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From Above
From Above follows the lives of five siblings named Murphy living in Chicago from the late 1960s through to the 1980s. Tragically, they lost their mother and are left to live with their alcoholic father, Paddy. Johnny, the wayward son, is a disappointment but finds his escape into the military and a secret life. Fionna, the second eldest, is forced to sacrifice her childhood and run a household at the young age of sixteen. She finds her escape in men, unfortunately with heartbreaking consequences. Mikey was the golden child who had everything going for him, but his guilt and anxiety over his mother's death drove him to use alcohol to escape. Midge is the sweetheart of the clan, bright and optimistic, despite being teased for her looks. When a handsome stranger takes notice of her, she escapes into his arms, unaware of the dangers that await her. Rory, the youngest sibling, grows up to be a high school heartthrob who must hide his true sexuality. He finds his escape in the adulation of his peers, acting and boxing, but learns the hard way that he cannot hide himself forever.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2021
392 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 25, 2021
This is J.D. Wynn d's second book and I have to say that it was so good I had to read it twice. I love the writing style of this story and how you gain perspective of each important character. Its one of those books that instantly submerges you into the story, even if its unrelatable to you. I highly recommend.
August 23, 2021
**FULL DISCLOSURE** I know this author personally. We grew up together and were pretty close in high school. Of course life, almost always, takes people in different directions. We still chat occasionally and keep up with each other's lives through social media. I never remember her saying, when we were younger, that she wanted to be an author. I was the one interested in becoming a publisher or editor so I could get paid to read books all day every day. Here I am 25 years later killing it as a NICU nurse and here SHE is kicking ass and taking names as an author. All this said, I promised her I would be unmerciful in my review. Lucky for her, her sophomore effort is outstanding! (Her first novel Soldier On was equally as excellent and definitely worth the read).
From Above is a touching family saga beginning in the 1960’s taking us through the decades culminating in 1986. The Murphey’s are an Irish American Catholic family living on the south side of Chicago. Bridgeport to be exact, where, at that time, almost everyone is Irish. Having lived in Chicago as an adult, I really appreciated that the author described the small nuances of the different Chicago neighborhoods that she wrote about. The story is told from five different perspectives. Each sibling has their turn, revealing what is happening in their life, how they perceive their family and the struggles happening within. Johnny is the oldest, followed by Fionna, Mikey, Maisie (Midge) and Rory. Their father, Paddy, is an Irish immigrant and a very hard man to love. He meets their mother, Nellie, on a city bus and falls hard and fast for her. This novel is written in a way that you also fall hard and fast for these characters without even realizing it. When I could tear myself away for a few hours, I was constantly thinking about them, worrying about them and wondering what is going to happen next. You really become invested in each and every one of them. The character development is phenomenal. There aren’t too many characters that you lose track of who is who but, there are enough to completely round out their lives in this story. The family drama is real, timely, heartfelt, and akin to what most families deal with, then and now. I was sad for this to end because I was so invested. These characters will stay with me for a long time. Normally I will start a new book within hours of finishing one. Not this time...I need time to process and almost grieve the loss of them. Due to a recent health crisis, it took me a bit longer than normal to read this novel so the characters were with me for a while. I laughed with them, grieved with them, got excited for and with them, celebrated and rooted for them. This really is a touching novel, a quick read because you won’t be able to put it down. She writes from the heart and I can’t wait for her to write more.
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@chi_book_lover
From Above is a touching family saga beginning in the 1960’s taking us through the decades culminating in 1986. The Murphey’s are an Irish American Catholic family living on the south side of Chicago. Bridgeport to be exact, where, at that time, almost everyone is Irish. Having lived in Chicago as an adult, I really appreciated that the author described the small nuances of the different Chicago neighborhoods that she wrote about. The story is told from five different perspectives. Each sibling has their turn, revealing what is happening in their life, how they perceive their family and the struggles happening within. Johnny is the oldest, followed by Fionna, Mikey, Maisie (Midge) and Rory. Their father, Paddy, is an Irish immigrant and a very hard man to love. He meets their mother, Nellie, on a city bus and falls hard and fast for her. This novel is written in a way that you also fall hard and fast for these characters without even realizing it. When I could tear myself away for a few hours, I was constantly thinking about them, worrying about them and wondering what is going to happen next. You really become invested in each and every one of them. The character development is phenomenal. There aren’t too many characters that you lose track of who is who but, there are enough to completely round out their lives in this story. The family drama is real, timely, heartfelt, and akin to what most families deal with, then and now. I was sad for this to end because I was so invested. These characters will stay with me for a long time. Normally I will start a new book within hours of finishing one. Not this time...I need time to process and almost grieve the loss of them. Due to a recent health crisis, it took me a bit longer than normal to read this novel so the characters were with me for a while. I laughed with them, grieved with them, got excited for and with them, celebrated and rooted for them. This really is a touching novel, a quick read because you won’t be able to put it down. She writes from the heart and I can’t wait for her to write more.
#bookstagram
@chi_book_lover
July 10, 2022
BOOK: FROM ABOVE by JD Wynne
I wanted to take a day or an evening to think about what I was going to write for a review after finishing the second book by JD Wynne. I really enjoyed her first book, Solider On. That was a complex book about a female soldier dealing with personal struggles and embracing life on the frontlines during the war against terrorism in Iraq, along with some other unforeseen personal struggles. I was just blown away by the complexities, themes and the resolution.
“From Above,” is just as complex but the focus is on a shattered family dynamic after the matriarch dies. Paddy, the father of several children is unable to cope with his grief and turns to alcohol but takes a thousand steps back as a father figure. Enter Fionna, who is all but sixteen years old, and steps into the role as caretaker and nurturer. She feels she has no choice than to step as a guardian to her young siblings. She does ask for help her brother Johnny and BFF, Kat. It becomes a strain at times and all she wants is to be a normal teenager at times.
What happens? Fionna meets some people along the way who help her embrace the teenager she is but also help her to appreciate the family she has, even if it is complicated as hell and exhausting being more of a surrogate parent than an older sister. Family is always family even when it is a mess, even when you have a father like Paddy. Some friends are also forever, which is a gift.
I also love that this book is placed in Chicago, which is special to my own family roots. Go Cubs!
For all seriousness though, I am glad JD Wynne reached out to me during and when she completed her second book for an honest review. I appreciate the privilege of being among some of the first reviewers to read this complicated and believable book. It is not just about a complicated family dynamic and the main character coming of age, it is so much more!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
I wanted to take a day or an evening to think about what I was going to write for a review after finishing the second book by JD Wynne. I really enjoyed her first book, Solider On. That was a complex book about a female soldier dealing with personal struggles and embracing life on the frontlines during the war against terrorism in Iraq, along with some other unforeseen personal struggles. I was just blown away by the complexities, themes and the resolution.
“From Above,” is just as complex but the focus is on a shattered family dynamic after the matriarch dies. Paddy, the father of several children is unable to cope with his grief and turns to alcohol but takes a thousand steps back as a father figure. Enter Fionna, who is all but sixteen years old, and steps into the role as caretaker and nurturer. She feels she has no choice than to step as a guardian to her young siblings. She does ask for help her brother Johnny and BFF, Kat. It becomes a strain at times and all she wants is to be a normal teenager at times.
What happens? Fionna meets some people along the way who help her embrace the teenager she is but also help her to appreciate the family she has, even if it is complicated as hell and exhausting being more of a surrogate parent than an older sister. Family is always family even when it is a mess, even when you have a father like Paddy. Some friends are also forever, which is a gift.
I also love that this book is placed in Chicago, which is special to my own family roots. Go Cubs!
For all seriousness though, I am glad JD Wynne reached out to me during and when she completed her second book for an honest review. I appreciate the privilege of being among some of the first reviewers to read this complicated and believable book. It is not just about a complicated family dynamic and the main character coming of age, it is so much more!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews