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Growing Up for Beginners
It’s not easy being a grown-up, but at 47, Eleanor hoped she’d be better at it by now…
But when Eleanor waves her daughter off for a gap-year trip, she finds herself stuck as a satellite wife, spinning in faithful orbit around domineering husband Roger, with only a stash of hidden books and her brilliant but judgmental father Conrad for comfort.
Andrew isn’t mastering the art of growing up either. When he finds his belongings dumped on the drive, although he may not understand women very well, even he can see that this looks like some kind of hint… and so moves back in with his parents.
Backing onto Andrew’s parents lives artist Cecilia, always ready to recount tales of her innumerable ex-lovers, whilst her daughters feel she’s like a misbehaving teenager.
But now four lives are drawn together by long-buried secrets of the past, and it is time for them all to grow up, before it’s too late.
A desperate decision … A lost letter … A powerful secret hidden for thirty years…
Praise for Claire Calman:
‘A poignant and beautifully articulated tale of love and loss, memory and forgetting, grief and guilt, new love and letting go. I was engrossed, often tearful, and finally, uplifted.’ Isobel Wolff
‘Simply wonderful. I was totally enchanted, devoured it in a day, and have been raving about it ever since.’ Fiona Walker
But when Eleanor waves her daughter off for a gap-year trip, she finds herself stuck as a satellite wife, spinning in faithful orbit around domineering husband Roger, with only a stash of hidden books and her brilliant but judgmental father Conrad for comfort.
Andrew isn’t mastering the art of growing up either. When he finds his belongings dumped on the drive, although he may not understand women very well, even he can see that this looks like some kind of hint… and so moves back in with his parents.
Backing onto Andrew’s parents lives artist Cecilia, always ready to recount tales of her innumerable ex-lovers, whilst her daughters feel she’s like a misbehaving teenager.
But now four lives are drawn together by long-buried secrets of the past, and it is time for them all to grow up, before it’s too late.
A desperate decision … A lost letter … A powerful secret hidden for thirty years…
Praise for Claire Calman:
‘A poignant and beautifully articulated tale of love and loss, memory and forgetting, grief and guilt, new love and letting go. I was engrossed, often tearful, and finally, uplifted.’ Isobel Wolff
‘Simply wonderful. I was totally enchanted, devoured it in a day, and have been raving about it ever since.’ Fiona Walker
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2020
212 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Claire Calman
16 books27 followersClaire Calman was born 1969, the daughter of Pat McNeill, a magazine designer, and Mel Calman, a cartoonist. Before writing fiction, Claire spent several years working in women's magazines, then in book publishing, editing gardening books. She is also a poet and broadcaster and has performed her pithy verse at live readings and on radio many times, including for BBC Radio Four's Woman's Hour, Loose Ends, the comedy series Five Squeezy Pieces and for LBC. Her short stories have appeared in numerous magazines as well as in various anthologies, including Cheatin' Heart, the best-selling Girls' Night In, Summer Magic and A Day in the Life.
Claire lives in London with her husband, baby son, and an unbelievable amount of unfiled paperwork.
Claire lives in London with her husband, baby son, and an unbelievable amount of unfiled paperwork.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
June 11, 2020
3☆ An Endearing Women's Fiction.
Growing Up For Beginners is a story about relationships and family.
I had mixed feelings about this book.
I did enjoy it, but it took me a really long time to get into the storyline due to how many characters there are and the slower pace the story unfolds at.
Each of the characters have a connection in some way, However some of the story is set in the past and I did get way laid a little.
Not all of the characters are likeable especially Roger who I simply despised the whole time, the way he treated Eleanor was shocking... I mean who cuts pages out of a book just to stop their wife reading a certain way!
Eleanor I felt sorry for, she was in a demeaning marriage, in the middle of everyone, trying to please, but she does grow in confidence standing up to Roger and that was wonderful to see.
Growing Up For Beginners is an endearing story about family, relationships, connections, loss, secrets, drama and moving on.
The characters were well written, complex and not all particularly likeable, but I'm guessing I'm not going to be the only one who despised Roger lol
I would definitely recommend reading this book, especially if you enjoy your Women's Fiction to be very Character driven, with a slower pace.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
Growing Up For Beginners is a story about relationships and family.
I had mixed feelings about this book.
I did enjoy it, but it took me a really long time to get into the storyline due to how many characters there are and the slower pace the story unfolds at.
Each of the characters have a connection in some way, However some of the story is set in the past and I did get way laid a little.
Not all of the characters are likeable especially Roger who I simply despised the whole time, the way he treated Eleanor was shocking... I mean who cuts pages out of a book just to stop their wife reading a certain way!
Eleanor I felt sorry for, she was in a demeaning marriage, in the middle of everyone, trying to please, but she does grow in confidence standing up to Roger and that was wonderful to see.
Growing Up For Beginners is an endearing story about family, relationships, connections, loss, secrets, drama and moving on.
The characters were well written, complex and not all particularly likeable, but I'm guessing I'm not going to be the only one who despised Roger lol
I would definitely recommend reading this book, especially if you enjoy your Women's Fiction to be very Character driven, with a slower pace.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
June 4, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I don't know what I'd initially expected from this book, but this wasn't it. I'd really enjoyed the description the book given in the blurb, but the book didn't live up to my expectations at all. I read 35% of the book before I decided to DNF this. I desperately wanted to enjoy it and kept trying to plod on but I wasn't just enjoying it.
Here were my main issues with what I read. There were so many characters in this story that were swapped between that it became completely confusing. It kept swapping whose perspective we were reading from and my mind felt like it was in a jumble barely remembering the first characters at all. If I could have finished this, I may have enjoyed seeing how these characters lives crossed paths, which I assume they must do at some point. It just felt so slowly paced and hard to work out who was who that I wasn't invested in the story enough to want to carry on. Maybe at some point I'll try and read this again and see if my feelings change, but right now this wasn't the book for me.
Overall, it's a slowly paced book with far too many characters to keep track of! It had great potential and I loved the first couple of chapters, I only wish they'd stuck with two or three perspectives rather than multiple.
I don't know what I'd initially expected from this book, but this wasn't it. I'd really enjoyed the description the book given in the blurb, but the book didn't live up to my expectations at all. I read 35% of the book before I decided to DNF this. I desperately wanted to enjoy it and kept trying to plod on but I wasn't just enjoying it.
Here were my main issues with what I read. There were so many characters in this story that were swapped between that it became completely confusing. It kept swapping whose perspective we were reading from and my mind felt like it was in a jumble barely remembering the first characters at all. If I could have finished this, I may have enjoyed seeing how these characters lives crossed paths, which I assume they must do at some point. It just felt so slowly paced and hard to work out who was who that I wasn't invested in the story enough to want to carry on. Maybe at some point I'll try and read this again and see if my feelings change, but right now this wasn't the book for me.
Overall, it's a slowly paced book with far too many characters to keep track of! It had great potential and I loved the first couple of chapters, I only wish they'd stuck with two or three perspectives rather than multiple.
June 4, 2020
I have no idea if Claire Calman is one of those authors who does her planning on post-its, but – if she does – they must have covered an entire wall for this one. This was such clever writing – three apparently unconnected stories, each tremendously engaging and featuring wonderfully drawn characters, with Conrad’s life story threaded through and drawing them together. The way in which they’re connected is very slowly revealed, with perfect pacing and wonderful writing: this book had me intrigued and 100% engaged from beginning to end, when I reluctantly set it aside and wondered “how did she do that?”, with not even the smallest thread left untied.
I’m really afraid of giving away too much of the story if I say too much – this is one you really need to discover for yourself, follow it through and feel the same moments of joy, shock and sadness that I did. But I can’t resist telling you about some of the characters.
I grew particularly fond of Eleanor – every reader will identify with her love for novels, her moments of escape from a marriage that no longer makes her happy and probably never did. Her husband is a monster, but entirely real and recognisable – there was more than one occasion when he filled me with uncontrollable rage.
And then there’s Andrew, so wonderfully awkward and so ill-equipped to be the adult he is – when he returns to live with his parents, you live his nightmare (and, if you ever stay with your parents, might just identify with some of his experiences). And it’s not just the main characters who are superbly drawn – his mother with her smothering love and vacuum cleaner and his long-suffering (and rather lovely) father are just two of the wonderful slightly expanded vignettes I thoroughly enjoyed. And then there’s Cecilia, now elderly, a constant embarrassment to her daughters with her graphic telling of stories from her wilder youth.
Conrad – whose story threads through it all – is Eleanor’s father, and we learn about his life and the difficult choices he’s sometimes had to make. There’s a deeply moving love story at its heart – beautifully told – that really moved me to tears. But the tears certainly aren’t the entirety of this story, wherever you might find them – there are times when its quite gloriously funny, the humour ranging from a titter of embarrassment to more than one full-on belly laugh, but with a touch of poignancy never too far away. The book’s themes are many – I liked the focus on being a parent, particularly the different takes on fatherhood, and that whole area of “adulting” and recognising what makes you happy.
