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Akin
This "soul stirring" novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Room ( O Magazine ) is one of the New York Post 's best books of the year.
Noah Selvaggio is a retired chemistry professor and widower living on the Upper West Side, but born in the South of France. He is days away from his first visit back to Nice since he was a child, bringing with him a handful of puzzling photos he's discovered from his mother's wartime years. But he receives a call from social Noah is the closest available relative of an eleven-year-old great-nephew he's never met, who urgently needs someone to look after him. Out of a feeling of obligation, Noah agrees to take Michael along on his trip.
Much has changed in this famously charming seaside mecca, still haunted by memories of the Nazi occupation. The unlikely duo, suffering from jet lag and culture shock, bicker about everything from steak frites to screen time. But Noah gradually comes to appreciate the boy's truculent wit, and Michael's ease with tech and sharp eye help Noah unearth troubling details about their family's past. Both come to grasp the risks people in all eras have run for their loved ones, and find they are more akin than they knew.
Written with all the tenderness and psychological intensity that made Room an international bestseller, Akin is a funny, heart-wrenching tale of an old man and a boy, born two generations apart, who unpick their painful story and start to write a new one together.
"What begins as a larky story of unlikely male bonding turns into an off-center but far richer novel about the unheralded, imperfect heroism of two women." -- New York Times
Noah Selvaggio is a retired chemistry professor and widower living on the Upper West Side, but born in the South of France. He is days away from his first visit back to Nice since he was a child, bringing with him a handful of puzzling photos he's discovered from his mother's wartime years. But he receives a call from social Noah is the closest available relative of an eleven-year-old great-nephew he's never met, who urgently needs someone to look after him. Out of a feeling of obligation, Noah agrees to take Michael along on his trip.
Much has changed in this famously charming seaside mecca, still haunted by memories of the Nazi occupation. The unlikely duo, suffering from jet lag and culture shock, bicker about everything from steak frites to screen time. But Noah gradually comes to appreciate the boy's truculent wit, and Michael's ease with tech and sharp eye help Noah unearth troubling details about their family's past. Both come to grasp the risks people in all eras have run for their loved ones, and find they are more akin than they knew.
Written with all the tenderness and psychological intensity that made Room an international bestseller, Akin is a funny, heart-wrenching tale of an old man and a boy, born two generations apart, who unpick their painful story and start to write a new one together.
"What begins as a larky story of unlikely male bonding turns into an off-center but far richer novel about the unheralded, imperfect heroism of two women." -- New York Times
544 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
1331 people are currently reading
20737 people want to read
About the author
Emma Donoghue
77 books13.2k followersGrew up in Ireland, 20s in England doing a PhD in eighteenth-century literature, since then in Canada. Best known for my novel, film and play ROOM, also other contemporary and historical novels and short stories, non-fiction, theatre and middle-grade novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,216 reviews
August 22, 2019
I’ve enjoyed everything by Emma Donoghue that I’ve read, so there was no doubting I was going to miss out on this. With the frequency of grandparents taking care of grandkids because the parents are dead or incarcerated, it’s just a slight stretch that a great uncle would get the call.
Noah, a 79 year old professor, gets just that request right before he’s due to visit Nice, his place of birth and a place he hasn’t seen since leaving when he was four. As someone who’s not a natural with kids, I immediately bonded with Noah. Donoghue totally gets that fight to keep some level of communication going and what a struggle it is, especially when things we take for granted (grammar, history) are total unknowns to the youngster. Noah’s efforts to explain an adverb vs. an adjective could have been lifted from my life! And the generational divide overrides every socio-economic difference, especially when it comes to an addiction to electronics.
The kid was looking at his phone again.
“Ah, back to the screen.”
“You talk a lot dude,” Michael murmured without looking up.
There’s a mystery to solve as well. Noah has snapshots his mother took during the war. But they’re such odd photos, he’s not sure what/where/who they involve. While in Nice, he attempts to solve the puzzle.
I loved this book. Between the characters, the mystery and the beautiful writing,I was entranced. I loved how even throw away lines rang so true. “They climbed the steps, Noah’s hip speaking to him. Tourism was such an odd mixture of the tiring and the hedonistic.” And how photography was a constant theme throughout the book.
My thanks to netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy of this book.
Noah, a 79 year old professor, gets just that request right before he’s due to visit Nice, his place of birth and a place he hasn’t seen since leaving when he was four. As someone who’s not a natural with kids, I immediately bonded with Noah. Donoghue totally gets that fight to keep some level of communication going and what a struggle it is, especially when things we take for granted (grammar, history) are total unknowns to the youngster. Noah’s efforts to explain an adverb vs. an adjective could have been lifted from my life! And the generational divide overrides every socio-economic difference, especially when it comes to an addiction to electronics.
The kid was looking at his phone again.
“Ah, back to the screen.”
“You talk a lot dude,” Michael murmured without looking up.
There’s a mystery to solve as well. Noah has snapshots his mother took during the war. But they’re such odd photos, he’s not sure what/where/who they involve. While in Nice, he attempts to solve the puzzle.
I loved this book. Between the characters, the mystery and the beautiful writing,I was entranced. I loved how even throw away lines rang so true. “They climbed the steps, Noah’s hip speaking to him. Tourism was such an odd mixture of the tiring and the hedonistic.” And how photography was a constant theme throughout the book.
My thanks to netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy of this book.
September 16, 2019
As in her bestselling novel Room, Donoghue returns to the relationship of an adult and child. Unlike Room, the circumstances are very different. At the age of 79, Noah is a retired Chemistry professor, with a trip planned to Nice, France with a bundle of photographs. His intention is to uncover the mystery of his mother's stay in France during WWII. His plans are soon derailed when he is asked to take temporary guardianship of Michael, an eleven year old great nephew he has never met.
Soon the two are in Nice, and off to a shaky beginning. A life of privilege meets a life that was anything but. A life of crime, drugs, and fearsome neighborhoods. On the surface this is a charming novel, amusing at times, and wondrous as an elderly man who never had children, tries to relate to a young boy who has already endured much. There are hidden depths within, with the unveiling of Noah's mother's life, and her activities during the war.
By books end both man and boy come to different realizations, and this easy flowing story holds more than one surprise. A delightful and meaningful read.
"Don't smash your foot. So many ways Noah couldn't protect this boy; it was like traveling with s bag of bananas he had little chance of delivering unbruised........."
ARC from Edelweiss.
"The future was more urgent than the past, he decided, even if the two were entangled. Like the line he read in the Resistance museum: never hate, but never forget."
Soon the two are in Nice, and off to a shaky beginning. A life of privilege meets a life that was anything but. A life of crime, drugs, and fearsome neighborhoods. On the surface this is a charming novel, amusing at times, and wondrous as an elderly man who never had children, tries to relate to a young boy who has already endured much. There are hidden depths within, with the unveiling of Noah's mother's life, and her activities during the war.
By books end both man and boy come to different realizations, and this easy flowing story holds more than one surprise. A delightful and meaningful read.
"Don't smash your foot. So many ways Noah couldn't protect this boy; it was like traveling with s bag of bananas he had little chance of delivering unbruised........."
ARC from Edelweiss.
"The future was more urgent than the past, he decided, even if the two were entangled. Like the line he read in the Resistance museum: never hate, but never forget."
January 22, 2022
Akin by Emma Donoghue - audiobook.
Noah Selvaggio, an urbane 79 year old retired professor, pads carefully about his smart Manhattan apartment, packing a small case in preparation for a long awaited trip to Nice, his childhood home. He is a widower and lives a quiet life where often the only voice he hears is that of his departed wife talking softly, sardonically and always sensibly in his ear, guiding him through the latter years of his life.
Noah’s preparations are interrupted by a telephone call. His life is about to take a bizarre turn.
A social services case worker has tracked Noah down and tells him that his estranged, 11 year old great nephew, Michael is in need of help. His father is dead, his mother is in prison on drug charges and his grandmother, his most recent guardian has just passed away.
Noah, after much persuasion and soul searching, agrees to look after Michael, on a very temporary basis and reluctantly agrees to take him on his trip to France.
The interplay between Noah and Michael is of course central to the book. Noah with his cultural interests, old fashioned values and grouchiness is humorously set against Michael’s monosyllabic, sullen, and streetwise nature - the closed, incomprehensible world of an 11 year old, his mounting issues held at bay by his flickering smartphone screen.
Seventy five years ago Noah’s mother stayed on in Nice when Noah and his father moved over to America. There is some mystery here and Noah has unearthed some random, black and white photographs taken by his mother. Even with his unexpected companion now in tow he intends to find some answers. A tale of wartime intrigue, occupation, collaboration and anti semitism is gradually pieced together.
Akin is understated, funny and wise - a thoughtful novel that also has an emotional pull. The ending is particularly poignant and I listened to the closing section twice. It also worked well as an audio book. The narration by Jason Culp is pitch perfect and both central characters felt very real.
Loved this book!
Noah Selvaggio, an urbane 79 year old retired professor, pads carefully about his smart Manhattan apartment, packing a small case in preparation for a long awaited trip to Nice, his childhood home. He is a widower and lives a quiet life where often the only voice he hears is that of his departed wife talking softly, sardonically and always sensibly in his ear, guiding him through the latter years of his life.
Noah’s preparations are interrupted by a telephone call. His life is about to take a bizarre turn.
A social services case worker has tracked Noah down and tells him that his estranged, 11 year old great nephew, Michael is in need of help. His father is dead, his mother is in prison on drug charges and his grandmother, his most recent guardian has just passed away.
Noah, after much persuasion and soul searching, agrees to look after Michael, on a very temporary basis and reluctantly agrees to take him on his trip to France.
The interplay between Noah and Michael is of course central to the book. Noah with his cultural interests, old fashioned values and grouchiness is humorously set against Michael’s monosyllabic, sullen, and streetwise nature - the closed, incomprehensible world of an 11 year old, his mounting issues held at bay by his flickering smartphone screen.
Seventy five years ago Noah’s mother stayed on in Nice when Noah and his father moved over to America. There is some mystery here and Noah has unearthed some random, black and white photographs taken by his mother. Even with his unexpected companion now in tow he intends to find some answers. A tale of wartime intrigue, occupation, collaboration and anti semitism is gradually pieced together.
Akin is understated, funny and wise - a thoughtful novel that also has an emotional pull. The ending is particularly poignant and I listened to the closing section twice. It also worked well as an audio book. The narration by Jason Culp is pitch perfect and both central characters felt very real.
Loved this book!
September 17, 2019
Beginning in New York City:
At the start of this novel....
social worker, Rosa Figueroa connects the 79 year old retired-widowed professor Noah Selvaggio, and his 11 year old great-nephew, Michael Young, together.
Michael’s mother, Amber, was in prison.
Michael’s father, Victor, died young from a drug overdose, who was married to Noah’s sister, Fernande.
Fernande was dead too.
Noah lost his wife, his sister, his parents, and his job.
Noah had one friend: Vivienne. Vivienne had been Joan’s best friend. So, through osmosis: and especially with the death of Joan, Noah remained friends with his wife’s best friend/Vivienne.
But mostly, Noah was alone in the world in the same way his great-nephew was also alone in the world.
The only family Michael had - [next-akin] - was Noah.
Michael lost both parents -had no siblings, aunts or uncles.
