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Joe Faber and the Optimists: - a heartwarming, heartbreaking novel
Joe Faber’s a funny guy, good with his hands, and great with words – until the stroke which leaves him severely disabled. But this is more than his story. Wife Fran has a job she loves. Daughter Jess, a wedding to plan. There’s heartbreak and absurdity along the way - but humour is the family’s greatest asset in the drive to get Joe back on his own two feet.Written by a caregiver. Truthful, balanced, warm.
'Administering hope and regular hearty laughs, it's a powerful antidote to despair...' - Susan Elderkin, co-author, The Novel Cure ‘Things I love about the drama, the humour – particularly Joe's – which made me laugh out loud, the richness of the wider family, the tangible fierce love and passion between Fran and Joe, the eccentricity of the wider family, the evocation of the Scottish landscape, the immersion in the language and culture of the fiddle… It’s a very lively book that is VERY hard to put down’ – Pippa Wainwright 'A thoroughly enjoyable read whether or not you've been affected by stroke, Joe Faber and the Optimists really ought to be recommended reading in stroke clinics around the world.' – Michelle Ryles, The Book Magnet 'Engaging and uplifting.... Moving, funny and unexpected.' 'A wonderful read... It feels very real and very poignant... It's also very funny.' '... told with humour and grace.' 'A story of determination, optimism and love.' 'A book I will definitely share.'
'Administering hope and regular hearty laughs, it's a powerful antidote to despair...' - Susan Elderkin, co-author, The Novel Cure ‘Things I love about the drama, the humour – particularly Joe's – which made me laugh out loud, the richness of the wider family, the tangible fierce love and passion between Fran and Joe, the eccentricity of the wider family, the evocation of the Scottish landscape, the immersion in the language and culture of the fiddle… It’s a very lively book that is VERY hard to put down’ – Pippa Wainwright 'A thoroughly enjoyable read whether or not you've been affected by stroke, Joe Faber and the Optimists really ought to be recommended reading in stroke clinics around the world.' – Michelle Ryles, The Book Magnet 'Engaging and uplifting.... Moving, funny and unexpected.' 'A wonderful read... It feels very real and very poignant... It's also very funny.' '... told with humour and grace.' 'A story of determination, optimism and love.' 'A book I will definitely share.'
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2020
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47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 31, 2021
This lovely book, Joe Faber and the Optimists, is written by Gill Oliver and is all about Joe Faber, a wonderful, funny and artistic man. Joe builds models until he suffers a stroke. Fran, Joe’s wife, copes well, but there is also their daughter Jess, a very skilled music player. She plays the fiddle, and her father’s stroke really hits her hard.
Fran thinks of ways to handle the next few days and weeks and comes up with a manifesto. The idea is to be an optimist, to look for positives and celebrate each one. She manages to persuade Jess and Jess’s fiancé Matt, to join in with the manifesto. It’s so poignant to read their little moments of triumph, looking for things to smile about. Joe is funny, and the story is full of hope.
There are so many wonderful storylines within this book, like the invitation Jess receives to play in a big music festival in the Shetland Islands. The descriptions are gorgeous, making you feel part of their lives. I love fiddle music, and I could just picture the music Jess played for us, and there are parts where the descriptions are filled with emotion. Even now, I can still imagine the special song, Joe Faber’s Air. Then there are the wedding plans, accompanied by hilarious friends and relatives, all so clearly drawn for us, that you feel you’re wandering around reception halls together.
Matt the fiancé made me laugh; his way of looking at life is interesting, but he’s a lovely guy, and it’s his thoughtfulness and quiet kindness that makes Fran realise that all this time she has been looking ahead, staying positive, but there had been no time to grieve. I loved that part, as it’s so easy to get carried away by circumstances. Matt is so different, and I enjoyed reading how he becomes more and more part of the family.
