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The Miracle of Grace
When Grace walks into her mother's kitchen and sees her 'To Do' pad on the counter, she sneaks a look. There, at No 8, is 'Tell G I have ovarian cancer, probably terminal'. Grace goes into shock, primarily at the thought that her mother is dying, but also that her mother couldn't tell her to her face. Is their relationship really so bad?
Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
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About the author
Kate Kerrigan
32 books244 followersKate Kerrigan is an author living and working in Ireland. Her novels are Recipes for a Perfect Marriage, The Miracle of Grace, Ellis Island, City of Hope, Land of Dreams and The Lost Garden.
Kate began her career as an editor and journalist, editing many of Britain’s most successful young women’s magazines before returning to her native Ireland in the 1990’s to edit Irish Tatler. She writes a weekly column in the Irish Mail about her life in Killala, County Mayo – and contributes regularly to RTE's radio's Sunday Miscellany.
Her novel, The Dress, published by Head of Zeus was shortlisted at the Irish Book Awards in 2015, and her new novel, It Was Only Ever You, was published in hardback edition, October 2016.
www.katekerrigan.ie
I devoured this book in one sitting. I LOVED it!
Marian Keyes
This story is written with so much heart you can hear its beat and feel its pulse in every word on every page.
Cecelia Ahern
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 27, 2017
This story really touched me. It is about a mother and daughter and it starts with Grace finding out her mother, Eileen, has cancer. The story is told by both Grace and Eileen and we get to know each character. I couldn’t help but think about my mother who passed away from cancer 10 years ago and this story brought back many emotions from that time The ending had me in tears.
April 28, 2018
Buku ini sudah ada di tangan saya sejak 2013, tapi baru berani baca sekarang, karena temanya yang saya tahu bakal bikin saya mbrebes mili lagi. Tentang hari-hari terakhir seorang ibu yang menderita kanker, diceritakan dari sudut pandang Eileen, sang ibu, dan Grace, putrinya. Kenapa harus berani dulu untuk baca ini? Karena seperti kata Grace, sebesar apa pun upaya kita, tak akan pernah bisa siap saat kehilangan orangtua.
And I knew, with certainty, what I had always known: that I would never be ready. That there would always be things undone, and words unsaid. (hal. 186)
Kisah Grace dan Eileen hadir bergantian, kisah-kisah yang mereka rahasiakan, kisah-kisah yang tak pernah bisa mereka ceritakan walaupun mereka adalah orang terpenting bagi satu sama lain, karena sebagai ibu tunggal bagi Grace, selama bertahun-tahun dunia mereka hanya berisi mereka berdua. Termasuk kisah pernikahan mereka yang penuh masalah. Dan seperti dalam "Resep Perkawinan Sempurna," karya lain Keith Kerrigan, saya menemukan beberapa kutipan yang layak disimpan.
I had become entrenched in the mutuality of marriage: eating, sleeping, living together, the luxury of having 24 hour access to another human being. Like room service -- you don't always use it but you're glad it's there. (hal. 83)
Ini bukan buku yang menggebu-gebu atau meledak-ledak dalam keharuan, tapi mengalir dengan tenang dan hening. Karena seperti dalam hidup, kadang bukan wishlist muluk-muluk yang kita butuhkan, melainkan kemampuan untuk mensyukuri sepenuh hati apa pun yang ada di hadapan kita, karena semua yang kita miliki bisa berakhir dan hilang dalam sekejap. Grace dan Eileen menyadarinya, walaupun butuh "ancaman" kematian sang ibu sebelum mereka dapat menerimanya.
And I knew, with certainty, what I had always known: that I would never be ready. That there would always be things undone, and words unsaid. (hal. 186)
Kisah Grace dan Eileen hadir bergantian, kisah-kisah yang mereka rahasiakan, kisah-kisah yang tak pernah bisa mereka ceritakan walaupun mereka adalah orang terpenting bagi satu sama lain, karena sebagai ibu tunggal bagi Grace, selama bertahun-tahun dunia mereka hanya berisi mereka berdua. Termasuk kisah pernikahan mereka yang penuh masalah. Dan seperti dalam "Resep Perkawinan Sempurna," karya lain Keith Kerrigan, saya menemukan beberapa kutipan yang layak disimpan.
I had become entrenched in the mutuality of marriage: eating, sleeping, living together, the luxury of having 24 hour access to another human being. Like room service -- you don't always use it but you're glad it's there. (hal. 83)
Ini bukan buku yang menggebu-gebu atau meledak-ledak dalam keharuan, tapi mengalir dengan tenang dan hening. Karena seperti dalam hidup, kadang bukan wishlist muluk-muluk yang kita butuhkan, melainkan kemampuan untuk mensyukuri sepenuh hati apa pun yang ada di hadapan kita, karena semua yang kita miliki bisa berakhir dan hilang dalam sekejap. Grace dan Eileen menyadarinya, walaupun butuh "ancaman" kematian sang ibu sebelum mereka dapat menerimanya.
