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A Love for Life
[Cambridge English Readers Level 6]
In Cambridge, Fanella bravely faces the challenge of adopting a child alone after her partner leaves her. Fanella and five-year-old Ellie get off to a rocky start, but Fanella patiently steers their relationship on to more solid ground. Meanwhile, her relationship with Rod, Ellie's teacher and a married man, is a little more complicated.
In Cambridge, Fanella bravely faces the challenge of adopting a child alone after her partner leaves her. Fanella and five-year-old Ellie get off to a rocky start, but Fanella patiently steers their relationship on to more solid ground. Meanwhile, her relationship with Rod, Ellie's teacher and a married man, is a little more complicated.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
36 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Penny Hancock
39 books115 followersPenny grew up in South East London and then did an English degree in Newcastle Upon Tyne. For several years she taught English as a foreign language in Italy, Greece and Morocco. She then took a PGCE, got a job as a Primary school teacher in an inner city London school, and moved into her partner Andy’s short-life house in East London, which is now part of the hardcore under the M11 that links their new home in Cambridge with her birth place in Greenwich!
While bringing up their three children, she continued to teach in primary schools, taught English to asylum seekers, and ran adult education classes in writing. She also wrote articles for various papers (The Independent, The Guardian, The Times Ed, The Sunday Express magazine, and Child Education, amongst others) specialising in family and education. Penny has also written readers for English language learners for Cambridge University Press, and a Primary English course for children published by Longmans. It was an Arvon writing course and an MA in creative writing at Anglia Ruskin University that encouraged her to complete her first novel.
Source: http://pennyhancock.com/bio/
While bringing up their three children, she continued to teach in primary schools, taught English to asylum seekers, and ran adult education classes in writing. She also wrote articles for various papers (The Independent, The Guardian, The Times Ed, The Sunday Express magazine, and Child Education, amongst others) specialising in family and education. Penny has also written readers for English language learners for Cambridge University Press, and a Primary English course for children published by Longmans. It was an Arvon writing course and an MA in creative writing at Anglia Ruskin University that encouraged her to complete her first novel.
Source: http://pennyhancock.com/bio/
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 10, 2018
The story takes place in England, it is about a very brave woman called Fanella and she could not have children so she strives to adopt a child with her boyfriend. Regrettably he left her for a younger woman, therefore she realised that she had to raise her adopted daughter, Ellie alone.
Being a single mother gave Fanella more responsibilities and changed her priorities; she wanted to strengthen her relationship with Ellie and get her settled as soon as possible.
Adopting a cute girl might soften the terrible pain of not having her own child, moreover it granted her an enormous relief and satisfaction about her life; it gave her more confidence and courage to overcome hurdles.
Teresa is Fanella's close friend, she is a plain jane and a mother of a little boy called Timothy, he was in the same class with Ellie. When Fanella met their Teacher Rod she fall in love with him and so did he but he was an attractive married man.
I would not narrate more details about the story but one detail I want to mention about Rod's character; I was struck by his reaction after the confession of his wife that she was
cheating on him with an handsome wealthy farmer for so long and I stopped loving his character. His reaction was so surprising to me, I was kind of shocked because he carried on an affectionate conversation with her like nothing had happened , he felt quite a bit annoyed but he said nothing to blame her or showed his anger.
Someone who betrayed you, he deserves no sympathy nor your respect because he doesn't respect your feelings or appreciate your relationship.
Rod reacted as a pitiful child , he lost his manliness in my eyes I figured out why his wife did so .
When he got engaged to Fanella I think he was looking for a safe shelter not exactly a lovely woman, I didn't like his character overall.
The story is good, it is quite a bit emotional but not really deep , I felt something was missing and it could not touch my spirit; in addition the plot was kind of predictable for me. The book was really easy to read and highly recommended for beginners.
Being a single mother gave Fanella more responsibilities and changed her priorities; she wanted to strengthen her relationship with Ellie and get her settled as soon as possible.
Adopting a cute girl might soften the terrible pain of not having her own child, moreover it granted her an enormous relief and satisfaction about her life; it gave her more confidence and courage to overcome hurdles.
Teresa is Fanella's close friend, she is a plain jane and a mother of a little boy called Timothy, he was in the same class with Ellie. When Fanella met their Teacher Rod she fall in love with him and so did he but he was an attractive married man.
I would not narrate more details about the story but one detail I want to mention about Rod's character; I was struck by his reaction after the confession of his wife that she was
cheating on him with an handsome wealthy farmer for so long and I stopped loving his character. His reaction was so surprising to me, I was kind of shocked because he carried on an affectionate conversation with her like nothing had happened , he felt quite a bit annoyed but he said nothing to blame her or showed his anger.
Someone who betrayed you, he deserves no sympathy nor your respect because he doesn't respect your feelings or appreciate your relationship.
Rod reacted as a pitiful child , he lost his manliness in my eyes I figured out why his wife did so .
