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3rd out of 29 books
—
35 voters
The Lost Daughter
by
Lucy Ferriss (Goodreads Author)
Brooke O’Connor — elegant, self-possessed, and kind — has a happy marriage and a deeply loved young daughter. So her adamant refusal to have a second child confounds her husband, Sean. When Brooke’s high school boyfriend Alex — now divorced and mourning the death of his young son — unexpectedly resurfaces, Sean begins to suspect an affair.
For fifteen years Brooke has kept...more
For fifteen years Brooke has kept...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
February 7th 2012
by Berkley Trade
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I received this book for free from GR First Reads and was looking forward to reading it, but I couldn't get through the first few chapters. The language that was used and the details of the birth and sex just turned me off. I feel like a story can be told without using the language and the detail that was used in this book. And okay, maybe the gorey details of the birth were needed for later in the story, to really understand what happened to her, but I even went several chapters farther into th...more
Sometimes we are so lost in our past that it is impossible to fully live in the present. That is what Lucy Ferriss reminds us of in her amazing story THE LOST DAUGHTER. We meet Brooke and Alex: two individuals who have been joined by pain, grief and shame and have not been able to wash themselves of a horrible occurrence in their lives that affects everything that they do. Even after they have moved on in other relationships, they are joined to the hurt of the past, and new challenges in their l...more
I have not read nearly as much as I'd like to lately.
I have to say, this book was such a great choice to begin 2013 with.
I found the basic premise of the novel to be interesting and compelling.
There was an slight element of mystery in the novel, I like that nothing felt too contrived or forced.
It was easy to go on this journey with Sean, Nadja, Brooke and Alex.
Overall, these were flawed people, however, they were people I could empathize with. While their choices were at times were horrible,...more
I have to say, this book was such a great choice to begin 2013 with.
I found the basic premise of the novel to be interesting and compelling.
There was an slight element of mystery in the novel, I like that nothing felt too contrived or forced.
It was easy to go on this journey with Sean, Nadja, Brooke and Alex.
Overall, these were flawed people, however, they were people I could empathize with. While their choices were at times were horrible,...more
This was an interesting book/topic. It was sad, though. So if you are looking for happiness and humor, you need to go and find a different book.
This story is about a young couple who have a premature baby as high school seniors. I won't tell you anymore about that. Fifteen or so years later in life, though, they are unsettled, unhappy, and unfulfilled. Something is holding each of them back from enjoying what they now have. It is like a facade that they each hold up for the world to see, when a...more
This story is about a young couple who have a premature baby as high school seniors. I won't tell you anymore about that. Fifteen or so years later in life, though, they are unsettled, unhappy, and unfulfilled. Something is holding each of them back from enjoying what they now have. It is like a facade that they each hold up for the world to see, when a...more
A heart-breaking secret has kept Brooke on the edge for years. She's done what she has had to do to tamp down her guilt, guilt over what happened, guilt over the lies, guilt over the loss. Her reactions to that night have shaped her every move, every decision.
Alex, grieving over the death of his son, and breakup of his marriage, decides to go back to his roots. He finds Brooke with the intention of cleansing his soul, but instead, threatens to topple her delicately balanced life.
Sean is Brooke's...more
Alex, grieving over the death of his son, and breakup of his marriage, decides to go back to his roots. He finds Brooke with the intention of cleansing his soul, but instead, threatens to topple her delicately balanced life.
Sean is Brooke's...more
I am not happy that I paid money for this book. Weak moment at Target:(...My decision to purchase this book weighed mostly on one of my favorite author's (Wally Lamb) recommendation comment on the cover of the book.
*This review DOES contain spoilers*
Let me list my reasons for my dislike of this book:
First of all, let me state that I am pro-choice, BUT not as a method of birth control in the third trimester.
#1) This is supposed to be two very smart teens at the time of their decision to go to...more
*This review DOES contain spoilers*
Let me list my reasons for my dislike of this book:
First of all, let me state that I am pro-choice, BUT not as a method of birth control in the third trimester.
#1) This is supposed to be two very smart teens at the time of their decision to go to...more
3 likes · like · see review
I was tricked into reading this book by Wally Lamb. I appreciate his warm words on the cover more than I do the book itself. The story begins with two kids and a thwarted birth in a motel. Fifteen years later, they deal with the consequences. A great deal of suffering is talked about as the plot develops into two and a half families, two severely disabled young women, and a rich stew of emotions bubbling away. But I didn't feel much of it. The upper-middle-middle class families were predictably...more
1 like · like · see review
While in high school Brooke finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Alex, her high school sweetheart, finds himself in the horrible place of having to deliver prematurely the baby in a seedy hotel room. Having hidden the pregnancy no one realizes that they just dispose of the newborn.
Fifteen years later, Brooke is married and has a daughter with her husband, Sean. Alex is recently divorced after suffering the death of his young son. Neither Alex nor Brooke have shared the burden of their secret wit...more
This book was extremely moving to me. Forgiveness is truly a powerful thing, the author goes through stages of guilt, remorse, and strength with each character. Although I wanted the 2 main characters to get together in the end because of their history together, it was not right for either of them. I did get a bit confused though why she would go back to her husband after the way that he treated her...but I guess that is also forgiveness and power of love to overcome his moment of weakness and d...more
I am not sure what to write about this book. It was horrifying, yet compelling. It left me feeling a bit like I wish I hadn't read it. Like many others reviewing this book I did read to the end because I wanted to know what happened. But it left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
I do not think that I will recommend this book to anyone. I felt that some parts were too graphic, although I appreciate that the writer was trying to imitate the horrific nature of the circumstance. I very nearly didn't c...more
I do not think that I will recommend this book to anyone. I felt that some parts were too graphic, although I appreciate that the writer was trying to imitate the horrific nature of the circumstance. I very nearly didn't c...more
This was a fabulous book! I initially gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I thought it started off rather slowly with a lot of flash backs & background information. However, in retrospect, I believe this was an integral part of the story. It was imperative to feel the emotions of the characters then, so that you could better understand why the secret they kept for so long was still haunting them. For me, this is a 5 star book!
Without giving too much away, the novel centers around Brooke &...more
Without giving too much away, the novel centers around Brooke &...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
3.5 stars. Contrary to some reviews, I had no problem with the tone, language, topic or descriptions in this book...in fact that's what I liked most about it. Brooke is married with a daughter, and much to her husband's disappointment refuses to have a second child- the real reason she keeps from everyone. When Brooke's high school boyfriend comes back into town their past secret together resurfaces. Both eventually come to terms with what happened in the hotel with Brooke's first pregnancy 15 y...more
The Lost Daughter grabbed me from the very first page and kept me interested throughout. Brooke and Alex, the perfect high school couple, find themselves in a not-so-perfect situation. Brooke is pregnant and, dispite home-brewed teas "guaranteed" to result in a self-induced abortion, she finds herself in a motel room giving birth with Alex's assistance. She has successfully hidden her pregnancy, so no one is the wiser when Brooke and Alex dispose of the baby.
We pick up the story 15 years later,...more
We pick up the story 15 years later,...more
As a Goodreads giveaway winner, I received an advanced copy of Lucy Ferris’ The Lost Daughter.
