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Glasshopper
From the suburban disorder of 1980s southern England, 13-year-old Jake watches his world unravel as his father and older brother leave the family home and his mother increasingly finds solace in drink. Even as Jake outwardly shrugs off doubts about his paternity, the question hangs over him like an invisible spectre. A brilliantly structured novel, Glasshopper recreates the time and place of two childhoods and two marriages, evoking a poignant sense of home and family.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
20 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
Isabel Ashdown
15 books254 followersIsabel Ashdown is an award-winning author and writing coach. 'One Girl, One Summer' is her tenth novel.
Isabel’s writing career launched with her critically acclaimed debut 'Glasshopper', which was twice named among Best Books of the Year after winning first prize in a national competition judged by Fay Weldon, Sir John Mortimer, and Michael Ridpath. Since then, her thrillers 'Little Sister' and 'Beautiful Liars' have been shortlisted in the Dead Good Reader Awards, while '33 Women' was an Amazon bestseller within weeks of release. Alongside her own work, Isabel is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and a coach to developing writers.
Born in London, Isabel grew up on the south coast, and she now spends much of her time in a writing cabin in West Dorset, built for her by carpenter husband, Colin. She is a member of the Society of Authors and is represented by Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency. Isabel lives with her husband, with whom she has two grown-up children and a pair of ageing dogs. Her happy place is anywhere with a coastal view.
Find out more about Isabel via her website, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
Isabel’s writing career launched with her critically acclaimed debut 'Glasshopper', which was twice named among Best Books of the Year after winning first prize in a national competition judged by Fay Weldon, Sir John Mortimer, and Michael Ridpath. Since then, her thrillers 'Little Sister' and 'Beautiful Liars' have been shortlisted in the Dead Good Reader Awards, while '33 Women' was an Amazon bestseller within weeks of release. Alongside her own work, Isabel is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and a coach to developing writers.
Born in London, Isabel grew up on the south coast, and she now spends much of her time in a writing cabin in West Dorset, built for her by carpenter husband, Colin. She is a member of the Society of Authors and is represented by Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency. Isabel lives with her husband, with whom she has two grown-up children and a pair of ageing dogs. Her happy place is anywhere with a coastal view.
Find out more about Isabel via her website, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 3, 2021
This is a story of Mary and Jake. For Jake the setting is the mid-eighties, he is a fourteen year old boy who is dealing with a broken family. His oldest brother has left home (whereabout unknown), his Dad is living in a bedsit and his Mum when she isn't drunk is bed bound.
In a parallel story line we pick up in the early sixties where Mary is a teenager, it then follows through her life as she matures then falls in love with Billy, who her parents consider 'unworthy'. A few years later she has three boys, including Jake, and she is turning to the bottle more and more.
Although it is not actually said, Mary appears to be suffering from depression.
The story has many ups and downs as Jake deals with his family situation but also finds he has other adults looking out for him.
A lovely, but sad story that for me ended a bit too abruptly.
In a parallel story line we pick up in the early sixties where Mary is a teenager, it then follows through her life as she matures then falls in love with Billy, who her parents consider 'unworthy'. A few years later she has three boys, including Jake, and she is turning to the bottle more and more.
Although it is not actually said, Mary appears to be suffering from depression.
The story has many ups and downs as Jake deals with his family situation but also finds he has other adults looking out for him.
A lovely, but sad story that for me ended a bit too abruptly.
April 3, 2011
This story of family life is told in two threads - both told in the first person. The threads alternate between Jake (the middle son) and Mary. Mary’s thread allows us a brief look into her childhood/teens which helps in understanding her descent into alcoholism. We also get to read her perception alongside the similar timeline as Jake’s. This might sound confusing and you may have read other stories that are written this way and not enjoyed them ………………. don’t let that put you off though as the two running side by side are crafted so skilfully that it makes perfect sense and adds to the magic.
At first I was a bit bewildered by the prologue and had it in the back of mind as the story unfolded. I have to say, the way it is a part of the story is also very skilfully done. It clicked for me straight away and because I couldn’t quite believe it, didn’t want it to be there – I read that part of the story again. A bit like Jake wondering if he had been dreaming! I was hoping for something different of course. The characters became ‘real’ for me – I only wanted the best for them all.
The characters were well-defined and this includes those on the periphery. Mr Horrocks who owns the local shop is exactly as you would imagine him to be as are all the other people who make up this brilliant story.
I could personally relate to parts of the story as they were a part of my own teen years. For instance the street party celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee in 1977. I remember the excitement leading up to it, the costumes that were made and the day itself.
I journeyed alongside this family experiencing the warmth and the heartache. The secrets that unravel and the ups and downs of family life are in reality a part of many lives. At times I wondered where the story would lead to next and each time I hadn’t seen what change would take place, which direction we were heading. I had no expectations so just let the story carry me along with its ebbs and flows.
I finished reading Glasshopper a couple of days ago ……………. and I’m still thinking about it. This isn’t one of those books that you read to pass the time and then forget. I would definitely recommend Glasshopper being put on your reading list!
