cell treatment is quite obviously testament to the amount of research that she must have done and is both insightful and plausible.
Asha, however, is a different kettle of fish – she’s an extremely complicated character with flaws galore and I struggled to connect with her, finding her to be too selfish and self-absorbed for my liking. But isn’t that a sign of a good character?
Ultimately, this is a story about motherhood and I have no doubt that most mothers (and daughters) will relate on many different levels with this novel’s complex mix of familial love, resentment, desperation, deceit, conflict and identity which Lexi uses to explore the dynamics between her characters.
With richly drawn characters and emotions that readers can relate to, Lexi Landsman shows great promise and is an author I’d like to see more of. She has crafted a powerful and moving debut which isn’t overly sentimental and could possibly give Jodi Picoult a run for her money (without the courtroom drama).
I can see this one making it onto many favourites lists for 2016, while book clubs will have a field day picking its very topical aspects apart.
Torn between staying in Miami to support and comfort her son during his treatment versus travelling to Australia on a flimsy lead to uncover the truth about her heritage, Courtney will need to make one of the hardest decisions of her life while discovering one of the harshest secrets a parent can keep from their child.
Hope permeates this novel and, in both Courtney and Jade’s search for meaning amongst the fractured fragments of their lives and families, a number of people will need to overcome (and perhaps forgive) frailties of the human flesh in order to move on and try to save a life.
I find it a bit hard to believe that this is Lexi Landsman’s first novel because she writes with the dexterity of a seasoned writer, engaging us with a style that alternates her characters’ points of view chapter by chapter while exploring her subject matter and adding a few shocking twists to the mix.
While the prologue sets the reader up for what is to be revealed later in the novel, Lexi very deftly constructs the novel around this pivotal event, keeping it well hidden until she is ready for the big reveal and I found myself driven to get to that point .
Presenting all sides with honesty and compassion, there is an underlying sense of hope that strengthens and motivates her characters as she deepens the story by treading into territory that includes child abduction, adoption as well as an extreme example of an ambivalent mother.
Whilst each of her characters has their own personal journey to traverse, Matthew’s, seen through
the eyes of Courtney and David, is the one that struck a chord with me as I became privy to not only the agony experienced by his parents after diagnosis but also the long road filled with uncertainty and despair as he begins his treatment. Lexi’s presentation of stem-cell treatment is quite obviously testament to the amount of research that she must have done and is both insightful and plausible.
Asha, however, is a different kettle of fish – she’s an extremely complicated character with flaws galore and I struggled to connect with her, finding her to be too selfish and self-absorbed for my liking. But isn’t that a sign of a good character?
Ultimately, this is a story about motherhood and I have no doubt that most mothers (and daughters) will relate on many different levels with this novel’s complex mix of familial love, resentment, desperation, deceit, conflict and identity which Lexi uses to explore the dynamics between her characters.
With richly drawn characters and emotions that readers can relate to, Lexi Landsman shows great promise and is an author I’d like to see more of. She has crafted a powerful and moving debut which isn’t overly sentimental and could possibly give Jodi Picoult a run for her money (without the courtroom drama).
I can see this one making it onto many favourites lists for 2016, while book clubs will have a field day picking its very topical aspects apart.
July 27, 2016
Every now and then I'm totally surprised by a book, or author that I had no prior knowledge about. The Ties That Bind is one of those books that may slip under the radar but for me it was totally captivating from the first page.
Beautifully written it tells the story of Jade who in Victoria, Australia is facing one of the most terrifying times of her life. Ferocious bushfires are raging around the hills and her family home and their olive groves are totally decimated. Her father and grandmother escape in time but Jade stubbornly decided to fight the fire and nearly lost her life in the process. Only luck had it that she was discovered by a fire fighter and brought to safety.
On the other side of the world Courtney and David have found out their precious son Matthew, has a rare form of leukaemia. Courtney, who has always known she was adopted, sets out to find her real parents in the hope of getting a match for her son's stem cells. Her search brings her to the fictional town of Somerset in Victoria and secrets that were never told are finally revealed.
Told in alternating chapters between Jade, Courtney and David I found this to be a gentle but moving story of communities working together in times of need, families torn apart, love, hope and forgiveness. Even now as I'm writing this, I'm sitting back and reflecting on this story and how it made me feel...very moved.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review of this lovely book.