Teen sweethearts Brooke and Alex are not ready to be parents. After an unsuccessful attempt to terminate the pregnancy herself, Brooke is relieved to give birth to a premature, stillborn baby. Afraid to admit to their mistake and worried about what the future will hold, Brooke is glad to let Alex remove the baby from the motel room and dispose of their daughter’s body. She didn’t ask questions. She was...more
Teen sweethearts Brooke and Alex are not ready to be parents. After an unsuccessful attempt to terminate the pregnancy herself, Brooke is relieved to give birth to a premature, stillborn baby. Afraid to admit to their mistake and worried about what the future will hold, Brooke is glad to let Alex remove the baby from the motel room and dispose of their daughter’s body. She didn’t ask questions. She was...more
I couldn't finish this book. I kept telling myself I was still reading so I could find out what happened in the end, but halfway through I realized even that wasn't true, and I really didn't care. I found the characters unlikable and pretty stereotypical, the mood of the story depressing and sad with no redeeming reason, and the big "secret" was literally revealed in the first chapter. I felt bogged down by all the overdone emotion, and could pretty much tell how the whole thing was going to pla...more
I'm not sure how it is that I always end up with books that have to do with adoption or birth-parents, but this one had a birthparent story at it's core. The Lost Daughter focuses on Brooke, who when she was 16 makes the worst possible decisions ever when she has a surprise pregnancy. Like, taking poison from a local adult female friend/witch to cause an abortion. Then, the baby keeps growing and she does nothing, just thinking that the "incident" will happen one of these days. She delivers with...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I just had to stop reading it. First, the opening chapter was incredibly graphic and disturbing and for anyone who has strong feeling about abortion or have had an abortion or ... geez, really anybody -- it's a really, really hard chapter.
The other reason I couldn't finish it is the main character, Brooke, was entirely unsympathetic to me (which is hugely ironic). She read as a weak character to me. Her husband annoyed me. Alex had too much of the martyr to him. The only person I really liked wa...more
The other reason I couldn't finish it is the main character, Brooke, was entirely unsympathetic to me (which is hugely ironic). She read as a weak character to me. Her husband annoyed me. Alex had too much of the martyr to him. The only person I really liked wa...more
A lot of people I have found didn't like the tone and disturbing nature of this book. I think the pretty cover throws people off. So don't let the cover fool you. It definitely is not a light hearted read. However it is really good.
The characters are really unlikeable in the beginning, but that is what kept me reading. I was tired of perfect characters in every book I read. It is a good story about redemption and closure. The only things I didn't like were little inconsistencies in the support...more
The characters are really unlikeable in the beginning, but that is what kept me reading. I was tired of perfect characters in every book I read. It is a good story about redemption and closure. The only things I didn't like were little inconsistencies in the support...more
Eloquent. Touching. Deep. All good, but occasionally slightly implausible. Minor errors in ages, impossible coincidences, but still well worth the read. Poetic language and thought invoking circumstances bring main characters Brooke and Alex to life. We all remember the perfect highschool couple whose not so perfect highschool circumstances change the course of their own lives. Here, B&A are effected, as well as the daughter not meant to be conceived nor born. Chilling at times. Favorite quo...more
I received this book as an ARC Giveaway.
I honestly, wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy the book. It seemed interesting enough, but I tried a few times to get past the first couple of pages and failed. Finally I sat down and really started reading it, then I found out that I couldn't put it down. From start to finish Ferriss took the time to really make sure the reader was connecting and understanding each character.
The only thing that really irked me about the story is that I felt as if...more
I honestly, wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy the book. It seemed interesting enough, but I tried a few times to get past the first couple of pages and failed. Finally I sat down and really started reading it, then I found out that I couldn't put it down. From start to finish Ferriss took the time to really make sure the reader was connecting and understanding each character.
The only thing that really irked me about the story is that I felt as if...more
A slower start but a good book. Takes you through a lot of emotions for all of the main characters. I can see why some got angry when reading this book but if it gets you that worked up then it must be well written. It is not a fairy tale or love story but a story of bad choices and how the two deal with their choices and roles in those choices throughout the next 15 years. I kept reading to see how they would try to find or find closure from these events. It puts characters to some of the most...more
I did not like this book. At all. It's one of those books that I only finished because I have to finish all books I start.
I did not like any of the characters, except for the grandfather. He was the only one with any sense.