The book is wonderfully positive and makes you smile and tap your feet along with the reels and music Jess gets out of her fiddle. There are moments of harsh reality as well though, and my heart went out to them all. It meant that I couldn’t put the book down, I needed to read more about their hopes, fears, dreams and struggles. There are the in-laws for example…
Gill Oliver, the author, wrote this book, basing it on her husband’s stroke, and what they went through, and are still going through, as a family. It made this beautiful story even more special. It made me wonder all through the book, Is that what it was like for them? It also meant that the book is detailed and involved, poignant as well as uplifting. As I said, it’s a real page-turner, sweet, funny, heartwarming as well as heartbreaking.
Fran thinks of ways to handle the next few days and weeks and comes up with a manifesto. The idea is to be an optimist, to look for positives and celebrate each one. She manages to persuade Jess and Jess’s fiancé Matt, to join in with the manifesto. It’s so poignant to read their little moments of triumph, looking for things to smile about. Joe is funny, and the story is full of hope.
There are so many wonderful storylines within this book, like the invitation Jess receives to play in a big music festival in the Shetland Islands. The descriptions are gorgeous, making you feel part of their lives. I love fiddle music, and I could just picture the music Jess played for us, and there are parts where the descriptions are filled with emotion. Even now, I can still imagine the special song, Joe Faber’s Air. Then there are the wedding plans, accompanied by hilarious friends and relatives, all so clearly drawn for us, that you feel you’re wandering around reception halls together.
Matt the fiancé made me laugh; his way of looking at life is interesting, but he’s a lovely guy, and it’s his thoughtfulness and quiet kindness that makes Fran realise that all this time she has been looking ahead, staying positive, but there had been no time to grieve. I loved that part, as it’s so easy to get carried away by circumstances. Matt is so different, and I enjoyed reading how he becomes more and more part of the family.
The book is wonderfully positive and makes you smile and tap your feet along with the reels and music Jess gets out of her fiddle. There are moments of harsh reality as well though, and my heart went out to them all. It meant that I couldn’t put the book down, I needed to read more about their hopes, fears, dreams and struggles. There are the in-laws for example…
Gill Oliver, the author, wrote this book, basing it on her husband’s stroke, and what they went through, and are still going through, as a family. It made this beautiful story even more special. It made me wonder all through the book, Is that what it was like for them? It also meant that the book is detailed and involved, poignant as well as uplifting. As I said, it’s a real page-turner, sweet, funny, heartwarming as well as heartbreaking.
October 12, 2020
I feel fortunate to be able to say that I have never encountered a stroke in my family, although I know about FAST (face, arms, speech and time) to remember the most common warning signs of a stroke. Although one of the main characters in the book suffers a severe stroke, this is such a wonderful story of a warm and loving family, filled with positivity which of course you can guess from the title of the book.
Joe, Fran and Jess are a fantastic family of three and they are understandably devastated by Joe's stroke. Jess has just got engaged so she's about to fly the nest which leaves Fran as the sole wage-earner. I really felt for Fran as she was torn between leaving her job to care for Joe full time and leaving him in the hands of carers so she could earn a wage. Fran decides that she and Jess could worry and wallow in self-pity or should could take the glass half full approach and be optimistic. Of course they have their wobbles, but on the whole they embrace the optimistic approach and I could really see how much this helped Joe.
Rather than focus on Joe, Gill Oliver has written a story that encompasses the whole Faber family and we encounter some marvellous characters. I loved the story about Jess being invited to play in the Shetland Folk Frenzy (it's a real event, google it!) and it really gave Joe something to aim towards, however ambitious the doctors thought it was. Continuing the strong theme of family, Jess has an auntie and cousins on the isles and what colourful characters they are! I wish I could say I loved all the characters but the parents of Jess's fiancé, Matt, are a nightmare. I had to admire Fran's restraint on occasion.
Joe Faber and the Optimists is a wonderfully warm and hopeful story about how one family copes with a stroke. The thing that really came through loud and clear for me is that although the person may look and sound different after a stroke, we need to remember that they're still the same funny, kind, intelligent, amiable or cantankerous (delete as appropriate) person that we love.
A thoroughly enjoyable read whether or not you've been affected by stroke, Joe Faber and the Optimists really ought to be recommended reading in stroke clinics around the world.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Joe, Fran and Jess are a fantastic family of three and they are understandably devastated by Joe's stroke. Jess has just got engaged so she's about to fly the nest which leaves Fran as the sole wage-earner. I really felt for Fran as she was torn between leaving her job to care for Joe full time and leaving him in the hands of carers so she could earn a wage. Fran decides that she and Jess could worry and wallow in self-pity or should could take the glass half full approach and be optimistic. Of course they have their wobbles, but on the whole they embrace the optimistic approach and I could really see how much this helped Joe.
Rather than focus on Joe, Gill Oliver has written a story that encompasses the whole Faber family and we encounter some marvellous characters. I loved the story about Jess being invited to play in the Shetland Folk Frenzy (it's a real event, google it!) and it really gave Joe something to aim towards, however ambitious the doctors thought it was. Continuing the strong theme of family, Jess has an auntie and cousins on the isles and what colourful characters they are! I wish I could say I loved all the characters but the parents of Jess's fiancé, Matt, are a nightmare. I had to admire Fran's restraint on occasion.
Joe Faber and the Optimists is a wonderfully warm and hopeful story about how one family copes with a stroke. The thing that really came through loud and clear for me is that although the person may look and sound different after a stroke, we need to remember that they're still the same funny, kind, intelligent, amiable or cantankerous (delete as appropriate) person that we love.
A thoroughly enjoyable read whether or not you've been affected by stroke, Joe Faber and the Optimists really ought to be recommended reading in stroke clinics around the world.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
March 31, 2021
When I learned that the book centered around a patient who had suffered a severe stroke, I felt like this would be a great inspirational story of someone who heroically comes back. We all love a feel-good story that shows that anything can be accomplished with hard work and support. This book isn’t exactly that story.
Joe does suffer a severe stroke and almost dies. But, he does regain consciousness and learns that half of his body isn’t working. His personality is shown to the reader gradually as he speaks about what he is experiencing and how his family is dealing with the stroke. He has many moments when humor breaks through and helps him to cope. I love that his wife and daughter are open to him about his situation. Many families just walk on egg-shells and don’t really deal with what is right before their eyes.
Joe’s daughter Jess is so worried that her dad won’t be able to walk her down the aisle, now that she’s engaged. Her fiancé Matt is always around as they are trying to plan the wedding. Zanna is organizing the wedding, but is intense and pushy. The story now seems to focus on the tension between Zanna, Jess, and Matt as the wedding plans unfold.
I love seeing Joe’s progress, but would love to have the book focused on him and not so much of the day to day lives of his daughter and her fiancé. There is some cursing in the book and a little crude humor. The very end of the book is the most interesting part as many things are resolved in the various relationships. To find out about Joe’s level of recovery, will the wedding happen, and will the family settle into a acceptance of Joe’s disability, you’ll need to read this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Joe does suffer a severe stroke and almost dies. But, he does regain consciousness and learns that half of his body isn’t working. His personality is shown to the reader gradually as he speaks about what he is experiencing and how his family is dealing with the stroke. He has many moments when humor breaks through and helps him to cope. I love that his wife and daughter are open to him about his situation. Many families just walk on egg-shells and don’t really deal with what is right before their eyes.
Joe’s daughter Jess is so worried that her dad won’t be able to walk her down the aisle, now that she’s engaged. Her fiancé Matt is always around as they are trying to plan the wedding. Zanna is organizing the wedding, but is intense and pushy. The story now seems to focus on the tension between Zanna, Jess, and Matt as the wedding plans unfold.