At first I was a bit bewildered by the prologue and had it in the back of mind as the story unfolded. I have to say, the way it is a part of the story is also very skilfully done. It clicked for me straight away and because I couldn’t quite believe it, didn’t want it to be there – I read that part of the story again. A bit like Jake wondering if he had been dreaming! I was hoping for something different of course. The characters became ‘real’ for me – I only wanted the best for them all.
The characters were well-defined and this includes those on the periphery. Mr Horrocks who owns the local shop is exactly as you would imagine him to be as are all the other people who make up this brilliant story.
I could personally relate to parts of the story as they were a part of my own teen years. For instance the street party celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee in 1977. I remember the excitement leading up to it, the costumes that were made and the day itself.
I journeyed alongside this family experiencing the warmth and the heartache. The secrets that unravel and the ups and downs of family life are in reality a part of many lives. At times I wondered where the story would lead to next and each time I hadn’t seen what change would take place, which direction we were heading. I had no expectations so just let the story carry me along with its ebbs and flows.
I finished reading Glasshopper a couple of days ago ……………. and I’m still thinking about it. This isn’t one of those books that you read to pass the time and then forget. I would definitely recommend Glasshopper being put on your reading list!
May 15, 2012
Talk to anybody who’s read Glasshopper and they will pout and remember wistfully how adorable 13 year old Jake is, and how they wish they could give him a hug. Told expertly through Jake’s voice and that of his troubled mother, Mary, Glasshopper is the story of her descent into alcoholism. Jake tries his best to care for her amidst having to cope with the fact that his father and older brother have left home.
Jake is a teenager growing up in Eighties Britain and his need for a hi-fi is surpassed only by his longing for his family to be back together. He relishes the prospect of a family holiday to mark their new beginning but it doesn’t go to plan and we learn more about why the indelible marks of Mary’s upbringing will become too much for her to conquer. Her behaviour is frustrating but her story too sad to do little other than pity.
A great Maggie O'Farrell fan, Ashdown’s style reminds me a little of hers. Chapters are short and crisp, constantly jumping backwards and forwards through time but always keeping the story moving forward. The frequent splashes of humour and the opportunity to reminisce, if old enough, about The Fifties and Eighties, counter the tragedy of Jake and his mother’s difficult lives. If you are someone known to weep at novels, you will not escape wet eyes with this one. However, the way most characters deal with, and accept, their own and each other's demons and failings makes this a strangely upbeat kind of read.
Jake is a teenager growing up in Eighties Britain and his need for a hi-fi is surpassed only by his longing for his family to be back together. He relishes the prospect of a family holiday to mark their new beginning but it doesn’t go to plan and we learn more about why the indelible marks of Mary’s upbringing will become too much for her to conquer. Her behaviour is frustrating but her story too sad to do little other than pity.
A great Maggie O'Farrell fan, Ashdown’s style reminds me a little of hers. Chapters are short and crisp, constantly jumping backwards and forwards through time but always keeping the story moving forward. The frequent splashes of humour and the opportunity to reminisce, if old enough, about The Fifties and Eighties, counter the tragedy of Jake and his mother’s difficult lives. If you are someone known to weep at novels, you will not escape wet eyes with this one. However, the way most characters deal with, and accept, their own and each other's demons and failings makes this a strangely upbeat kind of read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2020
This book is written in a very simplistic style, which makes for a fast read. I enjoyed the references to some 70s/80’s people & items. The ending was a little odd for me in as much as the actions (or lack of) and feelings of the boys at the end didn’t seem to ring true.
March 12, 2012
From the suburban disorder of 1980s southern England, 13-year-old Jake watches his world unravel as his father and older brother leave the family home and his mother increasingly finds solace in drink. Even as Jake outwardly shrugs off doubts about his paternity, the question hangs over him like an invisible spectre. A brilliantly structured novel, Glasshopper recreates the time and place of two childhoods and two marriages, evoking a poignant sense of home and family. A masterful debut, it celebrates the enduring optimism of youth, even in the face of tragedy.
I loved this book. Gritty, thought-provoking, sad and touching. Isabel Ashdown is a very talented writer. I love the way she uses language and the attention she pays to the smallest detail. I thoroughly recommend this book!
I loved this book. Gritty, thought-provoking, sad and touching. Isabel Ashdown is a very talented writer. I love the way she uses language and the attention she pays to the smallest detail. I thoroughly recommend this book!
September 13, 2016
Glasshopper is Isabel Ashdown's very first novel and I thouroughly enjoyed every page. Glasshopper won the Observer Best Debut Novels of the Year. Isabel Ashdown lives in West Sussex with her husband who is an carpenter.
The story starts of with young school boy Jake in November 1984. On a Saturday after noon Jake's dad takes Jake to their local pub the Royal Oak. Jake's dad tells the landlord Eric that Jake is fourteen so he can come in the pub with dad. Stu who is Jake's dad's mate brings his son Malcolm in the pub with him as Jake and Malcolm are the same age.
Jake and Malcolm adventure out of the pub to buy some sweets and on thier return they see an woman in a summer dress and slippers swaying in the freezing cold shouting at the landlord outside the pub. Malcolm begins to laugh out loud, but poor young Jake can see that woman swaying is his mum but Malcolm dosen't know that and Jake dosen't want Malcolm to find out that this is his mum swaying shouting at the landlord so Jake finds a way to get his mother home without Malcolm knowing anything.