October 18, 2010
This book is in the mail! Can't wait to get my hands on another one of Kate Kerrigan/Morag Prunty novels. Her original books published by Pan in London have been some of my favorite books thus far~mMiracle of Grace, The
Just finished "Miracle of Grace." I have recently become a new fan of Morag Prunty/Kate Kerrigan. I have read "Recipes for a Perfect Marriage," "Dancing with Mules," "Poison Arrows," Superstar Lovers," and now "Miracle of Grace." Told in first person narrative, this is a daughter/mother story. I am not going to give away the details, but what I love about Kate Kerrigan is her strong voice, and I will always read anything she writes. I cried a mountain of tears at the end, for happiness and sadness. Beautiful. I think books have a way of finding you. We read them sometimes when we need them most. m
Just finished "Miracle of Grace." I have recently become a new fan of Morag Prunty/Kate Kerrigan. I have read "Recipes for a Perfect Marriage," "Dancing with Mules," "Poison Arrows," Superstar Lovers," and now "Miracle of Grace." Told in first person narrative, this is a daughter/mother story. I am not going to give away the details, but what I love about Kate Kerrigan is her strong voice, and I will always read anything she writes. I cried a mountain of tears at the end, for happiness and sadness. Beautiful. I think books have a way of finding you. We read them sometimes when we need them most. m
December 29, 2014
Buku ini sebenarnya telah beberapa minggu saya beli tapi baru sempat untuk membacanya, saking penasarannya saya mencuri-curi waktu. Pertama kali jatuh cinta pada karya Kate Karrigan saat membaca Recipe of A Perfect Marriage. Sejak itu saya terus mencari-cari dan menunggu karyanya diterbitkan dalam bahasa Indonesia. Tapi, baru tahun ini hal itu terwujud setelah penantian yang panjang.
Seperti sampul buku pertama Kate yang saya baca, sampul buku ini pun menarik. Terasa hangat dan membuat ingin pulang ke rumah dan bertemu ibu. Suasana rumahan pada sampulnya memang tidak jauh dari tema tulisan Kate, keluarga. Jika di buku pertama bertaburan bahan masakan, kali ini ada pot, bunga, perlengkapan berkebun. Bagi saya, ini mengambarkan kehidupan seorang ibu yang di hari tuanya hidup mandiri, mengerjakan rutinitasnya termasuk berkebun. Tapi apakah tokoh ibu dalam buku ini sama dengan yang saya pikirkan?
Grace adalah pengajar di sekolah putri St. Anne. Dia secara sukarela menjadi konselor bagi 400 muridnya yang masih remaja. Usianya sekitar 40-an dan berpisah dengan suaminya selama 8 tahun. Grace terkadang merasa bahwa ibunya bisa lebih hebat lagi. Dia tidak tinggal bersama ibunya namun hampir tiap hari mengecek keadaannya. Suatu hari Grace datang membawakan buku resep, tanpa sengaja menemukan daftar kegiatan harian ibunya. Dari situlah dia tahu bahwa ibunya mengidap kanker indung telur stadium akhir. Dia sangat terpukul bukan hanya karena mungkin saja ibunya tidak akan hidup lama lagi tapi juga karena mengetahui hal ini tidak langsung dari mulut ibunya. Bagaimana Grace akan menghadapi situasi ini ditambah lagi dengan sang suami yang telah dianggap belahan jiwanya tiba-tiba muncul dan meminta cerai karena telah menemukan wanita lain?
Eileen lahir pada tahun1943 di Ballamore, kota kecil di pantai barat Irlandia. Ayahnya jurutulis senior meski bukan orang kaya tapi cukup dihormati karena berpendidikan. Dia dibesarkan dalam keluarga Katholik yang cukup taat. Suatu kejadian mengubahnya meski masih percaya pada ajaran agamanya tapi imannya tak sama lagi. Ibunya kemudian mendaftarkannya ke kursus komersial di Dublin dan karena menyukai kehidupan di kota itu ia kemudian berusaha mendapatkan pekerjaan. Tak lama dia bertemu dengan John Blake, hidupnya semakin berubah saat tahu bahwa dirinya hamil sementara John telah meninggalkannya ke Prancis. Dia kemudian memutuskan pergi ke London dan karena waktu itu hamil di usia belia tanpa suami adalah aib maka dia menyerahkan anaknya untuk diadopsi. Beberapa tahun di London, dia bertemu kembali dengan John dan akhirnya menikah. Lahirlah Grace meski pernikahannya jauh dari kata bahagia. Eileen mendapatkan pekerjaan terakhirnya karena Grace mendorongnya. Dia memang terkadang merasa tak percaya diri dan Grace tahu itu. Tidak memberitahu Grace bahwa dirinya mengidap kanker pun karena dia tidak ingin anaknya khawatir dan justru akan mengambil alih keadaan. Eileen merupakan tipe wanita yang mandiri dan tak mau diatur. Waktu Eileen tak banyak, penyakitnya akan semakin parah. Kesalahan masa lalunya pun masih membayangi. Banyak yang ingin dilakukan untuk teman-temannya, dirinya, dan terutama untuk Grace. Bagaimana dia akan menyelesaikannya sementara hubungan dengan Grace pun tidak terlalu baik?
