What do you think?
Rate this book
Mum & Dad
"What a mess, she thought now . . . what a bloody, unholy mess the whole family has got itself into." It's been 25 years since Gus and Monica left England to start a new life in Spain, building a vineyard and wine business from the ground up. However, when Gus suffers a stroke and their idyllic Mediterranean life is thrown into upheaval, it's left to their three grown-up children in London to step in . . . Sebastian is busy running his company with his wife, Anna, who's never quite seen eye-to-eye with her mother-in-law. Katie, a successful solicitor in the city, is distracted by the problems with her long-term partner, Nic, and the secretive lives of their three daughters. And Jake, ever the easy-going optimist, is determined to convince his new wife, Bella, that moving to Spain with their 18-month-old would be a good idea. As the children descend on the vineyard, it becomes clear that each has their own idea of how best to handle their mum and dad, as well as the family business. But as long-simmering resentments rise to the surface and tensions reach breaking point, can the family ties prove strong enough to keep them together?
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2020
453 people are currently reading
1251 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Trollope
132 books604 followersJoanna Trollope Potter Curteis (aka Caroline Harvey)
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 480 reviews
March 4, 2020
Joanna Trollope has made a career out of writing about family, relationships and marriage, in this novel she gives us three generations of a family and the dynamics between them. There are the grandparents, Monica and Gus, their three children and their families, bought up short when Monica discovers her husband, Gus, has suffered from a stroke. Decades ago, they had left England for Spain, an unhappy Monica from a generation where women followed and did what their husbands wanted, leaving behind children at boarding school. Gus got involved with a vineyard and set up a wine business, their marriage not in the best of states through the years, but Gus's stroke leaves Monica bewildered and unsure as her familiar world threatens to fall apart. She has not seen her children for some years, highlighting the lack of communication between them.
Gus is selfish, stroppy and antisocial, all too used to getting his own way. Their family descends on them, with Sebastian, married to Anna who has never got on with Monica. Anna is a dominant personality, and she and the kids show barely any respect to Sebastian. Katie has been with her partner, Nic, for twenty years, they have never got married. She is a hard working lawyer, the main earner, barely aware of the problems, distress and secrets that her daughters harbour. Like her mother, Katie not been the best role model for motherhood. Jake, with a more laid back personality, has recently married Bella and has a eighteen month old Mouse. All have their own different ideas with regard to their parents ill health, business and age issues. There are resentments, rivalries, poor communications, secrets, all exacerbated by their past distance from each other.
The scene is set for the potential for further family discord and dysfunction, have they got it in them to survive, to come together as a family that supports one another? Trollope writes a well observed and insightful inter-generational family drama, examining the nature of family, the complications associated with it, not to mention all the trials and tribulations that tend to go with it. This will appeal to Trollope fans and all those who love a good, character driven, contemporary family drama. Many thanks to PanMacmillan for an ARC.
Gus is selfish, stroppy and antisocial, all too used to getting his own way. Their family descends on them, with Sebastian, married to Anna who has never got on with Monica. Anna is a dominant personality, and she and the kids show barely any respect to Sebastian. Katie has been with her partner, Nic, for twenty years, they have never got married. She is a hard working lawyer, the main earner, barely aware of the problems, distress and secrets that her daughters harbour. Like her mother, Katie not been the best role model for motherhood. Jake, with a more laid back personality, has recently married Bella and has a eighteen month old Mouse. All have their own different ideas with regard to their parents ill health, business and age issues. There are resentments, rivalries, poor communications, secrets, all exacerbated by their past distance from each other.
The scene is set for the potential for further family discord and dysfunction, have they got it in them to survive, to come together as a family that supports one another? Trollope writes a well observed and insightful inter-generational family drama, examining the nature of family, the complications associated with it, not to mention all the trials and tribulations that tend to go with it. This will appeal to Trollope fans and all those who love a good, character driven, contemporary family drama. Many thanks to PanMacmillan for an ARC.
November 16, 2022
3 stars and a shorter review on this one.
Joanna Trollope delivered a very good book that brought to life a normal family that experiences all the same trials, loves, losses and challenges we face, but did it with such empathy, compassion and a clear understanding of family dynamics.
A great author and a very good everyday story. I liked but did not love this one. Personally, I enjoy a powerful story, lots of drama, tragedy, betrayals and something I don’t see every day. I’m not that keen on reading about the ‘normal’ family – because I live that. The ‘normal’ being a family who experiences highs and lows, love and loss of loved ones. I enjoy ‘escapism’ whether it’s a romance or tragedy, but I like a story that packs a real punch.
In all, a very good family story. You would not be disappointed reading this, however, you might not see it as the best book you’ve ever read.
Joanna Trollope delivered a very good book that brought to life a normal family that experiences all the same trials, loves, losses and challenges we face, but did it with such empathy, compassion and a clear understanding of family dynamics.
A great author and a very good everyday story. I liked but did not love this one. Personally, I enjoy a powerful story, lots of drama, tragedy, betrayals and something I don’t see every day. I’m not that keen on reading about the ‘normal’ family – because I live that. The ‘normal’ being a family who experiences highs and lows, love and loss of loved ones. I enjoy ‘escapism’ whether it’s a romance or tragedy, but I like a story that packs a real punch.
In all, a very good family story. You would not be disappointed reading this, however, you might not see it as the best book you’ve ever read.
May 7, 2020
EXCERPT: . . . what would happen? What future was there for a business whose mainspring - Gus - was looking at a very changed way of living his life? What if he couldn't carry on, what if he and Monica couldn't even stay in Spain? Why hadn't they all thought of this, as a possibility, why hadn't they talked about it, why hadn't she and her brothers even discussed what might happen when their parents grew too old, too frail, to manage a vineyard on the slopes of a mountain in southern Spain?
Katie put her head down on her arms on the windowsill, the tiled windowsill that was cool now, but certainly not cold. It was shameful to have been so careless, to have been so wrapped up in the demands of their own lives that they hadn't really considered this, let alone planned for it.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It’s been twenty-five years since Gus and Monica left England to start a new life in Spain, building a vineyard and wine business from the ground up. However, when Gus suffers a stroke and their idyllic Mediterranean life is thrown into upheaval, it’s left to their three grown-up children in London to step in . . .
Sebastian is busy running his company with his wife, Anna, who’s never quite seen eye-to-eye with her mother-in-law.
Katie, a successful solicitor in the City, is distracted by the problems with her long-term partner, Nic, and the secretive lives of their three daughters.
And Jake, ever the easy-going optimist, is determined to convince his new wife, Bella, that moving to Spain with their eighteen-month-old would be a good idea.
