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In Search Of Adam
Motherless, rootless, and unprotected, Jude Williams childhood is fractured by the horror and experience of sexual abuse, forcing her to exist somewhere and nowhere in between childhood and adulthood. Caught within the limitations of her own language and trapped within a family secret, Jude becomes the consequence of her mothers tragedy. As she moves through the 1980s, Jud...more
Kindle Edition, 333 pages
Published
(first published July 1st 2007)
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i dont think i am ever going to finish this book.. it s simply too dark , too miserable for my taste..
I picked this up as someone I’m following gave it a high rating, and it sounded rather intriguing, although definitely not an easy read.
Jude’s life is tinged with tragedy from an early age – she is just 6 years old when she finds her mother after she has committed suicide. This devastating event obviously has a huge effect on Jude’s life, that of her father and of their relationship and life together.
Jude tells noone of the note that she found with her mother that explained she had gone to searc...more
Jude’s life is tinged with tragedy from an early age – she is just 6 years old when she finds her mother after she has committed suicide. This devastating event obviously has a huge effect on Jude’s life, that of her father and of their relationship and life together.
Jude tells noone of the note that she found with her mother that explained she had gone to searc...more
There is something self-indulgently harrowing about this book. I’ve read enough fictional stories of abuse and neglect (including fiction based on auto/biographical accounts) to be able to determine the ones that have something important or true to say, but Caroline Smailes, in ‘In Search of Adam’ spends too much time layering the misery on with a trowel, then attempts to disguise the heavy-handedness with some tricks of layout and repetition. Indeed, the author tries very hard to make artwork o...more
My first reaction to this short book was that it was miserable. Too miserable; and I've read a lot of miserable books. Child rape, suicide, poverty, physical abuse...you get the idea. I wouldn't exactly call this book an enjoyable read and I was becoming increasingly put off. However, my opinion was changed once I skimmed through the 'Thoughts' sections, where it becomes apparent that the book was possibly biographical. The story of a woman the author had met. It hit me then that we shouldn't ju...more
If I am honest I bought this book because Caroline Smailes is a local author. I had not bothered to read the blurb, or even to find out what this book was about in any way whatsoever. I literally picked this book because of who the author is....and I'm glad I did.
This story follows Jude who starts out as a 6-7 year old child when her mother commits suicide. Jude is the one who finds her mothers body. The rest of the story revolves around Jude as she grows up, deals with denial, a new step mother...more
This story follows Jude who starts out as a 6-7 year old child when her mother commits suicide. Jude is the one who finds her mothers body. The rest of the story revolves around Jude as she grows up, deals with denial, a new step mother...more
"Jude, I have gone in search of Adam. I love you baby.
I didn’t understand. But I took the note. It was mine. I shoved it into the pocket of my grey school skirt. I crumpled it in. Then.”
Jude is just six years old (four months and two days) when she discovers the lifeless body of her mother. It shatters her young life and the hurt train keeps on coming.
Her father farms Jude off to various neighbours after the death of his wife while he begins a new relationship with Rita. One of these neighbours...more
I didn’t understand. But I took the note. It was mine. I shoved it into the pocket of my grey school skirt. I crumpled it in. Then.”
Jude is just six years old (four months and two days) when she discovers the lifeless body of her mother. It shatters her young life and the hurt train keeps on coming.
Her father farms Jude off to various neighbours after the death of his wife while he begins a new relationship with Rita. One of these neighbours...more
Aug 02, 2010
Natasha Borton
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary-fiction
I hated this book. I'm a person who can completely detach myself from a situation and deal with literary context, but this book made me feel physically sick. I was pushed further than empathising with the characters and more as if I was being forced to part take in the abuse. I didn't finish the book but I still feel my review is valid because I couldn't finish the book (and believe me I tried).
If the author is talking from experience than I have nothing but pity for her, however, this is not...more
If the author is talking from experience than I have nothing but pity for her, however, this is not...more
From http://nikperring.blogspot.com/:
So. I've had In Search of Adam, by the lovely and stupidly talented Caroline Smailes for, umm, just over a year. And I've only just read it.
My excuse, as is often the case, is when it's something I've a fair idea I'll love, I want to put it off until I find the time where I can enjoy it properly. And here's the thing: when it's a good book, when it IS something I love, I DO find the time.
And love In Search of Adam I did. So very much.
Jude's only six years old...more
So. I've had In Search of Adam, by the lovely and stupidly talented Caroline Smailes for, umm, just over a year. And I've only just read it.
My excuse, as is often the case, is when it's something I've a fair idea I'll love, I want to put it off until I find the time where I can enjoy it properly. And here's the thing: when it's a good book, when it IS something I love, I DO find the time.
And love In Search of Adam I did. So very much.
Jude's only six years old...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Mar 21, 2012
Alison
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
highly-recommended,
read-in-2012
I picked this up as a freebie on my Kindle ages ago and stored it away in my Freebies folder meaning to read it some day .... So glad I did, for this is an extraordinary book, even more so when you realise it is the author's debut novel.
In Search of Adam isn't an easy read - it deals with child abuse, paedophilia, mental health issues and much more. However, the characters are incredibly strong and though this is (presumably) fictional, you just know that all over the country/world there are ki...more
In Search of Adam isn't an easy read - it deals with child abuse, paedophilia, mental health issues and much more. However, the characters are incredibly strong and though this is (presumably) fictional, you just know that all over the country/world there are ki...more
A good read, although it doesn’t feel quite right to say an enjoyable read.
There were things I liked about this book, and things I didn’t. I liked the use of changing typefaces and general font trickery. I think it added rather than detracted from the tone of the novel and helped to convey the different things going through the central characters head. I liked the chronological approach (it reminded me of ‘Tatty’).
I liked the earlier portions of the novel, when Jude was younger, despite the fa...more
There were things I liked about this book, and things I didn’t. I liked the use of changing typefaces and general font trickery. I think it added rather than detracted from the tone of the novel and helped to convey the different things going through the central characters head. I liked the chronological approach (it reminded me of ‘Tatty’).
I liked the earlier portions of the novel, when Jude was younger, despite the fa...more
May 12, 2008
Christie VanLaningham
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mediocrity
I have a big problem with formatting that deviates from the standard type set and font. That being said, I was probably doomed going into this book, which takes lots of liberty with layout, using different text sizes, floofy fonts, and weird on-the-page arrangement to emphasize the scattered, confused mind of an abused young girl. The conceit of the novel was interesting, but in the end, completely maddening. It was a long slog toward an unfulfilling (and predictable) conclusion. I don't usually...more
As hard going as I found the content, I had a feeling it was based on a true story and so wanted to finish it to see if she'd be okay after such a dreadful childhood.
Gripping, sad, awful, stomach turning, I never want to read another book of this genre.
Castration would be too good for 'Uncle Eddie'. I don't know what else to say really, it's just tragic.
Gripping, sad, awful, stomach turning, I never want to read another book of this genre.
Castration would be too good for 'Uncle Eddie'. I don't know what else to say really, it's just tragic.
Terrible book, a bit like a car-crash. You keep waiting for the happy ending, but instead you get the author trying to be all modern, or post-modern, or something like that, and it doesn't work, it doesn't make sense, and it pisses you off that you bothered to read that far.
At times a disturbing read but compelling throughout. Slightly disapointing ending - seem to fizzle out with no definate conclusion. Perhaps I was just looking for the happy ending...
although I really appreciated the use of language and form in this book , it was a tough story, and hard to read..not something for a day when you are feeling blue
Way to disturbing and harrowing for me. Had to put it down after the first section and I won't be picking it up again. The Suicide, child rape, abuse and self harm is just too much.
Shocking, eye-opening story of a lost childhood. Deals with many difficult issues, gave me a lot to think about! Brilliantly written.
A brutal harrowing story written in the innocent voice of Jude -a rest strange bairn- but then she has had a pretty rough deal. Captivating.
A good read but took some getting use to no paragraphs and such and think this perhaps distracted me from the story.
I really disliked this book which was about child abuse.
Very thought provocking. Could not put this down.
A friend told me to read this. I'm glad he did.
Dying to read it after my friend finishes it
Bleak!
I really wanted to love this book. It had everything I could ask for, but...
I felt myself falling into a heart breaking melancholic state of mind. Even after a fine day my spirit would drop and my eyes burn with dry tears. It opened up Pandora's box and revealed things that were perhaps best forgotten.
It left me feeling raped.
The book feels very real and somehow important to finish but more then once I wondered if the author hadn't gone too far.
I felt myself falling into a heart breaking melancholic state of mind. Even after a fine day my spirit would drop and my eyes burn with dry tears. It opened up Pandora's box and revealed things that were perhaps best forgotten.
It left me feeling raped.
The book feels very real and somehow important to finish but more then once I wondered if the author hadn't gone too far.
I was very unsure of this book. The plot is fabulous but the way it was written was not for me. I understand the main character Jude had a mental illness but I couldn't get into her way of thinking. The story left me feeling sad and uncomfortable. Having said that I would give another book by this author a try.
I thought that
In Search of Adam
was an outstanding story, a wake up call and an unforgettable experience. I see people leaving comments like "You keep waiting for the happy ending." All I can say is life isn't a fairytale for everyone, not every story has a happy ending.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!! was a birthday present in 2009 and i love it!! so easy to read, captivates you right from the start and was based on a time and childhood i could relate to. I tell everyone I know they should read this book!
Im currently reading the 2nd one in set Disraeli Avenue.
Im currently reading the 2nd one in set Disraeli Avenue.
I savored this book slowly. It's a heart-wrenching story, which I needed to read in small doses, but it's a story that needs to be told and Smailes tells it well. I was fascinated by her use of font and experimentation with grammar and thought she used it to good effect. Highly recommended.
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