Oh... and what a little spitfire Michael is!
It’s a treasure dancing along side of Michael and Noah’s relationship. Their growth is sincerely moving.
Noah knew about Michael’s existence....the unstable history of his parents, ....but the two of them had never met.... until... well...
they were to become the odd couple.
I enjoyed getting to know Noah from the start. He was grieving his dead wife Joan, and slightly grieving his retirement as a professor. I was impressed that this older man felt confident to take a pretty big trip alone at his age.
While Noah was packing a suitcase for his trip to France, counting out socks, he was having inner voice conversations with his dead wife, Joan. I felt his loss. I felt his love. I felt his loneliness. I felt sad...
but I was also in ‘aw’ of him.
I felt privileged to begin to know him.
While cleaning out personal belongings- Noah found some old photographs of his mother - which tied into Noah’s overseas trip.
Noah’s purpose in going to Nice, France was to uncover wartime’s secrets from his mother involvement with the Nazi’s during WWII. He had many questions. I did too. I was definitely curious about this mystery.
But first back to the circumstances that brought Noah and Michael together.
It felt unlikely to me that a social worker would consider placing the young boy with an almost 80 year old who was about to leave the county.
But... I went with it.
Note: I just finished another book where I had to suspend beliefs in “The Book of Dreams”, by Nina George.
It’s challenging for me to recover my ‘confidence-of-greatness’ for a novel once I’ve had to suspend beliefs.
However ... I ‘did’ recover!!!
Somehow, Emma Donogue pulled it off. Pulled it off great.
My emotions were involved. Emma’s writing is what’s soooo terrific:
the dialogue.... the details... the intimacy... the visuals... the atmospheric tie between the characters and setting... and her ability to know when to use witty humor...and when to be serious.
No question about it... Noah and Michael were an unlikely duo.... but as the story gets moving ... it becomes impossible to put down. Emma knew what she was doing. I was returned to confidence. I could sit back and enjoy the journey....
which I did VERY MUCH.
I came to love the relationship between Noah & Michael.... and I loved them each as individuals.
Emma’s heartfelt journey of mystery, history, family, and love was delightfully-incorrigibly-wonderful!!!
Perhaps another movie?
Thank You Netgalley, Little Brown and Company,
and Emma Donoghue
At the start of this novel....
social worker, Rosa Figueroa connects the 79 year old retired-widowed professor Noah Selvaggio, and his 11 year old great-nephew, Michael Young, together.
Michael’s mother, Amber, was in prison.
Michael’s father, Victor, died young from a drug overdose, who was married to Noah’s sister, Fernande.
Fernande was dead too.
Noah lost his wife, his sister, his parents, and his job.
Noah had one friend: Vivienne. Vivienne had been Joan’s best friend. So, through osmosis: and especially with the death of Joan, Noah remained friends with his wife’s best friend/Vivienne.
But mostly, Noah was alone in the world in the same way his great-nephew was also alone in the world.
The only family Michael had - [next-akin] - was Noah.
Michael lost both parents -had no siblings, aunts or uncles.
Oh... and what a little spitfire Michael is!
It’s a treasure dancing along side of Michael and Noah’s relationship. Their growth is sincerely moving.
Noah knew about Michael’s existence....the unstable history of his parents, ....but the two of them had never met.... until... well...
they were to become the odd couple.
I enjoyed getting to know Noah from the start. He was grieving his dead wife Joan, and slightly grieving his retirement as a professor. I was impressed that this older man felt confident to take a pretty big trip alone at his age.
While Noah was packing a suitcase for his trip to France, counting out socks, he was having inner voice conversations with his dead wife, Joan. I felt his loss. I felt his love. I felt his loneliness. I felt sad...
but I was also in ‘aw’ of him.
I felt privileged to begin to know him.
While cleaning out personal belongings- Noah found some old photographs of his mother - which tied into Noah’s overseas trip.
Noah’s purpose in going to Nice, France was to uncover wartime’s secrets from his mother involvement with the Nazi’s during WWII. He had many questions. I did too. I was definitely curious about this mystery.
But first back to the circumstances that brought Noah and Michael together.
It felt unlikely to me that a social worker would consider placing the young boy with an almost 80 year old who was about to leave the county.
But... I went with it.
Note: I just finished another book where I had to suspend beliefs in “The Book of Dreams”, by Nina George.
It’s challenging for me to recover my ‘confidence-of-greatness’ for a novel once I’ve had to suspend beliefs.
However ... I ‘did’ recover!!!
Somehow, Emma Donogue pulled it off. Pulled it off great.
My emotions were involved. Emma’s writing is what’s soooo terrific:
the dialogue.... the details... the intimacy... the visuals... the atmospheric tie between the characters and setting... and her ability to know when to use witty humor...and when to be serious.
No question about it... Noah and Michael were an unlikely duo.... but as the story gets moving ... it becomes impossible to put down. Emma knew what she was doing. I was returned to confidence. I could sit back and enjoy the journey....
which I did VERY MUCH.
I came to love the relationship between Noah & Michael.... and I loved them each as individuals.
Emma’s heartfelt journey of mystery, history, family, and love was delightfully-incorrigibly-wonderful!!!
Perhaps another movie?
Thank You Netgalley, Little Brown and Company,
and Emma Donoghue
October 4, 2019
4 stars!
A multi-layered, endearing and intriguing family journey.
The main relationship in this novel is between great uncle and great nephew. Seventy-nine-year-old widowed Noah, is great uncle to Michael, the son of Noah’s deceased nephew. Noah finds himself in the position of being the only living relative able to take guardianship over Michael when his maternal grandmother passes away. This was a unique and very interesting relationship to explore, especially since Noah and Michael had never met prior to the start of the novel. I enjoyed following their journey while getting to know one another.
The author, Emma Donoghue, weaves an interesting tale that has a strong sense of family mystery. Noah aims to explore his family history that holds many secrets. He stumbles across several photographs at the start of the book which entice him to look deeper into his past to find answers to questions that have been weighing on his mind for years. The family mystery that floats throughout the novel kept me invested and intrigued.
One of my favourite parts of the narrative was Noah’s deceased wife’s thoughts speaking to Noah in his mind. He could hear his late wife’s ‘reactions’ and ‘thoughts’ to several situations which I found very touching and heartfelt. It added a layer of emotion and feeling that strengthened my connection to Noah who was strong yet vulnerable – I adored him!
I had the immense pleasure of attending an Author Series Event where Emma Donoghue spoke earlier this week. She was highly entertaining and extremely insightful into her writing process. I was surprised to learn that Michael was a late addition to the novel, being added after she had created Noah and his story. I always find it interesting to learn how an author creates their characters and storyline and what inspires them. Much of Michael’s character was inspired by Emma’s own children.
Overall, this was a well-written, thought-provoking, entertaining novel that I would highly recommend. It is not action packed, or brimming with suspense, but contains the perfect mix of family mystery, endearing characters and beautiful writing.
Thank you to my lovely local library for lending me their copy of this excellent novel!
A multi-layered, endearing and intriguing family journey.
The main relationship in this novel is between great uncle and great nephew. Seventy-nine-year-old widowed Noah, is great uncle to Michael, the son of Noah’s deceased nephew. Noah finds himself in the position of being the only living relative able to take guardianship over Michael when his maternal grandmother passes away. This was a unique and very interesting relationship to explore, especially since Noah and Michael had never met prior to the start of the novel. I enjoyed following their journey while getting to know one another.
The author, Emma Donoghue, weaves an interesting tale that has a strong sense of family mystery. Noah aims to explore his family history that holds many secrets. He stumbles across several photographs at the start of the book which entice him to look deeper into his past to find answers to questions that have been weighing on his mind for years. The family mystery that floats throughout the novel kept me invested and intrigued.
One of my favourite parts of the narrative was Noah’s deceased wife’s thoughts speaking to Noah in his mind. He could hear his late wife’s ‘reactions’ and ‘thoughts’ to several situations which I found very touching and heartfelt. It added a layer of emotion and feeling that strengthened my connection to Noah who was strong yet vulnerable – I adored him!
I had the immense pleasure of attending an Author Series Event where Emma Donoghue spoke earlier this week. She was highly entertaining and extremely insightful into her writing process. I was surprised to learn that Michael was a late addition to the novel, being added after she had created Noah and his story. I always find it interesting to learn how an author creates their characters and storyline and what inspires them. Much of Michael’s character was inspired by Emma’s own children.
Overall, this was a well-written, thought-provoking, entertaining novel that I would highly recommend. It is not action packed, or brimming with suspense, but contains the perfect mix of family mystery, endearing characters and beautiful writing.
Thank you to my lovely local library for lending me their copy of this excellent novel!
February 2, 2020
I loved Akin. 79-year old Noah is about to embark on a trip to Nice when he receives an unexpected call requesting assistance to care for his 11-year old great nephew, Michael. Instead of cancelling the trip, Noah begrudgingly agrees to temporarily assume responsibility for Michael and brings him along to France.
Noah hasn’t been back to Nice since he left, as a young child. He has photos of his mother there and is trying to solve some unknowns about her life and potential involvement in WWII.
Noah and Michael are skeptical of one another. Michael has had to endure more hardship and tragedy than any 11-year old should. While not always appropriate, I did appreciate his blunt communication style, finding it to be fairly realistic of kids - Their often unfiltered view of the world, both touching and humorous.
I’m wary of making comparisons as they sometimes tend to disappoint, and can distort expectations, however, with some story elements in Akin, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the movie Up and the book, Clock Dance, both of which I greatly enjoyed.
”He and the boy were quite alien to each other, he decided. Yet in an odd way, akin.”
Noah hasn’t been back to Nice since he left, as a young child. He has photos of his mother there and is trying to solve some unknowns about her life and potential involvement in WWII.
Noah and Michael are skeptical of one another. Michael has had to endure more hardship and tragedy than any 11-year old should. While not always appropriate, I did appreciate his blunt communication style, finding it to be fairly realistic of kids - Their often unfiltered view of the world, both touching and humorous.
I’m wary of making comparisons as they sometimes tend to disappoint, and can distort expectations, however, with some story elements in Akin, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the movie Up and the book, Clock Dance, both of which I greatly enjoyed.
”He and the boy were quite alien to each other, he decided. Yet in an odd way, akin.”
October 2, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
2.5 Stars
Am I in a book slump? It seems my “mehs” are seriously outweighing my yeahs at this point : (
Alright, so I’m the naysayer when it comes to the Akin party. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Aside from the aforementioned possible slump as well as the fact that I consistently suck turtles. I mean, there’s zero doubt that Emma Donoghue knows how to tell a story – unfortunately I just didn’t connect with this one.
Maybe my expectations were too high? I was lucky enough to read Room before the hype train left the station and no one had ever heard of it and I picked up (and really enjoyed) The Wonder upon my reaction to Room. I actually took a gander at the blurb (after wiping the drool off my face from that gorgeous cover) and went into this expecting a feel-good tale in the form of an elderly curmudgeon obtaining a new lease on life courtesy of a sassy whippersnapper. Well, I got the sassy whippersnapper . . . .
“It’s an, rather than a, when it’s followed by a vowel: an atheist.”
“Like, you’re AN asshole.”
He supposed he deserved that one.