The story starts of with young school boy Jake in November 1984. On a Saturday after noon Jake's dad takes Jake to their local pub the Royal Oak. Jake's dad tells the landlord Eric that Jake is fourteen so he can come in the pub with dad. Stu who is Jake's dad's mate brings his son Malcolm in the pub with him as Jake and Malcolm are the same age.
Jake and Malcolm adventure out of the pub to buy some sweets and on thier return they see an woman in a summer dress and slippers swaying in the freezing cold shouting at the landlord outside the pub. Malcolm begins to laugh out loud, but poor young Jake can see that woman swaying is his mum but Malcolm dosen't know that and Jake dosen't want Malcolm to find out that this is his mum swaying shouting at the landlord so Jake finds a way to get his mother home without Malcolm knowing anything.
September 19, 2017
I embarked on this book knowing there would be few bright moments in it. It is the coming of age story of a 13 year old boy growing up in a working class family with separate parents and a mother who is an alcoholic set in the 1980s in the London suburbs. Ashdown uses dual narrators in Jake (the boy) and his mother Mary. As often with split time lines in a novel this has a limited effect, as one of the narrators / time lines is stronger than the other (Jake's in this case). Although the episodes in the story are well described and the characters believable, Ashdown doesn't manage to describe the key character, Jake, as well. Perhaps only in the scene at the party when he is alone with an older girl is Jake's adolescence described realistically. Having said that, this is a very readable book, but it is not a coming of age story that shocks or pushes the boundaries.
February 26, 2023
I was really torn between a 3 or a 4 star rating for this book. It was a book club pick, and it took me a while to get into. To say it was a debut novel, it was well written, evocative and poignant. I liked the way the sibling relationships were described, and alternating the chapters between the point of view of 13 year-old Jake and his alcoholic mum worked well. I ended up giving it 3 stars as the story arc was so sad, and I don't think I would read anything else by this author.
April 3, 2024
This is a powerful novel that explores the complexities of family, loss, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. 13-year-old Jake finds himself at the centre of a family crisis. His father has walked out, his older brother Matthew has vanished, and his mother, Mary, drowns her sorrows in alcohol. Jake takes responsibility for the family and in particular his little brother Andy, making sure he is looked after.
The novel unfolds through a dual narrative structure. We experience Jake's struggle to maintain normality amidst the chaos, his domestic responsibilities, and the confusion of adolescence. Mary's story, recounted in alternating chapters, takes us back to 1957, a time of youthful promise. However, a life-altering decision severs ties with her family, and she finds herself on a downward spiral into working-class life through the next three decades.While Mary's journey through the 60s and 70s shows a lot of hardship, it resonates with authenticity, particularly for readers who lived through those times. The inclusion of period details like the Queen's jubilee street parties adds depth and a sense of shared experience.
Meanwhile, Jake navigates his own turbulent present. Forced to take on adult responsibilities, he finds solace in a supportive teacher who sparks his interest in mythology, (and a big crush!) a local shopkeeper who offers him a job, and the companionship of a dog.
The narratives eventually converge, offering a surprising glimmer of hope. Mary emerges from her alcoholism, reconnects with her estranged sister Rachel, and the family begins to rebuild. A celebratory trip to the local for scampi and chips and their very first foreign holiday hint at a brighter future. But the past casts a long shadow. Well-kept secrets come to light, leading to a shocking climax that left me gobsmacked and without any real resolution. It's a poignant and thought-provoking read. Not sure I would re-read, but it's a fabulous debut.
The novel unfolds through a dual narrative structure. We experience Jake's struggle to maintain normality amidst the chaos, his domestic responsibilities, and the confusion of adolescence. Mary's story, recounted in alternating chapters, takes us back to 1957, a time of youthful promise. However, a life-altering decision severs ties with her family, and she finds herself on a downward spiral into working-class life through the next three decades.While Mary's journey through the 60s and 70s shows a lot of hardship, it resonates with authenticity, particularly for readers who lived through those times. The inclusion of period details like the Queen's jubilee street parties adds depth and a sense of shared experience.
Meanwhile, Jake navigates his own turbulent present. Forced to take on adult responsibilities, he finds solace in a supportive teacher who sparks his interest in mythology, (and a big crush!) a local shopkeeper who offers him a job, and the companionship of a dog.
The narratives eventually converge, offering a surprising glimmer of hope. Mary emerges from her alcoholism, reconnects with her estranged sister Rachel, and the family begins to rebuild. A celebratory trip to the local for scampi and chips and their very first foreign holiday hint at a brighter future. But the past casts a long shadow. Well-kept secrets come to light, leading to a shocking climax that left me gobsmacked and without any real resolution. It's a poignant and thought-provoking read. Not sure I would re-read, but it's a fabulous debut.
February 23, 2023
Like some other readers, I thoroughly enjoyed this book until the end. The characters were well depicted and the codependent relationship between Jake and Mary was really well conveyed. I revelled in the nostalgia of having spent my childhood in the 80s.
The whole way through, I could not quite understand why Mary and Bill weren’t more worried or spending more time looking for their runaway 17 year old son. At the end, I wondered whether he was re-enacting Mary’s alcoholism and emotional abandonment and her guilt and pain wouldn’t allow her to engage with searching for him. It became evident at the end also that Bill was very avoidant of emotions. Still, it seemed odd they didn’t seem more distressed or proactive.
Then there was the ending itself. The reader is left to make a lot of inferences and assumptions about what happened in this family. I imagined we would find out at the end but we don’t, which left me feeling frustrated and cheated. My assumption was that Mary gave birth to a daughter who died and she herself nearly died in childbirth. Her sister Rachel gave birth to twin boys on the same day and gives her one of them to stop her from breaking down. I thought the apparition of the girl was this dead child who eventually Mary joins when she takes her own life. This explains why Rachel didn’t see Mary since the birth of George and Jake and why they reunited only after Rachael’s husband dies. I assumed Bill told Mary the truth about this just before she drives off in a drunken state and ends her life. However there could be other explanations. I wondered what the relevance was of Mary losing her virginity in a questionably non consensual way to Rachel’s ex boyfriend. This was never followed up. And neither was her act of betrayal when she has a drunken one night stand with Bill’s friend Stu. I’d be really interested to hear other readers thoughts and opinions about how they made sense of this story.
The whole way through, I could not quite understand why Mary and Bill weren’t more worried or spending more time looking for their runaway 17 year old son. At the end, I wondered whether he was re-enacting Mary’s alcoholism and emotional abandonment and her guilt and pain wouldn’t allow her to engage with searching for him. It became evident at the end also that Bill was very avoidant of emotions. Still, it seemed odd they didn’t seem more distressed or proactive.
Then there was the ending itself. The reader is left to make a lot of inferences and assumptions about what happened in this family. I imagined we would find out at the end but we don’t, which left me feeling frustrated and cheated. My assumption was that Mary gave birth to a daughter who died and she herself nearly died in childbirth. Her sister Rachel gave birth to twin boys on the same day and gives her one of them to stop her from breaking down. I thought the apparition of the girl was this dead child who eventually Mary joins when she takes her own life. This explains why Rachel didn’t see Mary since the birth of George and Jake and why they reunited only after Rachael’s husband dies. I assumed Bill told Mary the truth about this just before she drives off in a drunken state and ends her life. However there could be other explanations. I wondered what the relevance was of Mary losing her virginity in a questionably non consensual way to Rachel’s ex boyfriend. This was never followed up. And neither was her act of betrayal when she has a drunken one night stand with Bill’s friend Stu. I’d be really interested to hear other readers thoughts and opinions about how they made sense of this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2013
This book has been billed as a coming of age story, it is, but it is also so much more. The story is split between the 1980's where Jake, a 13 year old boy is coming to terms with his father and eldest brother leaving home along with caring for his younger brother due to his mother's absence through alcoholism. His mother, Mary, story alternates with Jake's. Mary starts writing as a teenage girl in the 1950's. The story explores the nature of family bonds, some good,some bad.
I would have given this 5 stars but I was disappointed by the ending, however both strands of the story are incredibly powerful, well written with the time periods being well maintained. I loved Jake's relationship with his employer particularly as Isabel Ashdown has really developed the minor as well as the major characters. It would have been easy to caricature Mary as a hopeless drunk but through her story as well as Jake's the reader gets to see that it isn't as simple as that.
An excellent debut novel.
I would have given this 5 stars but I was disappointed by the ending, however both strands of the story are incredibly powerful, well written with the time periods being well maintained. I loved Jake's relationship with his employer particularly as Isabel Ashdown has really developed the minor as well as the major characters. It would have been easy to caricature Mary as a hopeless drunk but through her story as well as Jake's the reader gets to see that it isn't as simple as that.
An excellent debut novel.
March 14, 2018
This is a brilliantly described story of a family who learn to cope with the difficulties of living life with an alcoholic. The different ways in which they deal with this give us a fabulous account of family dynamics and the very diverse personalities that exist in our worlds. Jake is a young boy who learns to accommodate his mothers ‘episodes’ and much of the story is about this. I found I enjoyed his story more than Mary’s and really felt for his struggles to survive.
It’s a great plot with a few good twists and some very realistic life events. I read it in just a few days as I didn’t want to put it down.
It’s a great plot with a few good twists and some very realistic life events. I read it in just a few days as I didn’t want to put it down.
April 2, 2013
a three and a half I think actually.
Mty second Ashdown book, and it didnt come off more fravourably than the first.
Interesting how Jake and Mary's story were told, so up to a point you could guess at the connection but not be sure.
there were some plot lines that were obvious a mile away, others crept up on you more slowly.
I was more sympathetic towards Mary as the book went on, thinking maybe Billy had a bigger problem with the alcohol than she did... unfortunately the drive over the cliff, and everyones reaction to it, just felt wrong.. and spoilt the book slightly for me.
Mty second Ashdown book, and it didnt come off more fravourably than the first.
Interesting how Jake and Mary's story were told, so up to a point you could guess at the connection but not be sure.
there were some plot lines that were obvious a mile away, others crept up on you more slowly.