Cita rasa Irlandia selalu terasa dalam setiap karya Kate Kerrigan tak terkecuali “Keajaiban Grace” ini. Cerita ini diramu secara apik, tiap bab berselang-seling, meski di pertengahan ada 2 bab untuk satu tokoh, menceritakan tentang 2 tokoh utamanya. Mereka bercerita dari sudut pandangnya masing-masing tapi ada yang sedikit berbeda, Eileen bercerita dari masa lalunya hingga akhir secara runut sedangkan Grace bermula dari dia mengetahui ibunya sakit dan menghadapi semuanya meski akan ada alur mundur tapi lebih sebagai keterangan dalam bab yang sama. Beberapa orang mungkin akan menganggap gaya bercerita seperti ini mengganggu tapi bagi saya sangat mengasyikkan, membuat lebih penasaran, dan lebih nyata untuk menunjukkan bahwa masa lalu mempengaruhi masa kini dan mempengaruhi hidup orang lain. Bahasa yang digunakan dalam bercerita pun tidak berat dan mudah dicerna hingga membantu lebih menonjolkan kemandirian dan kebebasan tokohnya. Kalimat-kalimatnya tidak menggurui tapi lebih mengajak untuk menelaah masalah dan hubungan antar tokohnya.
Buku ini memang tidak ada masalah dari segi cerita sepanjang penglihatan saya tapi saat membaca tulisan dari Entirely-nya Louise MacNeice sebelum epilog yang ikut diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Indonesia itu agak mengganggu. Penggalan seperti ini lebih indah dan sederhana bila disajikan dengan bahasa aslinya. Bila tetap ingin diterjemahkan, lebih baik dengan tetap menyertakan aslinya.
Saat membaca buku ini, terpikir bahwa terkadang saya memang melakukan dan merasakan hal yang sama seperti Grace terhadap ibunya bahkan perasaan menghadapi operasi itu telah saya rasakan saat masih SMP. Mama saya juga kadang seperti Eileen. Membaca cerita ini kadang seakan melihat diri sendiri tapi harus melihat lebih dalam agar lebih bermakna. Tapi beda orang beda rasa, pengalaman, dan opini saat membaca sebuah buku jadi alangkah baiknya jika dicoba sendiri.
“Aku takkan pernah bisa yakin apakah kegelisahanku sendiri atau kegagalan ibukulah yang membuat dia terasa tak pernah cukup bagiku. Jauh di lubuk hati, aku tahu dia ibu yang hebat, tapi entah mengapa, aku selalu merasa kesal kepadanya.” (halaman 14)
“Tak peduli sedalam apa pun aku menyayanginya –atau mungkin justru karena itu—aku terdorong untuk selalu menunjukkan kesalahan Mum. Aku ingin ia menjadi perkecualian dalam setiap aturan yang kuketahui mengenai perilaku manusia. Di depan umum aku mengatakan ibuku benar-benar hebat, tapi diam-diam sifat kanak-kanak dalam diriku selalu percaya bahwa sebenarnya ibuku bisa lebih hebat lagi.” (halaman 15-16)
“Memang tak sebanyak yang kuharapkan, tapi cukup berarti. Adakalanya kau harus mau menerima sebanyak yang diberikan Tuhan kepadamu dan mensyukurinya.” (halaman 263)
Seperti sampul buku pertama Kate yang saya baca, sampul buku ini pun menarik. Terasa hangat dan membuat ingin pulang ke rumah dan bertemu ibu. Suasana rumahan pada sampulnya memang tidak jauh dari tema tulisan Kate, keluarga. Jika di buku pertama bertaburan bahan masakan, kali ini ada pot, bunga, perlengkapan berkebun. Bagi saya, ini mengambarkan kehidupan seorang ibu yang di hari tuanya hidup mandiri, mengerjakan rutinitasnya termasuk berkebun. Tapi apakah tokoh ibu dalam buku ini sama dengan yang saya pikirkan?