Now, I haven’t said too much, have I? I see the publishers are calling it “a wonderful book club read”, and I couldn’t agree more – I think I’d really enjoy discussing this one. Who might it appeal to? It really did remind me of Rachel Joyce’s writing – and perhaps if you enjoyed Lisa Jewell’s books (The Third Wife, or The House We Grew Up In) before she turned to thrillers? But Claire Calman’s style is very much her own, and I’m already looking forward to seeing what she does next. I really loved this one – it might well be one of my books of the year.
I’m really afraid of giving away too much of the story if I say too much – this is one you really need to discover for yourself, follow it through and feel the same moments of joy, shock and sadness that I did. But I can’t resist telling you about some of the characters.
I grew particularly fond of Eleanor – every reader will identify with her love for novels, her moments of escape from a marriage that no longer makes her happy and probably never did. Her husband is a monster, but entirely real and recognisable – there was more than one occasion when he filled me with uncontrollable rage.
And then there’s Andrew, so wonderfully awkward and so ill-equipped to be the adult he is – when he returns to live with his parents, you live his nightmare (and, if you ever stay with your parents, might just identify with some of his experiences). And it’s not just the main characters who are superbly drawn – his mother with her smothering love and vacuum cleaner and his long-suffering (and rather lovely) father are just two of the wonderful slightly expanded vignettes I thoroughly enjoyed. And then there’s Cecilia, now elderly, a constant embarrassment to her daughters with her graphic telling of stories from her wilder youth.
Conrad – whose story threads through it all – is Eleanor’s father, and we learn about his life and the difficult choices he’s sometimes had to make. There’s a deeply moving love story at its heart – beautifully told – that really moved me to tears. But the tears certainly aren’t the entirety of this story, wherever you might find them – there are times when its quite gloriously funny, the humour ranging from a titter of embarrassment to more than one full-on belly laugh, but with a touch of poignancy never too far away. The book’s themes are many – I liked the focus on being a parent, particularly the different takes on fatherhood, and that whole area of “adulting” and recognising what makes you happy.
Now, I haven’t said too much, have I? I see the publishers are calling it “a wonderful book club read”, and I couldn’t agree more – I think I’d really enjoy discussing this one. Who might it appeal to? It really did remind me of Rachel Joyce’s writing – and perhaps if you enjoyed Lisa Jewell’s books (The Third Wife, or The House We Grew Up In) before she turned to thrillers? But Claire Calman’s style is very much her own, and I’m already looking forward to seeing what she does next. I really loved this one – it might well be one of my books of the year.
June 15, 2020
A slow moving book with multitude of characters where I got to see their life and understand their ways of being. I liked Eleanor whose husband Roger was an absolute boor whom I hated.
My first book by the author, I read the story in bits and pieces. The concept was nice, the writing flowed well. I couldn't connect to the characters, but I found the story okay.
Overall, a good read.
My first book by the author, I read the story in bits and pieces. The concept was nice, the writing flowed well. I couldn't connect to the characters, but I found the story okay.
Overall, a good read.
April 19, 2020
DNF
I just couldn’t with this one. I felt perpetually stuck in the 1940s by the way it was written and the speech between the characters - ‘if one is too clumsy’ (just an example, not from the book). I’m not a fan of that style, it bores me and also irritates me to no end.
I was disappointed because I assumed this would be a comedy of sorts judging by the title, but I found the title didn’t even match the story. The book was also filled with a mismatch of characters here, there and everywhere and couldn’t keep up, I didn’t particularly feel interested in finding out how they all linked to be honest.
The title did not match the story, the writing is too posh and upmarket and stuck back in the day and I was just bored stiff.
This is my honest opinion, so others will be different and will find it interesting but it just doesn’t appeal to me.
I just couldn’t with this one. I felt perpetually stuck in the 1940s by the way it was written and the speech between the characters - ‘if one is too clumsy’ (just an example, not from the book). I’m not a fan of that style, it bores me and also irritates me to no end.
I was disappointed because I assumed this would be a comedy of sorts judging by the title, but I found the title didn’t even match the story. The book was also filled with a mismatch of characters here, there and everywhere and couldn’t keep up, I didn’t particularly feel interested in finding out how they all linked to be honest.
The title did not match the story, the writing is too posh and upmarket and stuck back in the day and I was just bored stiff.
This is my honest opinion, so others will be different and will find it interesting but it just doesn’t appeal to me.
June 7, 2020
Growing up for Beginners is a diamond of a book examining the lives and relationships of three different families, all interconnected in ways you’ll slowly discover. There are characters in this novel that are wonderfully exaggerated cliches of a type of personality and which make this a pure pleasure to read. Take for instance Eleanor , trapped in an unhappy loveless marriage to a controlling husband Roger,arty bohemian Cecilia, buttoned up academic and Eleanor’s father, Conrad and thirty five year old Andrew who is still being mollycoddled by his mother. With such fantastically imagined characters all with a substantial part to play in this novel it is impossible to decide whose unravelling story you enjoy the most.
Eleanor is the one who will probably capture readers hearts the most and Roger the character you may want to murder!! Eleanor’s submittance to her husband left me incredulous within the first few pages, finding it unbelievable she would allow him to spoil her few little pleasures in life (reading the final page of a book first and swimming in Hampstead ponds). I wanted to urge her to stand up to his bullying, snide and frankly despicable nature but she is the epitome of a woman who has endured years of being subservient,and she no longer knows who she really is. A lifetime of containing her emotions and presenting a calm, composed outward appearance means that her very essence is slowly disappearing. I likened her dwindling spirit to a flame of a candle spluttering just before it’s extinguished, feeling immense sadness for a woman trapped within a marriage that metaphorically has her in chains. Her mantra is that she’s fine, she’s really fine when confronted by family and friends which makes you want to weep. When you learn more of her background you can understand how Eleanor has arrived at this point in her life and so your empathy towards her grows. However much you view Eleanor as a saint, worthy of a medal for enduring Roger’s preposterous and audacious behaviour, I did find their exchanges SO hilarious. There are too many to list but I think the coffee pot Christmas present sums up their marriage perfectly.
The dry humour in this novel is what makes this such a delicious treat to read and so before long I was totally engaged with these peoples lives. Andrew and his mother are set up as perfect characters for ridicule and I loved the pair of them. At thirty five and finding himself living back at home with his parents, Andrew is incapable of growing into a fully fledged adult, socially awkward and mollycoddled by the forever hoovering Mrs Tyler. Again the exchanges in this family were spot on, excellent examples of a prim and fussy woman married to a long suffering mainly silent husband , finding it impossible to treat her son as a grown up. I can guarantee these scenes will make you laugh out loud.
Conrad, Eleanor’s father is the link that ties all the characters together and without divulging anymore of this expertly woven storyline, he is also deserving of your empathy, having led a half live, submerging his true feelings, in order to do what is the ‘right’ thing. So in many ways Conrad and Eleanor are extremely alike and if anyone can learn a lesson in how not to live your life, Eleanor only needs to look to her father for guidance.
The writing is superb and I was taken completely by surprise at how much I enjoyed this tale of love, loss and regret. It’s poignant and sad and funny and hopeful. How all the threads of the storyline come together are so naturally and effortlessly engineered that you can only marvel at the author’s ingenuity. Sometimes the best novels are the ones that catch you unawares and Growing up for Beginners did exactly that for me. I will be recommending this to all my fellow book lovers and putting Claire’s first novel to the top of my reading pile. BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT!!
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
Eleanor is the one who will probably capture readers hearts the most and Roger the character you may want to murder!! Eleanor’s submittance to her husband left me incredulous within the first few pages, finding it unbelievable she would allow him to spoil her few little pleasures in life (reading the final page of a book first and swimming in Hampstead ponds). I wanted to urge her to stand up to his bullying, snide and frankly despicable nature but she is the epitome of a woman who has endured years of being subservient,and she no longer knows who she really is. A lifetime of containing her emotions and presenting a calm, composed outward appearance means that her very essence is slowly disappearing. I likened her dwindling spirit to a flame of a candle spluttering just before it’s extinguished, feeling immense sadness for a woman trapped within a marriage that metaphorically has her in chains. Her mantra is that she’s fine, she’s really fine when confronted by family and friends which makes you want to weep. When you learn more of her background you can understand how Eleanor has arrived at this point in her life and so your empathy towards her grows. However much you view Eleanor as a saint, worthy of a medal for enduring Roger’s preposterous and audacious behaviour, I did find their exchanges SO hilarious. There are too many to list but I think the coffee pot Christmas present sums up their marriage perfectly.