As the children descend on the vineyard, it becomes clear that each has their own idea of how best to handle their mum and dad, as well as the family business. But as long-simmering resentments rise to the surface and tensions reach breaking point, can the family ties prove strong enough to keep them together?
MY THOUGHTS: I have long been a fan of Joanna Trollope's writing. I have a collection of her books on my shelves, my comfort reads, my happy place.
I love how she captures the essence of family, the interactions of parents and children, siblings, husbands and wives. She tells it how it is, with her charming insightful honesty and a little humour. Trollope has an eye for detail and accurately depicts the quirks of human nature. She writes of situations that any and all of us might face, skillfully and with empathy.
In her newest book, Mum & Dad, Trollope looks at the problem of aging parents who live overseas, and the effects on the wider family when the wheels fall off the wagon.
Trollope's characters are wonderful. Gus, autocratic patriarch of the Meacham family and founder of a winery on the mountain slopes of southern Spain. Monica, his long suffering wife who uprooted the family so Gus could live his dream. Sebastian, elder son, pessimist, is having problems in his marriage to Anna, and feels that neither his wife nor his two sons 'see' him any more. It doesn't help, either, that his parents and Anna have never gotten on. Katie, partner to Nic, lawyer, mother of three daughters, whose relationship with her own mother is somewhat tenuous. And Jake, the golden boy, eternal optimist, who can do no wrong in his mother's eyes, married to Bella and father to Mousie (Molly). The three siblings have never been close, so how are they going to cope now that they all have to pull together, and take care of their parents problems along with their own?
This was, as are all of Trollope's novels, a lovely read. A read where first impressions are deceptive, and the hidden depths of the characters are plumbed. Highly recommended - a realistic and intensely pleasurable read.
❤❤❤❤
#MumDad #NetGalley
Jake to his father's consultant: 'My father is so stubborn, he makes a mule look obliging.'
And I fist pumped the air when Monica tells Gus: '...nothing is going to be the same. Nothing. Do you hear me, you stupid, stubborn old man?'
THE AUTHOR: Joanna Trollope Potter Curteis (aka Caroline Harvey)
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001. Today, she is a grandmother and lives on her own in London.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to IPG Macmillan via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Mum & Dad by Joanna Trollope for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Katie put her head down on her arms on the windowsill, the tiled windowsill that was cool now, but certainly not cold. It was shameful to have been so careless, to have been so wrapped up in the demands of their own lives that they hadn't really considered this, let alone planned for it.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It’s been twenty-five years since Gus and Monica left England to start a new life in Spain, building a vineyard and wine business from the ground up. However, when Gus suffers a stroke and their idyllic Mediterranean life is thrown into upheaval, it’s left to their three grown-up children in London to step in . . .
Sebastian is busy running his company with his wife, Anna, who’s never quite seen eye-to-eye with her mother-in-law.
Katie, a successful solicitor in the City, is distracted by the problems with her long-term partner, Nic, and the secretive lives of their three daughters.
And Jake, ever the easy-going optimist, is determined to convince his new wife, Bella, that moving to Spain with their eighteen-month-old would be a good idea.
As the children descend on the vineyard, it becomes clear that each has their own idea of how best to handle their mum and dad, as well as the family business. But as long-simmering resentments rise to the surface and tensions reach breaking point, can the family ties prove strong enough to keep them together?
MY THOUGHTS: I have long been a fan of Joanna Trollope's writing. I have a collection of her books on my shelves, my comfort reads, my happy place.
I love how she captures the essence of family, the interactions of parents and children, siblings, husbands and wives. She tells it how it is, with her charming insightful honesty and a little humour. Trollope has an eye for detail and accurately depicts the quirks of human nature. She writes of situations that any and all of us might face, skillfully and with empathy.
In her newest book, Mum & Dad, Trollope looks at the problem of aging parents who live overseas, and the effects on the wider family when the wheels fall off the wagon.
Trollope's characters are wonderful. Gus, autocratic patriarch of the Meacham family and founder of a winery on the mountain slopes of southern Spain. Monica, his long suffering wife who uprooted the family so Gus could live his dream. Sebastian, elder son, pessimist, is having problems in his marriage to Anna, and feels that neither his wife nor his two sons 'see' him any more. It doesn't help, either, that his parents and Anna have never gotten on. Katie, partner to Nic, lawyer, mother of three daughters, whose relationship with her own mother is somewhat tenuous. And Jake, the golden boy, eternal optimist, who can do no wrong in his mother's eyes, married to Bella and father to Mousie (Molly). The three siblings have never been close, so how are they going to cope now that they all have to pull together, and take care of their parents problems along with their own?
This was, as are all of Trollope's novels, a lovely read. A read where first impressions are deceptive, and the hidden depths of the characters are plumbed. Highly recommended - a realistic and intensely pleasurable read.
❤❤❤❤
#MumDad #NetGalley
Jake to his father's consultant: 'My father is so stubborn, he makes a mule look obliging.'
And I fist pumped the air when Monica tells Gus: '...nothing is going to be the same. Nothing. Do you hear me, you stupid, stubborn old man?'
THE AUTHOR: Joanna Trollope Potter Curteis (aka Caroline Harvey)
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001. Today, she is a grandmother and lives on her own in London.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to IPG Macmillan via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Mum & Dad by Joanna Trollope for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 20, 2020
I have been reading Joanna Trollope's novels for many years now, lots of them back in the days when I did not record or review my reading. They are all sitting on the top shelves of one of my book cases and I know I enjoyed every one of them.
For me they are comfort reading, safe in the knowledge that the author writes with skill and that, although there will be drama and arguments and confusion, there will be a satisfying ending where everything comes good. Mum & Dad follows that pattern precisely.
The mum and dad in question are two of those pesky grandparents who have gone to live overseas in Spain while all their family are still in England. No problem until one of the grands has a stroke. Suddenly their adult children find themselves in that well known position of having caring obligations to their parents at the same time as their own children need them.
Maybe the solutions to the problems are arrived at a bit more easily than in real life but it is still comforting to see families that have fallen apart coming together again. This is a feel good book written by a talented author and I enjoyed it very much!
For me they are comfort reading, safe in the knowledge that the author writes with skill and that, although there will be drama and arguments and confusion, there will be a satisfying ending where everything comes good. Mum & Dad follows that pattern precisely.
The mum and dad in question are two of those pesky grandparents who have gone to live overseas in Spain while all their family are still in England. No problem until one of the grands has a stroke. Suddenly their adult children find themselves in that well known position of having caring obligations to their parents at the same time as their own children need them.
Maybe the solutions to the problems are arrived at a bit more easily than in real life but it is still comforting to see families that have fallen apart coming together again. This is a feel good book written by a talented author and I enjoyed it very much!
July 27, 2020
Joanna Trollope has written an inter-generational family drama that is steeped in regrets, resentment, sibling rivalry and petty jealousies.
At the heart of the story are ageing parents Monica and Gus who 25 years earlier had left England for Spain, where they have created a successful wine business. Over the years Gus has become a grumpy old man, his wines are his life, and he pretty much leaves Monica to do her own thing. She loves Spain but has regrets about leaving her children, in boarding school, all those years ago.
When Gus suffers a debilitating stroke and the family is called in to help out it has them all re-evaluating their relationship with each other.
This dilemma with their parents comes at a time when each of the children have busy jobs and are trying to deal with problems with their own children, their marriages and life in general. The three siblings are not close but the common problem prompts them to come together and be open with each other.
The setting of Spain is beautifully described and I loved how the Spanish people, who worked for Monica and Gus, were so loving and accommodating. More like family than their own children.
Mum & Dad is filled with relatable family dramas and about a topic that is relevant to many families today. Joanna Trollope has once again given her readers an engrossing story with an eye for family dynamics and absorbing character studies.
*I received a copy from the publisher
At the heart of the story are ageing parents Monica and Gus who 25 years earlier had left England for Spain, where they have created a successful wine business. Over the years Gus has become a grumpy old man, his wines are his life, and he pretty much leaves Monica to do her own thing. She loves Spain but has regrets about leaving her children, in boarding school, all those years ago.
When Gus suffers a debilitating stroke and the family is called in to help out it has them all re-evaluating their relationship with each other.
This dilemma with their parents comes at a time when each of the children have busy jobs and are trying to deal with problems with their own children, their marriages and life in general. The three siblings are not close but the common problem prompts them to come together and be open with each other.
The setting of Spain is beautifully described and I loved how the Spanish people, who worked for Monica and Gus, were so loving and accommodating. More like family than their own children.
Mum & Dad is filled with relatable family dramas and about a topic that is relevant to many families today. Joanna Trollope has once again given her readers an engrossing story with an eye for family dynamics and absorbing character studies.
*I received a copy from the publisher
July 4, 2020
Twenty five years earlier Monica and Gus left England to start a new life in Spain. Gus plants a vineyards and builds up his wine business till his wines are winning awards. But then Gus suffers a stroke. What will happen? All the adult offspring live in London. There is Sebastian and his wife and two boys, Dermot and Marcus. His wife Anna has never got along with Monica or even visited Spain. Katie is a successful solicitor. She has been with her partner Nic for twenty years, though they are not married. Together they have three girls, Daisy, Marta and Florence. A problem arises with one that they never even suspected. Jake, the youngest and most easy going quickly jumps in to help the Gus and Monica. But will he make things worse rather than better? And can he convince his wife Bella to move to Spain with their eighteen month old daughter, Molly, known as Mouse. Each of the adult children have their own ideas of the best way to handle a difficult situation, keep the business going and manage their parents as well as their own lives. As they try and work through the problems, family tensions and resentments surface and secrets come to light. Will this break the family apart?
From the beginning I was completely involved in this family drama, even when I didn’t particularly like many of the main characters. But surely that is the sign of a good writer to keep you reading and wanting to know what happens without liking all the characters. There were times I felt like bopping more than one of them as they interacted with each other and their parents and tried to impose their wishes Gus is an old grump, which is possibly the best word I can call him. Amazing that Monica puts up with as much as she does. But Gus is not the only one who tries to rule their roost and always have their own way. From start to finish I enjoyed this family drama being played out. What it left me with most at the end though was thankfulness for my own husband and family.
I have read most of Joanna Trollope’s books. Most of them before I joined Goodreads. I have enjoyed many, although a couple of later ones not so much. But with this one she is back to writing what she does best, family situations and the undercurrents than can occur. I raced through this one. Just loved it. Maybe the ending is a little too neat but, all in all, I found this an entertaining and enjoyable read and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in family stories or character driven novels.
From the beginning I was completely involved in this family drama, even when I didn’t particularly like many of the main characters. But surely that is the sign of a good writer to keep you reading and wanting to know what happens without liking all the characters. There were times I felt like bopping more than one of them as they interacted with each other and their parents and tried to impose their wishes Gus is an old grump, which is possibly the best word I can call him. Amazing that Monica puts up with as much as she does. But Gus is not the only one who tries to rule their roost and always have their own way. From start to finish I enjoyed this family drama being played out. What it left me with most at the end though was thankfulness for my own husband and family.
I have read most of Joanna Trollope’s books. Most of them before I joined Goodreads. I have enjoyed many, although a couple of later ones not so much. But with this one she is back to writing what she does best, family situations and the undercurrents than can occur. I raced through this one. Just loved it. Maybe the ending is a little too neat but, all in all, I found this an entertaining and enjoyable read and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in family stories or character driven novels.
April 30, 2020
Sophisticated, genuine, and perceptive!
In this latest novel by Trollope, Mum & Dad, she transports us to the hillsides of southern Spain and into the lives of the Beacham family who after their patriarch unexpectedly suffers a debilitating stroke must begin to confront, accept, and heal all the past grievances that seem to have been weighing them down and learn to finally lean on and move forward together as a loving, united family.
The prose is smooth and fluid. The characters are complex, overwhelmed, and authentic. And the plot is a heartfelt, compelling tale of life, love, support, communication, understanding, integrity, introspection, familial dynamics, marital strains, and mental health.
Overall, Mum & Dad is an honest, raw, domestic drama that delves into the intricate relationships and dynamics between family members, spouses, and in-laws and exposes the different psychological and emotional struggles each generation has.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this latest novel by Trollope, Mum & Dad, she transports us to the hillsides of southern Spain and into the lives of the Beacham family who after their patriarch unexpectedly suffers a debilitating stroke must begin to confront, accept, and heal all the past grievances that seem to have been weighing them down and learn to finally lean on and move forward together as a loving, united family.
The prose is smooth and fluid. The characters are complex, overwhelmed, and authentic. And the plot is a heartfelt, compelling tale of life, love, support, communication, understanding, integrity, introspection, familial dynamics, marital strains, and mental health.
