Tag Archive | Jojo Moyes

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

Apr8

Family Dynamics

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes is a powerful contemporary novel that explores the inner workings of a family.

Family comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Family can be messy, complicated and unpredictable. There are tensions – and ultimately there is much love.

Within the novel, we meet a family with very different dynamics and needs – a newly single mum of two; a stepdad/grandad; a blood-related dad/grandad; and a dog called Truant who barks a lot! Everyone has different needs. Jojo Moyes explores just what it means to be a family.

There is much grief. The Mum/Grandma died (before the book opened.) “It [grief] never stops… It just never stops.” “You’ll be okay, dear girl.” A character is drowning in grief but one day the sun will shine again. “We all have to move on! Doesn’t mean we think about her any less.” We must not feel guilty for living and beginning to smile again.

We follow a newly single mum as she negotiates the playground politics; dips her toe into the waters of dating; and tries to hold her family together. “You okay?” “Nobody ever asks her that question… Everyone tells her what she should be doing… but nobody ever asks her that simple question.” Sometimes we are so busy spinning plates that everyone, ourselves included, loses sight of us.

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Sheltering Rain by Jojo Moyes

Jun15

An Epic Read

Sheltering Rain by Jojo Moyes is a marvellous dual timeline novel that I just could not put down.

The novel is about three generations of women within a family – the grandmother, mother and daughter. Their relationships are strained with each other. The mothers do not understand their daughters and vice versa.

It has been many years since Sabine saw her grandparents. As her mother’s relationship breaks down – again! – Sabine is sent to her grandparent’s remote house in Ireland. Here, it is like stepping back in time, with servants and stabled horses; set mealtimes in the dining room and separate bedrooms. Although it is the 1990’s (the book was written in 2002) there is no internet or mobile phone for Sabine.

Sabine arrives, a moody teen from London who does not want to be in a remote location where horses and hounds are more important than people. As the time goes on, we see Sabine transform into a caring, compassionate girl as her moods are banished. It is beautiful to see her connecting and making relationships.

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Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Apr7

Girl Power

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes is a powerful contemporary novel that I just could not put down.

The novel is about riches. We see the values that different characters have. The poorest people are those who value power, status and possessions, who don’t care who they trample on in order to get to the top.

In contrast, the richest people are those who invest in others. People are priceless. We witness some beautiful friendships between people who are materially poor but have the hugest hearts. A character lends another £20, making the difference between sinking or swimming. This reminded me of the widow’s mitre in the Bible.

The women in the story are all a blend of strong yet weak. As their friendships develop, they use their talents and skillsets to help and encourage each other. Alone they are weak, together they are strong.

We see the male characters who are paralysed by trying to do it alone. One is blinded by greed. Another is carrying a terrible burden of guilt, grief and hurt. It breaks the reader’s heart as we hear of the source of this pain.

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The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

Jul1

Enchanting

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes is a positively wonderful novel about the power of love.

The tale is set in London in 2006 and in France in 1916. Both time periods are linked by a painting.

Love is a powerful force. Both female protagonists have lost the love of their life. In 1916 Sophie’s husband is fighting the Germans, while in 2006 Liv’s husband is dead. The women have their memories to keep them warm. Sophie hopes her husband will return again. Liv needs to learn to live once more. “Am I allowed to be this happy again?” It is natural to feel guilt when we begin to smile again.

Occupied France is a dangerous place to be. The Germans are cruel – but not all. Germans are people too with feelings and families. Far too often we make judgements based on the uniform but a heart beats underneath and there is compassion.

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