The dry humour in this novel is what makes this such a delicious treat to read and so before long I was totally engaged with these peoples lives. Andrew and his mother are set up as perfect characters for ridicule and I loved the pair of them. At thirty five and finding himself living back at home with his parents, Andrew is incapable of growing into a fully fledged adult, socially awkward and mollycoddled by the forever hoovering Mrs Tyler. Again the exchanges in this family were spot on, excellent examples of a prim and fussy woman married to a long suffering mainly silent husband , finding it impossible to treat her son as a grown up. I can guarantee these scenes will make you laugh out loud.
Conrad, Eleanor’s father is the link that ties all the characters together and without divulging anymore of this expertly woven storyline, he is also deserving of your empathy, having led a half live, submerging his true feelings, in order to do what is the ‘right’ thing. So in many ways Conrad and Eleanor are extremely alike and if anyone can learn a lesson in how not to live your life, Eleanor only needs to look to her father for guidance.
The writing is superb and I was taken completely by surprise at how much I enjoyed this tale of love, loss and regret. It’s poignant and sad and funny and hopeful. How all the threads of the storyline come together are so naturally and effortlessly engineered that you can only marvel at the author’s ingenuity. Sometimes the best novels are the ones that catch you unawares and Growing up for Beginners did exactly that for me. I will be recommending this to all my fellow book lovers and putting Claire’s first novel to the top of my reading pile. BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT!!
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
June 5, 2020
I absolutely love to discover new authors and Claire Calman is certainly a new author for me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Growing Up For Beginners' but more about that in a bit.
I have to be honest and say that it took me a little while to get into this book, which has more to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read the book and shouldn't be taken as a criticism of the author. Once I got 'into' the story then that was it, I was away. I wasn't able to read the book over the course of a single day because things like life got in the way, but I did manage to binge read the book over the course of a few days. I was under this book's spell from the moment I first picked it up and the spell lasted until the moment I read the last word on the last page. If I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book and if I had to put the book down for any reason then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I loved the insight into the lives of the main characters and how they were affected by certain things. I seemed to race through the latter half of the story as I had to know what secrets the characters were keeping and how they could possibly be connected to each other.
'Growing Up For Beginners' is one of those books that take you on an emotional rollercoaster through the ups and downs that life has to throw at you. Claire got my attention with the eye catching synopsis and I loved the way in which she created characters, who you can relate to. That's how I felt at any rate. Claire describes the characters so well that they seemed just as real as you or I. I literally felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's down to Claire's very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Growing Up For Beginners' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. This book had a bit of everything- drama, emotion, love, heartache and well you get the picture. I will certainly be reading more of Claire's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I have to be honest and say that it took me a little while to get into this book, which has more to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read the book and shouldn't be taken as a criticism of the author. Once I got 'into' the story then that was it, I was away. I wasn't able to read the book over the course of a single day because things like life got in the way, but I did manage to binge read the book over the course of a few days. I was under this book's spell from the moment I first picked it up and the spell lasted until the moment I read the last word on the last page. If I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book and if I had to put the book down for any reason then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I loved the insight into the lives of the main characters and how they were affected by certain things. I seemed to race through the latter half of the story as I had to know what secrets the characters were keeping and how they could possibly be connected to each other.
'Growing Up For Beginners' is one of those books that take you on an emotional rollercoaster through the ups and downs that life has to throw at you. Claire got my attention with the eye catching synopsis and I loved the way in which she created characters, who you can relate to. That's how I felt at any rate. Claire describes the characters so well that they seemed just as real as you or I. I literally felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's down to Claire's very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Growing Up For Beginners' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. This book had a bit of everything- drama, emotion, love, heartache and well you get the picture. I will certainly be reading more of Claire's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
November 11, 2024
A book about 4 people whose life choices ended up not being quite what they’d hoped for. I’m definitely giving this 5 stars.
April 5, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Here is goes... I really wanted to like this book but I really, really disliked it! So much so, that I DNF'd it! I felt like I was reading a script for a soap opera. It kept jumping back and forth, there were so many characters and my mind was completely boggled. I kept trying to read it, I was pushing myself but by the time I got to chapter 19 and figured out that I was still was less than halfway done with the book, I gave up. Maybe at a different point in my life I would be more open to this book. The overall flow of the book just didn't work for me right now. Sorry. Just being honest!
Here is goes... I really wanted to like this book but I really, really disliked it! So much so, that I DNF'd it! I felt like I was reading a script for a soap opera. It kept jumping back and forth, there were so many characters and my mind was completely boggled. I kept trying to read it, I was pushing myself but by the time I got to chapter 19 and figured out that I was still was less than halfway done with the book, I gave up. Maybe at a different point in my life I would be more open to this book. The overall flow of the book just didn't work for me right now. Sorry. Just being honest!
May 2, 2022
What a lovely discovery! I have come across this book by mistake and I am happy to have had the opportunity to read it. I must say that at the beginning it was a bit difficult to keep up with all the different characters, but after a while, you get to know them intimately and you look forward to knowing what they're up to. I especially felt sorry for Eleanor throughout the book for all the emotional terrorism she suffered because of her husband's behaviour (what a dreadful person!) and there was an enormous amount of satisfaction towards the end of the book when she chooses herself for the first time in her life. Additionally, there are 4 different stories to follow which in the beginning don't seem to be connected to each other, however, throughout the book they are cleverly intertwined to become one single series of events involving all the characters. I definitely recommend this book :)
August 4, 2024
an endearing and cleverly constructed story showing how complex relationships are, how others can impact our identity and self worth, and how much of a dickhead Roger is
June 2, 2020
It took me a while to get into this story; the story jumps between characters and times a lot and until I got my head around who was who and what was what it was a little confusing. However, once I did I found myself really engrossed in the lives of the characters.
The characters are well written and mostly likeable, except for Roger who I wanted to punch, to be honest. As the story comes together you see how lives intertwine and their stories develop. It's clever and draws you into their lives and loves.
Despite the slow start I did enjoy this story and would definitely recommend it as a good read.
The characters are well written and mostly likeable, except for Roger who I wanted to punch, to be honest. As the story comes together you see how lives intertwine and their stories develop. It's clever and draws you into their lives and loves.
Despite the slow start I did enjoy this story and would definitely recommend it as a good read.
June 13, 2020
Firstly I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Claire Calman for my gifted digital copy of Growing Up For Beginners. And, to Rachel for organising the blog tour.
This is my first Claire Calman book, and it won't be my last. Her writing style is effortless and so fluid to follow. With a plethora of characters in the storyline Claire makes light work of building up and developing their stories. I loved how each characters story started to entwine with each other. And, it was great to see the connections form.
At the start of Growing Up For Beginners we meet Eleanor, and I'm sorry to say I took an instant dislike to her for her reading quirk. But, that soon changed as I got to know her better. Eleanor finds herself at a junction in her life where she doesn't really know what next to do. Her children have flown the nest and it's just her and her husband, Roger left in the house. I'll put it out there now that Roger made my blood boil. And, the more I got to know him the more I wanted to throttle him. I struggled to see how Eleanor could stand by her man, so to speak. But, when we get flashback stories to her childhood and her relationship with her mother it kind of starts becoming clear why she allows such things to happen.
Conrad, Eleanor's father is another character that we follow in Growing Up For Beginners. He was polar opposite to Roger, and it was nice to see the two differences in male characters, I also love the tension between these two. Conrad, has a good work ethic, and also believes his daughter Eleanor is holding back and not allowing herself to do what she wants.
We get a past narrative for Conrad also. And, here the secrets start to uncover. We see a different side to Conrad, and I really liked the development of this secret that he harbours. And, the secret lies within a painting that has hung on his wall for years.
Andrew, who has just split from his girlfriend finds himself back living with his parents. Who might I add are the best characters ever. They reminded me of the Buckets from Keeping Up Appearances. Mrs Tyler is definitely the boss in that household and Ron just follows suit to keep the peace. I thought it was genius that we never got to know Andrews mother's name.
And our final character that we follow is Cecilia, she is the owner or the tree that brings together a few of the characters. The wonderful tree on the front cover. Cecilia is an extroverted character who has no shame and loves to embarrass her daughter's. But, she also has hidden secrets in her past. A lost letter is the answer.
Growing Up For Beginners is a wonderful tale of discovering life and making decisions. Take the bull by its horns and seize the day.
P.S just a little note. After reading a few other reviews, I've noticed quite a few gave up on the book because of too many characters to deal with. Personally, I didn't feel this was an issue. I've read many more books with loads more characters than this. Also, it's perfectly clear who your reading about because their names are on the pages 😊
If you do find this an issue, I do say to keep going and it'll all come together
This is my first Claire Calman book, and it won't be my last. Her writing style is effortless and so fluid to follow. With a plethora of characters in the storyline Claire makes light work of building up and developing their stories. I loved how each characters story started to entwine with each other. And, it was great to see the connections form.