And I guess I got the “feel good” – but not in the form I was expecting (we’ll get to that in a second). However, the elderly curmudgeon I was hoping for????
Notsamuch. More like . . . .
But with a very large side order of . . . .
Which, lemme tell ya, was 100% not believable when talking about a 79 year old who talks like an instruction manual and never had any children.
As for the story itself? Well . . . .
It starts with our main character Noah preparing for a trip to the South of France where he was born. He’s forced to alter his plans – adding a plus one – when a never-before-met great-nephew named Michael emerges needing an emergency interim caretaker due to his mother being in the slammer. Things got awkward for me immediately upon the arrival to Nice, which either was already pre-planned as one of the most boring walks down memory lane EVER or went off the rails into a Nancy Drew episode upon Noah discovering some old photographs while cleaning out his recently deceased sister’s things that he decides must be monumental or she wouldn’t have kept them (despite her being described as a bit of a packrat with boxes upon boxes of mementos that hold absolutely no sentimental value to Noah). Now, mind you, these two are staying here . . . .
But it’s like the author has ever been there (despite having lived there and being very vocal about how much she loves the South of France) because very little regarding the fact that it is a paradise is mentioned. Instead they go searching for the source and story behind these old pictures. Noah eats stereotypical touristy types of food that an American with a real “daring” palate would eat – like snails (Michael is a child so he pretty much only wants French fries). Young Michael also proves to be the real brains behind the organization and can take one gander at a photo and instantly know what it is/where it might be despite the fact that he’s ELEVEN years old and has never been to Nice. This is the second book I’ve reviewed in as many days where the characters didn’t feel authentic and had me wondering if Donoghue has ever met an eleven year old. This kid read more like 14 or 15, aside from the fact that he did do that really effing annoying thing all kids seem to be doing now . . . .
(Michael called it “ballgazers” and that actually made me laugh a little – but I’m sure would not please most parents and teachers. My kids just say “that’s a neck” and then karate chop the shit out of you for looking.)
Michael’s unfortunate familial circumstances also get whitewashed because apparently this is a book about an adult/child relationship that is very unlike Room in that no darkness should dare to tread. The “mystery” of the photos could have been something that resulted in an amazingly skillet-to-the-face type of reveal, but no. Again, this book is all about love and light. Except when it came to any time Noah talked about his nephew (and Michael’s father) . . . .
WTF was up with that?
2.5 Stars
Am I in a book slump? It seems my “mehs” are seriously outweighing my yeahs at this point : (
Alright, so I’m the naysayer when it comes to the Akin party. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Aside from the aforementioned possible slump as well as the fact that I consistently suck turtles. I mean, there’s zero doubt that Emma Donoghue knows how to tell a story – unfortunately I just didn’t connect with this one.
Maybe my expectations were too high? I was lucky enough to read Room before the hype train left the station and no one had ever heard of it and I picked up (and really enjoyed) The Wonder upon my reaction to Room. I actually took a gander at the blurb (after wiping the drool off my face from that gorgeous cover) and went into this expecting a feel-good tale in the form of an elderly curmudgeon obtaining a new lease on life courtesy of a sassy whippersnapper. Well, I got the sassy whippersnapper . . . .
“It’s an, rather than a, when it’s followed by a vowel: an atheist.”
“Like, you’re AN asshole.”
He supposed he deserved that one.
And I guess I got the “feel good” – but not in the form I was expecting (we’ll get to that in a second). However, the elderly curmudgeon I was hoping for????
Notsamuch. More like . . . .
But with a very large side order of . . . .
Which, lemme tell ya, was 100% not believable when talking about a 79 year old who talks like an instruction manual and never had any children.
As for the story itself? Well . . . .
It starts with our main character Noah preparing for a trip to the South of France where he was born. He’s forced to alter his plans – adding a plus one – when a never-before-met great-nephew named Michael emerges needing an emergency interim caretaker due to his mother being in the slammer. Things got awkward for me immediately upon the arrival to Nice, which either was already pre-planned as one of the most boring walks down memory lane EVER or went off the rails into a Nancy Drew episode upon Noah discovering some old photographs while cleaning out his recently deceased sister’s things that he decides must be monumental or she wouldn’t have kept them (despite her being described as a bit of a packrat with boxes upon boxes of mementos that hold absolutely no sentimental value to Noah). Now, mind you, these two are staying here . . . .
But it’s like the author has ever been there (despite having lived there and being very vocal about how much she loves the South of France) because very little regarding the fact that it is a paradise is mentioned. Instead they go searching for the source and story behind these old pictures. Noah eats stereotypical touristy types of food that an American with a real “daring” palate would eat – like snails (Michael is a child so he pretty much only wants French fries). Young Michael also proves to be the real brains behind the organization and can take one gander at a photo and instantly know what it is/where it might be despite the fact that he’s ELEVEN years old and has never been to Nice. This is the second book I’ve reviewed in as many days where the characters didn’t feel authentic and had me wondering if Donoghue has ever met an eleven year old. This kid read more like 14 or 15, aside from the fact that he did do that really effing annoying thing all kids seem to be doing now . . . .
(Michael called it “ballgazers” and that actually made me laugh a little – but I’m sure would not please most parents and teachers. My kids just say “that’s a neck” and then karate chop the shit out of you for looking.)
Michael’s unfortunate familial circumstances also get whitewashed because apparently this is a book about an adult/child relationship that is very unlike Room in that no darkness should dare to tread. The “mystery” of the photos could have been something that resulted in an amazingly skillet-to-the-face type of reveal, but no. Again, this book is all about love and light. Except when it came to any time Noah talked about his nephew (and Michael’s father) . . . .
WTF was up with that?
November 7, 2019
* 1.5 *
I will select the more civil notes I scribbled while reading this one :
Pretentious wind bagging ! does a recently abandoned child need to know how a Le Corbusier chair works ?
Stop peppering “Dude” in every conversation between the old man and the eleven year old.
Reading about characters googling historical information and then relaying said information does not make for exciting reading.
There is just not enough story here and it is criminally boring !
Whispered to myself: “Find something positive to say” - Good substitute for the Lonely Planet guide to Nice ?
Well at least we will always have “Room”
I will select the more civil notes I scribbled while reading this one :
Pretentious wind bagging ! does a recently abandoned child need to know how a Le Corbusier chair works ?
Stop peppering “Dude” in every conversation between the old man and the eleven year old.
Reading about characters googling historical information and then relaying said information does not make for exciting reading.
There is just not enough story here and it is criminally boring !
Whispered to myself: “Find something positive to say” - Good substitute for the Lonely Planet guide to Nice ?
Well at least we will always have “Room”
December 6, 2024
I loved this book so much! I can’t believe I waited so long to read it.
This book is super realistic is the was the characters act and I just loved the plot! The main characters have never met but tragic circumstances bring them together. Their ages are separated by decades, but an unlikely (and reluctant) friendship forms. The book wil leave you feeling like there Is still good In the world.
If this book was a song it would be Forever Young by Rod Stewart
This book is super realistic is the was the characters act and I just loved the plot! The main characters have never met but tragic circumstances bring them together. Their ages are separated by decades, but an unlikely (and reluctant) friendship forms. The book wil leave you feeling like there Is still good In the world.
If this book was a song it would be Forever Young by Rod Stewart
September 11, 2019
Emma Donoghue was a successful novelist long before her seventh novel, “Room,” eclipsed all her previous work and brought her international fame. If you read it, you’ll never forget 5-year-old Jack, who describes living his entire life with Ma in a backyard dungeon. We see their lives as an unspeakable ordeal of deprivation and rape, but Jack’s mother makes sure that her son sees their tiny cell as a world filled with wonder.
With her new book, “Akin,” Donoghue returns to the story of a child and an adult trapped together. But the circumstances are far less bizarre, the constraints less intense. If “Room” was a horror novel laced with sweetness, “Akin” is a sweet novel laced with horror. It’s the story of a man learning late in life to expand his sense of family, to realize as never before who his kin are.
The protagonist is a chemistry professor named Noah Selvaggio who recently retired to avoid the risk of becoming a laughingstock. “Professor in his late seventies sounded rather admirable,” Noah thinks, “but professor in his eighties?” No thanks. That sensible decision epitomizes Noah’s tough realism. Confronted with the challenge of filling unscheduled days in New York City, he decides to jump-start his new life with a trip to Nice, France for the annual Carnival. There, he plans to celebrate his 80th birthday and reconnect with his hometown, a place he hasn’t seen since he was shipped off to America as a child to escape the Nazis. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
With her new book, “Akin,” Donoghue returns to the story of a child and an adult trapped together. But the circumstances are far less bizarre, the constraints less intense. If “Room” was a horror novel laced with sweetness, “Akin” is a sweet novel laced with horror. It’s the story of a man learning late in life to expand his sense of family, to realize as never before who his kin are.
The protagonist is a chemistry professor named Noah Selvaggio who recently retired to avoid the risk of becoming a laughingstock. “Professor in his late seventies sounded rather admirable,” Noah thinks, “but professor in his eighties?” No thanks. That sensible decision epitomizes Noah’s tough realism. Confronted with the challenge of filling unscheduled days in New York City, he decides to jump-start his new life with a trip to Nice, France for the annual Carnival. There, he plans to celebrate his 80th birthday and reconnect with his hometown, a place he hasn’t seen since he was shipped off to America as a child to escape the Nazis. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
September 25, 2019
Touching. Witty. Heartbreaking. Emma Donoghue’s latest is all of those and more. This was such a wonderful read that I found myself savoring it, reading only a chapter or so a night, making it last.
Noah is a retired chemistry professor living in New York. His wife, Joan, passed away nearly a decade ago. Noah is originally from France, and he’s finally planned a trip to his birthplace, Nice. But shortly before his trip, he receives a call from social services: he is the only available relative able to take care of Michael, an eleven-year-old great-nephew he’s never even met. Noah reluctantly agrees to take Michael on his trip. This unlikely pair take on Nice together: looking at France through two very different lenses. But Michael’s tech savvy helps Noah as he attempts to unravel some details about his family’s past, and Noah can’t help but see some of his late troubled nephew in this funny, acerbic boy.
I fell hard for Noah and Michael. Donoghue captures them perfectly. Their wit, their banter, and their various insecurities. This book is alternately hilarious and heart wrenching. It’s beautifully written, touching, and just a lovely read. 4+ stars. Highly recommend!
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Noah is a retired chemistry professor living in New York. His wife, Joan, passed away nearly a decade ago. Noah is originally from France, and he’s finally planned a trip to his birthplace, Nice. But shortly before his trip, he receives a call from social services: he is the only available relative able to take care of Michael, an eleven-year-old great-nephew he’s never even met. Noah reluctantly agrees to take Michael on his trip. This unlikely pair take on Nice together: looking at France through two very different lenses. But Michael’s tech savvy helps Noah as he attempts to unravel some details about his family’s past, and Noah can’t help but see some of his late troubled nephew in this funny, acerbic boy.
I fell hard for Noah and Michael. Donoghue captures them perfectly. Their wit, their banter, and their various insecurities. This book is alternately hilarious and heart wrenching. It’s beautifully written, touching, and just a lovely read. 4+ stars. Highly recommend!
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July 22, 2019
Emma Donoghue is a mesmerizing writer who is not afraid to take chances. When reading her previous books – Room, for example, or The Wonder – I did not come up for air.