I love seeing Joe’s progress, but would love to have the book focused on him and not so much of the day to day lives of his daughter and her fiancé. There is some cursing in the book and a little crude humor. The very end of the book is the most interesting part as many things are resolved in the various relationships. To find out about Joe’s level of recovery, will the wedding happen, and will the family settle into a acceptance of Joe’s disability, you’ll need to read this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
March 25, 2021
I liked the cover of the book with its title and showing a half full/half empty glass and having read the synopsis felt this was appropriate
Joe is an artist who one day suffers a stroke in his workshop. It is such a shock to his wife Fran and Jessie (their daughter) and they feel helpless. Fran way of dealing with this is to put together a manifesto to help with Joe's recovery and rehabilitation.
I liked that there are a few stories going on in the book. We have the story ofJoe and his recovery, the story of his daughter Jessie and her wedding and the invitation Jessie has received to play fiddle at the Frenzy in Shetland with one of the best.
The stories are all interwoven which makes for a lovely read and there are some wonderful supporting characters. I felt the author describes each of them so well I could visualise them. Some of them annoyed me but as each of them question themselves you see them developing and what makes them the way they are. Her descriptions when Jessie and the family visited Shetland were superb and makes me want to visit.
Having based Joe on her true life experience of her own husband having a stroke I felt the raw emotion come through. As a stroke survivor myself I could identify with some of the book. It had me in tears and also howling with laughter in other parts.
For me Gill Oliver has taken a traumatic, life changing event and dealt with it wonderfully. I would definitely recommend this book.
I was gifted a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Joe is an artist who one day suffers a stroke in his workshop. It is such a shock to his wife Fran and Jessie (their daughter) and they feel helpless. Fran way of dealing with this is to put together a manifesto to help with Joe's recovery and rehabilitation.
I liked that there are a few stories going on in the book. We have the story ofJoe and his recovery, the story of his daughter Jessie and her wedding and the invitation Jessie has received to play fiddle at the Frenzy in Shetland with one of the best.
The stories are all interwoven which makes for a lovely read and there are some wonderful supporting characters. I felt the author describes each of them so well I could visualise them. Some of them annoyed me but as each of them question themselves you see them developing and what makes them the way they are. Her descriptions when Jessie and the family visited Shetland were superb and makes me want to visit.
Having based Joe on her true life experience of her own husband having a stroke I felt the raw emotion come through. As a stroke survivor myself I could identify with some of the book. It had me in tears and also howling with laughter in other parts.
For me Gill Oliver has taken a traumatic, life changing event and dealt with it wonderfully. I would definitely recommend this book.
I was gifted a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2021
Joe Faber and the optimists book tour
Life changes dramatically for the Faber family after Joe has a stroke. His wife suddenly finds herself responsible for the upkeep of everything, the house, finances and caring for her husband. Their Daughter Jess who is due to marry soon, gets the job opportunity of a life time to play at the Shetland folk frenzy. As Joe starts to make progress in his rehabilitation, seeing his daughter play at the festival becomes his number one goal.
This book doesn’t just focus on Joe , it follows the family and their associated friends through his road to recovery and the changes that occur as they journey towards a new normal.
This is a very positive and realistic portrayal of life after a stroke. I laughed out loud at times and also shed a tear or two. Although this is not the type of book id normally choose to read, I’ve definitely learned from it.
A hopeful and optimistic story that I’d recommend everyone to read, whether stroke has affected your life or not.
Life changes dramatically for the Faber family after Joe has a stroke. His wife suddenly finds herself responsible for the upkeep of everything, the house, finances and caring for her husband. Their Daughter Jess who is due to marry soon, gets the job opportunity of a life time to play at the Shetland folk frenzy. As Joe starts to make progress in his rehabilitation, seeing his daughter play at the festival becomes his number one goal.
This book doesn’t just focus on Joe , it follows the family and their associated friends through his road to recovery and the changes that occur as they journey towards a new normal.
