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Freecycling For Beginners

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The time has come for Jane to sell the family home. Downsizing to a flat means everything must go, but her late husband's favourite chair is far too precious for the tip. Meanwhile Robyn, balancing her precarious career as a portrait artist with raising an autistic son, is searching for a chair with panache that will allow her sitters to pose in comfort. Elsewhere in the city, Tracey is clearing out her wardrobe at the same moment that divorced and cash-strapped Debbie is frantically seeking a prom dress for her daughter. None of these women have ever met until Freecycle brings them together -- and their lives are about to be changed in ways they could never have imagined.

310 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2021

7 people want to read

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Misha M Herwin

5 books1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for mrsljgibbs.
856 reviews33 followers
September 27, 2021
I would just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for very kindly forwarding me an arc copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for an honest review.
This whole story starts with a chair that is too good to throw away but not quite good enough to sell.
Jane knows that now is the time to get rid of her late husbands chair and advertises it on a local Freecycle site. From here we see a story unfold that sees people coming together and making a difference.
This book was a lovely, heartwarming story and I loved how all the characters interactions are all linked back to the chair.
This was a wonderful read and I would definitely recommend it…
Profile Image for Jo.
127 reviews3 followers
September 30, 2021
Pull up your comfiest chair, grab that fluffy blanket and a cup of what you fancy. This is the perfect book to curl up with and get those feel good vibes. The story revolves around a freecycle site and how it pulls complete strangers together. There is an electic mix of posts from an old sentimental chair, a much needed prom dress, nearly new carpet and a rabbit replacement. The characters are very relatable despite having very different life styles. Through the freecycle adverts, the characters come together and new (sometimes unlikely) friendships are born. I love how the stories start to intertwine and how the importance of the kindness of strangers comes across. This was a nice easy read that can be devoured in a single sitting.

A really lovely uplifting book about friends, family and strangers!
Profile Image for Barry Lillie.
Author 22 books4 followers
September 22, 2021
The book begins with a chair with history that is donated to a new home and from there the story unfolds. The book is filled with well written characters that develop along the way believable friendships. The story delves into the lives of people that are touched by simple acts from outside that enrich their lives or help to resolve issues. Cleverly written it's a perfect book for a holiday read or a short break away where you can fully immerse yourself in the plot.

A perfect modern tale for our times with no padding just a compelling narrative that will keep the pages turning. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Jessica.
Author 10 books192 followers
December 7, 2021
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this novel. It’s a contemporary fiction set in the present and based in Bristol. The plot is simple: how the lives of several characters intersect and are changed by using Freecycle.
Freecycle too has a simple principle: donating items or services for free, or advertising for what you need.
The key word here is synchronicity: what happens when chance or fate seem to produce meaningful results, more than mere coincidence.
On this basis, the author weaves a story about a group of people whose paths cross. The result is like a fairytale. It’s not all plain-sailing, and there are dark shadows: cancer, grief and loss, autism and divorce. But there is also hope and the notion that a chance encounter can open up new possibilities for people who thought they had none.
The characters include Jane, who has to get rid of her late husband’s much loved chair before she moves into a new flat;
Her daughter Anna, in a relationship so detached she doesn’t really care when her partner ends it;
Robyn, a painter struggling to care for her three children after their father left her alone to deal with the last, autistic son, Finn;
Animal-loving Debbie, struggling to make ends meet and desperate to find a prom dress for her daughter Frankie;
Tracy, working hard in a house mortgaged up to the hilt, while her husband Eddie has what seems like secure work as a lorry driver, and her mother, cold and snobbish, is more of a hindrance than a help;
Dan, a handsome older man with a loft apartment who has just been dumped by his glamorous but selfish lover;
And Robyn’s brother Craig, a red-haired musician who shows up whenever he can to help out with the kids and give his sister a rest.
The old chair, symbol of Jane’s dead husband Hugh, becomes the fulcrum on which these encounters turn. Jane lists the chair on Freecycle and when Robyn accepts it as a seat for models in her studio, a connection is made.
I loved this and found it harder to put down as time went on. There is a sense of real jeopardy and you fear for the characters and will them to succeed. They are likeable, realistic people, not flawless. There are few truly horrible characters, though Tracy’s mother has a good go.
What the novel evokes beautifully are the sights and sounds of Bristol, the smells of a hot summer and some really appetising food. The characters are portrayed sympathetically and with heart and compassion. There is a heart-rending description of Finn, the autistic child, and his desperation because he can’t understand his environment; but the story does not romanticise how difficult it is to care for such a child unsupported, for mother and siblings.
Also embedded in the story is the idea of found families, how important they are and how connections with people who were strangers can bring hope and new possibilities.
Profile Image for Gill.
329 reviews9 followers
September 29, 2021
For anyone who might remember, Freecycle was made up of local groups run via Yahoo Groups where people could post their unwanted items for anyone who could make use of them and vice versa, people could post their ‘wants’ in the hope that someone might just have what they were looking for. The philosophy behind it was that first and foremost people should give their unwanted items away rather than add to landfill, but also that people should give as well as take.