So my first reaction on her latest book was a bit of disappointment. “A retired New York professor’s life is thrown into chaos when he takes a young grand-nephew to France in hopes of uncovering his own mother’s secrets from World War II.” Really? Hadn’t I read the old man/young boy (“child is father to the man”) story many times already – Domenico Starnone’s Ties, to name just one? And World War II – isn’t that inevitably going to mean another book about Nazi collaborators?
Well, I needn’t have worried. This is, after all, Emma Donoghue. And even though it’s not quite as ambitious as her previous work, it’s a fascinating, page-turning, turn-the-formula-on-its-head sort of read.
Why is it so good? For one thing, Noah, the chemistry professor on the cusp of his 80th birthday and Michael, the 11-year-old boy whose father is dead and whose mother is incarcerated, are about as authentic as it gets. All the jargon…all the innocence combined with “pretend” disinterest and jadedness…all the wheedling and foul mouth bravado…it’s all here in Michael, who can, in turn, be defiant, endearing, and downright exhausting. Noah’s attempts to bridge the communication gap and try to earn a bit of the boy’s respects are also touching. But Emma Donoghue never resorts to manipulative sentimentality or tired tropes. Noah and Michael can step off the pages.
Also, a third important character in the book is the French city of Nice. The author spent a few years there with her wife and children and her familiarity with Nice shows. The Carnival, the museums, the food (Michael’s reactions to unfamiliar French food is hilariously real), the back history – all of it adds another dimension to his already intriguing tale.
I haven’t said much about the plot because that’s for readers to discover for themselves. Suffice to say that it hinges on some mystifying photos that Noah’s vanished mother took during the war years. His logical powers of deduction clash and eventually merge with Michael’s more imaginative mind as answers begin to reveal themselves. All in all, a very satisfying book. 4.5 stars. Thanks to @LittleBrown for an advance copy of one of my favorite writer's work in exchange for an honest review. #EmmaDonoghue #Akin
So my first reaction on her latest book was a bit of disappointment. “A retired New York professor’s life is thrown into chaos when he takes a young grand-nephew to France in hopes of uncovering his own mother’s secrets from World War II.” Really? Hadn’t I read the old man/young boy (“child is father to the man”) story many times already – Domenico Starnone’s Ties, to name just one? And World War II – isn’t that inevitably going to mean another book about Nazi collaborators?
Well, I needn’t have worried. This is, after all, Emma Donoghue. And even though it’s not quite as ambitious as her previous work, it’s a fascinating, page-turning, turn-the-formula-on-its-head sort of read.
Why is it so good? For one thing, Noah, the chemistry professor on the cusp of his 80th birthday and Michael, the 11-year-old boy whose father is dead and whose mother is incarcerated, are about as authentic as it gets. All the jargon…all the innocence combined with “pretend” disinterest and jadedness…all the wheedling and foul mouth bravado…it’s all here in Michael, who can, in turn, be defiant, endearing, and downright exhausting. Noah’s attempts to bridge the communication gap and try to earn a bit of the boy’s respects are also touching. But Emma Donoghue never resorts to manipulative sentimentality or tired tropes. Noah and Michael can step off the pages.
Also, a third important character in the book is the French city of Nice. The author spent a few years there with her wife and children and her familiarity with Nice shows. The Carnival, the museums, the food (Michael’s reactions to unfamiliar French food is hilariously real), the back history – all of it adds another dimension to his already intriguing tale.
I haven’t said much about the plot because that’s for readers to discover for themselves. Suffice to say that it hinges on some mystifying photos that Noah’s vanished mother took during the war years. His logical powers of deduction clash and eventually merge with Michael’s more imaginative mind as answers begin to reveal themselves. All in all, a very satisfying book. 4.5 stars. Thanks to @LittleBrown for an advance copy of one of my favorite writer's work in exchange for an honest review. #EmmaDonoghue #Akin
December 19, 2019
When seventy-nine-year-old Noah was asked to take temporary guardianship of his eleven-year-old great nephew, Michael, whom he had never met, he was horrified. He and wife Joan had never had children, so with Joan deceased, the widow and the lonely, reticent child (Michael’s maternal grandmother had just passed; his mother was in jail; father dead) were meant to “hang out”. Noah was leaving within days for a trip to his birthplace, Nice, which he had had planned for quite some time. He would turn eighty while away, and his plans included trying to discover answers about his mother during world war two.
Of course, Michael and Noah were like chalk and cheese. Michael was trying to push his great-uncle’s buttons, hence the swearing and street talk; Noah was trying to stay sane. How would these two strangers manage together – old age for Noah; finding his feet in his youth for Michael – without them coming to blows?
Akin by Emma Donoghue is well written, which is the norm for this author. But the vast differences between Noah and Michael were glaringly obvious and I found Michael to be a rude and obnoxious child. I thought he’d improve, at least a little, as the story moved forward! I really enjoyed the “voice” of Noah’s wife Joan as he heard her comments in his thoughts. That was well done. Akin just didn’t hit the right notes for me I’m afraid. But fans of the author would probably disagree 😊
With thanks to the publisher for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Of course, Michael and Noah were like chalk and cheese. Michael was trying to push his great-uncle’s buttons, hence the swearing and street talk; Noah was trying to stay sane. How would these two strangers manage together – old age for Noah; finding his feet in his youth for Michael – without them coming to blows?
Akin by Emma Donoghue is well written, which is the norm for this author. But the vast differences between Noah and Michael were glaringly obvious and I found Michael to be a rude and obnoxious child. I thought he’d improve, at least a little, as the story moved forward! I really enjoyed the “voice” of Noah’s wife Joan as he heard her comments in his thoughts. That was well done. Akin just didn’t hit the right notes for me I’m afraid. But fans of the author would probably disagree 😊
With thanks to the publisher for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2020
Emma Donoghue’s “Akin” is an absorbing read featuring an aged chemistry professor and a streetwise tween. Yes, a couple of boys hastily thrown together because of blood relations, aka kin.
Noah Selvaggio is packing for his journey to Nice, France so he can celebrate his 80th birthday and enjoy Carnival at the same time. Three days before his journey, he receives a call from Social Services asking him to take his eleven-year-old Grandnephew. If he doesn’t take him, the kid will be left to “the system” in that downward spiral of hell. Noah is a widower; he and his wife never had children and enjoyed the adult life of scholars.
So, Noah and his nephew, Michael, end up flying to Nice. Michael has never left his neighborhood and is absorbingly attached to his iPhone. Michael has been raised by his grandmother for the past couple of years after his father died of an overdose and his mother was jailed for drugs. Noah cannot even begin to understand what Michael’s life was like. Michael cannot understand all Noah’s rules of deportment. They are an improbable pair; which Donoghues uses as fodder for her story.
Noah is going back to learn more about his mother. His discoveries become grim and the story could be a fully depressing one. Enter Michael and his youthful observations. The storyline turns and twists into the sadness of WWII while Michael throws out laugh-out-loud remarks. The pair bicker into the reader’s heart. It’s a bit predictable, but satisfying, nonetheless.
Noah Selvaggio is packing for his journey to Nice, France so he can celebrate his 80th birthday and enjoy Carnival at the same time. Three days before his journey, he receives a call from Social Services asking him to take his eleven-year-old Grandnephew. If he doesn’t take him, the kid will be left to “the system” in that downward spiral of hell. Noah is a widower; he and his wife never had children and enjoyed the adult life of scholars.
So, Noah and his nephew, Michael, end up flying to Nice. Michael has never left his neighborhood and is absorbingly attached to his iPhone. Michael has been raised by his grandmother for the past couple of years after his father died of an overdose and his mother was jailed for drugs. Noah cannot even begin to understand what Michael’s life was like. Michael cannot understand all Noah’s rules of deportment. They are an improbable pair; which Donoghues uses as fodder for her story.
Noah is going back to learn more about his mother. His discoveries become grim and the story could be a fully depressing one. Enter Michael and his youthful observations. The storyline turns and twists into the sadness of WWII while Michael throws out laugh-out-loud remarks. The pair bicker into the reader’s heart. It’s a bit predictable, but satisfying, nonetheless.
April 30, 2021
What a disappointment from Emma Donoghue. I didn't read Room but read Slamerkin years ago and loved it. This book had all the right themes and set up for a story that I would like: a Jewish great grandfather, Noah, takes his great nephew, Michael, on a trip to France to find the answers to a family mystery that took place during WW11. What could go wrong? Well, Noah only met Michael a few days before they leave on the trip to Nice . Unbelievable, but I gave Donoghue the benefit of the doubt expecting to see change and a growing closeness in the two characters and in their relationship. That didn't happen. Every day spent in Nice was just as dull as the last and Noah and Michael had the same arguments and interactions throughout the week. I could hardly believe they were in Nice; the place itself didn't come alive. Donoghue just named a few well known streets and places in Nice. That didn't create the atmosphere of Nice at all. The mystery could have become an interesting story but wasn't. Completely anti-climactic. The story just went on and on in a very tedious fashion. I only finished the novel in order to see how it ended, hoping for a nugget of change, something positive to feel about the book. But the ending, as voiced by Noah, which was only a sentence or two was so treacly sweet, unrealistic and out of character that I literally cringed.
I'm an outlier in terms of this book so please take my review with a grain of salt and read other more positive reviews.
I'm an outlier in terms of this book so please take my review with a grain of salt and read other more positive reviews.
March 20, 2022
Akin' is nothing less than a touching, delightful, and poignant noble by the esteemed Emma Donoghue. There was nothing not to like about this tremendous story of 79 yo widower Noah Selvaggio and his 11-year-old great-nephew, Michael. Sadly, Michael has essentially been left orphaned and currently in the foster care system. Widower Noah is all set to go to Nice, France to research his familial history when a social worker calls and asks if he can please take Michael in temporarily until she can find other family able to fill this void. Hence, a marvelous and touching relationship is formed between young and old, each learning a lot from the other. I especially appreciated that Noah is portrayed as an able bodied and sound of mind older adult. Too often older adults are pushed to the side in our youth obsessed society and not given the respect or just dues that these members of the "Greatest Generation" deserve. We are all going to get old if we don't die first, and denying this fact is detrimental to all.
On a lighter note, Michael cracked me up with his vulgarities and I especially appreciated how Noah let a lot of his rudeness roll off his back because he knew in the long run it was because of his past environment and really trivial in the grand scheme of things. The ending had me teared up and I just absolutely adored this authentic, realistic, hilarious and touching story.
Narrator Jason Culp is phenomenal as the voice of both Noah and Michael. Especially loved his narration of Michael and his wise a--ed remarks. The tone of voice is perfection and had me bent over laughing at his hilarious banter and quips.
This novel has something for everyone - young or old - and should not be missed.
On a lighter note, Michael cracked me up with his vulgarities and I especially appreciated how Noah let a lot of his rudeness roll off his back because he knew in the long run it was because of his past environment and really trivial in the grand scheme of things. The ending had me teared up and I just absolutely adored this authentic, realistic, hilarious and touching story.
Narrator Jason Culp is phenomenal as the voice of both Noah and Michael. Especially loved his narration of Michael and his wise a--ed remarks. The tone of voice is perfection and had me bent over laughing at his hilarious banter and quips.
This novel has something for everyone - young or old - and should not be missed.