This is a very positive and realistic portrayal of life after a stroke. I laughed out loud at times and also shed a tear or two. Although this is not the type of book id normally choose to read, I’ve definitely learned from it.
A hopeful and optimistic story that I’d recommend everyone to read, whether stroke has affected your life or not.
March 29, 2021
What a great read, after her husband Joe has a stroke Fran and their family must rally round to see Joe through his recovery.
While this was an emotional subject, and very sensitively handled, there were some real moments of humour in there too which made it all the more realistic. There were other elements at work in the story which all tied in with Joe and his new life. I think this really gave the story a lot of character.
I loved the fiddle and Shetland parts, I have been to Shetland once and completely fell in love so these sections of the book were such a delight.
Really well written, a lovely, uplifting story.
While this was an emotional subject, and very sensitively handled, there were some real moments of humour in there too which made it all the more realistic. There were other elements at work in the story which all tied in with Joe and his new life. I think this really gave the story a lot of character.
I loved the fiddle and Shetland parts, I have been to Shetland once and completely fell in love so these sections of the book were such a delight.
Really well written, a lovely, uplifting story.
April 13, 2021
What a warm, enjoyable read this was. The author Gill Oliver clearly has intimate knowledge on the subject but tells the story with great humour. A family hit by devastating illness, displaying great fortitude, human spirit, strength, determination and above all love. Really well written and a real joy to read. I couldn’t put this book down. Eagerly looking forward to reading Amateurs. If Joe Faber and the Optimists is anything to go by, it will be a joy. Highly recommended
May 12, 2021
Joe Faber had a stroke which is left him paralysed down one side of his body but he doesn’t let this put him down and is determined to recover. Fran his wife who has a “rehab” plan in place and an undaunted spirit, their daughter Jess is currently planning her wedding to Matthew but is she marrying the right guy?? This is a wonderful story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. The author has gone to great lengths with this book.
March 23, 2021
For a book that describes the life of a family after the father/husband has a stroke it is surprisingly upbeat and positive. It could be a depressing, negative read but is in fact a light-hearted and easy read and the cover fits perfectly; you have a choice, is the glass half full or half empty and this family decides it’s half full, which is not an easy decision to make. Knowing it’s written based on real experience means you can believe the feelings and emotions expressed. The family has it’s ups and downs and you feel a range of emotions with the family, pain, doubt, happiness, humour and love amongst them. The overriding feeling I got reading this was the strength and love of the family, it literally shone through. We follow Joe, Fran and Jessie as they adapt to their new life together, learning new relationships even though they have been together for many years. I loved Matt and Jessie’s wedding story and having this meant that Joe’s story didn’t dominate and showed that life has to go on even in difficult circumstances. The characters were very likeable and I loved the atmospheric descriptions of Shetland. An enjoyable, positive and poignant read.
January 27, 2025
Thought provoking
Grabbed my imagination. Felt invested in the characters. A rollercoaster of amusement, sorrow and musing. Well worth reading. A dark subject matter with hope and humour.
Grabbed my imagination. Felt invested in the characters. A rollercoaster of amusement, sorrow and musing. Well worth reading. A dark subject matter with hope and humour.
June 20, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. The author has a light touch and a gentle wry sense of humour. I enjoyed the changing family relationships, especially those with the putative son-in-law. I laughed and cried, and would point out that there is no self pity between these covers.
December 1, 2021
It’s all in the title.
This is a well-balanced, honest and enjoyable fictional version of a true life-changing event. It reminds us that a.though much is lost, much remains.
This is a well-balanced, honest and enjoyable fictional version of a true life-changing event. It reminds us that a.though much is lost, much remains.
January 14, 2025
The groom's sister was a bit over the top. I got tired of reading the book even thought I wanted to know how Joe recovered.
August 15, 2025
Joe Faber and the Optimists is a touching and uplifting story of family, resilience, and humor in the face of life-changing challenges.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews