Als sie ging

by Michael Baron

Gerry und Maureen sind seit der Schulzeit ein Paar und auch nach 20 Jahren immer noch glücklich. Sie haben eine 17jährige Tochter, die auf die überraschende Nachricht, daß sie noch ein Brüderchen bekommt, mit Wut reagiert und verschwindet. Als zwei Monate nach der Geburt des Sohnes Maureen plötzlich stirbt, steht Gerry vor den Trümmern seines Lebens. Nur die Tatsache, dass er für den Kleinen sorgen muss, hält ihn aufrecht. Das Kind wird für ihn zur Herausforderung und zum Partner in einer plötzlich komplett veränderten Welt. Einfühlsam und mitreißend, aber ohne Sentimentalität erzählt Michael Baron von der Zerbrechlichkeit des Lebensglücks und davon, wie ein Mann sich bedingungslos zur Verantwortung für seinen kleinen Sohn bekennt - und dabei seine Zukunft gewinnt.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Drama, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Amazon

267 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

I grew up in the New York area and I’ve lived there my entire life. I worked in retail and taught high school English before I got my first book contract. I have gotten several additional book contracts since then, which is fortunate because I didn’t have the patience to work in retail and, while I quite enjoyed teaching, my approach was a bit too unconventional for most school systems. One school administrator told me that, “there are more important things than being a dynamic teacher.” Since I couldn’t name any of those things (at least in the context of school), I figured I didn’t have a long-term future in the profession. Hence, I became a writer, where I believe people appreciate a certain level of dynamism.


Though I started with nonfiction, I have always loved fiction and I have always wanted to write it. I’ve always had a particular affection for love stories. In fact, the very first book-length thing I ever wrote, when I was thirteen, was a love story. Mind you, it was the kind of love story that a thirteen-year-old boy would write, but it was a love story nonetheless. I have a deep passion for writing about relationships – family relationships, working relationships, friendships, and, of course, romantic relationships – and I can only truly explore this by writing fiction. These novels have given me a way to voice the millions of things running through my head.


My wife and kids are the center of my life. My wife is the inspiration for all of my love stories and my children enthrall me, challenge me, and keep me moving. One of the primary reasons I wrote my first novel, When You Went Away was that I wanted to write about being a father. Aside from my family, I have a few other burning passions. I’m a pop culture junkie with an especially strong interest in music, I love fine food (and any restaurant shaped like a hot dog), and I read far too many sports blogs for my own good.


You might have noticed that I haven't published a photo of myself. This isn't because I'm involved in the Witness Protection program or because I have an innate fear of cameras. It's because Michael Baron is a pseudonym. I'm writing these novels “undercover” because they're not entirely compatible with the nonfiction books I write and I didn't want to confuse readers. We're all different people sometimes, right? I just decided to give my alter ego another name.


My third novel, The Journey Home, has just come out. It’s a love story, too. Naturally.

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only a few months ago, Gerry Rubato had everything he thought he needed in life. He was still passionately in love with his college sweetheart after nearly twenty years of marriage, he has a bright, independent-minded daughter, and he has the surprising new addition of a child on the way. Then everything changed with stunning rapidity. With little explanation, his daughter ran away with her older boyfriend. Then, only a month after giving birth to their son, his wife dies suddenly. Gerry needs to deal with his two losses.

This story is told from Gerry's point of view. We learn of his struggles, how he is coping with his daughter, Tanya, disappearance, his wife, Maureen, death, and bringing up his son as a lone parent.

I liked the authors style in writing this book. I didn't enjoy the constant references about the Yankee baseball team. I'm not a fan, so the references got annoying. I did like Gerry. My heart went out to him.

#FreeKindleBook

[Filipa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acabei de ler o livro.
A minha opinião mudou ligeiramente durante a leitura do mesmo.
Bem, a primeira coisa que tenho a dizer é que este autor não é comparável ao Nicholas Sparks. Apesar de gostar bastante dele, as escritas deles são muito diferentes. O NS relata as coisas com mais distância e nota-se mais que aquilo é um trabalho de ficção. Este autor, Michael Baron tem certamente vantagens acerca da escrita dele - para já escreve na primeira pessoa, o que cria uma proximidade maior para o leitor.
A escrita deste autor é melhor que a do NS, na minha opinião. Muito mais emotiva e cheio de significado.
E escreve bem. Ele tem uma escrita bastante ponderada, adulta - parece escrever como quem tem muitos e muitos anos de experiência, apesar deste ser o primeiro trabalho de ficção dele.
Depois, ele tem um relato emocional sim, mas não deprimente. É um relato muito real, com personagens com defeitos, que também fazem asneiras. Que também aprendem com os seus erros.
Não chorei, apesar de ser um tema difícil. Felicito o autor por ele ter conseguido exprimir muito bem o que é perder uma pessoa amada e ser capaz de reencontrar o prazer de voltar a amar outra vez tão intensamente.