Grace adalah pengajar di sekolah putri St. Anne. Dia secara sukarela menjadi konselor bagi 400 muridnya yang masih remaja. Usianya sekitar 40-an dan berpisah dengan suaminya selama 8 tahun. Grace terkadang merasa bahwa ibunya bisa lebih hebat lagi. Dia tidak tinggal bersama ibunya namun hampir tiap hari mengecek keadaannya. Suatu hari Grace datang membawakan buku resep, tanpa sengaja menemukan daftar kegiatan harian ibunya. Dari situlah dia tahu bahwa ibunya mengidap kanker indung telur stadium akhir. Dia sangat terpukul bukan hanya karena mungkin saja ibunya tidak akan hidup lama lagi tapi juga karena mengetahui hal ini tidak langsung dari mulut ibunya. Bagaimana Grace akan menghadapi situasi ini ditambah lagi dengan sang suami yang telah dianggap belahan jiwanya tiba-tiba muncul dan meminta cerai karena telah menemukan wanita lain?
Eileen lahir pada tahun1943 di Ballamore, kota kecil di pantai barat Irlandia. Ayahnya jurutulis senior meski bukan orang kaya tapi cukup dihormati karena berpendidikan. Dia dibesarkan dalam keluarga Katholik yang cukup taat. Suatu kejadian mengubahnya meski masih percaya pada ajaran agamanya tapi imannya tak sama lagi. Ibunya kemudian mendaftarkannya ke kursus komersial di Dublin dan karena menyukai kehidupan di kota itu ia kemudian berusaha mendapatkan pekerjaan. Tak lama dia bertemu dengan John Blake, hidupnya semakin berubah saat tahu bahwa dirinya hamil sementara John telah meninggalkannya ke Prancis. Dia kemudian memutuskan pergi ke London dan karena waktu itu hamil di usia belia tanpa suami adalah aib maka dia menyerahkan anaknya untuk diadopsi. Beberapa tahun di London, dia bertemu kembali dengan John dan akhirnya menikah. Lahirlah Grace meski pernikahannya jauh dari kata bahagia. Eileen mendapatkan pekerjaan terakhirnya karena Grace mendorongnya. Dia memang terkadang merasa tak percaya diri dan Grace tahu itu. Tidak memberitahu Grace bahwa dirinya mengidap kanker pun karena dia tidak ingin anaknya khawatir dan justru akan mengambil alih keadaan. Eileen merupakan tipe wanita yang mandiri dan tak mau diatur. Waktu Eileen tak banyak, penyakitnya akan semakin parah. Kesalahan masa lalunya pun masih membayangi. Banyak yang ingin dilakukan untuk teman-temannya, dirinya, dan terutama untuk Grace. Bagaimana dia akan menyelesaikannya sementara hubungan dengan Grace pun tidak terlalu baik?
Cita rasa Irlandia selalu terasa dalam setiap karya Kate Kerrigan tak terkecuali “Keajaiban Grace” ini. Cerita ini diramu secara apik, tiap bab berselang-seling, meski di pertengahan ada 2 bab untuk satu tokoh, menceritakan tentang 2 tokoh utamanya. Mereka bercerita dari sudut pandangnya masing-masing tapi ada yang sedikit berbeda, Eileen bercerita dari masa lalunya hingga akhir secara runut sedangkan Grace bermula dari dia mengetahui ibunya sakit dan menghadapi semuanya meski akan ada alur mundur tapi lebih sebagai keterangan dalam bab yang sama. Beberapa orang mungkin akan menganggap gaya bercerita seperti ini mengganggu tapi bagi saya sangat mengasyikkan, membuat lebih penasaran, dan lebih nyata untuk menunjukkan bahwa masa lalu mempengaruhi masa kini dan mempengaruhi hidup orang lain. Bahasa yang digunakan dalam bercerita pun tidak berat dan mudah dicerna hingga membantu lebih menonjolkan kemandirian dan kebebasan tokohnya. Kalimat-kalimatnya tidak menggurui tapi lebih mengajak untuk menelaah masalah dan hubungan antar tokohnya.
Buku ini memang tidak ada masalah dari segi cerita sepanjang penglihatan saya tapi saat membaca tulisan dari Entirely-nya Louise MacNeice sebelum epilog yang ikut diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Indonesia itu agak mengganggu. Penggalan seperti ini lebih indah dan sederhana bila disajikan dengan bahasa aslinya. Bila tetap ingin diterjemahkan, lebih baik dengan tetap menyertakan aslinya.
Saat membaca buku ini, terpikir bahwa terkadang saya memang melakukan dan merasakan hal yang sama seperti Grace terhadap ibunya bahkan perasaan menghadapi operasi itu telah saya rasakan saat masih SMP. Mama saya juga kadang seperti Eileen. Membaca cerita ini kadang seakan melihat diri sendiri tapi harus melihat lebih dalam agar lebih bermakna. Tapi beda orang beda rasa, pengalaman, dan opini saat membaca sebuah buku jadi alangkah baiknya jika dicoba sendiri.