Beautifully written it tells the story of Jade who in Victoria, Australia is facing one of the most terrifying times of her life. Ferocious bushfires are raging around the hills and her family home and their olive groves are totally decimated. Her father and grandmother escape in time but Jade stubbornly decided to fight the fire and nearly lost her life in the process. Only luck had it that she was discovered by a fire fighter and brought to safety.
On the other side of the world Courtney and David have found out their precious son Matthew, has a rare form of leukaemia. Courtney, who has always known she was adopted, sets out to find her real parents in the hope of getting a match for her son's stem cells. Her search brings her to the fictional town of Somerset in Victoria and secrets that were never told are finally revealed.
Told in alternating chapters between Jade, Courtney and David I found this to be a gentle but moving story of communities working together in times of need, families torn apart, love, hope and forgiveness. Even now as I'm writing this, I'm sitting back and reflecting on this story and how it made me feel...very moved.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review of this lovely book.
December 8, 2016
I met Lexi Landsman at the Melbourne Jewish Writers Festival, and bought her book there (I always come home from a festival with a suitcase laden with books!) The Ties That Bind Us is her first novel, but I can guarantee it won’t be her last. From the heart-rending opening scene, when a child is stolen from her pram, to the emotional lump-in-the-throat ending, the story unspools swiftly and surely, the pages seemingly turning themselves.
It’s the story of a young mother, Courtney, who discovers that her ten-year-old desperately son needs a bone marrow transplant. His best chance of surviving is to find a familial match – but Courtenay is adopted and knows nothing about her birth family. She sets out on a quest to discover her origins, and uncovers all sorts of dark secrets. A really engaging and heart-warming read.
It’s the story of a young mother, Courtney, who discovers that her ten-year-old desperately son needs a bone marrow transplant. His best chance of surviving is to find a familial match – but Courtenay is adopted and knows nothing about her birth family. She sets out on a quest to discover her origins, and uncovers all sorts of dark secrets. A really engaging and heart-warming read.
September 24, 2017
I'd been meaning to read the book for ages & am glad I did. Once I started reading it & got through more than a chapter a night due to exhaustion, I couldn't put it down.
The story is riveting, taking you through ups & downs of life & how lies can destroy lives.
Read it to discover how blood is thicker than water despite the distance.
The story is riveting, taking you through ups & downs of life & how lies can destroy lives.
Read it to discover how blood is thicker than water despite the distance.
January 17, 2018
This was an enjoyable holiday read from a first time author-two parallel story lines that inevitably mesh as each character and her immediate family discover one another and become highly co-dependent to secure the recovery of a very sick child. The account is very readable and though not difficult or overly challenging , you want to keep going to find out what is going to happen next. The narrative switches between fictional Somerset, Victoria, the site of devastating bushfires, at the outset of the novel, with verdant Miami, USA and these settings provide alternate contexts for the events that unfold.
Sometimes like a Judy Nunn novel, and sometimes like a Di Morrissey one with some tinges of a familiar Mills and Boon story line , this is a predictable yet feel good book to read when time is not your enemy.
Sometimes like a Judy Nunn novel, and sometimes like a Di Morrissey one with some tinges of a familiar Mills and Boon story line , this is a predictable yet feel good book to read when time is not your enemy.
December 13, 2019
Beautifully written and heart-wrenching. More topical now than ever with bushfires raging around the country and people being left displaced.
January 17, 2018
This moving family drama had me in tears. It is beautifully written and the characters are full of depth. I strongly recommend it for readers who enjoy Jodi Picoult and Lisa Genova books. It was one of those books that I didn't want to end!
January 18, 2018
Loved this moving family drama set in the countryside of Victoria after devastating bushfires. Compelling story and beautifully written.