Sean was horrible. I hated how whinny and insecure he was. I hated how he would not accept the fact that his wife didn't want to be pregnant again. Her body, her choice is my opinion.
I hated how stuck in the past Brooke and Alex were. I hate everything about everyone.
Bad, bad...more
I did not like any of the characters, except for the grandfather. He was the only one with any sense.
Sean was horrible. I hated how whinny and insecure he was. I hated how he would not accept the fact that his wife didn't want to be pregnant again. Her body, her choice is my opinion.
I hated how stuck in the past Brooke and Alex were. I hate everything about everyone.
Bad, bad...more
Mar 01, 2012
Lesa Parnham
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Book Clubs
Shelves:
2012-books-read
Read like a Jodi Picoult book but it had s compelling story and the characters were well drawn out. I liked it more than I usually like these types of books. For those who talk about how the book had disgusted them because of the sexual situation in the first chapter I would say, stick your head out there and look in the newspapers.
This would be a great book club book as people could explore the ethics and motivations of the different characters and how sometimes regular people are placed in sit...more
This would be a great book club book as people could explore the ethics and motivations of the different characters and how sometimes regular people are placed in sit...more
I just finished this book today. It was so bad I'm not going to bother writing a full review for my blog. The language, the description. I like character-driven fiction and this was anything but that. The author kept stopping the story to tell you some long-winded description of this or that. I definitely did not like it.
The positives...I liked the character Najda. I feel like the story would have been much better from her perspective. It was too weak coming from Brooke--who seemed to me a weak...more
The positives...I liked the character Najda. I feel like the story would have been much better from her perspective. It was too weak coming from Brooke--who seemed to me a weak...more
Although this book is about lost love and redemption, I thought it was more about guilt and the lengths people go to punish themselves. I enjoyed the way Ferris’s described Sean's spiraling thought process. Sean thinks his wife is pulling out of their marriage, but she is just withdrawn and busy with her own guilt laden existence. Nicely written, I read from 10pm through to 2am last night to finish the book. I will read more of Ferris’s books.
This book started off graphically, but I found it interesting from start to finish. A story of love, loss, guilt, and redemption, the characters were well drawn - mostly just regular people who try to do their best. Like people everywhere, along the way some of them make bad assumptions and big mistakes. Brooke and Alex were tragic but very real characters. I found the characters Sean, Najda, and the old Polish grandfather especially memorable.
Sad story. Teenage couple delivered their daughter at 6 months in a motel room. They both thought the baby was dead. Father of child put the body in a box outside the motel. Fifteen years later both are struggling with the event. They reconnect and make the discovery that the baby had not been dead afterall, but found by a disabled woman who lived in a trailer park next to the motel. It was sad throughout, matching my current mood.
I would give 3&1/2 if possible. Was not a bad story line and was definitely interesting. Some aspects of the book kind of mad me mad at how naive and undereducated our youth is about sex an pregnancy. At one point I felt like the story was a stretch but as I kept reading I came to realize how the story could be true. Especially with the education in school about sex. Overall not a bad book, a good read, but became predictable at one point.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Q&A with Lucy...: Alex & Brooke | 1 | 5 | Jan 24, 2012 05:59am |
Kirkus Reviews calls Lucy Ferriss's forthcoming book, THE LOST DAUGHTER, "an unflinching study of parenthood . . . a powerful domestic novel."
Born in St. Louis, Lucy has lived on both coasts, in the middle, and abroad. Her memoir UNVEILING THE PROPHET was named Best Book of the Year by the St. Louis Riverfront Times; her collection LEAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD won the Mid-List First Series Award. She...more
More about Lucy Ferriss...
Born in St. Louis, Lucy has lived on both coasts, in the middle, and abroad. Her memoir UNVEILING THE PROPHET was named Best Book of the Year by the St. Louis Riverfront Times; her collection LEAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD won the Mid-List First Series Award. She...more
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