As primeiras 100 páginas são um pouco difíceis de atravessar, mas não mostra a qualidade do livro. Aliás, a qualidade do livro começa mesmo a aumentar a partir da página 110. Aí começa o desenrolar da vida das personagens relatada com uma dose bastante saudável de realidade.
Não posso deixar de referir que adoro livros que me façam ponderar sobre como seria se me acontecesse aquilo na vida real. Foi o que me aconteceu com este livro.
Adoraria conhecer as personagens deste livro, porque são todas pessoas admiráveis no fundo. Todas cometem erros, fizeram coisas de que se arrependeram mais tarde na vida, mas no fundo todas elas são objecto profundo da minha admiração.
Até mesmo o Reese, o bebé de 6 meses da história que é uma doçura.


É um livro acima de tudo romântico, uma bela história de amor que surge depois do personagem principal estar numa fase baixa da sua vida.
Acho que o autor captou imensamente bem o que é ser pai, o que é sofrer mas também captou muito bem o que é amar incondicionalmente outra pessoa ou conseguir arranjar espaço no nosso coração para amar as pessoas importantes na nossa vida de maneira igualitária. E para nunca desistir daquilo que a vida nos oferece, dos bons momentos que podemos aproveitar desde que estejamos dispostos a isso. É encontrarmos o nosso caminho para a felicidade, depois de maus momentos. É sobre estarmos determinados a agarrar as rédeas da nossa vida e simplesmente sermos felizes.
Para mim, passou uma mensagem muito bonita. Com certeza que para vocês poderá ser outra experiência, mas eu gostei bastante do livro apesar do início ter tido um arranque que deixou a desejar.

Pretendo ficar de olho nas obras do autor.

[Carla Marques · Rating 3 out of 5]

O primeiro livro depois das férias e apesar de não terer sido um livro espetacular, também não foi mau.
Um ponto de vista que nunca tinha lido, a história de um pai que luta com a viuvez,criar um filho e ao mesmo tempo ter uma filha que fugiu de casa.
Opinião completa em: http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.com...

[GenieD · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but never did. The main character just never made me care about him or his situation.
He is a widower with an infant son and a 17 yr old daughter who ran away.
There were just too many uninteresting things going on in this book. He talks about the Yankees baseball team for several pages multiple times, and mentions rock groups and rock songs that never mean much to the story.
The other characters had issues too, no one was a "regular" person.
The whole thing was like a not so good soap episode. It just never went anywhere.
April pick for Kindle (Free) Book Club.
https://www.facebook.com/KindleFreeBo...

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Baron writes about loss, depression, fatherhood, and love for his character's journey through grief. I didn't find it over sappy and it was interesting to have the story from a male perspective.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

When You Went Away, was a freebie on Amazon for the kindle. The plot centers around a father who has recently had a newborn son with his wife. Before the son is born though, their teenage daughter walks out of their lives. Four months after the son is born, his wife dies.

I loved the tone in this book. It is exactly what I would do. The father at first just goes through the motions with his son, knowing he has to stay alive for him. Slowly this changes as he really gets into the moments with Reese(the son) and knows that it all could be taken away too soon.

The author is writing from Gerry's point of view. He talks about the mundane tasks in which he has to do to take care of his baby. He talks with such emotion about his love for his wife and the immeasurable pain that comes from missing her. He talks about the past mistakes and should-haves when discussing/thinking about his daughter.

In the middle of the store, Gerry and his sister-in-law Codies, finally start speaking to each other and find out they are really good friends. Gerry goes back to work, finding a new employee Ally. He also begins a journal to his daughter, in hopes that when she comes back she will understand what he felt. (The daughter didn't even know her mom had passed on!)

I am going to spoil a part of the book for anyone, so please forgive me in advance. Gerry and Ally become an item, which is only 5 months after he loses his wife. I loved the author's writing in how he gave such confusion to Gerry on whether he was doing the right thing or not. He was experiencing joy with this other woman, but shouldn't he be still mourning his wife!?