At the start of Growing Up For Beginners we meet Eleanor, and I'm sorry to say I took an instant dislike to her for her reading quirk. But, that soon changed as I got to know her better. Eleanor finds herself at a junction in her life where she doesn't really know what next to do. Her children have flown the nest and it's just her and her husband, Roger left in the house. I'll put it out there now that Roger made my blood boil. And, the more I got to know him the more I wanted to throttle him. I struggled to see how Eleanor could stand by her man, so to speak. But, when we get flashback stories to her childhood and her relationship with her mother it kind of starts becoming clear why she allows such things to happen.
Conrad, Eleanor's father is another character that we follow in Growing Up For Beginners. He was polar opposite to Roger, and it was nice to see the two differences in male characters, I also love the tension between these two. Conrad, has a good work ethic, and also believes his daughter Eleanor is holding back and not allowing herself to do what she wants.
We get a past narrative for Conrad also. And, here the secrets start to uncover. We see a different side to Conrad, and I really liked the development of this secret that he harbours. And, the secret lies within a painting that has hung on his wall for years.
Andrew, who has just split from his girlfriend finds himself back living with his parents. Who might I add are the best characters ever. They reminded me of the Buckets from Keeping Up Appearances. Mrs Tyler is definitely the boss in that household and Ron just follows suit to keep the peace. I thought it was genius that we never got to know Andrews mother's name.
And our final character that we follow is Cecilia, she is the owner or the tree that brings together a few of the characters. The wonderful tree on the front cover. Cecilia is an extroverted character who has no shame and loves to embarrass her daughter's. But, she also has hidden secrets in her past. A lost letter is the answer.
Growing Up For Beginners is a wonderful tale of discovering life and making decisions. Take the bull by its horns and seize the day.
P.S just a little note. After reading a few other reviews, I've noticed quite a few gave up on the book because of too many characters to deal with. Personally, I didn't feel this was an issue. I've read many more books with loads more characters than this. Also, it's perfectly clear who your reading about because their names are on the pages 😊
If you do find this an issue, I do say to keep going and it'll all come together
June 16, 2020
To start of with the greatest of apologies for this: the one day I chose to take off social media, was actually the day I should have been on, promoting this, he brilliant Growing UP For Beginners by Claire Calman. I have no excuse, except that for some reason I had the 5th June in my head (I’ve checked and my diary says the 4th). The greatest of apologies to both Ms. Calman and Boldwood Books and of course Rachel and thanks to all for the book in return for an honest review.
From the very beginning of this book I was mesmerised as it addressed an issue that many people possibly think nothing of, but was something I used to do a long time ago as a teenager, back when I read hugely different genres to those I read today. Whereas now I read pretty much solely rom coms and thrillers, back then I read ya, horror, thrillers, detectives, romance, romantic comedy, science fiction (I know, you can’t see it, can you? Also, yes, you are going to have to pull up a chair for this one!)
The issue we saw early on in the book was that of skipping to the last page before you’d read the book. I always always did this, possibly to see that the lead would still be there and alright, but I don’t totally know. Moving back to this, we meet Eleanor, who does the same thing, only her husband doesn’t agree with it. Yes, you’ll know how I feel about Roger, who played a prank on his honeymoon some twenty years before, and I was a bit shocked at how sad I was for Eleanor, that someone thought that something someone felt so strongly about could be made into a joke like that. And that was what this book does so well, the pure love/hate feelings that really grip you and then suddenly you feel for someone you didn’t expect to. There were many characters in this and the book went back in time to show us some family dynamics that I was absolutely glued to, trying to figure out who was related to who and how they impacted others! I was surprised as I willed someone on I hadn’t expected to and couldn’t wait to find out where it would all lead and in the end we got there, the satisfying end I wanted after a great read that had me gripped throughout. Very much recommended!
Rating: 4.5/5
From the very beginning of this book I was mesmerised as it addressed an issue that many people possibly think nothing of, but was something I used to do a long time ago as a teenager, back when I read hugely different genres to those I read today. Whereas now I read pretty much solely rom coms and thrillers, back then I read ya, horror, thrillers, detectives, romance, romantic comedy, science fiction (I know, you can’t see it, can you? Also, yes, you are going to have to pull up a chair for this one!)
The issue we saw early on in the book was that of skipping to the last page before you’d read the book. I always always did this, possibly to see that the lead would still be there and alright, but I don’t totally know. Moving back to this, we meet Eleanor, who does the same thing, only her husband doesn’t agree with it. Yes, you’ll know how I feel about Roger, who played a prank on his honeymoon some twenty years before, and I was a bit shocked at how sad I was for Eleanor, that someone thought that something someone felt so strongly about could be made into a joke like that. And that was what this book does so well, the pure love/hate feelings that really grip you and then suddenly you feel for someone you didn’t expect to. There were many characters in this and the book went back in time to show us some family dynamics that I was absolutely glued to, trying to figure out who was related to who and how they impacted others! I was surprised as I willed someone on I hadn’t expected to and couldn’t wait to find out where it would all lead and in the end we got there, the satisfying end I wanted after a great read that had me gripped throughout. Very much recommended!
Rating: 4.5/5
June 5, 2020
In some ways, a quite uncomfortable book to read, but as we dig deeper into the lives of the characters I was able to find some heartwarming moments. This is the kind of story that will resonate with some readers, but the focus on a variety of characters allowed us to focus on the myriad ways in which people can find themselves trapped in situations.
Our cast is large, and this is a little daunting at times. Certainly initially it took some time for the voices and experiences of each character to really develop. We have Eleanor, daughter of Conrad. She is married to Roger, the kind of man it’s all too easy to loathe and despise. We have Andrew, a man in his thirties who works with Conrad and who has recently been dumped by his girlfriend so he’s moved back in with his parents. Andrew develops a relationship with Olivia, the daughter of a neighbour. She has a vibrant mother, Cecilia, who has a secret love - but circumstances never quite made it a safe option to reveal her feelings.
These seemingly disparate stories are obviously linked and, as we read, the links start to become clearer. Each of these characters is searching for something and has some growing up to do. They help each other (albeit unwittingly) through these shifting times and as we learn more about each it becomes just that little more significant. Perhaps the resolution is somewhat cliched, but it would take someone quite churlish not to find it appealing.
Thanks to Netgalley for granting me access to this prior to publication.
Our cast is large, and this is a little daunting at times. Certainly initially it took some time for the voices and experiences of each character to really develop. We have Eleanor, daughter of Conrad. She is married to Roger, the kind of man it’s all too easy to loathe and despise. We have Andrew, a man in his thirties who works with Conrad and who has recently been dumped by his girlfriend so he’s moved back in with his parents. Andrew develops a relationship with Olivia, the daughter of a neighbour. She has a vibrant mother, Cecilia, who has a secret love - but circumstances never quite made it a safe option to reveal her feelings.
These seemingly disparate stories are obviously linked and, as we read, the links start to become clearer. Each of these characters is searching for something and has some growing up to do. They help each other (albeit unwittingly) through these shifting times and as we learn more about each it becomes just that little more significant. Perhaps the resolution is somewhat cliched, but it would take someone quite churlish not to find it appealing.
Thanks to Netgalley for granting me access to this prior to publication.
June 7, 2020
This novel had me at the first paragraph because (and here's a little secret), it described me to a T.
This is such a surprising gem of a novel. It's very character driven but so cleverly written with threads that cross. Each character is beautifully developed and not your typical character. They all have quirks and flaws but are all equally beautiful and engaging.
Eleanor is a quiet and gentle soul, married to a man who just doesn't get or appreciate her and seems to spend all his time trying to change her into a more 'normal' character instead. Her father Conrad is struggling in retirement, dedicated to his work and finding himself at a lose end since his wife died. Andrew has been dumped by his girlfriend and is currently living back with his parents; an overly doting mother and a pacifist father. Cecilia is a colourful and eccentric artist of a more mature age but very day dreamy and a little out of touch with reality, longing for days of her youth.
The characters are so diverse and wonderfully different but their stories all merge in a gentle way. It's difficult not to grow fond of each character in the novel as they are all endearing and unique.
Claire tackles some family issues such as sibling and parental relationships and adultry and completely brings each character to life.
A wonderful character driven novel.
This is such a surprising gem of a novel. It's very character driven but so cleverly written with threads that cross. Each character is beautifully developed and not your typical character. They all have quirks and flaws but are all equally beautiful and engaging.
Eleanor is a quiet and gentle soul, married to a man who just doesn't get or appreciate her and seems to spend all his time trying to change her into a more 'normal' character instead. Her father Conrad is struggling in retirement, dedicated to his work and finding himself at a lose end since his wife died. Andrew has been dumped by his girlfriend and is currently living back with his parents; an overly doting mother and a pacifist father. Cecilia is a colourful and eccentric artist of a more mature age but very day dreamy and a little out of touch with reality, longing for days of her youth.
The characters are so diverse and wonderfully different but their stories all merge in a gentle way. It's difficult not to grow fond of each character in the novel as they are all endearing and unique.
Claire tackles some family issues such as sibling and parental relationships and adultry and completely brings each character to life.
A wonderful character driven novel.
June 2, 2020
I'm pleased to be able to share my review for Growing Up for Beginners today. Thank you to Boldwood Books for my digital advanced review copy via NetGalley - my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.
This is the first book I've read by Claire Calman. I love the gorgeous cover, it is bright, cheerful and fits the story perfectly.
The story is told by various characters / POV's and I found it took a few chapters to get into the flow of the story. Looking at the reviews on Goodreads, some readers quickly gave up - my advice is to stick with it if you can, it will be worth it.
As the title suggests, it is time for some of the characters to grow up. Eleanor, whose children have flown the nest, has to deal with her husband Roger, who is one of the most obnoxious characters I've ever met in a book and her dad, Conrad. She meets Andrew (via Conrad), who suddenly finds himself living back with his parents (with a mum determined to feed him up) and needs to move forward with his life. My favourite character is Cecilia, who embarrasses her daughters with tales of her flamboyant past.
I enjoyed the book. Topics covered include lost love, depression, parenting issues, adultery, sibling relationships, creativity and a love of books.
This is the first book I've read by Claire Calman. I love the gorgeous cover, it is bright, cheerful and fits the story perfectly.
The story is told by various characters / POV's and I found it took a few chapters to get into the flow of the story. Looking at the reviews on Goodreads, some readers quickly gave up - my advice is to stick with it if you can, it will be worth it.
As the title suggests, it is time for some of the characters to grow up. Eleanor, whose children have flown the nest, has to deal with her husband Roger, who is one of the most obnoxious characters I've ever met in a book and her dad, Conrad. She meets Andrew (via Conrad), who suddenly finds himself living back with his parents (with a mum determined to feed him up) and needs to move forward with his life. My favourite character is Cecilia, who embarrasses her daughters with tales of her flamboyant past.
I enjoyed the book. Topics covered include lost love, depression, parenting issues, adultery, sibling relationships, creativity and a love of books.
June 7, 2020
Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for inviting me to the blog tour and to the author and @netgalley for the copy of this book.
Review:
I was really looking forward to this book and was really attracted by the cover and description.
This book is a lovely story based around family and relationships.
However there are several characters and I found myself getting quite confused for a big part of the book.
The characters are well written and you always have one you despise......Roger! He made me hate him from the first few sentences!
Once you get your head around the characters it’s an enjoyable read.
Review:
I was really looking forward to this book and was really attracted by the cover and description.
This book is a lovely story based around family and relationships.
However there are several characters and I found myself getting quite confused for a big part of the book.
The characters are well written and you always have one you despise......Roger! He made me hate him from the first few sentences!
Once you get your head around the characters it’s an enjoyable read.
August 28, 2021
This is touted as 'an uplifting book club read..' but it wasn't uplifting at all. In fact it was one of the most depressing books I can remember reading and I only slogged my way to the end in desperate hope of finding one tiny snippet of happiness.
I don't need this sort of stress in my life! If a book is supposed to be 'uplifting' I want to read about happy people, loving families, triumph over adversity, kind acts and thoughtful friends. This was just miserable from start to end. There's enough misery in this world without an 'uplifting' novel adding to it.
I wasn't going to rate this book, but on reflection I've changed my mind. Had this been described as 'powerful, realistic, gripping,' ANYTHING other than 'uplifting' I would have simply left it unrated.
I am left feeling profoundly depressed.
I don't need this sort of stress in my life! If a book is supposed to be 'uplifting' I want to read about happy people, loving families, triumph over adversity, kind acts and thoughtful friends. This was just miserable from start to end. There's enough misery in this world without an 'uplifting' novel adding to it.
I wasn't going to rate this book, but on reflection I've changed my mind. Had this been described as 'powerful, realistic, gripping,' ANYTHING other than 'uplifting' I would have simply left it unrated.
I am left feeling profoundly depressed.
June 23, 2020
Told through multiple POV, Growing Up For Beginners comes across as a gentle, light and comforting read whilst covering some heavy topics.
We meet Eleanor who is clearly suffering from childhood trauma and as an adult now lives her life constantly trying to please her husband whilst convincing herself it's normal. Her marriage takes me back to my A Level Sociology days where I learnt about The Warm Bath Theory because she is living that life fully. I'm warning you now that if you are a normal person/someone who believes in equality, you'll want to join me in taking her husband down a peg or 10.
Whilst Eleanor is ensuring her husband is living his best life, Andrew has just been dumped by his girlfriend and has to move back home to a very overbearing mum. Although he is an adult, to his frustration she still treats him like a child. Every Asian k̶i̶d̶ adult knows how you feel Andrew. We see you. You are heard.
He works with Conrad, who spent years married to the woman he didn't love. And now he's alone.
I loved following the storylines of each character and seeing how they connected to one another and I also loved how down to earth and normal they all seemed. Claire Calman did a great job of covering themes like patriarchal households and dysfunctional families without making it feel like a heavy read. I also felt a sense of comfort as it was set in London and I'm very partial to books set in my home city.
This was my first book by Claire Calman and I'm excited to read more.
Thank you @netgalley for this arc.
We meet Eleanor who is clearly suffering from childhood trauma and as an adult now lives her life constantly trying to please her husband whilst convincing herself it's normal. Her marriage takes me back to my A Level Sociology days where I learnt about The Warm Bath Theory because she is living that life fully. I'm warning you now that if you are a normal person/someone who believes in equality, you'll want to join me in taking her husband down a peg or 10.
Whilst Eleanor is ensuring her husband is living his best life, Andrew has just been dumped by his girlfriend and has to move back home to a very overbearing mum. Although he is an adult, to his frustration she still treats him like a child. Every Asian k̶i̶d̶ adult knows how you feel Andrew. We see you. You are heard.
He works with Conrad, who spent years married to the woman he didn't love. And now he's alone.
I loved following the storylines of each character and seeing how they connected to one another and I also loved how down to earth and normal they all seemed. Claire Calman did a great job of covering themes like patriarchal households and dysfunctional families without making it feel like a heavy read. I also felt a sense of comfort as it was set in London and I'm very partial to books set in my home city.
This was my first book by Claire Calman and I'm excited to read more.
Thank you @netgalley for this arc.
May 23, 2020
This novel set out telling the story of four very different situations and at times one might wonder how anything is going to come together; it feels like a written mess, much like it looks when you are doing a French braid and hair is flying all over the place. But as the book climbs to its apex the stories weave together and create a thing of order and beauty, the braid revealed and is glorious in design and execution.
Eleanor is 47 years of age and has been married for 21 years to her overbearing husband Roger. Overbearing might not express his behaviour adequately, perhaps it should be designated as abusive. Eleanor has slowly given in to his demands, temper tantrums and tried to avoid his nasty behaviour by becoming a ‘satellite’ spinning in orbit around him, attempting to be the perfect wife of his design, doing things his way rather than chance his ‘black cloud’ behaviours. Eleanor suppresses her thoughts and desires but as the novel develops, so does her inner rage.
Eleanor shares a quiet but meaningful relationship with her father Conrad, who although now retired, worked in the British Museum and is working on his third book in his specialty and is self-contained and perhaps a tad withdrawn from others in the world. He is estranged from his youngest child whom he hasn’t heard from in over five years; since the death of his wife, with whom he didn’t have an especially good relationship with. The one thing that means the most to him in his life is a painting of a beautiful woman that takes pride of place in his study, in which his family is not welcome. He has ‘done his duty’ by his family, but honestly only has a meaningful relationship with his daughter.
Andrew works at the British Museum in the same department that Conrad does, and appears to be a late bloomer when it comes to relationships. Unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend at the start of the book, he moves in reluctantly with his parents. Having drifted into and out of relationships until at the age of 35, he is in danger of being ‘left on the shelf’. His mother means well, but is overwhelming in her actions and ideas and his father is basically a shell of a man who likes nothing better than to hide out in the back shed where he has a chair and peace and quiet. Life seems to be getting on top of Andrew, and is indeed in danger of becomes a ghost of a man, never really living a life of his own, but fading into the background of his parent’s existence. Andrew serendipitously meets a new woman who is different from any he has ever been with before. She appears to like him for who he is but this woman, who is the daughter of a neighbour could be the something different that he has been longing for all his life.