“Aku takkan pernah bisa yakin apakah kegelisahanku sendiri atau kegagalan ibukulah yang membuat dia terasa tak pernah cukup bagiku. Jauh di lubuk hati, aku tahu dia ibu yang hebat, tapi entah mengapa, aku selalu merasa kesal kepadanya.” (halaman 14)
“Tak peduli sedalam apa pun aku menyayanginya –atau mungkin justru karena itu—aku terdorong untuk selalu menunjukkan kesalahan Mum. Aku ingin ia menjadi perkecualian dalam setiap aturan yang kuketahui mengenai perilaku manusia. Di depan umum aku mengatakan ibuku benar-benar hebat, tapi diam-diam sifat kanak-kanak dalam diriku selalu percaya bahwa sebenarnya ibuku bisa lebih hebat lagi.” (halaman 15-16)
“Memang tak sebanyak yang kuharapkan, tapi cukup berarti. Adakalanya kau harus mau menerima sebanyak yang diberikan Tuhan kepadamu dan mensyukurinya.” (halaman 263)
November 10, 2015
When Grace learns that her mother has stage IV ovarian cancer and that it's likely terminal, she's shocked. Frankly, though, it's not so much the cancer that sets her reeling as the way she finds out about it - an innocuous notation, number eight in fact, on one of her mother's to do lists:
8. Tell G have ov cancer. Prob term.
Eileen's cancer should bring the two together, unite them against a fate that is almost inevitable. Instead the note, the illness, the whole situation stresses the relationship between mother and daughter. But as time progresses and Grace's life spirals even further out of control, she comes to realize that her mother is the one who has always been there. In time, she also comes to learn that there's much about her mother she's taken for granted and stories she's never been told...
Oh, Eileen is wonderful! Her story, her journey from a bright-eyed, devout child enamored with a pair of red slacks to the mother she becomes was my absolute favorite part of this book. It's likely in part due to the fact that she reminded me just a bit of another character I'd recently become attached to whose relationship with her husband was similar to how Eileen's turned out. Just a smidge of reminiscence but enough to make her that much more of a favorite of mine in the reading.
Grace on the other hand took much longer to become attached to. It was her stubbornness and anger over the note that I just couldn't reconcile! It's hard to imagine (though I know it happens) turning anger and hurt over such a revelation onto the person who's suffering rather than the situation itself.
Don't worry, that's part of Grace's story.
The dual narrative gives readers a chance to really get to know both Grace and Eileen AND illustrate the true differences between their generations. This was another aspect I really, really loved about The Miracle of Grace. Eileen is somewhat trapped by her situation thanks to the time and place she's grown up in. Grace's own coming of age, however, is much different - again thanks to the era in question. There was so much social change, some of which Grace acknowledges in her own chapters, between when the two woman lived that it's quite easy to see how there would be such a disconnect between them.
Where Recipes for a Perfect Marriage also explored those generational differences, The Miracle of Grace is focused on the mother/daughter relationship rather than a spousal one. The style and elegance of Kerrigan's writing is always present but I do appreciate how different the two stories are from one another and even from the Ellis Island trilogy as well. Kerrigan has a great range and is a wonderful storyteller!
8. Tell G have ov cancer. Prob term.
Eileen's cancer should bring the two together, unite them against a fate that is almost inevitable. Instead the note, the illness, the whole situation stresses the relationship between mother and daughter. But as time progresses and Grace's life spirals even further out of control, she comes to realize that her mother is the one who has always been there. In time, she also comes to learn that there's much about her mother she's taken for granted and stories she's never been told...
Oh, Eileen is wonderful! Her story, her journey from a bright-eyed, devout child enamored with a pair of red slacks to the mother she becomes was my absolute favorite part of this book. It's likely in part due to the fact that she reminded me just a bit of another character I'd recently become attached to whose relationship with her husband was similar to how Eileen's turned out. Just a smidge of reminiscence but enough to make her that much more of a favorite of mine in the reading.
Grace on the other hand took much longer to become attached to. It was her stubbornness and anger over the note that I just couldn't reconcile! It's hard to imagine (though I know it happens) turning anger and hurt over such a revelation onto the person who's suffering rather than the situation itself.
Don't worry, that's part of Grace's story.
The dual narrative gives readers a chance to really get to know both Grace and Eileen AND illustrate the true differences between their generations. This was another aspect I really, really loved about The Miracle of Grace. Eileen is somewhat trapped by her situation thanks to the time and place she's grown up in. Grace's own coming of age, however, is much different - again thanks to the era in question. There was so much social change, some of which Grace acknowledges in her own chapters, between when the two woman lived that it's quite easy to see how there would be such a disconnect between them.
Where Recipes for a Perfect Marriage also explored those generational differences, The Miracle of Grace is focused on the mother/daughter relationship rather than a spousal one. The style and elegance of Kerrigan's writing is always present but I do appreciate how different the two stories are from one another and even from the Ellis Island trilogy as well. Kerrigan has a great range and is a wonderful storyteller!