I was more sympathetic towards Mary as the book went on, thinking maybe Billy had a bigger problem with the alcohol than she did... unfortunately the drive over the cliff, and everyones reaction to it, just felt wrong.. and spoilt the book slightly for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2017
What was the author thinking when she wrote the last two chapters? It would have been such a good book, but the last two chapters completely ruined the story for me. What a let-down! Feels almost like the author just stopped writing instead of coming up with a suitable ending. I don't mind open endings, but this was just ridiculous. I'd give it 2.5 stars.
August 23, 2025
I met Isabel Ashdown recently at a little craft market in Dorset where she was selling some of her books. I bought this one (her debut novel), Summer of ‘76 and her latest one by a different publisher.
I loved this book: the writing is beautiful, the characters are so believable, I was totally immersed in the story and I loved all the details of the 70s and 80s which brought back great childhood memories for me.
Some chapters are told by Jake (aged 13 and the middle boy of 3 brothers) and are all in the current time of the 1980s. Other chapters are narrated by his Mum, Mary, and span from her childhood in the 1950s to the current time.
The only slight downside for me is that the ending is somewhat odd and leaves unanswered questions … I’ve flicked back through the book in case I missed something but I can’t figure it out! Who is the little girl in the car? Why are cousins, Jake and George, the spitting image of their paternal grandfather? We are so used to having everything spelled out to us that, in a way, I quite like this mystery and having my own thoughts on it!
I loved this book: the writing is beautiful, the characters are so believable, I was totally immersed in the story and I loved all the details of the 70s and 80s which brought back great childhood memories for me.
Some chapters are told by Jake (aged 13 and the middle boy of 3 brothers) and are all in the current time of the 1980s. Other chapters are narrated by his Mum, Mary, and span from her childhood in the 1950s to the current time.
The only slight downside for me is that the ending is somewhat odd and leaves unanswered questions … I’ve flicked back through the book in case I missed something but I can’t figure it out! Who is the little girl in the car? Why are cousins, Jake and George, the spitting image of their paternal grandfather? We are so used to having everything spelled out to us that, in a way, I quite like this mystery and having my own thoughts on it!
May 24, 2024
Jake is a 13 year old boy in the eighties navigating the breakup of his family and adolescence to the best of his ability. His dad and brother have both left home while his mum Mary has taken to drown her sorrows in drinking.
The dual timeline takes us from the eighties to the sixties where Mary is growing up in her own family. We then explore her early relationship with Jakes dad, and their marriage until she becomes a mother of three.
This story is full of real life topics, gritty and touching I was willing the family to find a happy ending throughout the book. The optimism of youth is beautifully explored. The authors great attention to detail really made me feel part of the story investing in their lives and being surprised at the direction the story was going.
A beautifully written novel which was thought provoking novel about family relationships, dynamics and problems which can make or break the family unit.
The dual timeline takes us from the eighties to the sixties where Mary is growing up in her own family. We then explore her early relationship with Jakes dad, and their marriage until she becomes a mother of three.
This story is full of real life topics, gritty and touching I was willing the family to find a happy ending throughout the book. The optimism of youth is beautifully explored. The authors great attention to detail really made me feel part of the story investing in their lives and being surprised at the direction the story was going.
A beautifully written novel which was thought provoking novel about family relationships, dynamics and problems which can make or break the family unit.
November 5, 2025
Isabel Ashdown hat hier ein clever konzipiertes Buch geschrieben. Man verfolgt die 2 Hauptcharaktere, Mary und ihr Sohn Jake, in verschiedenen Zeitebenen, die sich im Laufe des Buches immer weiter angleichen, ehe beide Geschichten am Ende im selben Jahr spielen.
Das führt allerdings schon mal dazu, dass man etwas durcheinander kommt.
Dazu spielt die Autorin mit der Erwartungshaltung des Lesenden.
Die Mutter Mary ist alkoholabhängig und depressiv. Sie kümmert sich kaum um ihre kleinen Jungs und der mittlere Sohn sieht ganz anders aus als seine 2 Brüder... Das Mysterium entfaltet sich immer mehr von Seite zu Seite, ehe man dann doch überrascht wird und merkt, dass Ashdown einen bewusst auf die falsche Fährte gelockt hat. Das Buch funktioniert auf vielen Ebenen und beherbergt viele Themen: Alkoholismus, Depression, Geschlechterrollen, Coming-of-Age Drama...
Insgesamt ein kleiner Geheimtipp.
Das führt allerdings schon mal dazu, dass man etwas durcheinander kommt.
Dazu spielt die Autorin mit der Erwartungshaltung des Lesenden.
Die Mutter Mary ist alkoholabhängig und depressiv. Sie kümmert sich kaum um ihre kleinen Jungs und der mittlere Sohn sieht ganz anders aus als seine 2 Brüder... Das Mysterium entfaltet sich immer mehr von Seite zu Seite, ehe man dann doch überrascht wird und merkt, dass Ashdown einen bewusst auf die falsche Fährte gelockt hat. Das Buch funktioniert auf vielen Ebenen und beherbergt viele Themen: Alkoholismus, Depression, Geschlechterrollen, Coming-of-Age Drama...
Insgesamt ein kleiner Geheimtipp.