November 25, 2019
2.5, rounded up.
Donahue rose to fame and fortune on the basis of her novel Room, which told a compelling story, but utterly failed to convince me that it was written from the perspective of its 5 year old protagonist (both the vocabulary and insight of the boy far exceeded such a young age). Her new book suffers something of a similar fate ... the main characters are an old codger approaching his 80th birthday, and his 11 year old great nephew, whom circumstances have left in his care during a fateful trip to Nice. Neither character completely convinces - they are like caricatures of what one would suppose such people would be like, and I soon wearied of being in their company, which often grated in its boorishness and repetition.
The two central 'mysteries' the elder Noel is trying to solve - what a series of photos taken by his mother during the Occupation mean, and why his nephew (the young boy's father) wound up dead of a drug overdose, are obvious to the reader far in advance of the curmudgeon FINALLY figuring them out, so one becomes impatient. And then, as in her earlier work, the ending bogs down in such treacly sentimentality, that diabetics should be given advanced warning.
That said, it isn't totally unreadable, and my displeasure is at least 50% my own preference for a different type of reading experience, so a begrudgingly very generous 3 stars.
Donahue rose to fame and fortune on the basis of her novel Room, which told a compelling story, but utterly failed to convince me that it was written from the perspective of its 5 year old protagonist (both the vocabulary and insight of the boy far exceeded such a young age). Her new book suffers something of a similar fate ... the main characters are an old codger approaching his 80th birthday, and his 11 year old great nephew, whom circumstances have left in his care during a fateful trip to Nice. Neither character completely convinces - they are like caricatures of what one would suppose such people would be like, and I soon wearied of being in their company, which often grated in its boorishness and repetition.
The two central 'mysteries' the elder Noel is trying to solve - what a series of photos taken by his mother during the Occupation mean, and why his nephew (the young boy's father) wound up dead of a drug overdose, are obvious to the reader far in advance of the curmudgeon FINALLY figuring them out, so one becomes impatient. And then, as in her earlier work, the ending bogs down in such treacly sentimentality, that diabetics should be given advanced warning.
That said, it isn't totally unreadable, and my displeasure is at least 50% my own preference for a different type of reading experience, so a begrudgingly very generous 3 stars.
September 2, 2019
What a gem of a book. I just love that it centers around an older person (Noah is turning 80) who is still functioning with all his creaks in his body and quirks in his mind (he talks to his dead wife for instance). There is just not enough literature about older people and we have been blessed by Olive Kitteridge and now Noah Selvaggio, a former chemistry professor.
Through a series of circumstances, Noah becomes the temporary guardian of his 11 year old great nephew, Michael. This is quite frustrating for a number of reasons. Noah is ready to leave on a trip to his hometown of Nice, France, where he has not been since he was a young child. He has never met Michael and, frankly, is not sure he's ready to take on a young boy. But Michael has nowhere else to go so Noah makes the leap and decides to take Michael with him on the trip.
Michael certainly spices things up as you can imagine. Meanwhile Noah is on the quest to discover the secret of his mother's past. She was the daughter of a very famous photographer who had her own secret life. She sent her son and his father to America at the beginning of WWII and remained at her father's side in France. Noah wants to know why and what she did during that time.
This is a moving book about relationships and the discovery of self. I found it so different from her earlier works including Room and The Wonder but every bit as touching. She is such a skilled author to write such varied works. This was a pleasure from beginning to end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Through a series of circumstances, Noah becomes the temporary guardian of his 11 year old great nephew, Michael. This is quite frustrating for a number of reasons. Noah is ready to leave on a trip to his hometown of Nice, France, where he has not been since he was a young child. He has never met Michael and, frankly, is not sure he's ready to take on a young boy. But Michael has nowhere else to go so Noah makes the leap and decides to take Michael with him on the trip.
Michael certainly spices things up as you can imagine. Meanwhile Noah is on the quest to discover the secret of his mother's past. She was the daughter of a very famous photographer who had her own secret life. She sent her son and his father to America at the beginning of WWII and remained at her father's side in France. Noah wants to know why and what she did during that time.
This is a moving book about relationships and the discovery of self. I found it so different from her earlier works including Room and The Wonder but every bit as touching. She is such a skilled author to write such varied works. This was a pleasure from beginning to end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
September 18, 2019
The retired, childless, widower and 80 year old Noah Selvaggio is told that he is the only viable caretaker for Michael, his 11 year old great-nephew. Michael’s father overdosed, his mother is in prison and his grandmother has just died. Noah agrees to temporary guardianship but he doesn’t want to interrupt his planned trip to Nice, where he was born, so he takes Noah with him. I won’t give away the ending, but trust me you already know how this is going to turn out.
I kept waiting for something/anything to happen in this book, but it never did. There was no touching or illuminating moment; no breakthrough. Given Michael’s background, it was surprising that he was no grumpier than a typical 11 year old boy. The two reluctant relatives spent a lot of time eating (with every meal described) and visiting tourist spots. Noah often tried to educate Michael about history, science, food and general civilized behavior. While in Nice, Noah became obsessed with tracing the origins of a photo of his mother with an unknown child. That led him to a lot of speculation about what his mother might have been doing during the German occupation. There wasn’t anything particularly bad about this book, but I didn’t really see any point to it. If you want a better book about tracing a parent’s wartime past, try “Warlight” by Michael Ondaatje.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I kept waiting for something/anything to happen in this book, but it never did. There was no touching or illuminating moment; no breakthrough. Given Michael’s background, it was surprising that he was no grumpier than a typical 11 year old boy. The two reluctant relatives spent a lot of time eating (with every meal described) and visiting tourist spots. Noah often tried to educate Michael about history, science, food and general civilized behavior. While in Nice, Noah became obsessed with tracing the origins of a photo of his mother with an unknown child. That led him to a lot of speculation about what his mother might have been doing during the German occupation. There wasn’t anything particularly bad about this book, but I didn’t really see any point to it. If you want a better book about tracing a parent’s wartime past, try “Warlight” by Michael Ondaatje.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
August 26, 2019
I was really excited to read Donoghue's new book Akin, but I'm kind of disappointed.
Noah is a 79 year old retired scientist, who's about to visit Nice, his birth place after so many years.
Suddenly, he learns that he's next of kin for Michael (11 years old), who's his great nephew. His father died, and mother is in jail with noone to take care of him. So, they have to start a forced relationship and travel to Nice together. Michael isn't a child friendly person with no child of his own, and Michael is kind of a rebel boy. In many ways, it reminded me of 'About A Boy.'
The relationship between these two is intersting to read, it's well written and all. Also, a mystery is introduced to the story in Nice from related to WW2 times.
Probably, the biggest reason I feel this book didn't work is, it's very unoriginal. This concept has been handled several times. I'm really surprised that Emma Donoghue, the writer of many original concepts would choose to go for a simple story like this with a quite dull plot.
The feeling I had when I was reading this book was 'been there, done that'. So, it wasn't for me.
But, if you like war mysteries, or the relationship between Michael and Noah is something that attracts you, it might be for you.
Noah is a 79 year old retired scientist, who's about to visit Nice, his birth place after so many years.
Suddenly, he learns that he's next of kin for Michael (11 years old), who's his great nephew. His father died, and mother is in jail with noone to take care of him. So, they have to start a forced relationship and travel to Nice together. Michael isn't a child friendly person with no child of his own, and Michael is kind of a rebel boy. In many ways, it reminded me of 'About A Boy.'
The relationship between these two is intersting to read, it's well written and all. Also, a mystery is introduced to the story in Nice from related to WW2 times.
Probably, the biggest reason I feel this book didn't work is, it's very unoriginal. This concept has been handled several times. I'm really surprised that Emma Donoghue, the writer of many original concepts would choose to go for a simple story like this with a quite dull plot.
The feeling I had when I was reading this book was 'been there, done that'. So, it wasn't for me.
But, if you like war mysteries, or the relationship between Michael and Noah is something that attracts you, it might be for you.
December 13, 2020
I read this book due to it being the library pick for the 2020 Guardian Not the Booker Prize.
It is, I realised, the third book I have read by this author after her famous “Room” and her historical novel “The Wonder” and unfortunately it was by far the weakest of those three – really because I felt its set up was doubly lacking originality (both in the two protagonists and the story).
The two main characters are: Noah (an 80 year old widowed, still active chemistry Professor who lives in New York) and Michael (his great nephew). At the book’s start Noah, who recently lost his sister, is planning a trip to Nice for the Carnival (a trip funded by his sister’s bequest which insisted the money be spent imminently on something fun): his aim being to return to the City where he was born before fleeing the City during the war years to join his father in America at the age of around 4. There he hopes to find something about his Mother (the daughter of a legendary photographer)’s wartime years – his interest piqued by a motley collection of oddly shot photos he finds in his sister’s possessions and which were clearly owned by his mother.
His plans are initially disrupted by an unexpected phone call – Michael is the son of his nephew (his sister’s son, who also died in recent years, in this case of a drug overdose). Michael’s mother was imprisoned for drug possession some time before and his current guardian can no longer cope. As the only known relative of Michael, Michael’s social worker makes it clear to the equally reluctant Noah and Michael’s mother, that unless Noah agrees to look after Michael for a short period (until another relative can be traced) then Michael will go into care and it will also severely compromise the chances of Michael and his mother being reunited when she is eventually released.
Noah therefore takes Michael with him and we have what seems like the cliched plot of a movie – an 80 year old and an 11 year old on a road trip together, where their differences can come to the fore. Even better the setting is glorious Nice – ideal for filming in a break from the Cannes Film Festival.
And not just an 80 year old and an 11 year old – but an extreme version of each. A very old fashioned 80 year old with no kids of his own (and seeming no experience of anyone else’s) – who thinks that for example explaining a Le Coubusier chair is a good way to break the ice. And a mouth, streetwise 11 year old, one who seems worldywise in many ways but ignorant of basic concepts such as currencies or not talking about bombs/guns in security queues (so has perhaps never watched a movie) – one who also seems to add “Dude” to every sentence (do streetwise American 11 year olds really do that in 2020?).
I also found the narrative part lacking originality. We guess almost immediately that we are in a murky world of Nazi collaborators versus resistance heroes (and Jewish rescuers) and our guess is not confounded. While I did like the way in which the author had actually worked with a photographer friend to actually shoot and include a number of the photographs, I found this a very unconvincing narrative device – to be honest it felt to me like it would be much better placed in a young adult’s novel (and it probably did not help my appreciation of this book that while I read it, I was also reading a bedtime novel with one of my daughters – Tamar by Mal Peet - which had a lot of overlap but was I thought a lot better).
I read the book over the opening weekend of the Tour de France – three stages around Nice as it happens. When the Tour de France on screen action is lacking (as it often was this weekend) the cameras tend to focus on tourist sites and landmarks and the commentators for want of something better to do, read out bits of historical detail they have been given. And everytime it happened I was reminded of this novel – as far, far too often the characters look up something (normally about Nice and its history) on Google and then explain it to each other.
Overall this all sounds very harsh. I should say that the novel is extremely competently written, there is some interesting details on American drug/penal policy (again unfortunately largely read from Google) and I think some interesting things to say on the importance of living in the present with all its problems and challenges rather than looking back to the past. But this novel simply did not work for me, dude.