Cecilia lives in the house that backs onto Andrew’s parents’ house, with a contentious apple tree between the two making contact possible. She is a free-spirited artist who has brought her two daughters up in quite a bohemian manner and she is very forthright about her sexual life in the past and thinks nothing of regaling her daughters with stories of her indiscretions and one night stands. But Cecilia has her secrets that she has never revealed to anyone, much less those who should know them the most because far from being the indiscreet woman, Cecilia nurses in her heart the truth of having one true love that she has carried for 30 years. Her two daughters share a loving relationship with their mother, but often feel like she has never really grown up, which they overlook until a secret from Cecilia’s past is revealed that has major ramifications between all three.
All four stories travel along in their own manner and as a reader, one is often left to wonder how any of them mean anything to the other, until the end when all is revealed, and everything comes together in a splendid fashion. This is a beautifully written story that explores how lives blend into others, much like watercolours on paper bleed into each other to make something new and beautiful. The reader needs to make the commitment and come to it with the understanding that the story is a slow burn and that it is not a comedy with marching girls and a brass band to announce things, but rather a gradual drama played out with nuances and hidden tones along the way. It is clever and painful in turn, and the ending is unexpected, even if the reader had not realised that it was exactly what they had been hoping for it all along. The characters are beautifully written, and even the many ‘minor’ relationships’ between the characters are absorbing and entertaining.
This novel explores the effect of decisions made that always have a long-term impact, although just what they might be is never fully revealed at the moment they are made. It becomes six degrees of separation event, where all the characters are bound together in ways they never imagined. Intelligent and absorbing, the promise of the story is enough to carry the reader along, even when things don’t seem to be important or valid. A glorious read.
Trigger Warning - Domestic Abuse
Eleanor is 47 years of age and has been married for 21 years to her overbearing husband Roger. Overbearing might not express his behaviour adequately, perhaps it should be designated as abusive. Eleanor has slowly given in to his demands, temper tantrums and tried to avoid his nasty behaviour by becoming a ‘satellite’ spinning in orbit around him, attempting to be the perfect wife of his design, doing things his way rather than chance his ‘black cloud’ behaviours. Eleanor suppresses her thoughts and desires but as the novel develops, so does her inner rage.
Eleanor shares a quiet but meaningful relationship with her father Conrad, who although now retired, worked in the British Museum and is working on his third book in his specialty and is self-contained and perhaps a tad withdrawn from others in the world. He is estranged from his youngest child whom he hasn’t heard from in over five years; since the death of his wife, with whom he didn’t have an especially good relationship with. The one thing that means the most to him in his life is a painting of a beautiful woman that takes pride of place in his study, in which his family is not welcome. He has ‘done his duty’ by his family, but honestly only has a meaningful relationship with his daughter.
Andrew works at the British Museum in the same department that Conrad does, and appears to be a late bloomer when it comes to relationships. Unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend at the start of the book, he moves in reluctantly with his parents. Having drifted into and out of relationships until at the age of 35, he is in danger of being ‘left on the shelf’. His mother means well, but is overwhelming in her actions and ideas and his father is basically a shell of a man who likes nothing better than to hide out in the back shed where he has a chair and peace and quiet. Life seems to be getting on top of Andrew, and is indeed in danger of becomes a ghost of a man, never really living a life of his own, but fading into the background of his parent’s existence. Andrew serendipitously meets a new woman who is different from any he has ever been with before. She appears to like him for who he is but this woman, who is the daughter of a neighbour could be the something different that he has been longing for all his life.
Cecilia lives in the house that backs onto Andrew’s parents’ house, with a contentious apple tree between the two making contact possible. She is a free-spirited artist who has brought her two daughters up in quite a bohemian manner and she is very forthright about her sexual life in the past and thinks nothing of regaling her daughters with stories of her indiscretions and one night stands. But Cecilia has her secrets that she has never revealed to anyone, much less those who should know them the most because far from being the indiscreet woman, Cecilia nurses in her heart the truth of having one true love that she has carried for 30 years. Her two daughters share a loving relationship with their mother, but often feel like she has never really grown up, which they overlook until a secret from Cecilia’s past is revealed that has major ramifications between all three.
All four stories travel along in their own manner and as a reader, one is often left to wonder how any of them mean anything to the other, until the end when all is revealed, and everything comes together in a splendid fashion. This is a beautifully written story that explores how lives blend into others, much like watercolours on paper bleed into each other to make something new and beautiful. The reader needs to make the commitment and come to it with the understanding that the story is a slow burn and that it is not a comedy with marching girls and a brass band to announce things, but rather a gradual drama played out with nuances and hidden tones along the way. It is clever and painful in turn, and the ending is unexpected, even if the reader had not realised that it was exactly what they had been hoping for it all along. The characters are beautifully written, and even the many ‘minor’ relationships’ between the characters are absorbing and entertaining.
This novel explores the effect of decisions made that always have a long-term impact, although just what they might be is never fully revealed at the moment they are made. It becomes six degrees of separation event, where all the characters are bound together in ways they never imagined. Intelligent and absorbing, the promise of the story is enough to carry the reader along, even when things don’t seem to be important or valid. A glorious read.
Trigger Warning - Domestic Abuse
July 14, 2020
Claire Calman writes wonderfully involving, brilliantly engrossing and incisive tales about modern life and Growing Up for Beginners marks a welcome return for this talented writer who has been missing from our bookshelves for far too long.
Eleanor’s life hasn’t exactly panned out as she thought it would. While her daughter is off on a gap year and to a whole host of exciting adventures and to new beginnings, Eleanor feels as if her life has never even got started. Stuck in a marriage with a domineering husband, Eleanor feels as if she has spent her entire life putting everyone else first and herself last. She cannot help but wonder whether all she has to look forward to is a lifetime of regret and disappointment. With only her clever but judgemental father Conrad in her corner, will Eleanor continue to be constrained by the weight of other people’s needs and expectations? Or is there light at the end of the tunnel she has been trapped in for so long?
Being a grown-up isn’t exactly working out well for Andrew either. When he finds his belongings thrown in bin bags and chucked out on the driveway, Andrew realises that he has nowhere else to go, so he moves back in with his parents as he tries to figure out what he is going to do next. Meanwhile, artist Cecelia might be in her sixties, but she also finds herself acting like a teenager as she spends her days thinking about former lovers and wading through the clutter of her life.
As long-buried secrets come to light forcing all these people together, they realise that facing up to the past and growing up is the only option available to them, if they ever want to shake off the constricting shackles that are preventing them from moving forward.
Claire Calman’s Growing Up For Beginners is an astute, entertaining and brilliantly written slice of contemporary life readers will relate to and engage with. Full of wonderfully realised characters, believable scenarios, humour, drama and heart, Growing Up For Beginners is a fantastic book to curl up with and one which readers are sure to enjoy.
Uplifting, life-affirming and enjoyable, Claire Calman’s Growing Up For Beginners is a fabulous tale fans of Marian Keyes and Jane Fallon will not want to miss.
Eleanor’s life hasn’t exactly panned out as she thought it would. While her daughter is off on a gap year and to a whole host of exciting adventures and to new beginnings, Eleanor feels as if her life has never even got started. Stuck in a marriage with a domineering husband, Eleanor feels as if she has spent her entire life putting everyone else first and herself last. She cannot help but wonder whether all she has to look forward to is a lifetime of regret and disappointment. With only her clever but judgemental father Conrad in her corner, will Eleanor continue to be constrained by the weight of other people’s needs and expectations? Or is there light at the end of the tunnel she has been trapped in for so long?
Being a grown-up isn’t exactly working out well for Andrew either. When he finds his belongings thrown in bin bags and chucked out on the driveway, Andrew realises that he has nowhere else to go, so he moves back in with his parents as he tries to figure out what he is going to do next. Meanwhile, artist Cecelia might be in her sixties, but she also finds herself acting like a teenager as she spends her days thinking about former lovers and wading through the clutter of her life.
As long-buried secrets come to light forcing all these people together, they realise that facing up to the past and growing up is the only option available to them, if they ever want to shake off the constricting shackles that are preventing them from moving forward.
Claire Calman’s Growing Up For Beginners is an astute, entertaining and brilliantly written slice of contemporary life readers will relate to and engage with. Full of wonderfully realised characters, believable scenarios, humour, drama and heart, Growing Up For Beginners is a fantastic book to curl up with and one which readers are sure to enjoy.
Uplifting, life-affirming and enjoyable, Claire Calman’s Growing Up For Beginners is a fabulous tale fans of Marian Keyes and Jane Fallon will not want to miss.