When he got engaged to Fanella I think he was looking for a safe shelter not exactly a lovely woman, I didn't like his character overall.
The story is good, it is quite a bit emotional but not really deep , I felt something was missing and it could not touch my spirit; in addition the plot was kind of predictable for me. The book was really easy to read and highly recommended for beginners.
February 15, 2008
Easy to read, good for practicing reading english skills.
February 1, 2016
قصة جميلة جداً :")
حب .. أسرة .. مشاعر مختلطة.. إخلاص..
حب .. أسرة .. مشاعر مختلطة.. إخلاص..
December 21, 2012
amazing one :) YES, YES AND YES :)
September 28, 2014
A great book seriously a great book for adults who are still learning English (I call it a book for beginners though because if you can read this kinda things you definitely got to the stage of reading real English but you're not entirely there yet. I don't know if that clear)
Anyway, I liked it very much. It's really a story worth adults but the end was tooooo rainbows and butterflies. And as you know I don't only rate a book as an independent I rate it comparing to the others as well so I'm sorry but in this situation I can't give it more than a 4. Though it's a great book, really amazing ! Wonderful story and what I most liked was the evolution of it, there certainly was a lot and a lot of actions, didn't bore me at all!!
Anyway, I liked it very much. It's really a story worth adults but the end was tooooo rainbows and butterflies. And as you know I don't only rate a book as an independent I rate it comparing to the others as well so I'm sorry but in this situation I can't give it more than a 4. Though it's a great book, really amazing ! Wonderful story and what I most liked was the evolution of it, there certainly was a lot and a lot of actions, didn't bore me at all!!
January 25, 2013
A love for life, by Penny Hancok, the novel talks about Fanella a women who couldn't have a children so she decided to adopt a child with her boyfriend,hoes we, her boyfriend left her so she struggled raising her child as a single mother. Therefore, she decided to adopt a five years old girl, you should read the rest to know what happens with her and her adopted daughter. It is an easy written story I liked it.
May 1, 2017
Very predictable... it takes place in England. Very fast read and a good listen while driving -- it doesn't have many characters to keep track of and the story moves along....After all it is only 3 hours listening time!!
August 8, 2017
Recommendable book
The book is a funny and interesting way to practice English and the history was very beautiful, definitely I recommend this book in order to improve your English level.
The book is a funny and interesting way to practice English and the history was very beautiful, definitely I recommend this book in order to improve your English level.
September 19, 2019
كيف تنهض من تحت الركام،الحياة لاتتوقف بل تستمر..هذا هو مغزى هذه الروايه، لغتها بسيطه والاحداث تسير بسلاسه وبلا تعقيد ، شخصيات الروايه جميله ، فيها احداث واقعيه تلامس المشاعر. لكن شخصية رود ازعجتني وفاجئتني بل لم اكن اتوقع ان يتصرف مع الخيانه بهذا الشكل ، جعلني اغضب منه لدرجه كبييييره.. لا اريد ذكر تفاصل عن اي شخصيه ليبقى القاريء متشوق لمعرفة الاحداث.
November 28, 2023
Empecé este libro como recomendación de mi profesor para un examen de inglés y al final me provocó sensaciones... Tanto si quieres aprender mejor el idioma con vocabulario variado, como si quieres conocer una historia preciosa, este es EL libro.
April 9, 2018
A good story but a very predictable ending.
September 29, 2020
I want to read this book
October 14, 2020
Anyway their love has a happy ending. Congratulations.
December 22, 2016
Good one!
March 16, 2017
Hmmm, I didn't like it a lot because of its predictable motif and ending.
October 4, 2025
Pese a la temática aparentemente simplona presenta una historia interesante sobre una mujer luchadora y decidida que no dejará de perseguir sus sueños.
January 30, 2008
This book shows us how one woman named FANELLA finds her real happiness sincerely in her life. While i was reading this book, somehow i could find myself from her. She knows how to get happiness,how to get come to herself and how to be what she is. The part of her character that i like most is that she is able to be satisfied with what she has now. Throwing the overwanting away, she closes her eyes from the things she can't take at all. However, she doesn't lose her hands for what she really wants for her entire life. Adoption children. Anyway if you are in the middle of way of your life and don't know where to go,read this book..it can help you look into yourself and what really you want for your life..
May 5, 2008
Fanella bravely faces the challenge of adopting a child alone afer her partner leaves her. But the Rod, a teacher who has problems of his own, comes to her life. Fanella has diffcult choices and exciting discoveries to make.
This book is recommanded by Olivile, and it is a good book.
This book is recommanded by Olivile, and it is a good book.
June 12, 2015
Very easy read! But very very cute love story!
January 14, 2017
If it is meant to be ; it will be
#the_rule_of_life
#the_rule_of_life
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2022
Some might think it is an easy reading, but I was bit emotional by reading it.
March 28, 2013
Love stories are not really my thing but I enjoyed this story.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews