Fresh Air

by Charlotte Vale Allen

For twenty-seven years Lucinda Hunter, daughter of the acclaimed film star Lily Hunter, has been a virtual recluse. Alone in the Connecticut farmhouse that was once her mother's, Lucinda's life has become a small thing. Everything she wants or needs can be purchased online, and her only trips to the outside world are to the library or to the post office. It sometimes takes her days before she has the courage to venture past her front door, and even these excursions are sufficiently traumatic to induce blinding migraine headaches.

Then, one hot morning in July, as she sits at her computer near the living-room window, a motion in the garden catches her eye. When she turns to look out, she is certain she must be hallucinating--for out there, admiring the overgrown flower beds, is a little girl in shorts and a T-shirt, her bare feet in outsize sneakers. She can't be real, Lucinda tells herself. But when she looks again, the little girl beckons to her to come outside. Bemused, curious, Lucinda gets up and goes outdoors to make the acquaintance of charmingly precocious nine-year-old Katanya Taylor who has, courtesy of the Fresh Air Fund, come from Harlem to spend two weeks with a host family.

Taken with the girl's sweet-natured intelligence and generosity of spirit, Lucinda gradually, painfully finds herself drawn back into the world she left after her mother's death. Through Katanya, Lucinda re-examines her past, and gets answers to the questions that kept her locked inside herself and inside her mother's house for more than half her life.

Genres: Fiction, Drama

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Charlotte Vale-Allen was born in Toronto and lived in England from 1961 to 1964 where she worked as a television actress and singer. She returned to Toronto briefly, performing as a singer and in cabaret revues until she emigrated to the United States in 1966.

Shortly after her marriage to Walter Allen in 1970 she began writing and sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals for Warner Books, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print.

Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but in 1971 it was deemed too controversial by the editors who read it. It wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published.

One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 30+ novels, Ms. Allen's books have been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages.

In her writing she tries to deal with issues confronting women, being informative while at the same time offering a measure of optimism. "My strongest ability as a writer is to make women real, to take you inside their heads and let you know how they feel, and to make you care about them."

A film buff and an amateur photographer, Allen enjoys foreign travel. She finds cooking and needlework therapeutic, and is a compulsive player of computer Solitaire. The mother of an adult daughter, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting aspects to this novel. Some of the events seemed implausible--the almost agoraphobic woman bonding right away with the little Fresh Air girl from Harlem, the neighbor's taking the girl for the two weeks considering her attitude toward her own child, and the whole turnaround of the woman's life.

I guess that I am just being too skeptical. It is a charming tale, and I wondered what would happen once Katanya went home. Now I know.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book about finding yourself again with the help of a most unlikely source- a smart, perceptive nine year old girl. Wonderful!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely story!! I think Charlotte Vale Allen has become another of my favourite authors.

From back cover:

"For twenty-seven years, since the death of her movie star mother, Lucinda Hunter has been a virtual recluse. It sometimes takes her days to summon the courage to venture past her front door. Then, one July morning, a motion in the garden catches her eye. Looking out, she sees a little girl admiring the overgrown flower beds. She can't be real, Lucinda thinks. But the girl beckons to her and, bemused, curious, Lucinda goes outdoors to make the acquaintance of nine year old Katanya Taylor who, courtesty of the 'Fresh Air Fund', has come to spend two weeks in Connecticut. Taken with the girl's sweet nature, intelligence and generosity, Lucinda finds herself gradually, painfully drawn back into the world."

[lovely-dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although its topic is interesting, the characters in this book were not convincing at all, especially Katanya's. The dialogues were monotone, without neither sense of depth or logic.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book in the beginning. But it was horrible. It bordered on being racist. I know it wasn't the authors intent. But the way she wrote Katyana was offensive. Sadly disappointed.

[Amy Dravland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book because the cover looked beautiful and the brief synopsis sounded okay. I literally did not want to put it down. The story was amazing!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hollywood in Lucinda Hunter's memories keeps coming back with movie star mother Lily, and try to find her father. It's a complicated story about secrets. Story skips at times. Okay read.

[paula taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite authors since I was a teenager.