In this book, I was waiting to find out what happened. I was caught in the middle. I loved the story lines with Gerry and his son and the devotion between them; I loved the side story about his daughter and the journal he kept; I even loved that he was able to talk with his sister in law about things he would have talked with his former wife.

The thing that is really getting me here, is that I was rooting for HAPPINESS. Which usually is not like me. I hate movies/books where you know who it is going to end, they will make up/find the kid/ life will go back to perfect happy ever after. That sounds so horrible!!! But really...have you ever seen MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING with Julia Roberts? I was rooting for the fiancee (blonde chick) in that movie, I didn't want Roberts to end up with her best friend. IT WAS THE BEST MOVIE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T END LIKE THE OTHERS!!

I plowed through the romantic scenes in When You Went Away and kept thinking this sucks. I realize I am young and probably naive to many of you, but it really broke my heart in a couple of places where Gerry was totally happy with Ally. That there was joy with another woman while just a few months ago, he was living/married/loving another woman! I guess I just couldn't see myself doing that if my husband was to ever die. But then again, we never know what we will do unless the situation presents itself.

AND the thing that blew me away!? It was like the author KNEW I was going to be pissed, so he would make Gerry have doubts about his relationship with Ally. He would voice my concerns in Gerry! It was crazy.

I'm still not sure that I am happy with the whole romantic line in that book, but I am glad the way it ended. Which again, is weird, for me.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Baron's When You Went Away is more than a novel about grief and fatherhood; it's a novel about being lost and the journey to find the right path.

Gerry Rubato has lost his whole world--first his daughter Tanya runs away with an older man at age 17 and then he loses his wife tragically. All he has left to center him is his infant son, Reese. The story is told from Gerry's point of view, and much of the beginning pages focuses on his grief and confusion about how to move on. Readers will be swept up in his grief, his struggle to find his way, and the dilemmas that face him when he begins to fall in love again. However, despite the focus on Gerry's grief, readers may not find When You Went Away to be a tearjerker.

"And just for a second -- that instant between dreaming and being awake when almost anything still seems possible -- I believed that everything else about my dream was true as well. My wife was next to me. My daughter, five or nine or seventeen, was two doors down the hall, about to protest that it was too early to go to school." (Page 3 of ARC)

Reese becomes Gerry's world for a long two months of seclusion before he heads back to work at a catalog firm. Codie, his wife's sister, becomes a sounding board for Gerry and he for her, allowing their relationship to go beyond sister-in-law and brother-in-law to confidants. The first few weeks back to work for Gerry are rough with sympathetic looks and a number of "How are you feeling?" questions from coworkers. Eventually, he finds a friend in Ally Rittan, a fellow creative mind.

"Ally slipped into the side door of my life and made herself at home without moving any of the furniture." (Page 213 of ARC)

Readers will embark upon a meditative journey with Gerry and Reese as Gerry works through the loss of his wife, the realization that love can find you at the most inopportune moments, and the harsh realities of repairing a relationship with his lost daughter. Some of the most insightful sections of the novel involve Gerry's journal conversations with his daughter Tanya; they are frank and raw.

When You Went Away is an apt title given that the narration focuses on what Gerry feels, does, and how he reacts to the absence of his daughter and his wife, but readers may also find that this novel examines what can happen to the self when tragedy strikes and the journey it takes to locate or transform that lost self.

[Sasha]

I was very much afraid that this book would read like a Nicholas Sparks novel. Then again, we are informed that Gerry experiences heartache and loss early on: his seventeen-year-old daughter ran away with a twenty-year-old, his wife died a month after giving birth to their son, and now he’s faced with a life of trying to grapple with the loss, and raising his infant son alone.

And he does a pretty good job with it. Meeting new people, rekindling friendships, finding love, finding strength. Bonding with his son, Reese. In effect, relearning how to be a father.

It moves predictably. Newfound love offers your usual conflict of Is It Too Soon? Your usual issues with raising a baby boy. Dealing with the grief of losing the love of his life, and that of missing his daughter.

But it is a heartwarming story–yes, once in a while, my black heart loosens up a little and goes squee over babies. It’s a good story, a surprisingly fast read–Baron doesn’t weigh us down with overwrought expressions of grief. Just right. Just so. Very simply put. And Reese, Gerry’s son, is an adorable kid. Very very very adorable.