2.5* rounded up.
It is, I realised, the third book I have read by this author after her famous “Room” and her historical novel “The Wonder” and unfortunately it was by far the weakest of those three – really because I felt its set up was doubly lacking originality (both in the two protagonists and the story).
The two main characters are: Noah (an 80 year old widowed, still active chemistry Professor who lives in New York) and Michael (his great nephew). At the book’s start Noah, who recently lost his sister, is planning a trip to Nice for the Carnival (a trip funded by his sister’s bequest which insisted the money be spent imminently on something fun): his aim being to return to the City where he was born before fleeing the City during the war years to join his father in America at the age of around 4. There he hopes to find something about his Mother (the daughter of a legendary photographer)’s wartime years – his interest piqued by a motley collection of oddly shot photos he finds in his sister’s possessions and which were clearly owned by his mother.
His plans are initially disrupted by an unexpected phone call – Michael is the son of his nephew (his sister’s son, who also died in recent years, in this case of a drug overdose). Michael’s mother was imprisoned for drug possession some time before and his current guardian can no longer cope. As the only known relative of Michael, Michael’s social worker makes it clear to the equally reluctant Noah and Michael’s mother, that unless Noah agrees to look after Michael for a short period (until another relative can be traced) then Michael will go into care and it will also severely compromise the chances of Michael and his mother being reunited when she is eventually released.
Noah therefore takes Michael with him and we have what seems like the cliched plot of a movie – an 80 year old and an 11 year old on a road trip together, where their differences can come to the fore. Even better the setting is glorious Nice – ideal for filming in a break from the Cannes Film Festival.
And not just an 80 year old and an 11 year old – but an extreme version of each. A very old fashioned 80 year old with no kids of his own (and seeming no experience of anyone else’s) – who thinks that for example explaining a Le Coubusier chair is a good way to break the ice. And a mouth, streetwise 11 year old, one who seems worldywise in many ways but ignorant of basic concepts such as currencies or not talking about bombs/guns in security queues (so has perhaps never watched a movie) – one who also seems to add “Dude” to every sentence (do streetwise American 11 year olds really do that in 2020?).
I also found the narrative part lacking originality. We guess almost immediately that we are in a murky world of Nazi collaborators versus resistance heroes (and Jewish rescuers) and our guess is not confounded. While I did like the way in which the author had actually worked with a photographer friend to actually shoot and include a number of the photographs, I found this a very unconvincing narrative device – to be honest it felt to me like it would be much better placed in a young adult’s novel (and it probably did not help my appreciation of this book that while I read it, I was also reading a bedtime novel with one of my daughters – Tamar by Mal Peet - which had a lot of overlap but was I thought a lot better).
I read the book over the opening weekend of the Tour de France – three stages around Nice as it happens. When the Tour de France on screen action is lacking (as it often was this weekend) the cameras tend to focus on tourist sites and landmarks and the commentators for want of something better to do, read out bits of historical detail they have been given. And everytime it happened I was reminded of this novel – as far, far too often the characters look up something (normally about Nice and its history) on Google and then explain it to each other.
Overall this all sounds very harsh. I should say that the novel is extremely competently written, there is some interesting details on American drug/penal policy (again unfortunately largely read from Google) and I think some interesting things to say on the importance of living in the present with all its problems and challenges rather than looking back to the past. But this novel simply did not work for me, dude.
2.5* rounded up.
May 21, 2024
We first meet Upper West Sider Noah Selvaggio on the cusp of his 80th birthday as he makes final preparations to spend a week in Nice, the city of his birth, a city he hasn't seen since being removed from there as a child in 1944. Having been widowed 10 years before, he is accustomed to being alone, but just before his departure date he finds himself with an eleven year old grand nephew, and "Being alone, his normal condition for the past decade, was forbidden to Noah this week." What makes Emma Donoghue's writing so immersive is she doesn't take the easy route, there are no shortcuts or cliches here. This is a perfect example of why author visits are so important. Although I finished the book yesterday, I decided to write my review after lunch with her today, and was rewarded with insights unavailable previously. For instance, she shared the part her own son played in the development of the character of Michael, how an eleven-year-old would behave and talk, is given shape through her son's suggestions. So Michael is more relatable as a person than usual.
When asked how she made all her books so different from one another, she remarked that she got easily bored, and would use research only once instead of regurgitating the material in future works. And this book grew out of fascination and affection with the city of Nice through living there for a year, the landscape and the history, the food (she giggled when saying that all those delicious meals could be written off as research). And the life of Henri Matisse and his relationship with his daughter. This therefore is not the usual Holocaust story, but one based on a little known historical fact thanks to the unique geographic location of Nice and the part it has played. Emma Donoghue says she looks at the sun drenched beauty of Nice's seascape, and also sees the dark underside that took place there, and she illuminates even while she humanizes.
When asked how she made all her books so different from one another, she remarked that she got easily bored, and would use research only once instead of regurgitating the material in future works. And this book grew out of fascination and affection with the city of Nice through living there for a year, the landscape and the history, the food (she giggled when saying that all those delicious meals could be written off as research). And the life of Henri Matisse and his relationship with his daughter. This therefore is not the usual Holocaust story, but one based on a little known historical fact thanks to the unique geographic location of Nice and the part it has played. Emma Donoghue says she looks at the sun drenched beauty of Nice's seascape, and also sees the dark underside that took place there, and she illuminates even while she humanizes.
August 28, 2021
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Akin tells the touching story of Noah Selvaggio, a retired seventy-nine year old chemistry professor, and his eleven year old great-nephew, Michael Young. Noah is a widower who has few remaining connections in the world and his fairly quiet existence is thrown out of balance when he is more or less cajoled into becoming Michael's temporary carer. Michael's mother is in prison, his father, Noah's nephew, died of an overdose, and his maternal grandmother has recently passed away. Noah is, quite understandably, reticent to the idea of looking after Michael...he is aware of the limitations that come with his age, and having never had any contact with Michael or his mother, he feels a mixture of guilt and unease at this sudden 'reunion'.
Yet, given the circumstances, not only does he find himself accepting to briefly take on this role but he is also forced to take Michael with him in a much overdue trip to Nice, Noah's place of birth.
The simple and unadorned narrative takes us alongside Noah and Michael's in their stay in Nice. We follow them as they walk around Nice, eat a lot, visit museums and other historical sites. All the while Noah is also preoccupied with a mystery of sorts...having come across as some old photos Noah begins to fear that his mother might have been hiding something...his mind begins to formulate different kind of theories regarding his mother's actions in WWII: was she a collaborator?
Michael's constant presence however demands Noah's undivided attention. The child is rude and bratty, and treats Noah with suspicion and contempt. The two are at odds from the very start. Noah, who spend most of his days living in the past, attempts to make some sort of connection with Michael by acting as a tour guide of sorts. He also reiterates his and Michaels's family history (Noah's grandfather was a famous photographer) as a way of reinforcing their familial bond. Michael's attention however seems wholly devoted to his phone. He swears a lot, demands junk food all the time, and is bored by Noah and his 'lessons'.
There is a dissonance between the two: the things that have shaped Noah's life seems to be of little relevance to Michael. At the same time Michael has experienced hardships that Noah finds difficulty to comprehend.
The two wander about Nice, often a despondent Michael's following in Noah's stead. The city seems to stir something within Noah so that he finds himself compelled to discover the truth about his mother.
Interrogating the past brings to light some deeply disturbing facts. Nice's own history, the Excelsior Hotel (which happens to be the hotel Noah and Michael are staying in), the risks taken by members of the resistance, the torture they could be made to endure...the narrative portrays in sharp clarity one of the darkest periods of human history.
The dynamic between Noah and Michael eases some of the tension off from this perusal of the past. The quarrels had a very natural flow to them; at time they seemed to escalate out of nothing, while in other instances they boiled down to nothing. They constantly seemed exasperated by one another, and I soon grew accustomed to the rhythm of their conversations.
I found myself deeply caring for Noah. His attempts to reach Michael could be both sweet and awkward, and Michael too, in spite of his horrible behaviour, slowly grew on me.
This genuine story offers us with plenty of thoughtful reflections regarding the differences and similarities between Noah and Michael's generations. While Michael easily navigates the ‘modern’ world, Noah is accustomed to a different one.
The novel also broaches many subjects—topical and non—in a very frank and natural way; commentaries regarding America and France are embedded in a very smooth manner, so that it never feels overdone.
I was moved by Noah's internal turmoils, by his introspections and examinations that move between past and present. His 'kinship' with Michael was rendered slowly and subtly, so that their relationship never blossoms into an unlikely affectionate bond but the story leaves us with possibility of a camaraderie of sorts between the two.
Filled with equal parts humour and heart, Akin is a wonderfully compelling novel, one that I would happily read again.
“He and this boy were quite alien to each other, he decide. Yet, in an odd way, akin.”
Akin tells the touching story of Noah Selvaggio, a retired seventy-nine year old chemistry professor, and his eleven year old great-nephew, Michael Young. Noah is a widower who has few remaining connections in the world and his fairly quiet existence is thrown out of balance when he is more or less cajoled into becoming Michael's temporary carer. Michael's mother is in prison, his father, Noah's nephew, died of an overdose, and his maternal grandmother has recently passed away. Noah is, quite understandably, reticent to the idea of looking after Michael...he is aware of the limitations that come with his age, and having never had any contact with Michael or his mother, he feels a mixture of guilt and unease at this sudden 'reunion'.
Yet, given the circumstances, not only does he find himself accepting to briefly take on this role but he is also forced to take Michael with him in a much overdue trip to Nice, Noah's place of birth.
“And Mr. Selvaggio is your great-uncle, which is another kind of uncle.”
“What's so great about him?” Micheal wanted to know.
Whether that was ignorance or wit, it did make Noah smile.”
The simple and unadorned narrative takes us alongside Noah and Michael's in their stay in Nice. We follow them as they walk around Nice, eat a lot, visit museums and other historical sites. All the while Noah is also preoccupied with a mystery of sorts...having come across as some old photos Noah begins to fear that his mother might have been hiding something...his mind begins to formulate different kind of theories regarding his mother's actions in WWII: was she a collaborator?
“Such convoluted grammar death required: what tense to describe the hypothetical emotions of a woman who didn't exist anymore?”
Michael's constant presence however demands Noah's undivided attention. The child is rude and bratty, and treats Noah with suspicion and contempt. The two are at odds from the very start. Noah, who spend most of his days living in the past, attempts to make some sort of connection with Michael by acting as a tour guide of sorts. He also reiterates his and Michaels's family history (Noah's grandfather was a famous photographer) as a way of reinforcing their familial bond. Michael's attention however seems wholly devoted to his phone. He swears a lot, demands junk food all the time, and is bored by Noah and his 'lessons'.
There is a dissonance between the two: the things that have shaped Noah's life seems to be of little relevance to Michael. At the same time Michael has experienced hardships that Noah finds difficulty to comprehend.
“In the pictures Michael looked older, Noah thought; harder. But really, eleven — that was barely formed.”
The two wander about Nice, often a despondent Michael's following in Noah's stead. The city seems to stir something within Noah so that he finds himself compelled to discover the truth about his mother.