She makes her characters real and allows them to be flawed without losing your connection with them. I'm so glad that she has enabled her whole list of books to be available by doing the reprints through her own company. So sorry I can't thank her in person.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming to terms with the past.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, though the premise seems implausible. As with other books that I've read lately, I found myself wanting more at the end. I read on amazon.com that a sequel is planned, though I'm not sure if it has come out yet.

I want to know more about how Lucinda reconnects with her family after finally meeting her paternal grandmother. I want to learn more about the friendship that develops between Lucinda, Jeneva, Loranne, and Katanya. I want to know if Katanya is able to excel in high school and go to college.

I also want to know if Jeneva and Loranne ever resented the gifts Lucinda bestowed on Katanya.

So many unanswered questions! But still, I enjoyed this story and will look for more books by this author next time I am in the library.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about a woman who, over time, has become a recluse. She is drawn back into the 'real' world by a young, black child who is participating in a youth program that brings inner-city children to the country for a couple of weeks. Through the child, the woman's world enlarges to encompass new friends and to reconnect with an old one. Nicely told story of a woman who forces herself to move past her fears because of promises she made to a child.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it and it moved quickly. Once I reflected on the premise, I thought perhaps for the year 1996 (which is when it was set), it was not so realistic. By then, interracial marriages were common and accepted by society. So, the main character's agoraphobia from learning that she was the product of mixed marriage was not all that believable. Nevertheless, it was easy to read straight through.

[Margaret]

This was a nice story. The main character Lucinda has a lot of hang-ups (and I could relate to a few of them) which she manages to overcome with unexpected help from a little girl. The story line was a little more unusual than I've seen lately, which was nice although the happy ending was a bit too pat for me. A light, refreshing type of read.

[Kathy Roling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book held my interest from the first paragraph. Wonderful story about a famous actress' "adopted" daughter who becomes reclusive after her mothers death and the charming little girl who helps her to find herself. (Not quite the same, but reminded me of the true story of Loretta Young and her "adopted" daughter. )

[Amanda Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why but in the beginning of the book, I thought the little girl would be a ghost or some kind of a hallucination and the twist would be that when the main character tried to find her, it turned out she had been dead or never existed...but that didn't end up happened. I'm not pissed or anything. Maybe it was the wording but I was sort of expecting something like that.

[+*ashley*+ · Rating 2 out of 5]

tells a wonderful story of how a little girl changes the life of a woman. Would be a pretty good story for readers who enjoy this kind, but it's not my "cup of tea". Although there was potential here, and it is a great story for more patient readers, I found I probaly wouldn't read it again

[Pdswhite · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a "good read." I recommend it. It is well written. There is humor, suspense and you learn as well. Won't tell you what you learn as that would spoil the read. Do look into this book. You won't regret it.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, was caught up in the story immediately. I adored all of the characters, love how the author made even the initial "bad guys" have a good side after all. I have the sequel on hold at the library, can't wait to dig in and see what happens next!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so love Charlotte Vale Allens' books. She can take the most complicated burdens and reduce them to their simplest form, yet still leave the reader what makes a person become the way she has and wondering how she will survive in a different kind of world.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

another good book by Charlotte vale Allen. I think she has an amazing gift for writing thought provoking books!

[Nancy P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your standard plot with interesting interactions between main characters. It truly is a breath of Fresh Air!

[Merline White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! "with her singular insights into human nature, author exlores how two people, a haunted adult and giftd child connect and enrich each other." [Publisher's Weekly:]

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star read.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this novel about a house-bound woman who meets a young girl who wanders into her garden. I learned about migraine headaches, as the woman suffers badly from them. A very good book.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read i will be looking for more from this author...

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I had such a fondness for all of the characters! The author really drew me in, like I was living this life with the main character. A must read.

[Moira Sr. Fogarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Ms. Allen's books and this is no exception - good characters and interesting story line.

[Virginia Markhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. I could relate to so many of the characters feelings and emotions.

[J Shantina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story and would love to see it made into a movie. I'm loading up on all of her books.

[JayeL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a journey out of the darkness, in a way. The author does not try and cover everything-just a few things and the emotions surrounding it.