December 21, 2015
Buku ini menceritakan hubungan ibu dan anak perempuannya, setelah tanpa sengaja, Grace menemukan bahwa Eileen, sang ibu, sakit
Ada beberapa bagian yang mencuil emosi saya
Dan beberapa bagian lain, datar
Di sini diceritakan juga kisah Eileen semasa gadis
Masa kelamnya dengan suami yg suk memukulnya, lalu hubungan gelapnya denan pria lain
Dan mungkin memang ada korelasi antara masa lalu itu dengan pola hubungan dengan Grace di masa kini, tapi saya nggak terlalu merasakan ikatannya
Untuk saya, bukunya agak datar
Tapi saya suka epilognya
Beberapa summary penting yang cukup relevan dengan kita semua pada umumnya
Ada beberapa bagian yang mencuil emosi saya
Dan beberapa bagian lain, datar
Di sini diceritakan juga kisah Eileen semasa gadis
Masa kelamnya dengan suami yg suk memukulnya, lalu hubungan gelapnya denan pria lain
Dan mungkin memang ada korelasi antara masa lalu itu dengan pola hubungan dengan Grace di masa kini, tapi saya nggak terlalu merasakan ikatannya
Untuk saya, bukunya agak datar
Tapi saya suka epilognya
Beberapa summary penting yang cukup relevan dengan kita semua pada umumnya
May 3, 2012
This is a beautiful novel, very different to Kerrigan's debut Recipes for a Perfect Marriage, but at the same time very much the same. She masterfully deals with the difficult theme of losing a parent. I think anyone who's been in a situation where they've had to say goodbye to a close relative will be able to relate to this book.
October 7, 2012
I read this book two years ago in a very short time, one of the books my hands got hold of by chance. I enjoyed it a lot exploring a distant relationship between a woman and her mother and what that brings of stories from the past.
July 29, 2016
I was not expecting much - but this book surprised me. At the first glance I thought that this would only be yet another book about mother-daughter bonding, but there were some dark twists hidden - just my kind of chick -lit :)
July 21, 2017
Every daughter has a mother
Mother-daughter relationships always seem to be complicated; hence the popularity of shows like "The Gilmore Girls." Since every daughter has a mother and some of us have daughters as well, this story may resonate for much of the female population. As a fairly traditional woman (one husband for decades, multiple children), I could not relate specifically to either Eileen or Grace in their chouces, but having lived in the time-slot between their generations, I understood many of the social forces that shaped both of their lives. I also have a mother and an adult daughter. Enough said.
Mother-daughter relationships always seem to be complicated; hence the popularity of shows like "The Gilmore Girls." Since every daughter has a mother and some of us have daughters as well, this story may resonate for much of the female population. As a fairly traditional woman (one husband for decades, multiple children), I could not relate specifically to either Eileen or Grace in their chouces, but having lived in the time-slot between their generations, I understood many of the social forces that shaped both of their lives. I also have a mother and an adult daughter. Enough said.
October 24, 2017
I honestly did not think I would like this book. It seems, at the beginning at least, very slow paced. However, as time when on I ended up really enjoying the life lessons both mother and daughter demonstrated. I knew that I really enjoyed this book when I procrastinated in finishing The Miracle Of Grace.
June 14, 2019
Sadly gave this up after page 8 just not my cup of tea.
March 20, 2016
aku berpikir bahwa kasih sayang keluarga mungkin saja tidak lebih baik, tapi bersifat lebih pasti
saat membuka pintu depan rumahku, aku merasa satu-satunya penghiburan yang aku dambakan adalah ibuku. aku telah lupa bahwa saat hidup ini mengecewakan, dialah satu-satunya orang tempat aku bisa berpaling
ibu, bahasa yang paling dekat dengan kita. ibu, atau kata penggantinya mungkin adalah kata pertama yang bisa kita ucapkan. tapi apakah maknanya juga demikian, menjadikannya menjadi orang utama dalam hicup kita.
membaca kisah ibu-anak ini -eillen dan grace- membawaku pada sebuah memori dan tulisan lalu. mawar di jendela lantai 2 , tak kusangkaaku pernah membuat tulisan ini yang terinspirasi dari sosok ibu. mungkin benar aku telah kehilangan sosok ayah, tapi ntah mengapa buku ini sukses hampir membuatku hampir menangis di dalam taksi saat membacanya, yang berhasil kutahan lebih karena malu dengan supir taksi.
sebuah kisah serupa, life on the refrigerator door. tema yang sama dengan efek yang berbeda. jika buku itu membuat rhe tertarik tapi meninggalkan rasa hampa. buku ini membuatku ingin cepat-cepat menelepon ibu. karena aku takut, takut kehilangan ibu saat aku belum sanggup memberikan apapun untuknya.