Overall, Mum & Dad is an honest, raw, domestic drama that delves into the intricate relationships and dynamics between family members, spouses, and in-laws and exposes the different psychological and emotional struggles each generation has.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2020
I throughly enjoyed this book, I read The Rectors Wife years ago after I watched the tv series and I loved both of them. This book was so gentle and easy to read about all the different characters in the family. The book just seemed to float along and before I knew it I had reached the last page. It was just what I needed in these very difficult times, to forget for just awhile all the awful things going on in the world and leaving the bad news behind..
I will look for more of Joanna’s books when I can.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
I will look for more of Joanna’s books when I can.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
April 16, 2020
This book really felt like Joanna Trollope had to write it in order to be able to tax deduct her trips to Spain. No bueno.
February 3, 2024
Catching up…
I read this when it first came out.
And…
With this being another donation to my Little Free Library Shed, it seemed only right to re-visit it and write my review for Goodreads.
Let me just start with my response to the setting of this story…
As readers, we are transported to the south of Spain.
The Mediterranean light and atmosphere of the Spanish village described in this book…
Evocative. Beautiful. Enchanting.
And…
Even the descriptions of the vineyard, the Spanish families and shopkeepers, and farm workers are charming.
But…
The main characters are less than desirable. On the front cover it says…
“Sometimes, your parents don’t know best.”
Which…
In my opinion is misleading…
Because…
It appears that the family cast in this story – the kids called upon to come help their Mum & Dad in Spain after their father suffers a stroke, don’t seem to know what is best either. If anything, they all have a lot of growing up to do.
Which…
Makes this story feel more like a yarn, an implausible tale, with the hope that everyone will change for the better. The problem is that it read like a soap opera with a lot of family dilemmas and very few redemptions.
Plotline: 1 star
Setting: 2 stars
1 + 2 = 3 Stars Overall
I read this when it first came out.
And…
With this being another donation to my Little Free Library Shed, it seemed only right to re-visit it and write my review for Goodreads.
Let me just start with my response to the setting of this story…
As readers, we are transported to the south of Spain.
The Mediterranean light and atmosphere of the Spanish village described in this book…
Evocative. Beautiful. Enchanting.
And…
Even the descriptions of the vineyard, the Spanish families and shopkeepers, and farm workers are charming.
But…
The main characters are less than desirable. On the front cover it says…
“Sometimes, your parents don’t know best.”
Which…
In my opinion is misleading…
Because…
It appears that the family cast in this story – the kids called upon to come help their Mum & Dad in Spain after their father suffers a stroke, don’t seem to know what is best either. If anything, they all have a lot of growing up to do.
Which…
Makes this story feel more like a yarn, an implausible tale, with the hope that everyone will change for the better. The problem is that it read like a soap opera with a lot of family dilemmas and very few redemptions.
Plotline: 1 star
Setting: 2 stars
1 + 2 = 3 Stars Overall
March 13, 2020
Really enjoyed this wonderful book until the later bits, sadly it seemed Joanna got a bit tired about how to finish it off, but still well worth the effort. As my wife and I have read all of her previous novels (except her take on Sense and Sensibility) and discussed the books after, we decided I would read this one aloud to her. Wonderful experience that led us to not only take it all in at the same time, but also discuss all the characters as the story developed. Split between Spain and England the scene is well set and all the family members interesting in their unique ways. Recommended.
May 4, 2020
I suggest a better title would be 'Ho & Hum'. A dull and insipid book.
February 18, 2021
Nothing happened then poofe! it ended. Weird. Maybe some people find comfort in the everyday and reading things like this but it's not for me. Easily the most dull content I've ever read.
March 9, 2020
I used to love Joanna Trollope’s books, especially her early ones such as The Men and The Girls, The Best of Friends and Other People’s Children. However, I’ve ended up feeling disappointed in several of her books in recent years, especially Balancing Act which I found dull and inconclusive. However, thanks to Net galley, I was able to try her latest and went in with an open mind.
Mum and Dad is the story of Monica and Gus who have been in Spain for twenty-five years following Gus’s dream of running a vineyard. When Gus has a stroke, their three children back in the UK all scramble, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, to do their duty. The story opens with Monica, who I liked in chapter one and then rapidly went off. In fact, I don’t think there was a single character that I liked or rooted for in the story at all, which is the main part of the problem.
Just like when I read Balancing Act, I found I neither empathised with nor liked any of the characters, which means that I didn’t much want to read what happened to them, which means I lost interest in the story.
To blissfully lose yourself into the fictional word of a book means you have to care about what happens to at least one character and I didn’t like any of them. Which means I read up to 40% on my kindle and left them to it, fighting over the vineyard. I didn’t much care what happened to that either.
By the way, throughout Balancing Act, Trollope massively overused the phrase “let a beat fall” to denote a meaningful pause. I found that phrase in here too and felt sorely irritated.
Mum and Dad is the story of Monica and Gus who have been in Spain for twenty-five years following Gus’s dream of running a vineyard. When Gus has a stroke, their three children back in the UK all scramble, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, to do their duty. The story opens with Monica, who I liked in chapter one and then rapidly went off. In fact, I don’t think there was a single character that I liked or rooted for in the story at all, which is the main part of the problem.
Just like when I read Balancing Act, I found I neither empathised with nor liked any of the characters, which means that I didn’t much want to read what happened to them, which means I lost interest in the story.
To blissfully lose yourself into the fictional word of a book means you have to care about what happens to at least one character and I didn’t like any of them. Which means I read up to 40% on my kindle and left them to it, fighting over the vineyard. I didn’t much care what happened to that either.
By the way, throughout Balancing Act, Trollope massively overused the phrase “let a beat fall” to denote a meaningful pause. I found that phrase in here too and felt sorely irritated.
April 3, 2020
I am a Joanna Trollope fan, having read everything she has written. I really enjoyed this read. The characters are very well drawn, as usual.
Gus and Monica left England for Spain over twenty five years earlier. They own a vineyard and a winery. Gus has a stroke. Their adult children have to come to the rescue. Sebastian is a businessman. His wife, Anna, has never really got on with Monica. Anna can be quite patronising and supercilious, never mind domineering. Katie, a solicitor, has a long term partner, Nic. They have never married. Their relationship is not harmonious. They have three discontented daughters. Jake, who fancies himself as a bit of a charmer and a golden boy, wants to convince his wife, Bella, that moving to Spain with their eighteen-month-old daughter, Molly, would be a great idea.
They all have different ideas about how to deal with the vineyard and what to do about Monica and Gus. Tensions run high as personality clashes abound. This is one highly dysfunctional family.
Gus is a terrible bully, having persuaded Monica against her better judgement to move to Spain leaving her children behind all those years ago. Monica can be self centred and a bit of a martyr. She has a long suffering employee ( servant?) Pilar to take care of all the drudgery in her life.