April 12, 2018
I was recommended this book by an enthusiastic borrower, however i found it formatic and predictable. It was also quite depressing with an alcoholic mother’s who’s parents had rejected her for having a child out of wedlock and an absentee dad. Jakey’s character is well written and it highlights the emotions of being a young teenager struggling to look after a younger sibling whilst the mother drinks herself to death. There’s an interesting plot twist near the end but not the best book I’ve ever read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2025
Loved this (as a Pompey girl). A painfully accurate depiction of alcohol dependency and the havoc it can cause. As others have written the ending is not clear but I didn't mind that because it made me think about the story a lot longer than I might normally.
Loved the cover so much that I've put it on my bookshelf facing out. It takes me back to Jubilee year and the conflicting emotions I felt as a teenager living in a naval city but alert to the Sex Pistols and the chasing away of what we saw then as the rubbish music of the charts.
Loved the cover so much that I've put it on my bookshelf facing out. It takes me back to Jubilee year and the conflicting emotions I felt as a teenager living in a naval city but alert to the Sex Pistols and the chasing away of what we saw then as the rubbish music of the charts.
November 16, 2018
A family saga and first novel, with alternating chapters in the first person from Mary 1957 through to 1985, and her middle son Jake in 1984-85 as turns fourteen. A well written book with a twist in the tail
April 4, 2021
A fabulous read
What a great read. Such an insightful book on family life in the 80s. Reading from both points of view made the book so much more interesting. I feel like I want to know what happened to the two other boys as well.
What a great read. Such an insightful book on family life in the 80s. Reading from both points of view made the book so much more interesting. I feel like I want to know what happened to the two other boys as well.
August 7, 2017
3.5 Stars
January 20, 2018
Jake is a child that stays with you. His desperate love for his mother and irrepressible zest for life...you're left rooting for him long after you've closed the book.
March 31, 2020
Very likable characters and very good writing, but something was … "missing" here. A few threads were not wrapped up sufficiently as well.
June 22, 2011
“I love November. I love the frosty grass that pokes up between the paving slabs, and the smoke that puffs out of your nostrils like dragon’s breath. I love the ready-made ice rink that freezes underneath the broken guttering in the school playground. And I love the salt ‘n’ vinegar heat inside a noisy pub, when everyone outside is walking about under hats and gloves with dripping red noses.”
That opening paragraph captures Glasshopper perfectly. A coastal town in early eighties seen through eyes of a thirteen year-old boy. A thirteen year-old boy who has seen the inside of rather too many pubs, because his mother is an alcoholic.
Jake’s father has left. He’s still around, he still loves his children, and he still loves his wife but he can’t cope with her drinking any more. And Jake’s elder brother has flown the nest, leaving him as the nearest thing to a responsible adult in the household. And he does feel responsible, maybe more responsible than he should, for his mother, and for his younger brother.
Jake manages. He has a Saturday job in the local newsagent, and the owner, Mr Horrocks is clearly concerned about the Jake’s situation and so tactfully offers support. Jake is saving up for a hi-fi. He has school, and lessons in classics which so catch his imagination. The only lessons that do. And he has weekly visits with his father.
It could be depressing, but it isn’t. Because it is so perfectly drawn, every detail and every character. Because Jake is young enough to still have a child’s acceptance and faith.
And because the story of one year in Jake’s life is set against the whole story of his mother’s life. That makes it impossible to cast Mary as a villain. She isn’t easy to like, but she is a very real woman , who hasn’t had the easiest life, who hasn’t made the wisest choices, and has fallen into alcoholism.
I couldn’t understand Mary, but I did believe in her, and I did feel for her. But I felt for her children more.
During a spell of clarity Mary contacted her sister, Rachel. They had been estranged for many years, and their reunion seemed to be a positive step. One woman widowed and one separated, they both had space in their lives to fill. Their children were of similar ages. A new extended family.
That created a positive momentum. Jake’s parents decided to give their relationship another chance. And to take a family holiday.
But it was all too much. Memories had been stirred, old secrets that had been buried for years came back into focus. And something snapped. A prologue had suggested an unhappy ending, but I had been so caught up in the story that I had forgotten, until the inevitable happened.
I was caught up because the people, their relationships, their dialogues were so utterly real.There were no heroes and no villains, just fallible human beings whose emotions really touched me.
Because times and places were so perfectly captured. I can’t think of one single false note.
Because the writing was so good, even managing the transition between two very different narrators, managing stories moving at different speeds and slowly merging quite expertly.
And, most of all, because I cared. Especially about Jake.
That opening paragraph captures Glasshopper perfectly. A coastal town in early eighties seen through eyes of a thirteen year-old boy. A thirteen year-old boy who has seen the inside of rather too many pubs, because his mother is an alcoholic.
Jake’s father has left. He’s still around, he still loves his children, and he still loves his wife but he can’t cope with her drinking any more. And Jake’s elder brother has flown the nest, leaving him as the nearest thing to a responsible adult in the household. And he does feel responsible, maybe more responsible than he should, for his mother, and for his younger brother.
Jake manages. He has a Saturday job in the local newsagent, and the owner, Mr Horrocks is clearly concerned about the Jake’s situation and so tactfully offers support. Jake is saving up for a hi-fi. He has school, and lessons in classics which so catch his imagination. The only lessons that do. And he has weekly visits with his father.