This book is the stories behind those who decide to give away items they once treasured but also the stories of those who have a need for them and why. And it really does make for a compelling read as several families from different backgrounds learn a little give and take, not just of recycled goods but of love and kindness and in some cases a new lease of life.

There are several story threads going on. Jane who passes her husband’s old armchair on to artist and single mum Robyn, who thinks it will be perfect for models to sit on for portrait painting. Through Robyn’s children Jane becomes friends with Robyn, with Jane’s life gaining purpose the more she becomes involved. Jane’s grown up daughter Anna also benefits from her mother’s involvement with Robyn’s family, bringing them closer than they’ve ever been.

Tracy gives away a hardly worn evening dress after 16 year old Frankie’s mum appeals for help after the dress she bought for her daughter’s school prom doesn’t fit. But Tracy’s story isn’t really about the dress but her desire to always have the best of everything for their home and for their children, and why not? Until her husband Eddie loses his job.

Not all the characters, at least for me, were that likeable. Jane’s daughter, an only child has grown up to be single minded, somewhat selfish I thought, and unwilling to commit to long term relationships. It was very difficult to have any sympathy at all with Tracy for various reasons, at least for the first part of the book. But then you don’t have to like a character to find their story interesting and as characters develop, you find yourself at least reaching an understanding of what has led them to become who they are now.

The book moves along at a nice pace, touching on many family orientated issues, with both times of sadness and also joy and successes along the way. I really enjoyed this book from an author new to me.
Profile Image for Sharon Rimmelzwaan.
1,464 reviews45 followers
October 6, 2021
'Freecycling for Beginners' by Misha M. Herwin is a contemporary fiction story that is heartwarming and uplifting to read. My very first book by this author and one which I really enjoyed.
A story about freecycling and how one chair creates connections that you would never think about. Jane has downsized and makes a huge decision to freecycle her late husbands chair. It's not good enough to sell or shabby enough to just throw away so on Freecycle it goes. The chair creates a connection with Robyn, an artist,Tracey a single mum and Debbie, a very frantic and stressed mum.
As the chain reaction reverberates, the story delves into these peoples lives in a fantastic way. We are transported into each person's life. We see the innerworkings of their relationships, be it at home or elsewhere. Their family issues and monetary issues are all laid bare. We see how these people need support in one way or another and how much one gesture of kindness can help someone. Be it a small one or one that takes a huge chunk of time, everything counts and that one act can make all the difference for someone when in need.
A multi-stranded story that has been skilfully woven to show how one act of giving something away grows into other things. We see a prom dress being given to a mum for her daughter which grows into giving her daughter a lift to the prom. The very acts of giving goods and even favours interweave into having the power to change lives.
This is a story of paying it forward. Even when you think there is no life left in something give it a chance to help somebody else. It could change somebody else's life just from one small act of kindness. I must say, I use a lot of free sites and this book is so on point. I have made friends through free sites, found a relative even! You couldn't make it up.
A well-written story that shows us the power of helping in any way. Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Penkhull Press for the copy of this lovely, true to life story.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,770 reviews135 followers
September 17, 2021
Jane decides that it is time to get rid of her late husband's chair, too good to dump but not good enough to sell. She decides to advertise it on her local Freecycle site. From this chair, a connection is formed that stretches further than just one chair moving from one household to another.

The author has used the act of offering items that still have use and life in them for free. From this, she has then woven such a fabulous story that delves into the lives of various people. An artist, a single mum, and a very stressed mum. None of the women knows each other, but it is the chair that brings in a link to them.

I loved everything about this story, it gave a glimpse into the lives of the characters, their homes and their families. Bringing up children, tackling problems with finances, with illness and then the general coming and going of life, work, and love. Relationships can be brittle and there are times when you need support, sometimes it can be a simple act of kindness that can make the world of difference to someone. From the smallest act of help to giving a large amount of time, the author has included it in some form within this story of stories.