The book is very well written and is a really enjoyable read. Trollope does relationships, especially family relationships blighted by old simmering resentments, so well. The story is realistic and well told, with no schmaltz. I recommend this book.
Gus and Monica left England for Spain over twenty five years earlier. They own a vineyard and a winery. Gus has a stroke. Their adult children have to come to the rescue. Sebastian is a businessman. His wife, Anna, has never really got on with Monica. Anna can be quite patronising and supercilious, never mind domineering. Katie, a solicitor, has a long term partner, Nic. They have never married. Their relationship is not harmonious. They have three discontented daughters. Jake, who fancies himself as a bit of a charmer and a golden boy, wants to convince his wife, Bella, that moving to Spain with their eighteen-month-old daughter, Molly, would be a great idea.
They all have different ideas about how to deal with the vineyard and what to do about Monica and Gus. Tensions run high as personality clashes abound. This is one highly dysfunctional family.
Gus is a terrible bully, having persuaded Monica against her better judgement to move to Spain leaving her children behind all those years ago. Monica can be self centred and a bit of a martyr. She has a long suffering employee ( servant?) Pilar to take care of all the drudgery in her life.
The book is very well written and is a really enjoyable read. Trollope does relationships, especially family relationships blighted by old simmering resentments, so well. The story is realistic and well told, with no schmaltz. I recommend this book.
April 6, 2020
It felt very rushed and not thought through.
Monica is only 4 years older than me, yet she feels as old, as out-dated (and as useless) as my mother, who would be 98 now if still alive. Who in this day and age cares if people aren't married, and thinks less of her daughter's partner because of it? Describing him as not a proper person, nor a real and significant man because of this shows her old fashioned ideas really well. And as for suggesting that her daughters-in-law should have no say in whether their families move to Spain or not because it was for men to make these decisions! I can't think of anyone I know of my age group who married and devoted themselves to just their husband like she did, and in the event turned him into a belligerent monster. What an anachronism she is.
Why would the children need to, or want, to get involved in the vineyard? The foreman seemed to be handling things well. Or was this supposed to be metaphor for a large family estate in England?
What was that about the vines that Jake bought? How come Sebastian suddenly was in charge of the paperwork?
Not one of her best.
Monica is only 4 years older than me, yet she feels as old, as out-dated (and as useless) as my mother, who would be 98 now if still alive. Who in this day and age cares if people aren't married, and thinks less of her daughter's partner because of it? Describing him as not a proper person, nor a real and significant man because of this shows her old fashioned ideas really well. And as for suggesting that her daughters-in-law should have no say in whether their families move to Spain or not because it was for men to make these decisions! I can't think of anyone I know of my age group who married and devoted themselves to just their husband like she did, and in the event turned him into a belligerent monster. What an anachronism she is.
Why would the children need to, or want, to get involved in the vineyard? The foreman seemed to be handling things well. Or was this supposed to be metaphor for a large family estate in England?
What was that about the vines that Jake bought? How come Sebastian suddenly was in charge of the paperwork?
Not one of her best.
May 15, 2020
I found it difficult to like the characters in this new novel by Joanna Trollope. The story tells of a family where the ‘mum and dad’ live on a vineyard in Spain, and all of the grown children live in London. The father in Spain has a stroke, and the story covers the family’s reactions to this and how it affects all their lives. Does it bring them together or tear them further apart? The family have very odd and mostly distant relationships with each other and I think the way these relationships are drawn made it hard for me to relate to the characters. It was a fairly interesting premise., but I have read better from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and Independent Publishers Group for an arc of this novel.
November 3, 2020
Monica and Gus, a British couple in their seventies, run a vineyard in Spain. They started it from scratch, decades earlier, at the expense, possibly, of their children’s happiness. Gus’s unexpected stroke at the end of the first chapter throws the family into panic. All three grown-up children live in Britain; all are juggling problems of their own. But the crisis can’t be avoided and, somehow, they’ll have to settle their differences and work together to sort out Mum & Dad.
So, this was my first Joanne Trollope for a long time (I remembered, when I saw her list of previous books, reading Marrying The Mistress) and it took me a while to see the appeal, because hers are books in which, relatively speaking, very little happens. I like a book in which a lot happens, from the very first paragraph.
Trollope’s books are about people and the everyday, if difficult, circumstances in which they so often find themselves. Mum & Dad, specifically, is about the sandwich generation, the adults in their forties and fifties who are caring for both dependent children and elderly parents. On the surface, it’s about juggling, family tensions and the secrets we keep, even from those closest to us. Deeper themes that emerge as we read on include missed opportunities, finding one’s best self, and the value that each generation can have for those who came before and after.
I had some issues with the writing, especially in the opening chapter. Too much, it seemed to me, was told to the reader, in expository text, rather than shown naturally through events. I sometimes wonder if very successful writers can get a bit lazy? Similarly, I found some of the dialogue quite stilted, maybe a little unrealistic. Ultimately, though, my main concern was that whilst the issues raised by the book were important and engaging, not enough time and space was allowed to properly explore them. Resolutions were presented rather quickly, characters who’d behaved badly got off too lightly, and it all seemed to be a little too easily wrapped up by the end.
I didn’t dislike the book. I can see the appeal of this sort of family drama and I'm giving it a solid three stars. In the end, though, it rather confirmed by previous view that Joanna Trollope isn’t really to my taste.
So, this was my first Joanne Trollope for a long time (I remembered, when I saw her list of previous books, reading Marrying The Mistress) and it took me a while to see the appeal, because hers are books in which, relatively speaking, very little happens. I like a book in which a lot happens, from the very first paragraph.
Trollope’s books are about people and the everyday, if difficult, circumstances in which they so often find themselves. Mum & Dad, specifically, is about the sandwich generation, the adults in their forties and fifties who are caring for both dependent children and elderly parents. On the surface, it’s about juggling, family tensions and the secrets we keep, even from those closest to us. Deeper themes that emerge as we read on include missed opportunities, finding one’s best self, and the value that each generation can have for those who came before and after.
I had some issues with the writing, especially in the opening chapter. Too much, it seemed to me, was told to the reader, in expository text, rather than shown naturally through events. I sometimes wonder if very successful writers can get a bit lazy? Similarly, I found some of the dialogue quite stilted, maybe a little unrealistic. Ultimately, though, my main concern was that whilst the issues raised by the book were important and engaging, not enough time and space was allowed to properly explore them. Resolutions were presented rather quickly, characters who’d behaved badly got off too lightly, and it all seemed to be a little too easily wrapped up by the end.