It won’t hold up much to a critical eye; its predictability is its greatest flaw. I mean, did we really have to wonder about happy endings and all that shiz?

It’s a book that tugs at your heartstrings. But the difference between this and the contrivance of yo-manipulative The Postmistress is this: it’s touching. It’s tender, it’s heartfelt, it’s honest. It’s almost humble, how moments stop when Reese discovers a new shiny thing, or when Gerry reflects on fatherhood. It’s a simple story, despite my fears of melodrama. I mean, it was just right, ya know? Flaws and all. I read it quickly, enjoying myself, laughing at the dialogue, getting teary-eyed in many places.

It’s a good book. I liked it a lot. I mean, I need good books about good people every once in a while.

I now call this genre Heart Candy. YayConfetti.

[Rachel Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this book for free for my Sony e-reader.

Gerry thought he had everything, but then his life started to fall apart. First his teenage daughter runs away with her older boyfriend, simply disappearing into the landscape of the US. A couple months later, his wife dies suddenly, leaving Gerry to raise his infant son alone, and somehow cope with his grief. Ally enters Gerry's life about five months after his wife's death, causing Gerry to question his unchanging love for his late wife and everything he thought he knew about himself.

This book was a bit of a tearjerker as Gerry spends a great deal of time coping with loss and depression, but the book was also a bit uplifting as he never gave up on his daughter, believing that she would return home someday. Not a whole lot happens in this story, but its well-told and the characters are fleshed out and believable. Yes, the author dedicates a lot of time to Gerry's interests -- namely music and the Yankees -- but I thought that just made him a well-rounded character, and it showed that Gerry could still find joy in certain things. Now I am not a baseball fan, so a lot of the baseball jargon was over my head, but not enough so to make me lose interest in the story.

Another reviewer mentioned that Michael Baron has been compared to Nicholas Sparks, but I don't see why. I've read one Sparks book and absolutely hated it. This I loved -- Baron has a way with words that captivated me. I thought some of the conversations between characters were a little stilted or unnatural, but that would be my only complaint.

[Anette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gerry Rubato has lost his whole world--first his daughter Tanya runs away with an older man at age 17 and then he loses his wife tragically. All he has left to center him is his infant son, Reese. The story is told from Gerry's point of view, and much of the beginning pages focuses on his grief and confusion about how to move on. I was swept up in his grief, his struggle to find his way, and the dilemmas that face him when he begins to fall in love again. There are a lot of baseball talk in the book, which I found too much. But then it didn't take anything away from this incredible novel.
The journal he writes for his daughter is mind blowing ... everything we all would love to say to our daughters. And I did end up highlighting quite a few quotes.
This book was an unusual break from my usual reading fare of murder and mayhem, as I am a suspense fanatic. But I have to admit that I loved it, and could feel every emotion Gerry lived through.
Highly recommended.

[Amy Hobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know-chick book-but I like them. I really enjoyed this book. As sad as the book sounds it didn't make a cry baby like me cry.(The Christmas book to this book did) Maybe because it was written very well, or maybe because it's written from a mans point of view, I don't know.
Anyway, he told about the cute things the baby was doing, which brought flashbacks of Shan and then he would talk about his daughter growing up, pre-teen years and teen years, which I can relate to now. During those years he had a hard time relating to her and he let the Mom deal with her and he and his daughter drifted apart. So going to try and not let that happen here.

[Candace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book because it was a cheap Kindle buy. It was fairly good up to a point. The struggles of a widowed almost 40 year old man with an infant son and a teenage daughter that ran away with her older boyfriend. Trying to juggle work and being the sole caregiver of his son, it was predictable when he gets involved with a co-worker. Rather quickly after his wifed died, only 4 months, so you can see the writing on the wall with that one. It got rather monotonous after awhile and I was ready for the book to end. Would I recommend it to others, probably not, but it was still an ok read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!! mauldin and romantic and optimistic and just lovely. I felt the whole story with my heart.

[J.L. Dobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

When You Went Away by Michael Baron

Taking another break from my usual SF fare and my target has been sitting quietly in my kindle for two years. One more time I looked and asked myself what this one was doing here. So of course I started reading it; and kept right on reading it to the end.

I don't mind Nicholas Sparks and I've recently read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. But this book nailed some of the feeling of hopelessness and despair, midst the driving pressure to keep sane while trying to raise a child alone. Add to this that his teen aged daughter had run away, just prior to the babies arrival and his wife’s death, and you've go someone who has little time and less inclination to be out looking for companionship.

This book adds an interesting touch in that his wife’s sister visits a lot. She looks just like her sister, his wife, and that can't be helpful. After taking time off to try to put the remains of his life back together, we find Gerry having a difficult time letting go enough to find a reasonable babysitter. But he knows he must get back to work; and he's buried himself for such a long time raising his infant son Reese that he may not have allowed himself enough time to grieve.

To add to this, when Gerry returns to work, he finds himself attracted to someone who seems so perfect; her only fault is that she's not his deceased wife and it's too early for him to start dating. Neither being too stoic nor to soppy his ruminations seem quite genuine as he tries to sort through his life. The only oasis he has is his son who remains forever his reason for continuing on. His daughter’s occasional emails, to let him know she is alright, have a dual effect: especially since she uses a forwarding agent that prevents him from locating her. He tries to sort through his life to figure out why she ran off with a boy three years older than her and vowed never to return. He blames himself.

Anger over his daughters estrangement and guilt over having feelings for someone else so soon and fear of forging ahead in life without his one true love; he's a powder keg waiting to be sparked to life. When something happens to his one anchor in life, Reese, blind rage might undo the work he started when he chose to return to his life.

There are a lot of things I can relate to in this book and it's well done and quite a compelling read for someone who expects different fiction and conflict.

Excellent Dramatic Romance, for someone taking a break from the usual; and just as great for someone who loves a good Romance.

J.L. Dobias

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book is variously shown as Michael Baron or Lou Aronica. I don't know if they are the same person, or if they co-wrote the book. It doesn't much matter. I downloaded it on my Kindle free over a decade ago and finally got around to reading it when travelling.

I liked the book very much. The style is that of women's fiction but the main protagonist is a man - a likeable, believable person called Gerry who was happily married until his wife suddenly died, as we learn at the start of the book. His teenager daughter disappeared shortly before, and doesn't yet know... and Gerry is left with a two-month old baby, whom he has to look after.

There's a romantic thread, one filled with poignancy as Gerry struggles to come to terms with what has happened. He has to make some hard decisions and find some way of moving forward, still grieving, but finding ways to put aside his feelings of guilt and depression. I thought this very difficult situation was very well handled - and if the ending is a tad too neat and tidy, it didn't worry me at all.

Recommended.

Four and a half stars, really.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...

[Tania Martins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tenho de dizer desde já que este livro é uma melhoria face ao anterior que li dele embora pese o facto de ter enrolado nas primeiras 100 páginas com todo o drama do pai solteiro/viúvo que toma conta do filho de meses...e a partir daí melhorou bastante com o romance do protagonista e com o diário que ele escreve a filha. Era escusado tanta referência ao baseball americano, para quem não está familiarizado com o desporto em questão. Aquele final era de prever mas a miúda era um bocado parva foi a sensação que me deu...leu-se sem ser um estrondo!

[Diane Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved this book! The author writes with such openness in regards to human feelings that I found it difficult to lay it down. I will definitely read more of his works—so very glad that there are more of them.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not what you lose, but how you recover.

[Carrie Billig]

0

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Walter Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will think you have things figured out at the end of the first chapter; you will not. A good read that will be hard to put down.

Well done Mr. Baron. You will pick up a large group of fans.

[Haley Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good read and I really enjoyed it. However at times I thought it was a little repetitive and there were some grammar mistakes as well, which I thought was odd. But overall a good story.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel almost made me want to become a parent. Which is saying something. Reese is so cute.

This novel was quite good. In a silly coincidence, I read this right after reading The Homecoming, which also starts with the death of the main character's wife thus making him the single father of his son. As a consequence of starting in the same place, the stories have some similarities, though there is also a lot different between them. But by the time I get around to reading them, these books have been sitting on my Kindle for a while and I completely forgot what the blurb said they were about, so it was a funny coincidence. That said, I thought this novel was better than the other. Beyond that sentence, though, I'm going to stop comparing the two and just review the novel this review is for.

One thing that I especially liked about this book was the way the author put together the narrative. He used flashbacks, journal entries and emails in the story to construct an interesting and involved way of telling the story. The novel starts rather in the middle of things, as seems popular, but unlike some stories, it didn't take long for me to understand what had happened and, as it continued, I learned enough about all the characters and what had happened that it felt real and believable. I felt Maureen's impact on the story even though she was dead. I felt the tension between Tanya and Gerry and to some degree seemed I understood it rather than just being told about it.