It could be depressing, but it isn’t. Because it is so perfectly drawn, every detail and every character. Because Jake is young enough to still have a child’s acceptance and faith.
And because the story of one year in Jake’s life is set against the whole story of his mother’s life. That makes it impossible to cast Mary as a villain. She isn’t easy to like, but she is a very real woman , who hasn’t had the easiest life, who hasn’t made the wisest choices, and has fallen into alcoholism.
I couldn’t understand Mary, but I did believe in her, and I did feel for her. But I felt for her children more.
During a spell of clarity Mary contacted her sister, Rachel. They had been estranged for many years, and their reunion seemed to be a positive step. One woman widowed and one separated, they both had space in their lives to fill. Their children were of similar ages. A new extended family.
That created a positive momentum. Jake’s parents decided to give their relationship another chance. And to take a family holiday.
But it was all too much. Memories had been stirred, old secrets that had been buried for years came back into focus. And something snapped. A prologue had suggested an unhappy ending, but I had been so caught up in the story that I had forgotten, until the inevitable happened.
I was caught up because the people, their relationships, their dialogues were so utterly real.There were no heroes and no villains, just fallible human beings whose emotions really touched me.
Because times and places were so perfectly captured. I can’t think of one single false note.
Because the writing was so good, even managing the transition between two very different narrators, managing stories moving at different speeds and slowly merging quite expertly.
And, most of all, because I cared. Especially about Jake.
October 12, 2010
Der Debütroman „Am Ende eines Sommers“ von Isabel Ashdown handelt von der Liebe zweier Schwestern, Mary und Rachel und dem Mut eines Jungen in Südengland, Ende der sechziger Jahre. Mary und Rachel sind dabei erwachsen zu werden, wobei Rachel immer ein paar Schritte voraus ist. Doch dann verlässt Mary die Kinderwelt und heiratet Billy, bekommt ein Kind namens Jake und Rachel bricht den Kontakt zur Schwester ab. Es vergehen mehrere Jahre, bis sie sich erneut wiedersehen. Jake ist dreizehn, als seine Eltern sich trennen und er die Verantwortung für sich selbst und seinen kleinen Bruder Andy übernehmen muss. Seine Mutter ist liebevoll, allerdings durch den starken Alkoholkonsum oft nicht in der Lage sich ordentlich um ihre Kinder zu kümmern. Andy, wird von Jake als Nervensäge empfunden und dann gibt es da noch den Besitzer des kleinen Ladens, der Jake erlaubt die Zeitungen auszutragen, damit er sich das Geld für seinen Traum eine Hi-Fi-Anlage verdienen kann. Er verliebt sich in seine Lehrerin und zeigt in ihrem Fach die besten Leistungen der Klasse, während seine Noten in den anderen Gegenständen darunter leiden. Als dann plötzlich seine Tante Rachel und deren Sohn George in ihr Leben treten scheint alles in Ordnung zu kommen, aber es kommt auch ein lang gehütetes Familiengeheimnis ans Tageslicht, das eine Katastrophe auslöst…
Dieses Buch hat mir sehr gut gefallen, ich konnte es nicht mehr aus der Hand legen und habe es daher innerhalb von 3 Tagen verschlungen. Die Zeitsprünge in der Geschichte und die unterschiedlichen Sichtweisen, einmal aus Marys Sicht und einmal aus Jakes Sicht, sorgen dafür, dass ich mich doch ziemlich konzentrieren musste wie ich zum Lesen begonnen habe. Aber man gewöhnt sich daran und findet eine interessante Familiengeschichte vor, die trotz ihrer alltäglichen Probleme mit dem Leben weitermacht und nicht aufgibt. Isabel Ashdown beschreibt wunderbar die Einflüsse und Gefühle auf die Familie und auch ihre Thematisierung des Problems Alkoholismus ist nicht geschmacklos.
Ich kann dieses Buch allen empfehlen, die gerne Familiengeschichten mit etwas mehr Tiefe lesen. Ich freue mich schon, wenn sie ein neues Buch herausbringt, da ich gerne mehr von ihr lesen möchte.
Dieses Buch hat mir sehr gut gefallen, ich konnte es nicht mehr aus der Hand legen und habe es daher innerhalb von 3 Tagen verschlungen. Die Zeitsprünge in der Geschichte und die unterschiedlichen Sichtweisen, einmal aus Marys Sicht und einmal aus Jakes Sicht, sorgen dafür, dass ich mich doch ziemlich konzentrieren musste wie ich zum Lesen begonnen habe. Aber man gewöhnt sich daran und findet eine interessante Familiengeschichte vor, die trotz ihrer alltäglichen Probleme mit dem Leben weitermacht und nicht aufgibt. Isabel Ashdown beschreibt wunderbar die Einflüsse und Gefühle auf die Familie und auch ihre Thematisierung des Problems Alkoholismus ist nicht geschmacklos.
Ich kann dieses Buch allen empfehlen, die gerne Familiengeschichten mit etwas mehr Tiefe lesen. Ich freue mich schon, wenn sie ein neues Buch herausbringt, da ich gerne mehr von ihr lesen möchte.