It is a story of different lives and therefore different threads, these have been tweaked and nurtured wonderfully by the author. This was a wonderful book that I adored, the stories of each family were emotional but in very different ways.

This is one for readers who like a good heart-warming contemporary fiction story about families doing what families do. An absolutely wonderful book and one I would definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Laura.
360 reviews10 followers
September 27, 2021
For those that aren’t familiar with it, Freecycle is an online forum where people can exchange items or services for free. From this simple premise, author Misha M Herwin has created a community of characters in “Freecycling for Beginners” that gradually interweave as the story progresses.

The first few chapters of this heartwarming novel read almost like short stories – introducing us to the various characters and immersing us in their lives and what has led them to either offer or seek items via the Freecycle site, including anything from an armchair to a prom dress. As the book progresses, the stories start to overlap, and the author does a great job of showing how lives can impact each other in unexpected ways.

I enjoyed the episodic way this book was written. In some ways it reminded me of the Scotland Street books by Alexander McCall Smith, although the circumstances of the characters’ lives are more hard-hitting. The author brings in some challenging topics, with a single-mum struggling to cope raising a child with autism; a marriage struggling when the husband is made redundant; a cancer diagnosis; and a widow coping with her recent bereavement and moving away from the family home.

However, throughout all this there are many lighter moments, along with some lovely examples of the characters supporting each other through their troubles. I enjoyed seeing the various relationships develop, and the author does a great job of showing how simple acts of kindness can make all the difference to those around us. Despite including some challenging topics, I would definitely recommend this book to others looking for a positive, uplifting read.
Profile Image for Jan Edwards.
Author 41 books42 followers
September 16, 2021
Freecycling for Beginners starts out with a chair. Jane and her husband bought it for their first home and now, widowed, and downsizing to a flat, Jane knows it has outlived its use. Yet she is loathe to take her husbands beloved chair to the tip. It needs TLC but has years of use in it still, and so she advertises it on the Freecycle website. In very short order her chair is claimed by a struggling artist who needs a striking prop for her portraits.
Thus the ball starts to roll in a skillfully constructed, multi-stranded, narrative. Each thread begins in apparent isolation, weaving to and fro as unwanted ball gowns are claimed for hard-up mum for her daughter’s, prom queen needs a lift to that prom and so on and so forth. Goods and favours are passed forward and those strands overlap in such a way that lives are changed in subtle and often profound ways.
I especially liked the way that, though each transaction is completed to everyone’s satisfaction, some of them remain slightly ajar with a hint of melancholia resides in at least one of those elements that makes you pause for thought. Think Love Actually where the actions of each protagonist affects the next despite many of them never meeting and how those lives must carry on after the credits roll.
Freecycling For Beginners is a commentary on the need to stop waste by re-purposing material goods but also focusses on the passing forward of small acts of kindness along the way.
Thoroughly recommended.
Profile Image for Cheryl M-M.
1,879 reviews55 followers
December 31, 2021
Jane, Robyn and Tracey don't have a lot in common when you take a brief look, but their respective stories about giving something away and looking for something, is what connects them and their stories.

Freecycle is essentially recycling based on the principle of one man's junk is another man's treasure. At the core of the principle is not letting something that is still of use to someone becomes yet another item on a landfill. Instead of waiting around decades or centuries to it to hopefully degrade, perhaps that item can be useful a while longer.

The essence of this story are such items that connect us, our memories and our experiences. These items become a conduit to share emotional connections with each other. They become the thread woven between strangers, and between these characters in the story.