May 31, 2020
This was a book I didn’t want to end and sadly I know that I am going to have a book hangover now I’ve read the last line. When I picked it up on the many nights it took me to get through it was like snuggling up with a hot chocolate in your comfy pj’s the word around me stopped and I was totally enveloped in the characters lives. It was an uplifting and hopeful story that filled all of my senses and left my feeling smug that each character got exactly the ending they deserved.
This was not the fast paced read that I usually enjoy but a much more calm, flowing book that got under my skin. Each of the characters touched me for very different reasons.
Conrad is a very imposing figure at the British Museum. He retired 10 years ago but still heads there numerous times a week as though he’s not actually left. He is the central character that each of the storylines branch off. Conrad has spent most of his life in a fairly loveless marriage. An affair saw him meet the love of his life and yet he gave up his chance of happiness to deal with his teenage son that was slowly going off the rails.
His daughter Elenor is portrayed as a meek and mild pushover. Her children have flown the nest and she spends her days running around and being at the constant beck and call of her bully of a husband, Roger.
Roger, I wanted to punch that character on the nose. He is vile, arrogant, pompous and full of his own self worth. The little mind games and tricks he played on Elenor although so subtle did so much harm. Don’t even get me started on what he did to her books. My blood was boiling but he gets the ending he deserves as does Elenor when she finally grows her backbone and stands up for what herself.
Then there is good old Andrew, he works at the museum and was assigned by Conrad to restore damage to one of his much loved personal portraits. Poor old Andrew all the way through the book I just wanted to hug him. He’s bumbling through life, at 35 he’s a bit lost and finds himself having to move back in with his parents. It’s his worst nightmare but could he have found love in the local coffee shop?
I could go on and on about this book all day. It was very much character driven and I just loved the feeling that I was not just reading about the characters but that I was very much involved in their ups and downs. I totally fell in love with this writers’ style and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
This was not the fast paced read that I usually enjoy but a much more calm, flowing book that got under my skin. Each of the characters touched me for very different reasons.
Conrad is a very imposing figure at the British Museum. He retired 10 years ago but still heads there numerous times a week as though he’s not actually left. He is the central character that each of the storylines branch off. Conrad has spent most of his life in a fairly loveless marriage. An affair saw him meet the love of his life and yet he gave up his chance of happiness to deal with his teenage son that was slowly going off the rails.
His daughter Elenor is portrayed as a meek and mild pushover. Her children have flown the nest and she spends her days running around and being at the constant beck and call of her bully of a husband, Roger.
Roger, I wanted to punch that character on the nose. He is vile, arrogant, pompous and full of his own self worth. The little mind games and tricks he played on Elenor although so subtle did so much harm. Don’t even get me started on what he did to her books. My blood was boiling but he gets the ending he deserves as does Elenor when she finally grows her backbone and stands up for what herself.
Then there is good old Andrew, he works at the museum and was assigned by Conrad to restore damage to one of his much loved personal portraits. Poor old Andrew all the way through the book I just wanted to hug him. He’s bumbling through life, at 35 he’s a bit lost and finds himself having to move back in with his parents. It’s his worst nightmare but could he have found love in the local coffee shop?
I could go on and on about this book all day. It was very much character driven and I just loved the feeling that I was not just reading about the characters but that I was very much involved in their ups and downs. I totally fell in love with this writers’ style and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
June 3, 2020
I found this book to be a really entertaining read, full of characters that you either find yourselves cheering for on their journey, alongside those who'd you clearly love to throttle!! The patience shown by some towards their 'loved' ones is worthy of a gold medal at times! But that's like life, and I think this book captures the little moments many of us face throughout our lives - searching for meaning, looking to move on and finding the strength to break free from what we have become accustomed to.
And that applies in spades to Eleanor, one of the main characters we follow, as she has been married to Roger for 20 years! I think I'd struggle to stay married to him for 20 minutes! In his world it is his way, or no way! And Eleanor has gone along with his way of thinking to keep his moods quieter for the sake of her children, and her own sanity. But as the children fly the nest, she is facing that time in her life when she has to put herself first, follow her own passions and how difficult she finds it to think of herself for a change. He really is something else when faced with his wife wanting her own little bit of happy!!
The book goes backwards and forwards in time, surrounding Eleanor and a number of other characters - Conrad, her father, Andrew, the man who is restoring a painting for Conrad, and Cecilia and her 2 daughters who are all quite different in personalities and outlooks.
There are many aspects to this story that made it a fascinating read - the things parents do for their children throughout their lives, the sacrifices, the selfish behaviours on both sides, and how people deal with overbearing people in their lives . Maybe they mean well, but the controlling influence they inflict on their nearest and dearest can have serious consequences on the mental wellbeing of those they love.
And that applies in spades to Eleanor, one of the main characters we follow, as she has been married to Roger for 20 years! I think I'd struggle to stay married to him for 20 minutes! In his world it is his way, or no way! And Eleanor has gone along with his way of thinking to keep his moods quieter for the sake of her children, and her own sanity. But as the children fly the nest, she is facing that time in her life when she has to put herself first, follow her own passions and how difficult she finds it to think of herself for a change. He really is something else when faced with his wife wanting her own little bit of happy!!
The book goes backwards and forwards in time, surrounding Eleanor and a number of other characters - Conrad, her father, Andrew, the man who is restoring a painting for Conrad, and Cecilia and her 2 daughters who are all quite different in personalities and outlooks.
There are many aspects to this story that made it a fascinating read - the things parents do for their children throughout their lives, the sacrifices, the selfish behaviours on both sides, and how people deal with overbearing people in their lives . Maybe they mean well, but the controlling influence they inflict on their nearest and dearest can have serious consequences on the mental wellbeing of those they love.
August 17, 2020
If you like a slow-burn story with complex characters whose lives intersect and sometimes collide head-on, then this is the book for you.
What initially attracted me to ‘Growing up for beginners’ was the main character Eleanor who is an empty-nester, and I like reading about older female characters as they are more relatable than 20-something singletons. And Eleanor did not disappoint. As I slowly got to know about her and her marriage to the insufferable and pompous Roger, I found myself rooting for her and willing her on to pack her bags and escape. At times I was very frustrated by her inability to say no, but little by little as a reader we learn about Eleanor’s past and why taking that first step towards freedom is so very hard for her. Interwoven into Eleanor’s story is that of her father Conrad and his younger colleague Andrew who is lonely, lost and unlucky in love. We also meet the irascible artist Cecilia and her two adult daughters, and as we get to know this colourful cast of characters we discover their secrets and their stories of missed opportunities and regrets. But also that it is never too late and you are never too old for second chances and new beginnings if you only dare…
This is a really well-written book with relatable and likeable characters with a great storyline and also very funny. It is the first book of Claire Calman’s that I’ve read but it won’t be the last one. I very much enjoyed it and highly recommend. 5 stars from me.
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Reviewed 17/08/2020, eARC courtesy of NetGalley
What initially attracted me to ‘Growing up for beginners’ was the main character Eleanor who is an empty-nester, and I like reading about older female characters as they are more relatable than 20-something singletons. And Eleanor did not disappoint. As I slowly got to know about her and her marriage to the insufferable and pompous Roger, I found myself rooting for her and willing her on to pack her bags and escape. At times I was very frustrated by her inability to say no, but little by little as a reader we learn about Eleanor’s past and why taking that first step towards freedom is so very hard for her. Interwoven into Eleanor’s story is that of her father Conrad and his younger colleague Andrew who is lonely, lost and unlucky in love. We also meet the irascible artist Cecilia and her two adult daughters, and as we get to know this colourful cast of characters we discover their secrets and their stories of missed opportunities and regrets. But also that it is never too late and you are never too old for second chances and new beginnings if you only dare…
This is a really well-written book with relatable and likeable characters with a great storyline and also very funny. It is the first book of Claire Calman’s that I’ve read but it won’t be the last one. I very much enjoyed it and highly recommend. 5 stars from me.
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Reviewed 17/08/2020, eARC courtesy of NetGalley
August 7, 2020
This is an excerpt of the book review on my blog https://trails-of-tales.com/
......triggering. It definitely triggered me. To the extent that it was painful to read the story at times.
I like stories that have multiple protagonists in general. But in this story by Claire Calman, I was actually relieved that there were multiple protagonists because I needed to take frequent breaks from reading the parts that focused on Eleanor’s marriage.
With that said, I cannot emphasize enough how acutely detailed and realistic the description of the mental abuse is in ‘Growing Up for Beginners‘. It seems like the author put in extra care and sensitivity to bring that part of the book to life. And in doing so, she has shown compassion and respect to all who are going through such a situation.
The eloquence of the story struck me too. Claire Calman has been extremely attentive to using the power of words at the exact right places to create emphasis. Whether it was to draw attention to Eleanor’s self depreciating thought process or the growing disturbance in Andrew’s psyche......
......Insecurities of the characters have been written with so much depth that all of them are familiar to you. Either they are a part of you or they are of someone you know well.
‘Growing Up for Beginners‘ is a book that is too real with characters you just cannot ignore. I would say it is a must read even though it triggered me and made me uncomfortable at times.
......triggering. It definitely triggered me. To the extent that it was painful to read the story at times.
I like stories that have multiple protagonists in general. But in this story by Claire Calman, I was actually relieved that there were multiple protagonists because I needed to take frequent breaks from reading the parts that focused on Eleanor’s marriage.
With that said, I cannot emphasize enough how acutely detailed and realistic the description of the mental abuse is in ‘Growing Up for Beginners‘. It seems like the author put in extra care and sensitivity to bring that part of the book to life. And in doing so, she has shown compassion and respect to all who are going through such a situation.
The eloquence of the story struck me too. Claire Calman has been extremely attentive to using the power of words at the exact right places to create emphasis. Whether it was to draw attention to Eleanor’s self depreciating thought process or the growing disturbance in Andrew’s psyche......
......Insecurities of the characters have been written with so much depth that all of them are familiar to you. Either they are a part of you or they are of someone you know well.
‘Growing Up for Beginners‘ is a book that is too real with characters you just cannot ignore. I would say it is a must read even though it triggered me and made me uncomfortable at times.
June 10, 2020
Published June 4, 2020 Claire Calman astounds once again with her 5th novel GROWING UP FOR BEGINNERS.
Told from 4 different perspectives, we hear the tale of 4 totally different unrelated stories. Eleanor, Conrad, Andrew and Cecilia all have different lives, they all have their own issues, be it relationships, families, mothers, husbands and children. As you read this tale, you will find yourself wondering how any of these people have anything to do with each other, how do these stories intersect? Trust me, they do, and Calman has done it so brilliantly that "truth be told" you never saw it coming. It's a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of love and loss, family and drama that includes just enough snark to make you really feel in touch with the characters (and chuckle a bit too). Please stay with this one when you start, remember that each story has a purpose, and you will "find out" in the end. I promise you that when you finish you will end up giving this book 5 stars and recommending it to friends. Truly a great book for discussion. Highly recommend with advice to stick with it, this one is worth every page.
Thank you so much to Claire Calman, Rachel Gilbey from Rachels Random Resources, and my friends at Boldwood Books for my gifted copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Told from 4 different perspectives, we hear the tale of 4 totally different unrelated stories. Eleanor, Conrad, Andrew and Cecilia all have different lives, they all have their own issues, be it relationships, families, mothers, husbands and children. As you read this tale, you will find yourself wondering how any of these people have anything to do with each other, how do these stories intersect? Trust me, they do, and Calman has done it so brilliantly that "truth be told" you never saw it coming. It's a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of love and loss, family and drama that includes just enough snark to make you really feel in touch with the characters (and chuckle a bit too). Please stay with this one when you start, remember that each story has a purpose, and you will "find out" in the end. I promise you that when you finish you will end up giving this book 5 stars and recommending it to friends. Truly a great book for discussion. Highly recommend with advice to stick with it, this one is worth every page.
Thank you so much to Claire Calman, Rachel Gilbey from Rachels Random Resources, and my friends at Boldwood Books for my gifted copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 17, 2020
In the middle of reading this book, I felt the need to shout about it on Twitter. I drew similarities – purely in the format – to the Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith.
The leading characters, Eleanor and her father Conrad, blend perfectly with Andrew and Cecilia as their worlds are gently and exquisitely drawn together.
I identified with Eleanor from the opening lines as, before I became reliant on my kindle, I loved to read the last page of a book. I felt the sheer brutality as Roger sliced through the precious pages with his knife. Eleanor’s loss of voice and her inability to take charge is heart-breaking and I felt myself silently shouting encouragement to her. Conrad’s attention to detail and his lamentable relationship with his wife and son make for a difficult read as his pain is tangible.
Andrew’s relationship with his parents is sweet to the point of cloying and it was difficult to see an escape for him but, Claire Calman is clearly a champion for the under-dog and I was grateful that he found his confidence. As for Cecilia, as I reached the final chapters, I realised that she’d featured a few times as the other characters stories had unfolded.
I laughed and cried as this book continued and I genuinely didn’t want it to end.
Claire Calman has written a modern classic and it is beautifully delivered.
The leading characters, Eleanor and her father Conrad, blend perfectly with Andrew and Cecilia as their worlds are gently and exquisitely drawn together.
I identified with Eleanor from the opening lines as, before I became reliant on my kindle, I loved to read the last page of a book. I felt the sheer brutality as Roger sliced through the precious pages with his knife. Eleanor’s loss of voice and her inability to take charge is heart-breaking and I felt myself silently shouting encouragement to her. Conrad’s attention to detail and his lamentable relationship with his wife and son make for a difficult read as his pain is tangible.
Andrew’s relationship with his parents is sweet to the point of cloying and it was difficult to see an escape for him but, Claire Calman is clearly a champion for the under-dog and I was grateful that he found his confidence. As for Cecilia, as I reached the final chapters, I realised that she’d featured a few times as the other characters stories had unfolded.
I laughed and cried as this book continued and I genuinely didn’t want it to end.
Claire Calman has written a modern classic and it is beautifully delivered.
May 30, 2020
Growing Up for Beginners by Claire Calman is a delightful and heartwarming story about several people who at first seem to have no connection to each other but as the story progresses it appears that their lives are interwoven after all.
Eleanor is trapped in a loveless and abusing marriage, but after twenty or more years, after her kids leave home, is the first time she actually admits that something is not right.
Her father is after thirty years still grieving for the lost love of his life.
Andrew's relationship has taken the turn for the worse when his girlfriend throws him out. Nothing to do but head home to his parents, even though living with his mother is unbearable.
Cecilia has problems with an apple tree and her next door neighbors and her two daughters will offer to sort it out for her.
Seemingly random people will all come together for a grand finally of this lovely book. Easy to read but so inspiring and touching it is impossible to put down. It touches on many important subjects in a gentle and not judging way. Characters are so well developed and will become so close to your heart you will be sorry to see them go. Except Rodger, I wanted to kill him after the first paragraph.
Highly recommended.
Eleanor is trapped in a loveless and abusing marriage, but after twenty or more years, after her kids leave home, is the first time she actually admits that something is not right.
Her father is after thirty years still grieving for the lost love of his life.
Andrew's relationship has taken the turn for the worse when his girlfriend throws him out. Nothing to do but head home to his parents, even though living with his mother is unbearable.
Cecilia has problems with an apple tree and her next door neighbors and her two daughters will offer to sort it out for her.
Seemingly random people will all come together for a grand finally of this lovely book. Easy to read but so inspiring and touching it is impossible to put down. It touches on many important subjects in a gentle and not judging way. Characters are so well developed and will become so close to your heart you will be sorry to see them go. Except Rodger, I wanted to kill him after the first paragraph.
Highly recommended.
June 6, 2020
What to say about this wonderful book? A cast of characters that all become inextricably connected in the most poignant of ways.
Eleanor likes to begin a book by reading the last page. It exasperates her husband Roger, and spitefully, he cuts out the last page of any new book she buys. This sets the tone for this absolute arse of a man who I shouted at throughout the book.
As we go back in time to Eleanor's childhood, we see how the seeds were sown for her subservience. But now her children have grown-up and left home, she begins to question her whole life. With every small rebellious act I was rooting for her to tell Roger where to go.
Her father Conrad, reflects on his lost love, who he has never forgotten.
Andrew, depressed and living at home with his loving but despotic mother, and downtrodden father, has given up on love - until he meets Olivia that is. And this meeting of two souls, is going to join the cast of characters together in the most beautiful of ways.
And as Roger sets off for his cruise, he is yet to know that Eleanor is not going to join him. Her email is to the point and I wanted to high five this gorgeous woman who truly knows why 'sometimes the end is the beginning'.
Eleanor likes to begin a book by reading the last page. It exasperates her husband Roger, and spitefully, he cuts out the last page of any new book she buys. This sets the tone for this absolute arse of a man who I shouted at throughout the book.
As we go back in time to Eleanor's childhood, we see how the seeds were sown for her subservience. But now her children have grown-up and left home, she begins to question her whole life. With every small rebellious act I was rooting for her to tell Roger where to go.
Her father Conrad, reflects on his lost love, who he has never forgotten.
Andrew, depressed and living at home with his loving but despotic mother, and downtrodden father, has given up on love - until he meets Olivia that is. And this meeting of two souls, is going to join the cast of characters together in the most beautiful of ways.
And as Roger sets off for his cruise, he is yet to know that Eleanor is not going to join him. Her email is to the point and I wanted to high five this gorgeous woman who truly knows why 'sometimes the end is the beginning'.
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