Interrogating the past brings to light some deeply disturbing facts. Nice's own history, the Excelsior Hotel (which happens to be the hotel Noah and Michael are staying in), the risks taken by members of the resistance, the torture they could be made to endure...the narrative portrays in sharp clarity one of the darkest periods of human history.
The dynamic between Noah and Michael eases some of the tension off from this perusal of the past. The quarrels had a very natural flow to them; at time they seemed to escalate out of nothing, while in other instances they boiled down to nothing. They constantly seemed exasperated by one another, and I soon grew accustomed to the rhythm of their conversations.
I found myself deeply caring for Noah. His attempts to reach Michael could be both sweet and awkward, and Michael too, in spite of his horrible behaviour, slowly grew on me.
“Why don't you start it now?”
“I'm good.”
Funny how that had come to mean no.
This genuine story offers us with plenty of thoughtful reflections regarding the differences and similarities between Noah and Michael's generations. While Michael easily navigates the ‘modern’ world, Noah is accustomed to a different one.
The novel also broaches many subjects—topical and non—in a very frank and natural way; commentaries regarding America and France are embedded in a very smooth manner, so that it never feels overdone.
“How could you do your homework if you didn't even have a home to work in?”
I was moved by Noah's internal turmoils, by his introspections and examinations that move between past and present. His 'kinship' with Michael was rendered slowly and subtly, so that their relationship never blossoms into an unlikely affectionate bond but the story leaves us with possibility of a camaraderie of sorts between the two.
Filled with equal parts humour and heart, Akin is a wonderfully compelling novel, one that I would happily read again.
“He supposed it was always that way with the dead; they slid away before we knew enough to ask them the right questions. All we could do was remember them, as much as we could remember of them, whether it was accurate or not Walk the same streets that they'd walked; take our turn.”
October 2, 2019
I’ve read Donoghue’s six most recent works of fiction. As I was reading Akin I kept thinking to myself, “this doesn’t feel like an Emma Donoghue novel.” (What did I think it was like instead? Maybe a late Philip Roth or something.) But her books are all so different from each other in setting – a one-room prison in contemporary America, bawdy 1870s San Francisco, rural Ireland in the 1850s – that it’s hard to pin her down to one time period or set of topics. She never writes the same book twice, and that’s got to be a good thing.
Akin gets off to a slightly slow start but soon had me hooked. Noah Selvaggio, a childless widower and retired chemist in New York City, is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Nice, where he was born, to celebrate his 80th birthday. He never guessed that he’d have company on his trip, much less a surly 11-year-old. This is Michael Young, his nephew Victor’s son. Victor died of a drug overdose a year and a half ago; the boy’s mother is in prison; his other grandmother has just died. There’s no one else to look after Michael, so with a rush passport he’s added to the Nice itinerary.
In some ways Michael reminded me of my nephews, ages 11 and 14: the monosyllabic replies, the addiction to devices and online gaming, the finicky eating, and the occasional flashes of childlike exuberance. Having never raised a child, Noah has no idea how strict to be with his great-nephew about screen time, unhealthy food and bad language. He has to learn to pick his battles, or every moment of this long-awaited homecoming trip would be a misery. And he soon realizes that Michael’s broken home and troubled area of NYC make him simultaneously tougher and more vulnerable than your average kid.
The odd-couple dynamic works perfectly here and makes for many amusing culture clashes, not so much France vs. the USA as between these Americans of different generations:
“It was exhausting having to translate almost every word into vocabulary he imagined an eleven-year-old would know.”
The dialogue, especially, made me laugh. Donoghue nails it:
[Noah:] “The genre, the style. Is rap the right word for it? Or hip-hop?”
[Michael:] “Don’t even try.” Michael turned his music back on.
(At the cathedral)
[Michael:] “This is some seriously frilly shit.”
[Noah:] “It’s called Baroque style.”
[Michael:] “I call it fugly.”
But there’s another dimension to the novel that keeps it from being pleasant but forgettable. Noah’s grandfather was a famous (fictional) photographer, Père Sonne, and he has recently found a set of peculiar photographs left behind by his late mother, Margot. One is of the hotel where they’re staying in Nice, known to be a holding tank for Jews before they were sent off to concentration camps. The more Noah looks into it, the more he is convinced that his mother was involved in some way – but what side was she on? Though he’s always trying to play it cool, Michael gets invested in the mystery, and in his constant selfie-taking he’s unconsciously reproducing a family hobby. This is feel-good fiction in the best possible sense: sharp, true-to-life and never sappy. With its spot-on dialogue and vivid scenes, I can easily see it being made into a movie, too. It’s one of my favorite novels of the year so far.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Akin gets off to a slightly slow start but soon had me hooked. Noah Selvaggio, a childless widower and retired chemist in New York City, is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Nice, where he was born, to celebrate his 80th birthday. He never guessed that he’d have company on his trip, much less a surly 11-year-old. This is Michael Young, his nephew Victor’s son. Victor died of a drug overdose a year and a half ago; the boy’s mother is in prison; his other grandmother has just died. There’s no one else to look after Michael, so with a rush passport he’s added to the Nice itinerary.
In some ways Michael reminded me of my nephews, ages 11 and 14: the monosyllabic replies, the addiction to devices and online gaming, the finicky eating, and the occasional flashes of childlike exuberance. Having never raised a child, Noah has no idea how strict to be with his great-nephew about screen time, unhealthy food and bad language. He has to learn to pick his battles, or every moment of this long-awaited homecoming trip would be a misery. And he soon realizes that Michael’s broken home and troubled area of NYC make him simultaneously tougher and more vulnerable than your average kid.
The odd-couple dynamic works perfectly here and makes for many amusing culture clashes, not so much France vs. the USA as between these Americans of different generations:
“It was exhausting having to translate almost every word into vocabulary he imagined an eleven-year-old would know.”
The dialogue, especially, made me laugh. Donoghue nails it:
[Noah:] “The genre, the style. Is rap the right word for it? Or hip-hop?”
[Michael:] “Don’t even try.” Michael turned his music back on.
(At the cathedral)
[Michael:] “This is some seriously frilly shit.”
[Noah:] “It’s called Baroque style.”
[Michael:] “I call it fugly.”
But there’s another dimension to the novel that keeps it from being pleasant but forgettable. Noah’s grandfather was a famous (fictional) photographer, Père Sonne, and he has recently found a set of peculiar photographs left behind by his late mother, Margot. One is of the hotel where they’re staying in Nice, known to be a holding tank for Jews before they were sent off to concentration camps. The more Noah looks into it, the more he is convinced that his mother was involved in some way – but what side was she on? Though he’s always trying to play it cool, Michael gets invested in the mystery, and in his constant selfie-taking he’s unconsciously reproducing a family hobby. This is feel-good fiction in the best possible sense: sharp, true-to-life and never sappy. With its spot-on dialogue and vivid scenes, I can easily see it being made into a movie, too. It’s one of my favorite novels of the year so far.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
November 18, 2019
I really enjoyed this story of an inter-generational friendship, of sorts.
Retired Professor Noah Selvaggio’s wife passed away nine years ago. They had never had children preferring to dedicate themselves to their careers. He found himself now just going through the paces until it was his time. Noah decides to take a last trip, an eightieth birthday treat, back to his birthplace of Nice, France.
A call out of the blue lands him as temporary custodian of his great-nephew Michael. Left with no other choice Noah takes Michael on his trip. In his luggage he has an envelope of mysterious photographs Noah has found in his late mother’s belongings.
The story unfolds with 80 year old Noah trying to connect with 11 year old Michael who is in turn withdrawn and reticent, more interested in his online games than the site. Noah being a retired teacher used every opportunity to impart his vast knowledge of just about everything on to Michael. Some things were fascinating although sometimes I found myself, like Michael, just wanting him to stop talking. Michael was also able to teach Noah a thing or two about technology and searching for clues through the internet. Solving the mystery of the photos helped to bring the two together for a common cause.
I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Noah’s mother during WWII and how the clues slowly unfolded. I felt Noah and Michael’s interactions were well written and believable with both characters getting on my nerves at times.
Overall Akin is an endearing story of family with a compelling mystery as a side story.
* This review first appeared on Beauty & Lace Here
Retired Professor Noah Selvaggio’s wife passed away nine years ago. They had never had children preferring to dedicate themselves to their careers. He found himself now just going through the paces until it was his time. Noah decides to take a last trip, an eightieth birthday treat, back to his birthplace of Nice, France.
A call out of the blue lands him as temporary custodian of his great-nephew Michael. Left with no other choice Noah takes Michael on his trip. In his luggage he has an envelope of mysterious photographs Noah has found in his late mother’s belongings.
The story unfolds with 80 year old Noah trying to connect with 11 year old Michael who is in turn withdrawn and reticent, more interested in his online games than the site. Noah being a retired teacher used every opportunity to impart his vast knowledge of just about everything on to Michael. Some things were fascinating although sometimes I found myself, like Michael, just wanting him to stop talking. Michael was also able to teach Noah a thing or two about technology and searching for clues through the internet. Solving the mystery of the photos helped to bring the two together for a common cause.
I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Noah’s mother during WWII and how the clues slowly unfolded. I felt Noah and Michael’s interactions were well written and believable with both characters getting on my nerves at times.
Overall Akin is an endearing story of family with a compelling mystery as a side story.
* This review first appeared on Beauty & Lace Here
December 31, 2019
Beautiful story of an elderly widowed professor, no kids. He is contacted to take care of and be the guardian for his great grandson, whom he has never met. The professor’s grandson, Victor, left many memories before his early tragic death. Some were nice memories, others were dark and troubled. Victor’s wife is currently incarcerated and the Professor wonders what he’s getting himself into.
The blending of these two - young and old - is charming. Of course, it’s not easy and the differences between the two are sometimes solar systems apart. However, they Both complement each other in an unexpected way. The banter between each is amusing at times. The professor, likes to go on and on with his science info. Sometimes it is enlightening to the kid, sometimes it’s annoying. However, they both seem to know when to stop. The younger teaches the older and the older teaches the younger.
There is a background story involving the professor’s family, particularly the mother. Mysteries never talked about or identified except for some cryptic photos found in a box. Did they have something to do with the war effort? Without his great grandson helping him along the way on their visit to Nice to unravel these mysteries, they may have never come to light.
A lovely story of family and hope and love, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The blending of these two - young and old - is charming. Of course, it’s not easy and the differences between the two are sometimes solar systems apart. However, they Both complement each other in an unexpected way. The banter between each is amusing at times. The professor, likes to go on and on with his science info. Sometimes it is enlightening to the kid, sometimes it’s annoying. However, they both seem to know when to stop. The younger teaches the older and the older teaches the younger.
There is a background story involving the professor’s family, particularly the mother. Mysteries never talked about or identified except for some cryptic photos found in a box. Did they have something to do with the war effort? Without his great grandson helping him along the way on their visit to Nice to unravel these mysteries, they may have never come to light.
A lovely story of family and hope and love, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
July 30, 2020
There was lots to like about this compelling book, the characters and setting, the discovery of the role of Noah's mother in WWII and most of all, the developing relationship between Noah and his great nephew, which provides both healing and hope. Good narration by Jason Culp.