July 21, 2016
Book Blurb…
The Ties That Bind is an emotionally riveting debut novel about the power of a mother's love and the bonds among family that, though severed, can never be fully broken. On opposite sides of the world, two lives are changed forever. One by the smallest bruise. The other by a devastating bushfire. And both by a shocking secret . . .Miami art curator Courtney Hamilton and her husband David live the perfect life until their ten-year-old son Matthew is diagnosed with leukaemia. He needs a bone-marrow transplant but, with Courtney being adopted, the chances of finding a match within his family are slim. Desperate to find a donor, Courtney tracks the scattered details of her birth 15,000 kilometres away, to the remote town of Somerset in the Victorian bush. Meanwhile Jade Taylor wakes up in hospital in Somerset having survived the deadly bushfire that destroyed the family home and their beloved olive groves. Gone too are the landmarks that remind her of her mother, Asha, a woman whose repeated absences scarred her childhood. As Jade rallies her fractured family to rebuild their lives, Courtney arrives in the burnt countryside to search for her lost parents - but discovers far more . . .
My Thoughts…
The Ties That Bind was both intriguing and emotional. A solid, well told story—a debut novel and a new voice in Australian fiction.
I am a little biased but I do love an Aussie small town story. Who could pass on the opportunity to read a new one?
The conflict drew me in and made me hold my breathe until the last page.
Did I say emotional?
I loved both lead characters - Courtney and Jade - whose life struggles were very real and well portrayed. The author showed me the Australian countryside destroyed by fire and confirmed the resilience of a local community in times of tragedy. Throw in a child with a life threatening illness, the clock counting down, and you have the makings of a great read.
Well done to the Author and I look forward to future stories.
The Ties That Bind is an emotionally riveting debut novel about the power of a mother's love and the bonds among family that, though severed, can never be fully broken. On opposite sides of the world, two lives are changed forever. One by the smallest bruise. The other by a devastating bushfire. And both by a shocking secret . . .Miami art curator Courtney Hamilton and her husband David live the perfect life until their ten-year-old son Matthew is diagnosed with leukaemia. He needs a bone-marrow transplant but, with Courtney being adopted, the chances of finding a match within his family are slim. Desperate to find a donor, Courtney tracks the scattered details of her birth 15,000 kilometres away, to the remote town of Somerset in the Victorian bush. Meanwhile Jade Taylor wakes up in hospital in Somerset having survived the deadly bushfire that destroyed the family home and their beloved olive groves. Gone too are the landmarks that remind her of her mother, Asha, a woman whose repeated absences scarred her childhood. As Jade rallies her fractured family to rebuild their lives, Courtney arrives in the burnt countryside to search for her lost parents - but discovers far more . . .
My Thoughts…
The Ties That Bind was both intriguing and emotional. A solid, well told story—a debut novel and a new voice in Australian fiction.
I am a little biased but I do love an Aussie small town story. Who could pass on the opportunity to read a new one?
The conflict drew me in and made me hold my breathe until the last page.
Did I say emotional?
I loved both lead characters - Courtney and Jade - whose life struggles were very real and well portrayed. The author showed me the Australian countryside destroyed by fire and confirmed the resilience of a local community in times of tragedy. Throw in a child with a life threatening illness, the clock counting down, and you have the makings of a great read.
Well done to the Author and I look forward to future stories.
June 14, 2016
What a brilliant debut from a new Australian author I had not heard of, but now hope to hear a lot more of.
There are two storylines going on in this book - one about Jade and her father and grandmother who go through the horrifying loss of their home and their Olive plantation in Victoria in a bushfire. The other is about Courtney and David and their son Matthew who live in Miami, USA. They are a happy family until they receive from devastating news about their son.
For quite some time I was puzzled as to how these two stories were going to come together, they were so different it seemed like I was actually reading two separate books. All the characters had me hooked from the beginning to the end. Tackling issues such as loss of their home, their livelihood, bringing communities together, illness, a bit of romance, altzheimer's disease, secrets - this book has all that and more.
The author was very clever with her writing and did not reveal how these two stories intersected until almost 3/4 of the way through the book, and from then on I just could not put it down.
She has really done her research on the elements that happen in this novel and its hard to believe its her first book, her writing is superb.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.
There are two storylines going on in this book - one about Jade and her father and grandmother who go through the horrifying loss of their home and their Olive plantation in Victoria in a bushfire. The other is about Courtney and David and their son Matthew who live in Miami, USA. They are a happy family until they receive from devastating news about their son.
For quite some time I was puzzled as to how these two stories were going to come together, they were so different it seemed like I was actually reading two separate books. All the characters had me hooked from the beginning to the end. Tackling issues such as loss of their home, their livelihood, bringing communities together, illness, a bit of romance, altzheimer's disease, secrets - this book has all that and more.