As I read, it is always strange the things that suddenly come to me since I know that I'm going to be writing a review about the novel afterwards. In the middle of the story, I abruptly came to decide that I hadn't used riveting yet in these reviews and that this would be a good book to describe thusly. Not the action-packed type riveting that production companies like marketing as, but rather, riveting as in I couldn't escape these characters even when I stopped reading, so I might as well keep reading to see what happened.

Gerry is the most developed of the characters, which makes sense, since the entire story is told in first-person through his point of view, but through the aforementioned narrative techniques (all of which felt very natural) I felt like I really came to know Tanya, Maureen, even Ally to a lesser extent. And Reese is just adorable. Augh, I love novels with great round characters. Even Tate, though he was definitely a side character, played a big role and showed surprising depth in his actions and discussions. Perhaps the only disappointment on this level was Marshall, who Gerry described in the beginning as being a friend but never showed that at all, instead seem mostly like a jerk.

Another random thought while reading was on the ending. Things did wrap up quickly, but this novel was written better than others in that it wasn't so quick as to jerk me out of the story. In fact, the only thing that did jerking was me realizing that the ending was well done and thus thinking about how I should put it in my review. Sometimes I can't stand me.

Ultimately, as this review probably makes fairly obvious, I liked this book. I liked these characters. Even as they did stupid things, I never became annoyed and always felt like I could understand to some degree why they did what they did. And I just always wanted things to work out. As with most books I read where I really come to like the characters, I wished there was an epilogue after all the drama to show how they all lived happily ever after, etc., even if that would rather be out of place.

[Cheryl Masciarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEN YOU WENT AWAY by Michael Baron
Published by The Story Plant
ISBN-10: 0981956807
ISBN-13: 978-0981956800
This was a personal choice of reading that I downloaded via Amazon during a special rate that was offered.

Synopsis (from Amazon): Baron's carefully crafted debut tale, the Story Plant's first mass market original, is too true-to-life to be interesting. Gerry Rubato's wife has died and his teenage daughter has run away from home, leaving him alone to raise an infant son. Despite the recent tragedies, the focus of the novel is on rather ordinary non-events, such as Gerry's work at a catalogue company, opinions about the Yankees and tedious descriptions of food. As Gerry struggles to confront his runaway child, he chronicles his emotional reactions in a series of journal entries. A romantic subplot involving a colleague provides predictable conflict. Buried in the minutiae is an earnest tale of a man's emotional awakening and grief, but a too-easy resolution makes this more of a tour through Gerry's processing than a story.

My Thoughts and Opinion: Once again Michael Baron pulls on the heart strings from the opening sentence to the very last page. A poignant, tender, emotional, romantic, softhearted and moving love story through the eyes of a male written by a male. A story of love on different levels and in different states of the main character's, Gerry, life. Gerry has everything, a wife, which is the love of his life, a teenage daughter, a brand new baby boy and then his word collapses. His daughter runs away, his wife dies suddenly, he becomes an instant single parent, and even though there is so much grief, he has to go on.

I have read many books by this author and every time I do, I have to remind myself that it is written by a male author. The soft, compassionate, moving and touching words that the author conveys in his writing tugs on the heart strings and allows the reader to see and feel the eyes of a male perspective. Ladies, I wish, all of this could be bottled and made into a vaccine for the male species, if you know what I mean. Another plus with this book was that the main character is a huge Yankees fan. When his son was just an infant, they would spend their evenings together on the couch, watching a game, while he explained the art of baseball, knowing that his son probably had no clue what he was talking about. This brought back memories. I would do the same thing, not baseball but cooking. And another plus, my oldest son is a HUGE Yankees fan, naming is dog after the team and even has a tattoo. So in my book....that gets extra points. Overall....phenomenal poignant read!!! A grand slam!!!

My Rating: 5

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gerry Rubato is struggling with the sudden, wholly unexpected death of his wife, raising their now four-month-old son by himself, and the aching absence of his much-loved daughter Tanya, seventeen years old, who ran away just a month before her baby brother Reese was born, and three months before her mother's death.

We meet Gerry and Reese as Gerry is returning to work, leaving his son for the entire work day for the first time since his wife Maureen's death. It's tough for him to do, but he knows it's necessary, and he hires the best baby-sitter available, and goes to work. Real life resumes for him.
Gerry works his way through the unsettling feelings of everyone worrying and treating him differently until they get used to him being back, and his boss's frustration and subsequent hostility when he won't leave his four-month-old son for a long weekend in order to be included--for the first time--in the company executives' annual retreat. The most unsettling experience of all, though, is developing a friendship with a woman newly added to his team.