September 24, 2012
Evocative of time and place.
This was an excellent read, not least because I could relate to the time and place. I was born at around the same time as Mary and went to school in Portsmouth. I remember the street parties celebrating the Queen's Jubilee in 1977 and they are still a strong memory of my university days.
Jake's story is narrated, along with his mother, Mary, on two time frames, both in first person. As we become familiar with Jake's family life, we see, not only the effects of his mother's alcoholism on the family dynamic, but also, how she came to be that way. Jake's older brother has already moved out and is now just a lingering presence. His Dad has also admitted defeat and lives apart, although he loves his family and does his best to remain a part of it. Jake's younger brother, Andy, winds Jake up and plays the part of annoying little brother, although the bond between them is tangible.
Then, during one of her more lucid periods, Mary gets back in touch with her estranged older sisiter, Rachel. Suddenly, Jake and Andy discover that they have cousins, an instant extended family, living on the Isle of Wight. They travel to meet them and love the bustle of the big house full of activity.
Other characters form a vital part of the whole; Mr Horrocks, who owns the local shop, gives Jake a job as a paper boy and offers support when times are tough. Malcom, the son of Jake's Dad's drinking partner, Stu, also finds himself outside the local pub on regular occasions and the two boys become friends. And Sandy, who is a family friend and looks out for the boys when things get really bad.
I felt for Jake when his mother forgot to go to parents' meetings at school, and when he covered up for her. He's a great character, with his quirky love of Greek mythology.
The prologue gave a hint of future events, but I had forgotten about it until the end (one of the disadvantages of reading on a Kindle). Things come to a head when Jake's family goes on holiday to France with Rachel's family and long buried secrets start to cause rifts.
A beautifully written novel that I may, at some stage, read again. Meanwhile there are 2 other books by the author for me to look forward to.
Highly recommended.
This was an excellent read, not least because I could relate to the time and place. I was born at around the same time as Mary and went to school in Portsmouth. I remember the street parties celebrating the Queen's Jubilee in 1977 and they are still a strong memory of my university days.
Jake's story is narrated, along with his mother, Mary, on two time frames, both in first person. As we become familiar with Jake's family life, we see, not only the effects of his mother's alcoholism on the family dynamic, but also, how she came to be that way. Jake's older brother has already moved out and is now just a lingering presence. His Dad has also admitted defeat and lives apart, although he loves his family and does his best to remain a part of it. Jake's younger brother, Andy, winds Jake up and plays the part of annoying little brother, although the bond between them is tangible.
Then, during one of her more lucid periods, Mary gets back in touch with her estranged older sisiter, Rachel. Suddenly, Jake and Andy discover that they have cousins, an instant extended family, living on the Isle of Wight. They travel to meet them and love the bustle of the big house full of activity.
Other characters form a vital part of the whole; Mr Horrocks, who owns the local shop, gives Jake a job as a paper boy and offers support when times are tough. Malcom, the son of Jake's Dad's drinking partner, Stu, also finds himself outside the local pub on regular occasions and the two boys become friends. And Sandy, who is a family friend and looks out for the boys when things get really bad.
I felt for Jake when his mother forgot to go to parents' meetings at school, and when he covered up for her. He's a great character, with his quirky love of Greek mythology.
The prologue gave a hint of future events, but I had forgotten about it until the end (one of the disadvantages of reading on a Kindle). Things come to a head when Jake's family goes on holiday to France with Rachel's family and long buried secrets start to cause rifts.
A beautifully written novel that I may, at some stage, read again. Meanwhile there are 2 other books by the author for me to look forward to.
Highly recommended.
February 25, 2011
Two narrators - Mary, an alcoholic, and her second son, Jake - share the telling of this story about family secrets, some of which are more buried than others. Jake, especially, is a wonderful character: with his love of Greek mythology; his work at the corner shop and relationship with its owner; how he tries to fill the parental role in the family when his father moves out; and, perhaps most importantly, how he tries to rationalise events in his family's life. His story is nicely counter-balanced by letting the reader also hear Mary and her version of events. Otherwise, it could have been all too easy to demonise her. However, as her background and story is revealed, it becomes clearer why she has turned into the woman she has and, while she becomes not necessarily a character we can sympathise with, at least one that we can understand.
This is a beautifully-written, lyrical, gentle but nonetheless powerful, poignant yet deceptively simple read and explores the devastating effect that alcoholism and other evils can have on family life.
This is a beautifully-written, lyrical, gentle but nonetheless powerful, poignant yet deceptively simple read and explores the devastating effect that alcoholism and other evils can have on family life.
September 14, 2013
Wow, what a debut! I picked this book up from a charity shop just on a whim and I'm so pleased I did. Written from two perspectives (a young boy and his mother) over two time frames, this book made me laugh and cry. At times my heart broke for Jake and I felt I wanted to reach through the pages and give him a hug. However, there are one or two unanswered questions that have kept me puzzled - who is the girl that keeps appearing to Mary? I have made my own assumption but that along with another couple of unanswered questions I felt there could have been an extra chapter or an epilogue. Otherwise, this is a wonderful book, beautifully written, one that has stayed with me 24 hours after finishing it.
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