The author was very clever with her writing and did not reveal how these two stories intersected until almost 3/4 of the way through the book, and from then on I just could not put it down.
She has really done her research on the elements that happen in this novel and its hard to believe its her first book, her writing is superb.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.
June 10, 2016
There are multiple points of view in this story. The prologue had my heart picking up the beats somewhat. Both sides of the story have some tragic/devastating moments and a read with its fare share of twists throughout the story.
Review copy received from Random House Publishing via Netgalley for an honest rating
Review copy received from Random House Publishing via Netgalley for an honest rating
May 14, 2016
Beautifully written. Couldn't put it down!
August 7, 2017
By the fourth chapter I was speeding past the pages and whole sections of conversations. I have to wonder why some of the chapters are even in the book. I don't understand why people gave it five stars I found it to be a typical romance with a theme that hints at how it will end. Young readers might like this novel but if one is looking for a story with grit don't bother.
November 28, 2019
I am not going to finish his book. Although it’s about a very sad and sensitive theme and probably ends happily ever after, I want more grit and unique writing, not something I feel I have read many times before. Sorry, bland and predictable.
May 15, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this book from a 'first time writer'.
December 27, 2018
A book set in Victoria familiar places
June 22, 2017
Last weekend at the Melbourne Jewish Writers Festival, I went to a session featuring debut authors, and became interested in this novel The Ties That Bind because of its subject matter. The chair, Nadine Davidoff, made the point that it traverses a number of themes with ideas bustling for attention but in a really good way. Davidoff is an editor who teaches at the University of Melbourne, and she’s been a commissioning editor at Random House and Black Inc., so she knows what she’s talking about. I think that book groups would enjoy discussing this title, and I also think that it would make an absorbing film.
The author, Lexi Landsman said that the book had its genesis in her own experiences. She had a colleague, she said, who was adopted but had no interest in meeting her sudden siblings. She had visited the Cumberland Resort in Marysville not long before the town was destroyed by bushfire, and had struggled to come to terms with how the landscape could be there one day, and then not. She also knew someone who had needed stem cell therapy and through the real life synchronicity of finding an American donor, had seen how the chance of finding someone on the other side of the world could change a life. And because she had been writing since she was a child, she found herself writing about these things and one day realised that she was writing a novel…
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2016/05/25/t...
The author, Lexi Landsman said that the book had its genesis in her own experiences. She had a colleague, she said, who was adopted but had no interest in meeting her sudden siblings. She had visited the Cumberland Resort in Marysville not long before the town was destroyed by bushfire, and had struggled to come to terms with how the landscape could be there one day, and then not. She also knew someone who had needed stem cell therapy and through the real life synchronicity of finding an American donor, had seen how the chance of finding someone on the other side of the world could change a life. And because she had been writing since she was a child, she found herself writing about these things and one day realised that she was writing a novel…
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2016/05/25/t...
June 18, 2016
A beautifully written story by a debut author. The book is set in Australia and Miami and the movement between the two creates interest from the start. I became completely involved in the parallel stories and felt great empathy for the characters and their particular difficulties, one side with Victorian bushfires and the other with childhood illness. The extensive research on both fronts is apparent and the description and detail the author provides make for an enthralling experience. I couldn't wait to find out how the two sets of characters would connect. I could not put it down. A very satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
June 15, 2016
This beautifully written book grabbed at my heart in the first few pages. Each character's story evoked different emotions and memories within me. I got caught out by the potential twists thinking I'd worked then out then was surprised at what they ended up revealing. I shed some tears and welcomed sharing the emotional journey with the characters (who in fact felt more like real people than just imagined people in a book). A very enjoyable, engaging read.
June 7, 2016
What a read! Such a captivating novel that I read it in one sitting. Beautiful writing and such descriptive characters and detail. Was genuinely moved by the story that its hard to believe this was derived from pure imagination - such talent. Cannot wait for books from this author.
July 17, 2016
I loved this book ! It was beautifully written and it made me want to read through the nights was so hard to put down. An emotional story that had me in tears many times - so beautifully written, it was riveting. It would make a fantastic mini series or movie.
June 13, 2016
Absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. Great story with a number of twists and turns. Sad I've finished reading it!
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