I didn’t dislike the book. I can see the appeal of this sort of family drama and I'm giving it a solid three stars. In the end, though, it rather confirmed by previous view that Joanna Trollope isn’t really to my taste.
May 25, 2020
I thought this book was terrible. The story is boring and the characters over react to predicaments that most of us have to live with at one time or another. Too many comas and phrasing in the sentences. Don’t waste your money.
June 25, 2020
Gus and Monica moved to Spain 25 years ago and have successfully built their own prestigious (if not necessarily financially) vineyard and farm shop. Then Gus has a debilitating stroke and things start to unwind, Monica can't run the vineyard, their eldest son Sebastian refuses, their daughter Katie is a successful London solicitor and won't which only leaves the youngest, Jake.
At first, frankly, each of the characters comes across as unpleasant, in turns snobby, misogynistic, weak, mercenary and self-centred. Little-by-little we see into the lives of Gus and Monica, their children and their spouses and their grandchildren. Things start to make more sense, the characters become more relatable, the children and their spouses in particular change their behaviours.
My biggest issue with this book is that it ends very suddenly, I actually thought my Kindle had broken when it wouldn't move to the next page. Maybe it was deliberate, leaving the reader to imagine what happens next, maybe my more regular diet of romance has conditioned me to expect everything to be wrapped up but this felt like the start of something … and then nothing. Overall, I was left feeling 'So what? What was the point?'
The writing was excellent, each of the characters (and there are a lot) is given their own voice and the reader can empathise with each in turn (well maybe not all) and I was drawn into the lives of these three generations, but I was left hanging at the end.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
At first, frankly, each of the characters comes across as unpleasant, in turns snobby, misogynistic, weak, mercenary and self-centred. Little-by-little we see into the lives of Gus and Monica, their children and their spouses and their grandchildren. Things start to make more sense, the characters become more relatable, the children and their spouses in particular change their behaviours.
My biggest issue with this book is that it ends very suddenly, I actually thought my Kindle had broken when it wouldn't move to the next page. Maybe it was deliberate, leaving the reader to imagine what happens next, maybe my more regular diet of romance has conditioned me to expect everything to be wrapped up but this felt like the start of something … and then nothing. Overall, I was left feeling 'So what? What was the point?'
The writing was excellent, each of the characters (and there are a lot) is given their own voice and the reader can empathise with each in turn (well maybe not all) and I was drawn into the lives of these three generations, but I was left hanging at the end.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
April 1, 2020
I love Joanna Trollope books and this one was no exception. Her ability to write about different issues with such insight is a rare talent.
Every family have to deal with their own issues and the Beacham family in this story had their own family dynamics. Gus and Monica’s decision to move to Spain to follow their dream of building a vineyard and wine business, sometimes at the expense of their children struck a cord with me as it is something my own in-laws have done.
Their children Sebastian, Katie and Jake need to step in to help when Gus suffers a stroke. With each child having to juggle the demands of their own families and finding the best solution in helping their parents, they need to reunite and put family resentments behind them. But can they?
Gus and Monica have their own relationship struggles to deal with. Gus has always been a demanding husband and his changed lifestyle after his stroke puts extra strain on Monica. Can he adapt and come to terms with his loss of control.? Or will Monica snap under the new pressures? The exploration of old fashioned marriage expectations was beautifully explored.
This book was a gentle easy read and one I enjoyed at this difficult period where I found it hard to pick up a book. It resounded with me that every family has their own personal struggles and sometimes normality can be the easiest option for some and not for others.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this enjoyable identifiable read
Every family have to deal with their own issues and the Beacham family in this story had their own family dynamics. Gus and Monica’s decision to move to Spain to follow their dream of building a vineyard and wine business, sometimes at the expense of their children struck a cord with me as it is something my own in-laws have done.
Their children Sebastian, Katie and Jake need to step in to help when Gus suffers a stroke. With each child having to juggle the demands of their own families and finding the best solution in helping their parents, they need to reunite and put family resentments behind them. But can they?
Gus and Monica have their own relationship struggles to deal with. Gus has always been a demanding husband and his changed lifestyle after his stroke puts extra strain on Monica. Can he adapt and come to terms with his loss of control.? Or will Monica snap under the new pressures? The exploration of old fashioned marriage expectations was beautifully explored.
This book was a gentle easy read and one I enjoyed at this difficult period where I found it hard to pick up a book. It resounded with me that every family has their own personal struggles and sometimes normality can be the easiest option for some and not for others.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this enjoyable identifiable read
July 23, 2020
This is a nice addition to panoply of books written by Joanna Trollope, who has graced her public with more than a few dozen novels delineating the trials and tribulations of the British middle class. Her novels are both witty and wise and deal mainly with problems of modern families, especially relationship issues, infidelity and issues affecting adolescents and their beleaguered parents. This one revolves around what happens when the irascible head of a family suffers a stroke and features a very troubled middle granddaughter, a stubborn old man, his undervalued daughter and a charismatic but unscrupulous favourite son. I like Trollope but I would have respected her more as a writer had she tried to vary the formula she always relies on: a family bust up, lots of angst and a final, mainly reassuring ending. Neat but not great.
March 21, 2020
It’s been twenty-five years since Gus and Monica left England to start a new life in Spain, building a vineyard and wine business from the ground up. However, when Gus suffers a stroke and their idyllic Mediterranean life is thrown into upheaval, it’s left to their three grown-up children in London to step in. Sebastian is busy running his company with his wife, Anna, who’s never quite seen eye-to-eye with her mother-in-law. Katie, a successful solicitor in the City, is distracted by the problems with her long-term partner, Nic, and the secretive lives of their three daughters. And Jake, ever the easy-going optimist, is determined to convince his new wife, Bella, that moving to Spain with their eighteen-month-old would be a good idea. As the children descend on the vineyard, it becomes clear that each has their own idea of how best to handle their mum and dad, as well as the family business. But as long-simmering resentments rise to the surface and tensions reach breaking point, can the family ties prove strong enough to keep them together?
I was apprehensive before starting this as to whether I would enjoy it. Well I was pleasantly surprised. This is a very readable, beautiful read that is perfect for the times we are living through.
The read centres around family and it was a joy to get to know Gus, Monica, their children and their families. They are very realistic, there will be some you like more than others but they are all easy to get to know, relatable and tell Trollope's story incredibly well. This is not a thrilling read, but a very real, emotional one that will pull at your heartstrings. This sweeping read truly focuses on family and events they go through.
'Mum & Dad' is an exquisite look at modern day families and the challenges they face. This is very readable and very enjoyable to read. Plus, it does not hurt to be transported to Spain either!