I liked the idea - it has this element of nostalgia, which lends a certain depth to the characters. Herwin also brings forth the differences in our reactions, when it comes to being attached to physical belongings and what each one of us believes is important. It's different for everyone. It's a message of humanity and simultaneously about how similar and different we are at the same time.
September 28, 2021
I’m a sucker for novels where friendship is one of the main themes and Freecycling for Beginners really hit that spot.
It begins with three women, all with material objects that they really need and one woman with something precious to give away. What ensues is a developing friendship between the women which that becomes so much more than people just exchanging things. I think the physical and metaphorical aspects of giving and receiving really shine through in this books and I love how it brings a small group together when they really needed each other.
Each main character is well developed and their lives, families etc are explored well in a way that makes you feel as though you know them. All the threads are linked together delicately, and this story shows how much sometimes seemingly simple gestures and relationships can have such a huge, positive impact on someone’s life.
Lots of themes are explored with each character, some emotional, but there is a cosy sense of community and a real sense of peace and being uplifted. It’s a charming plot that is really well executed and will give you all the fuzzies.
Profile Image for Misfits farm.
2,104 reviews86 followers
September 23, 2021
Freecycle- a site where goods and sometimes services are repurposed. A chair too good to be thrown away, a dress needing to be altered, a good deed needing to be done. A story of people coming together through reusing things and finding help and friendship along the way. Of paying it forward and giving a helping hand, sometimes a kind word is all that's needed. We live in such a disposable society that sometimes we perhaps should stop and think and proffer help where we can, however small the gesture may be , it may make all the difference in the world to someone. Of being kind and being thoughtful and selfless and caring. That realising that there is just more than ourselves in this world. A little kindness and a smile goes a long way. Pay it forward, you never know when you may need to be the recipient rather than the giver. An interesting, entertaining read with a message
Profile Image for Nicola Malloch.
625 reviews9 followers
September 30, 2021
Thank you Rachel’s Random Resources and Misha M Herwin for including me in the book tour for Freecycling for beginners.

Don’t be confused by the title of this book it is not a self help book or printed pinterest board but a compelling story of how a community comes together through the website freecycle at major turning points of their lives.

I loved the multi character cast, it gave me major love actually vibes with characters weaving in and out of each other’s lives in a small location. I found myself falling in love with many characters especially Frankie who I understood as I went through similar experiences at school.

Overall I really enjoyed how this story came together and the multi level relationships that the characters built. I would love to have a community like that where I live.

Profile Image for Sue Eaton.
48 reviews2 followers
January 8, 2023
You know you’ve read a good book when you wake up the morning after you’ve finished it, and your first thought is what are the characters in that book doing. That is exactly what I did after reading Freecycling for Beginners by Misha Herwin. I became so involved in their lives, loves and problems that I want to know more.
Freecycle is a scheme which allows people to pass their no longer needed possessions on to those who are looking for that exact thing. However, it does more than that in this book. It enhances relationships, creates new ones and shows what can be done through community support. I don’t want to include spoilers. The reader needs to follow the twists and turns without preconceived ideas.
Freecycling for Beginners is a beautifully written book which draws you into the action and holds you there long after you should have turned out the light and gone to sleep.
Profile Image for Kerry.
670 reviews43 followers
October 1, 2021
I have always enjoyed Misha Herwin’s writing so I was very much looking forward to getting stuck in to Freecycling for Beginners. I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Misha Herwin has a way of drawing you in. She knows how to write characters a reader will love and a story that stays with you long after you have finished reading.

This is such a heart warming read it was easy to lose myself between the pages and immerse myself in the lives of these random strangers who find themselves becoming so much more to each other just by showing a little bit of kindness and support. How lovely to think there are people in the real world just like those in this book. I’m lucky to know a few!

There are so many lovely characters throughout this book, all with very different lifestyles, different worries and struggles but each find a way of helping another out without the need for payment or thanks. It really does restore your faith in humanity. There are many decent people in this world. We often forget as there tends to be too much focus on the negative these days. This story is the perfect reminder of the power of human kindness.

I loved it!

https://chataboutbooks.blog/2021/09/2...
Profile Image for Staceywh_17.
3,738 reviews12 followers
September 27, 2021
Who'd of thought that a book starting off with a chair being advertised on the local freecycling site would turn into such a heartwarming read?

There was nothing not to like about this book, it was a beautifully written piece of contemporary fiction on paying it forward & how a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

A highly compelling read, filled with some solid characters who we watch unfold as the book progresses.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book & would highly recommend it to anyone.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot & gifted copy.

𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
Profile Image for Corinne Rodrigues.
491 reviews61 followers
October 27, 2021
This was a surprisingly good read. What starts off with Jane, a widow, who is downsizing in order to move to an apartment, offering her husband’s chair on the Freecycle website. When artist, Robyn, and her the family come to take away the chair, a connection is formed that affects them all in a way no one could have imagined. Similarly other characters in the book get connected as this story progresses.

The author has created great characters, each with different challenges. The beauty of this story is how they all provide for each other not just old stuff but emotional support. Soon strangers became friends and friends became family. And there’s family that have forgotten what it is to be family and re-learn how to love and care.

There are so many elements to this book that it’s quite hard to express. Suffice to say that you wouldn’t go wrong if you picked up this lovely read.

Hoping to read more of Misha Herwin’s work.
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