April 25, 2025
I picked up this book, published in 2019, because it was by Emma Donoghue--and it was recommended by a friend. I read her book, "The Wonder," and it was one of my most interesting reads of last year, 2021 (I have not read her most famous book, "Room"). The two books are very different in many ways, as "The Wonder" is set in 19th Century rural Ireland, while "Akin" is set in 21st C. Nice, in southern France. But an important character in both books is a child. In "Akin," we have an eleven-year old boy, Michael, who is facing being institutionalized by Children's Services, as his mother has been sent to prison and his father is dead. Michael's great uncle is a widower and retired professor named Noah Selvaggio. Noah agrees to look after the boy and even take him along on a trip to his birthplace, Nice.
The heart of the story is the development of the relationship between the old man and the boy. Michael is disrespectful to his great-uncle--to say the least--but Noah is a very patient man with a lot of sympathy for the boy. But the old man is tested to his limits.
I was fascinated by Ms. Donoghue's portrayal of Nice. I've been to France several times--but not to Nice, so it was very interesting to me to read about a city I would love to visit one day. And there's a mystery to solve by the two visitors to the city. Noah had found some puzzling photographs from his mother's time in Nice during the German occupation. He wants to find out what happened to her there, fearing that she had survived by collaborating with the Nazis....
A touching story, also entertaining--I was not disappointed, although I liked "The Wonder" more. I will be looking for more of her books.
The heart of the story is the development of the relationship between the old man and the boy. Michael is disrespectful to his great-uncle--to say the least--but Noah is a very patient man with a lot of sympathy for the boy. But the old man is tested to his limits.
I was fascinated by Ms. Donoghue's portrayal of Nice. I've been to France several times--but not to Nice, so it was very interesting to me to read about a city I would love to visit one day. And there's a mystery to solve by the two visitors to the city. Noah had found some puzzling photographs from his mother's time in Nice during the German occupation. He wants to find out what happened to her there, fearing that she had survived by collaborating with the Nazis....
A touching story, also entertaining--I was not disappointed, although I liked "The Wonder" more. I will be looking for more of her books.
February 24, 2021
"She wasn't naive enough to assume that Noah would do a great job of this. She was just trying to keep one kid from being sucked into the pipeline. Because of the holy word kinship, her harried superiors, glancing at the paperwork, weren't likely to object."
Sometimes we beat The System, but most times The System beats us.
Noah Selvaggio was planning his 80th birthday celebration by returning to Nice, France where he was born so long ago. As a widower and as a chemistry professor retiree, Noah's needs were simple. He had not returned to Nice since he was a child sent off to New York during the war years. But one turn of the screw can capsize even the most stalwart of ships.
One phone call from a harried social worker will flip Noah's life spinning it in an unexpected direction. His nephew, Victor, died from an overdose and Victor's wife, Amber, is now serving time for drug possession. Their son, Michael, will be sent to a foster home unless Noah agrees to take him in. There are no surviving relatives except for Noah. Noah makes it clear that this will be a temporary arrangement. With no other options, Noah will take Michael to Nice. And so begins a peculiar trip of cantankerous old man and wildly-wired eleven year old boy.
"So many ways Noah couldn't protect this boy; it was like traveling with a bag of bananas he had little chance of delivering unbruised."
Emma Donoghue lines Akin with multiple threads of interest. Noah brings along black and white photos that his mother took in Nice during the war. These photos imply many things about his mother that Noah now questions. With the exasperating Michael in tow, Noah sees life through different eyes. Michael brings about a dust-up and a perspective that Noah was never prepared for.
Akin is beautifully rendered by the talented Emma Donoghue. She creates layer upon layer of intricate little veins that connect us to one another far more than we have ever considered. Just the term "System" should give us pause. She touches on the down side of education, foster care, the victims of a legal system gone awry, and the limited options to protect children in those systems.
But there is so much depth to Akin in which Donoghue shifts from one foot to the other in order to maintain balance in this unstable world of the present and the heritage of the aftermath of carnage from the past. And at the core of all this are relationships left to deteriorate without the touch of tenderness. Akin is a reminder of how we all suffer from waves of uncertainty brought on by those before us......until the tides take a turn from a caring heart.
Sometimes we beat The System, but most times The System beats us.
Noah Selvaggio was planning his 80th birthday celebration by returning to Nice, France where he was born so long ago. As a widower and as a chemistry professor retiree, Noah's needs were simple. He had not returned to Nice since he was a child sent off to New York during the war years. But one turn of the screw can capsize even the most stalwart of ships.
One phone call from a harried social worker will flip Noah's life spinning it in an unexpected direction. His nephew, Victor, died from an overdose and Victor's wife, Amber, is now serving time for drug possession. Their son, Michael, will be sent to a foster home unless Noah agrees to take him in. There are no surviving relatives except for Noah. Noah makes it clear that this will be a temporary arrangement. With no other options, Noah will take Michael to Nice. And so begins a peculiar trip of cantankerous old man and wildly-wired eleven year old boy.
"So many ways Noah couldn't protect this boy; it was like traveling with a bag of bananas he had little chance of delivering unbruised."
Emma Donoghue lines Akin with multiple threads of interest. Noah brings along black and white photos that his mother took in Nice during the war. These photos imply many things about his mother that Noah now questions. With the exasperating Michael in tow, Noah sees life through different eyes. Michael brings about a dust-up and a perspective that Noah was never prepared for.
Akin is beautifully rendered by the talented Emma Donoghue. She creates layer upon layer of intricate little veins that connect us to one another far more than we have ever considered. Just the term "System" should give us pause. She touches on the down side of education, foster care, the victims of a legal system gone awry, and the limited options to protect children in those systems.
But there is so much depth to Akin in which Donoghue shifts from one foot to the other in order to maintain balance in this unstable world of the present and the heritage of the aftermath of carnage from the past. And at the core of all this are relationships left to deteriorate without the touch of tenderness. Akin is a reminder of how we all suffer from waves of uncertainty brought on by those before us......until the tides take a turn from a caring heart.
December 23, 2019
Genre: Domestic Fiction
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pub. Date: Sept. 10, 2019
My Rating: 3½ Stars
This novel has shades of Fredrik Backman’s, “A Man Called Ove.” “Akin” also revolves around a lonely, elderly widower who learns to broaden his definition of family. In Emma Donoghue’s latest book, she gets the reader to think about the meaning of love, freedom, and family. If you read the author’s “Room,” you probably won’t forget the 5-year-old boy’s perspective of being held captive with his kidnapped mother in an outdoor shed. In her latest tale, she returns to the story of a child and an adult trapped—this time figuratively—together. It takes a while to make that connection between the novels since the circumstances this time are unusual, but not bizarre. “Room” was a horror novel laced with sweetness. “Akin” is a sweet novel laced with the horrors of living in poverty. Donough’s latest novel is good but, “Room” is the stronger of the two books.
The protagonist is a newly retired 79-year-old chemistry professor. He is preparing for a week-long visit to Nice, France, where he was born. He hasn’t seen his birthplace since he was shipped off to America as a child to escape the Nazis. Days away from his trip, he receives an out-of-the-blue phone call from a social worker. The author does such a good job nailing the harried life of those who work in social services. “She turned out to have a caseload of twenty-four…when asked how she remembered who was who, she laughed darky and said that she and her colleagues were just doing triage.” The reason behind her call is that a boy’s grandmother, who he was living with, just passed away. His father died of an overdose and his mother is incarcerated. She informs him that the boy is his eleven-year-old great-nephew and needs a temporary home or he will be placed in foster care. The distant relatives have never met. They live in different worlds. The uncle has a privileged and cultured lifestyle residing in the upper west side of NYC. The boy’s world consists of poverty, drugs, gangs and police corruption that can be found in some areas of Brooklyn, NY.
The uncle takes his nephew with him to France (if he didn’t there wouldn’t be a story) with the intention of returning him to the social worker once they are back in the States. As you can probably guess, there are funny scenes written into the dialogue and interactions between them. In a way, Donoghue gives us a 2019 version of “The Odd Couple.” They wander around Nice, irritated with each other and aggravating everyone who comes in contact with them. The boy regards his new guardian as a dinosaur, while his video games, selfie stick, cursing, and horrendous grammar drive the uncle crazy. There is a side plot devoted to the man’s long deceased mother. The old gent has reasons to suspect that his mother was a member of the Nazi party. Man and boy go on a quest to learn the truth. The author may have stumbled here. Not by adding in a historical fiction component but, with their thoughts on what may have happened. Their repetitive mental guesses become annoying and interfered with an otherwise touching tale. “He and this boy were quite alien to each other, yet, in an odd way, akin.” You might have also guessed that by the end of the book the boy’s life isn’t the only one being rescued.
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Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pub. Date: Sept. 10, 2019
My Rating: 3½ Stars
This novel has shades of Fredrik Backman’s, “A Man Called Ove.” “Akin” also revolves around a lonely, elderly widower who learns to broaden his definition of family. In Emma Donoghue’s latest book, she gets the reader to think about the meaning of love, freedom, and family. If you read the author’s “Room,” you probably won’t forget the 5-year-old boy’s perspective of being held captive with his kidnapped mother in an outdoor shed. In her latest tale, she returns to the story of a child and an adult trapped—this time figuratively—together. It takes a while to make that connection between the novels since the circumstances this time are unusual, but not bizarre. “Room” was a horror novel laced with sweetness. “Akin” is a sweet novel laced with the horrors of living in poverty. Donough’s latest novel is good but, “Room” is the stronger of the two books.
The protagonist is a newly retired 79-year-old chemistry professor. He is preparing for a week-long visit to Nice, France, where he was born. He hasn’t seen his birthplace since he was shipped off to America as a child to escape the Nazis. Days away from his trip, he receives an out-of-the-blue phone call from a social worker. The author does such a good job nailing the harried life of those who work in social services. “She turned out to have a caseload of twenty-four…when asked how she remembered who was who, she laughed darky and said that she and her colleagues were just doing triage.” The reason behind her call is that a boy’s grandmother, who he was living with, just passed away. His father died of an overdose and his mother is incarcerated. She informs him that the boy is his eleven-year-old great-nephew and needs a temporary home or he will be placed in foster care. The distant relatives have never met. They live in different worlds. The uncle has a privileged and cultured lifestyle residing in the upper west side of NYC. The boy’s world consists of poverty, drugs, gangs and police corruption that can be found in some areas of Brooklyn, NY.
The uncle takes his nephew with him to France (if he didn’t there wouldn’t be a story) with the intention of returning him to the social worker once they are back in the States. As you can probably guess, there are funny scenes written into the dialogue and interactions between them. In a way, Donoghue gives us a 2019 version of “The Odd Couple.” They wander around Nice, irritated with each other and aggravating everyone who comes in contact with them. The boy regards his new guardian as a dinosaur, while his video games, selfie stick, cursing, and horrendous grammar drive the uncle crazy. There is a side plot devoted to the man’s long deceased mother. The old gent has reasons to suspect that his mother was a member of the Nazi party. Man and boy go on a quest to learn the truth. The author may have stumbled here. Not by adding in a historical fiction component but, with their thoughts on what may have happened. Their repetitive mental guesses become annoying and interfered with an otherwise touching tale. “He and this boy were quite alien to each other, yet, in an odd way, akin.” You might have also guessed that by the end of the book the boy’s life isn’t the only one being rescued.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review...
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr...
https://www.instagram.com/martie6947/
https://www.pinterest.com/martienreco...\
https://www.amazon.com/
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
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