I was apprehensive before starting this as to whether I would enjoy it. Well I was pleasantly surprised. This is a very readable, beautiful read that is perfect for the times we are living through.
The read centres around family and it was a joy to get to know Gus, Monica, their children and their families. They are very realistic, there will be some you like more than others but they are all easy to get to know, relatable and tell Trollope's story incredibly well. This is not a thrilling read, but a very real, emotional one that will pull at your heartstrings. This sweeping read truly focuses on family and events they go through.
'Mum & Dad' is an exquisite look at modern day families and the challenges they face. This is very readable and very enjoyable to read. Plus, it does not hurt to be transported to Spain either!
June 1, 2020
An interesting book that explores the complexities of a family as they grow and have their own family. How relationships can grow and change over time and differing points of view. I enjoyed the last half more than i did the first. As it progresses the storyline picked up and I felt more connected to the characters.
April 26, 2020
If you love fiction that explores family dynamics in exquisite detail then look no further than Joanna Trollope’s new novel Mum and Dad.
This author has such a keen eye for observing all the intricacies of family life, including sibling rivalry in such an incredibly easy to read style that once you start you won’t be able to put down. Her style of writing feels effortless so to begin a new novel by this author is a real treat and one to savour.
For me,Mum and Dad is multi layered with numerous complex relationships in play and is immediately SO believable and relatable. Trollope could have picked any family at random and by delving under the surface discovered just as many feelings of hostility and regret and angst that are present in the lives of the fictional Monica and Gus and their extended family.
Expats Monica and Gus have forged a new life in Spain for the past twenty five years at Beacham Bodega, with Gus cultivating his vineyards producing award winning wine. He is a controlling, extremely bad tempered individual used to getting his own way and Monica is his long suffering wife. This novel explores the fallout for the whole family when Gus suffers a minor stroke and the future of the vineyard looks uncertain.
You certainly feel for Monica is the sense that she has been deeply unhappy for many years, of a generation expected to make a marriage work at all costs, perhaps in hindsight to the detriment of her relationships with children Sebastian, Katie and Jake.
One of the many things I loved about this book was the fact the simple title of Mum and Dad doesn’t just relate to Monica and Gus but to Sebastian and Anna and their two boys; to Katie and Nic and their three daughters and finally to Jake and Bella with baby Mouse.
In the immediate aftermath of Gus’ stoke it’s clear to see there is plenty of resentment bubbling beneath the surface in terms of Sebastian,Katie and Jake. Sibling rivalry provides a wealth of material for developing characters such as these three with Jake, the youngest seen as the favourite who can do no wrong. Familial duties and obligations need to be considered which Katie takes seriously despite not having the best relationship with her parents. You can feel their resentment at being forced to deal with a situation not of their making since it wasn’t their choice for Monica and Gus to uproot and settle in Spain. Except now they are faced with the consequences of this move, which one of them will step up and take on the ‘burden’ of taking care of Monica and the estate whilst Gus recuperates?? It certainly made me ponder my own situation as it may do for many.
Of course this novel isn’t just about the obligations of caring for parents in their old age but how it impacts on the already complicated lives of the three siblings.
Sebastian and Anna are an intriguing couple, the driving force of this marriage is most definitely her with Sebastian portrayed as a rather insipid pathetic emasculated man who is always angry.
Katie and Nic were the family I felt most sympathy for,juggling work and parenthood with two teenage children one of whom is coping with adolescence in a most disturbing way.
Jake, the most laidback and care free person is one to be wary of. Assuming the role of saviour without much thought or effort Katie and Sebastian are left wondering exactly what their baby brother is up to. However his relationship with his daughter Mouse is heartwarming; fatherhood is clearly a responsibility he relishes and adores.
All in all this is a novel full of warmth and wit and I felt invested in all of their lives, favouring no one character or situation but relishing all their interactions, their disputes, their rivalries and ultimately all their love. In this instance, it isn’t a prerequisite to either like or love any of the characters to enjoy this storyline. Families are flawed and these characters are true representations of that fact.
Without question a five star read for me and my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read such a delightful novel.
This author has such a keen eye for observing all the intricacies of family life, including sibling rivalry in such an incredibly easy to read style that once you start you won’t be able to put down. Her style of writing feels effortless so to begin a new novel by this author is a real treat and one to savour.
For me,Mum and Dad is multi layered with numerous complex relationships in play and is immediately SO believable and relatable. Trollope could have picked any family at random and by delving under the surface discovered just as many feelings of hostility and regret and angst that are present in the lives of the fictional Monica and Gus and their extended family.
Expats Monica and Gus have forged a new life in Spain for the past twenty five years at Beacham Bodega, with Gus cultivating his vineyards producing award winning wine. He is a controlling, extremely bad tempered individual used to getting his own way and Monica is his long suffering wife. This novel explores the fallout for the whole family when Gus suffers a minor stroke and the future of the vineyard looks uncertain.
You certainly feel for Monica is the sense that she has been deeply unhappy for many years, of a generation expected to make a marriage work at all costs, perhaps in hindsight to the detriment of her relationships with children Sebastian, Katie and Jake.
One of the many things I loved about this book was the fact the simple title of Mum and Dad doesn’t just relate to Monica and Gus but to Sebastian and Anna and their two boys; to Katie and Nic and their three daughters and finally to Jake and Bella with baby Mouse.
In the immediate aftermath of Gus’ stoke it’s clear to see there is plenty of resentment bubbling beneath the surface in terms of Sebastian,Katie and Jake. Sibling rivalry provides a wealth of material for developing characters such as these three with Jake, the youngest seen as the favourite who can do no wrong. Familial duties and obligations need to be considered which Katie takes seriously despite not having the best relationship with her parents. You can feel their resentment at being forced to deal with a situation not of their making since it wasn’t their choice for Monica and Gus to uproot and settle in Spain. Except now they are faced with the consequences of this move, which one of them will step up and take on the ‘burden’ of taking care of Monica and the estate whilst Gus recuperates?? It certainly made me ponder my own situation as it may do for many.
Of course this novel isn’t just about the obligations of caring for parents in their old age but how it impacts on the already complicated lives of the three siblings.
Sebastian and Anna are an intriguing couple, the driving force of this marriage is most definitely her with Sebastian portrayed as a rather insipid pathetic emasculated man who is always angry.
Katie and Nic were the family I felt most sympathy for,juggling work and parenthood with two teenage children one of whom is coping with adolescence in a most disturbing way.
Jake, the most laidback and care free person is one to be wary of. Assuming the role of saviour without much thought or effort Katie and Sebastian are left wondering exactly what their baby brother is up to. However his relationship with his daughter Mouse is heartwarming; fatherhood is clearly a responsibility he relishes and adores.
All in all this is a novel full of warmth and wit and I felt invested in all of their lives, favouring no one character or situation but relishing all their interactions, their disputes, their rivalries and ultimately all their love. In this instance, it isn’t a prerequisite to either like or love any of the characters to enjoy this storyline. Families are flawed and these characters are true representations of that fact.
Without question a five star read for me and my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read such a delightful novel.
February 14, 2020
I’ve been reading Joanna Trollope for so long, I’ve become the age of the “elderly” parents rather than the age of the middle generation. It’s an interesting perspective to come from.
The parents, Gus and Monica, left the children in boarding school almost 30 years ago, and relocated to Spain so Gus could develop a vineyard. Monica didn’t want to abandon the children, but as many in her generation, she put Gus first and off she went, resentful and unhappy. She has stifled her own desires, but she adamantly does not consider herself a housewife. She has dutiful Pilar to do the cooking, cleaning, ironing, etc. she moons about drinking her imported English tea in a bone china mug and worries over her palm tree. Self centered and unemotional, she has not seen her children or grandchildren in five years. Gus treats her abominably and they argue frequently.
Sebastian, eldest son is married to Anna, domineering and condescending, she and their two sons look down in Sebastian and consider him pathetic. He and his wife run a successful office cleaning company in London.
Katie, workaholic partner in a London law firm, has been together with Nic, a college teacher, for 20 years, though they have 3 daughters, they have never married. Katie feels the pressure of being the breadwinner, and is oblivious to how unhappy and maladjusted her children are.
Jake, the baby in more ways than one, married to Bella and father to beloved Mouse (Molly) is an irresponsible London wide boy.
Gus has a severe health event and the family are forced together to cope with Mum and dad, even though they are all virtual strangers to one another. Past wounds are healed and the family gradually pull together.
Joanna Trollope can write, and even though I did not like or respect any of the characters, I was drawn into this highly dysfunctional family. I hope they can make a go of it, but I have my doubts.
Thanks to netgalley/publisher/author for a preview copy.
The parents, Gus and Monica, left the children in boarding school almost 30 years ago, and relocated to Spain so Gus could develop a vineyard. Monica didn’t want to abandon the children, but as many in her generation, she put Gus first and off she went, resentful and unhappy. She has stifled her own desires, but she adamantly does not consider herself a housewife. She has dutiful Pilar to do the cooking, cleaning, ironing, etc. she moons about drinking her imported English tea in a bone china mug and worries over her palm tree. Self centered and unemotional, she has not seen her children or grandchildren in five years. Gus treats her abominably and they argue frequently.
Sebastian, eldest son is married to Anna, domineering and condescending, she and their two sons look down in Sebastian and consider him pathetic. He and his wife run a successful office cleaning company in London.
Katie, workaholic partner in a London law firm, has been together with Nic, a college teacher, for 20 years, though they have 3 daughters, they have never married. Katie feels the pressure of being the breadwinner, and is oblivious to how unhappy and maladjusted her children are.
Jake, the baby in more ways than one, married to Bella and father to beloved Mouse (Molly) is an irresponsible London wide boy.
Gus has a severe health event and the family are forced together to cope with Mum and dad, even though they are all virtual strangers to one another. Past wounds are healed and the family gradually pull together.
Joanna Trollope can write, and even though I did not like or respect any of the characters, I was drawn into this highly dysfunctional family. I hope they can make a go of it, but I have my doubts.
Thanks to netgalley/publisher/author for a preview copy.
February 25, 2020
Mum & Dad by Joanna Trollope
Joanna Trollope’s latest story portrays a situation we will all have to face. What happens when your parents who have always been self reliant now need help themselves? The three children of Monica and Gus have a decision to make when Gus has a stroke. Their parents have a successful vineyard business in Spain and it is their middle son Jake that races over to take it all on much to his mother’s relief. His brother Sebastian and sister Katie are not so sure about his motives. How can he just drop everything?
When Monica comes back to London to stop at Katie’s home she finally becomes the grandmother they can confide in and be honest with.
When his brother and sister finally talk to each other and discuss their problems with the grandchildren involved as well events finally get resolved. The extended family involved is an interesting group and sympathetically drawn .We feel for them all.
It is a beautifully told story and when Des partially recovers to help sort things out we feel that the family is more together than ever before.
Joanna Trollope’s latest story portrays a situation we will all have to face. What happens when your parents who have always been self reliant now need help themselves? The three children of Monica and Gus have a decision to make when Gus has a stroke. Their parents have a successful vineyard business in Spain and it is their middle son Jake that races over to take it all on much to his mother’s relief. His brother Sebastian and sister Katie are not so sure about his motives. How can he just drop everything?
When Monica comes back to London to stop at Katie’s home she finally becomes the grandmother they can confide in and be honest with.
When his brother and sister finally talk to each other and discuss their problems with the grandchildren involved as well events finally get resolved. The extended family involved is an interesting group and sympathetically drawn .We feel for them all.
It is a beautifully told story and when Des partially recovers to help sort things out we feel that the family is more together than ever before.
February 2, 2020
Loved loved loved this book! Have always really enjoyed joannas books and this was a really good read!
Family dynamics through the generations are central to the storyline showing how long held resentment and confirming to what’s expected of you can suddenly erupt when triggered,by in this case a sudden illness! How families pull together despite previous history and the sense of loyalty and belonging that only families have, I particularly liked the relationship with gus and his grandsons and between Monica and Martha showing how important grandparents are in children’s lives, this book also illustrated how middle aged couples have to juggle jobs children home and ageing parents and the strain it can put upon them which is so very relevant to many middle aged readers! A really good relatable read.
Thank you net galley for this early read.
Family dynamics through the generations are central to the storyline showing how long held resentment and confirming to what’s expected of you can suddenly erupt when triggered,by in this case a sudden illness! How families pull together despite previous history and the sense of loyalty and belonging that only families have, I particularly liked the relationship with gus and his grandsons and between Monica and Martha showing how important grandparents are in children’s lives, this book also illustrated how middle aged couples have to juggle jobs children home and ageing parents and the strain it can put upon them which is so very relevant to many middle aged readers! A really good relatable read.
Thank you net galley for this early read.
December 4, 2020
Pleasant enough read. Nothing special
May 19, 2020
Haven’t read this author for a long time but well written, light and entertaining as ever. Perfect for me after my two recent chunksters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 480 reviews