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Children's House, The
Children's House, The | Alice Nelson
5 posts | 4 read | 5 to read
Marina, 'the gypsy scholar', a writer and academic, and her psychoanalyst husband, Jacob, were each born on a kibbutz in Israel. They meet years later at a university in California, Marina a grad student and Jacob a successful practitioner and teacher who has a young son, Ben, from a disastrous marriage. The family moves to a brownstone in Harlem, formerly a shelter run by elderly nuns. Outside the house one day Marina encounters Constance, a young refugee from Rwanda, and her toddler, Gabriel. Unmoored and devastated, Constance and Gabriel quickly come to depend on Marina; and her bond with Gabriel intensifies. When out of the blue Marina learns some disturbing news about her mother, Gizela, she leaves New York in search of the loose ends of her life. As Christmas nears, her tight-knit, loving family, with Constance and Gabriel, join Marina in her mother's former home, with a startling, life-changing consequence. Alice Nelson skilfully weaves together these shared stories of displacement and trauma into a beautifully told, hope-filled, outstanding novel.
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MrsMalaprop
Children's House, The | Alice Nelson
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Pickpick

We discussed this #ozfiction at book club this week. It was quite literary and written by a local author (Perth, Western Australia).

Set variously in New York, Cape Cod & Israel & featuring Rwandan refugees, it not surprisingly has an international feel.

Themes of motherhood, family and loving a child that is not your own are explored. We noticed that there were a lot of ‘bad mothers‘ featured, leading me to wonder about the author‘s own 🤔.

Cinfhen Interesting 5y
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Jeg
Children's House, The | Alice Nelson
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Pickpick

Finished just in time for book club this evening. I really enjoyed this story and the excellent writing. The complexities of families. Terrible things that can happen and the good that can emerge. @MrsMalaprop
#ozfiction

squirrelbrain Sounds really interesting! Stacked.... 5y
Suet624 Ohhh, this does sound good!! Stacked too. 5y
11 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Jeg
Children's House, The | Alice Nelson
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Rissreads Yep, it‘s true..... 5y
10 likes1 comment
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Jeg
Children's House, The | Alice Nelson
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About to start this book and hope I can get it finished in time for book club on Monday. Another local author who has lived overseas but now back in Perth. I‘ve heard her talk so looking forward to reading the book. @MrsMalaprop

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MrsMalaprop
Children's House, The | Alice Nelson
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#Nextup #Bookclub #Ozfiction

How pretty is this book, the strelitzia....& my nails?! 😍😍😍

julesG Perfect colour combination. 5y
Freespirit Great nails!! 5y
50 likes2 comments