saat membuka pintu depan rumahku, aku merasa satu-satunya penghiburan yang aku dambakan adalah ibuku. aku telah lupa bahwa saat hidup ini mengecewakan, dialah satu-satunya orang tempat aku bisa berpaling
ibu, bahasa yang paling dekat dengan kita. ibu, atau kata penggantinya mungkin adalah kata pertama yang bisa kita ucapkan. tapi apakah maknanya juga demikian, menjadikannya menjadi orang utama dalam hicup kita.
membaca kisah ibu-anak ini -eillen dan grace- membawaku pada sebuah memori dan tulisan lalu. mawar di jendela lantai 2 , tak kusangkaaku pernah membuat tulisan ini yang terinspirasi dari sosok ibu. mungkin benar aku telah kehilangan sosok ayah, tapi ntah mengapa buku ini sukses hampir membuatku hampir menangis di dalam taksi saat membacanya, yang berhasil kutahan lebih karena malu dengan supir taksi.
sebuah kisah serupa, life on the refrigerator door. tema yang sama dengan efek yang berbeda. jika buku itu membuat rhe tertarik tapi meninggalkan rasa hampa. buku ini membuatku ingin cepat-cepat menelepon ibu. karena aku takut, takut kehilangan ibu saat aku belum sanggup memberikan apapun untuknya.
July 29, 2009
mummy borrowed this for me :) i don't have a lasting impression of this even though i read it barely four months ago. but i do remember sitting on the upper deck of a night bus with carmen, trying to finish the last bit of the book as the bus dipped and hobbled along the bumpy road. it was hard. my eyes were scrambling to pick up words sliding off the page, catching falling lines and entire paragraphs. blinking back tears (well, well, what do we have here! a touching story!) and this made my vision blurry, which did not help matters at all.
to be fair, i spill heartdew (twenty-seven names for tears) easily so it's probably not an accurate indicator of how much i liked the book. like, i cried for The Kite Runner too but i didn't think it was astoundingly good. it was okay. i liked it when i was reading it. there were nice lines, some parts of the story touched me. (yes, i just reviewed both The Miracle of Grace, and The Kite Runner in the last three lines.)
to be fair, i spill heartdew (twenty-seven names for tears) easily so it's probably not an accurate indicator of how much i liked the book. like, i cried for The Kite Runner too but i didn't think it was astoundingly good. it was okay. i liked it when i was reading it. there were nice lines, some parts of the story touched me. (yes, i just reviewed both The Miracle of Grace, and The Kite Runner in the last three lines.)
November 6, 2015
*I received a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.*
The Miracle of Grace is unlike most books on the market now days. It doesn't feel like a story, in that this "story" feels very true to life. It is a story of something that happens everyday and how people in everyday situations cope with loss and the potential of loss, as well as how they grow as a person during such times.
This story follows Grace and her journey after she reads her mothers "To Do" list that includes a very shocking #8 on her list, "Tell Grace I have Cancer, which is probably terminal." The story takes an on an emotional journey through the pasts of both mother and daughter and how they cope with the present situation. Even when you think you know the people closest to you in your life, you really don't ever know what they are dealing with emotionally or even physically. This journey really puts things into perspective in both a very sad and very happy way. The tears I shed for their story will not soon be forgotten.
The Miracle of Grace is unlike most books on the market now days. It doesn't feel like a story, in that this "story" feels very true to life. It is a story of something that happens everyday and how people in everyday situations cope with loss and the potential of loss, as well as how they grow as a person during such times.
This story follows Grace and her journey after she reads her mothers "To Do" list that includes a very shocking #8 on her list, "Tell Grace I have Cancer, which is probably terminal." The story takes an on an emotional journey through the pasts of both mother and daughter and how they cope with the present situation. Even when you think you know the people closest to you in your life, you really don't ever know what they are dealing with emotionally or even physically. This journey really puts things into perspective in both a very sad and very happy way. The tears I shed for their story will not soon be forgotten.
August 16, 2011
Kerrigan follows up her eloquent, stylish debut novel, Recipes for a Perfect Marriage, with this gem. The best authors are those you hardly notice. Kerrigan is one of them. She deals with tragic issues in a deft, no nonsense manner.
Or so you think. Until you realise that you are still thinking about the book weeks later. Eileen and Grace alternate from chapter to chapter, each telling their stories in first person.
Kerrigan has created two distinct voices. This is not an easy thing to do. There is a sense of place, time and era which is cleverly woven into the story. The realities of middle aged women living in the millennium are explored with an honesty that not many are willing to deal with, let alone acknowledge exist.
If you are a woman who has a mother (i.e. every woman in the world), or if you are a woman who has a daughter, you should read this book.
Or so you think. Until you realise that you are still thinking about the book weeks later. Eileen and Grace alternate from chapter to chapter, each telling their stories in first person.
Kerrigan has created two distinct voices. This is not an easy thing to do. There is a sense of place, time and era which is cleverly woven into the story. The realities of middle aged women living in the millennium are explored with an honesty that not many are willing to deal with, let alone acknowledge exist.