Ally is smart, funny, attractive, and sympathetic to his loss without making him feel self-conscious. They chat, trade jokes, share ideas, and become friends. When they take the first steps toward moving their relationship outside the office though, Gerry panics. What kind of a man is he, interested in another woman just five months after his beloved wife of eighteen years has died?

He works through his panic, he and Ally move ahead, and he develops a new, stronger friendship with his late wife's sister Codie, even as he and Codie share their frustration at Codie's parents' refusal to come north and meet their new grandson. Running through the whole story is Gerry's concern for his missing daughter, who ran off with her twenty-year old boyfriend, dropped out of sight, and contacts him only by email sent through a remailer, to hide her location. Tanya doesn't know her mother is dead, because he has no way to get a message back to her. Gerry begins writing a journal, the things he wants to tell his daughter and can't.

This is a warm, sensitively told tale, written with grace and dignity. Gerry's emotions are real and human, and treated with respect. Everyone involved tries to do the right thing, which doesn't mean there is no conflict. There is plenty of conflict--the most important of which is within Gerry himself.

Highly recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher.

[Lis Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerry Rubato is struggling with the sudden, wholly unexpected death of his wife, raising their now four-month-old son by himself, and the aching absence of his much-loved daughter Tanya, seventeen years old, who ran away just a month before her baby brother Reese was born, and three months before her mother's death.

We meet Gerry and Reese as Gerry is returning to work, leaving his son for the entire work day for the first time since his wife Maureen's death. It's tough for him to do, but he knows it's necessary, and he hires the best baby-sitter available, and goes to work. Real life resumes for him.
Gerry works his way through the unsettling feelings of everyone worrying and treating him differently until they get used to him being back, and his boss's frustration and subsequent hostility when he won't leave his four-month-old son for a long weekend in order to be included--for the first time--in the company executives' annual retreat. The most unsettling experience of all, though, is developing a friendship with a woman newly added to his team.

Ally is smart, funny, attractive, and sympathetic to his loss without making him feel self-conscious. They chat, trade jokes, share ideas, and become friends. When they take the first steps toward moving their relationship outside the office though, Gerry panics. What kind of a man is he, interested in another woman just five months after his beloved wife of eighteen years has died?

He works through his panic, he and Ally move ahead, and he develops a new, stronger friendship with his late wife's sister Codie, even as he and Codie share their frustration at Codie's parents' refusal to come north and meet their new grandson. Running through the whole story is Gerry's concern for his missing daughter, who ran off with her twenty-year old boyfriend, dropped out of sight, and contacts him only by email sent through a remailer, to hide her location. Tanya doesn't know her mother is dead, because he has no way to get a message back to her. Gerry begins writing a journal, the things he wants to tell his daughter and can't.

This is a warm, sensitively told tale, written with grace and dignity. Gerry's emotions are real and human, and treated with respect. Everyone involved tries to do the right thing, which doesn't mean there is no conflict. There is plenty of conflict--the most important of which is within Gerry himself.

Highly recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

When You Went Away is one of the best books I have ever read.

This book pulled me in many directions emotionally simply through the wonderfully written telling of how Gerry slowly pieces back together his life after loosing his wife suddenly, caring for his infant son on his own while gripped with worry over his teenage daughter who ran away. Gerry is experiencing grief , tremendous grief. His saving factor is Reese, his two month old baby. Through Reese, Gerry learns to revel in the small things life has to offer. Through Reese, Gerry has a center from which he can start his healing process.

I absolutely, 100%, loved this story. I was completely taken into Gerry’s point-of-view. Let me explain…

Michael Baron’s writing is amazing.
His use of words and expressions were real. He allowed Gerry’s voice to speak to me. He gave Gerry’s voice depth of emotion, personality and honesty . I was drawn into Gerry’s world effortlessly as he narrated his current path of life and as he shared his past experiences of life with Maureen (his wife) and Tanya ( his 17 year old daughter). I had a hard time putting this book down.

Gerry deeply loved his wife. He felt great tenderness towards Maureen and unconditional love for his daughter. One of the parts that I liked was when Gerry decided to start writing letters to his daughter via his journal. These letters were very moving as they provided more insight into this man’s deep and satisfying love towards his wife. Thorough these letters, Gerry also shared memories of his daughter, his hopes and desires along with his fears. I thought, my gosh, all fathers should give this kind of gift to their daughters and sons, for that matter. These letters were moving.