If you are a woman who has a mother (i.e. every woman in the world), or if you are a woman who has a daughter, you should read this book.
January 1, 2016
What a lovely surprise this wee gem was!
Grace is Eileen's only daughter, Eileen has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Eileen is fiecly independent, Grace is needy and mildly irritating. What ensues is a poignant and touching story of how we can not know what it is another is experiencing, no matter how much we think we can. It also touches on the notion that another person family or friend can not solve our problems for us.
Over recent weeks I have been toying with the idea that it is our imperfecctions that connect us but our shame which isolates us. The Miricle of Grace depicts this theme perfectly. I found the writing gentle, intelligent and well crafted. This will no doubtedly get loaned sometime soon and I will not mind if it does the rounds and takes its time coming back ,if at all.
I will looking for more from Kate Kerrigan!
Grace is Eileen's only daughter, Eileen has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Eileen is fiecly independent, Grace is needy and mildly irritating. What ensues is a poignant and touching story of how we can not know what it is another is experiencing, no matter how much we think we can. It also touches on the notion that another person family or friend can not solve our problems for us.
Over recent weeks I have been toying with the idea that it is our imperfecctions that connect us but our shame which isolates us. The Miricle of Grace depicts this theme perfectly. I found the writing gentle, intelligent and well crafted. This will no doubtedly get loaned sometime soon and I will not mind if it does the rounds and takes its time coming back ,if at all.
I will looking for more from Kate Kerrigan!
November 8, 2013
I received this book through Goodreads firstreads giveaway.
This is story of a mother-daughter relationship...the baggage they carry as they experience life, learning life's lessons, growing as a person, making mistakes, accepting family as they are and not the way the other wants them to be, and understanding other person's thoughts, emotions, and their reasons for their behavior and actions.
I would recommend this book to others!
This is story of a mother-daughter relationship...the baggage they carry as they experience life, learning life's lessons, growing as a person, making mistakes, accepting family as they are and not the way the other wants them to be, and understanding other person's thoughts, emotions, and their reasons for their behavior and actions.
I would recommend this book to others!
June 4, 2015
** Books 141 - 2015 **
Buku ini untuk memenuhi New Author Reading Challenge 2015
2,7 dari 5 bintang!
1. Alur yang flashback dari segi perspektif Eileen dan Grace silih berganti
2. Plot twist yang cenderung datar
3. Nuansa buku yang sangat agamis (Istilah-istilah katolik dan pastor banyak diceritakan dibuku ini)
4. Alurnya juga termasuk lambat dan membosankan.
Padahal blurbnya keliatannya menarik ternyata tidak sebagus sama covernya. saya kurang bisa menikmati ceritanya >__<
Buku ini untuk memenuhi New Author Reading Challenge 2015
2,7 dari 5 bintang!
1. Alur yang flashback dari segi perspektif Eileen dan Grace silih berganti
2. Plot twist yang cenderung datar
3. Nuansa buku yang sangat agamis (Istilah-istilah katolik dan pastor banyak diceritakan dibuku ini)
4. Alurnya juga termasuk lambat dan membosankan.
Padahal blurbnya keliatannya menarik ternyata tidak sebagus sama covernya. saya kurang bisa menikmati ceritanya >__<
April 24, 2014
Grace finds a list that her mother has written, number 8 is to tell Grace that she has cancer which is probably terminal. The book tells the story of how they both deal with this, intertwined with their life histories. It was understandably very emotional towards the end but still managed to end positively. We learn not to judge the characters because we only ever know a part of the story while learning more as time goes on. Well written and thought provoking.
January 2, 2016
A slow start to a book that I did not think I would like. Yet, when I got into the dialog alternating between a mother and daughter's lives I was hooked. There are some wisdoms contained in this book which are really powerful.
February 10, 2016
Konflik ibu dan anak perempuan. Bukan tema yg baru. Namun pengarang berhasil merangkainya dengan apik. Plotnya tidak istimewa-istimewa amat sih. Gejolak emosi juga tak saya rasakan betul. Tapi okelah, cukup layak baca. Endingnya manis.
February 7, 2017
Starts off with a bang but then it withered. Skipped almost half of it, it picked up in the middle, with the mom's struggle with the cancer and Grace's taking on it. Ended beautifully, although a bit unsatisfying.
September 18, 2010
I loved this book, for me it was poignant and very well written. I shed some tears at the end because it bought back sad memories but I would certainly recommend it.
August 12, 2013
more about this book, just check my review at here :
( http://lemarihobbybuku.blogspot.com/2... )
February 14, 2015
a very moving, thought-provoking novel. It illustrates how little we really do know about the people supposedly close to us.
October 8, 2018
Really a great story...sad, but I liked the way the story ended. Grace was a bit hard to like but at the end she kind of redeemed herself.
September 19, 2017
So good I read it twice!
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