When You Went Away is an absolutely beautiful story.
The writing, simply put, is utterly amazing.

Full review can be found on my blog: Polishing Mud Balls

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

When You Went Away by Michael Baron
After reading Michaels' soon to be released book and enjoying it I got several of his other books. This one is about Gerry who has lost his wife Maureen and he's left with his 4 month old son Reese. Tanya he hopes will come home back to Long Island, NY in time.
The story goes back to happier times with the family and then up to date where he's just hired Lisa to take care of the baby so he can return to work.
He spends his whole day with his son, watching him laugh, as he walks around the house with him pointing everything out, especially the pictures of his mother and sister.
As time goes on we do learn why the daughter has run away with 2 years of high school being a straight A student,... It was a surprise to him also when Maureen told him she was pregnant.
He is back to work and others in the family's life stop in to lend support and bring him up to date with their latest news.
Love how the talks to his son about the Yankees play by play action in preseason games.
His sister in law Codie has heard from Tanya and they confide in one another.
The journal Maureen had given him one year was going to be put to good use...like how he uses it to move on with his life at the same time recording his thoughts and feelings about how his daughter had changed their lives.
He intellectually connects with a lady in his office where her job for the Christmas catalog is to pitch ideas at him and they discuss why they might work or might not. He's agreed to have dinner with her and this will be the first time since he lost his wife.
Love how everything is brought full circle by the end of the book, didn't see it coming...
Because there are only a few main characters you can get to know them very well. There are others that come into play and they are both good listeners and sometimes like to be listened to as well.
Love the honesty, deepness of the topics discussed and the loving nature he has for all that he comes into contact with.

[Jen Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way this author writes. I love the way he takes an incredibly hurt person going through so much grief at once, and makes the subject sad but hopeful, not at all depressing. I love his outlook on children, how they grow and see things, and how they make us grow and see things differently as well.

The fluidity of the story is refreshing. It doesnt seem to jump from one subject to another, but it doesn't dwell too long either. Like real life so many feelings and thoughts occur throughout his days.

So much about his relationship with his wife hits very close to home with me. She was his first 'real' love, he was hers. Because they met at 19 their whole lives, so much of their growth was done together. When he lost her everything in the world reminded him of her, and almost every simple memory of his past included her. Moving on in life and dealing with a new romantic interest who actually has a list of ex-loves seems incredibly strange and daunting to him. The thought of competeing against all these men in her past, but keeping in mind that she may have felt like she was competing with only one person, but a person so much stronger than each of her past loves.

Everything in this book felt so real, nothing seemed contrived for an audience. I loved this book, by far one of my favorites, and I highly recommend it!

"I'll gladly accept the worst possible moments with either of you over any moment without you."
"One of the things I realized was that if you were meant to be a parent at all, the changes don't come as a burden, but as an opportunity to evolve in ways that you wanted to evolve anyhow. This was the secret handshake, the thing that only parents had together."

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gerry Rubato had everything…a beautiful wife, a lovely daughter and a brand new baby boy. That all changed in a blink of an eye. His daughter, Tanya has left home wither boyfriend, Mike and his wife, Maureen has died. Now it is just Gerry and his son, Reese. As if losing a wife and daughter wasn’t hard enough; caring for a new baby is even harder. Eventually, Gerry gathers himself together enough to make his way back to work. It is there that he meets Ally Ritten. She is the newest member to work at this same place Gerry does. They go on a date. Gerry shocks himself when he finds an interest in Ally.

Maureen’s sister, Codie comes for a visit and to help take care of Reese. Tanya emails her father every once in a while, just to let him know she is still alive. She never provides any clues about where she is. She doesn’t know about her mother dying. It is through these letters from his daughter that Gerry decides to keep a diary and write to Tanya all the things he wants to tell her but can’t.

When You Went Away really surprised me with how much I enjoyed reading this book. Gerry and Reese stole a place in my heart. Gerry’s love for his family was heart-warming and touching in all the right places. The transformation of the story line from past to present was smooth. At first I thought Tanya was very selfless to leave home but as the story progressed and I got to know Tanya better, I realized she was still daddy’s little girl but who had lost her way. Mr. Baron is a prolific writer. He is going on my must read list of authors.