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Pamela D. (Tomball, TX)
A summer afloat
Three women meet on a towpath along a canal near London, strangers brought together by a howling dog in a narrowboat, all three at crossroads in their life. Anastacia, the boat owner, teaches Eve and Sally how to operate the narrowboat and trusts them to deliver it to the repair facility in Chester, over 200 miles north, a trip that would take more than six weeks. Six weeks that would change their lives.
The story reads like a narrowboat trip – slow, meandering, graceful & enriching. Along the way, Eve & Sally meet a variety of people, some of whom will become dear friends and some who will remain just
…more people they met.
A perfect book club read – so many episodes ripe for discussion and consideration. This is a book I will reread next summer and dream of my own narrowboat trip. (less)One of the joys of reading is discovering an interest about a subject you know nothing about. Life on a narrow boat on English Canals? Oh yes! This book led me to discover an unknown world of traveling on English Canals. Not only is the scene of this story intriguing but each character is rich in personality with their individual quirks, each on their own journeys through life. I appreciated each character and what they brought to the story. Anastasia in all her craggy glory the impetus for the journey. Sally and Eve so different yet complimenting each other to make life work. The peripheral characters of
…more Trompette, Arthur, Jacob, Owen, Billy each adding a new dimension. The ending! I am clutching my e-reader to my chest! I selected this book to read since I enjoyed Ms.Youngson's "Meet Me at The Museum." I am delighted with The Narrowboat Summer! (less)The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson is a gentle, peaceful exploration of the possibilities of momentous change in lives that seem completely settled. The three main characters, two middle aged (Sally and Eve) and one elderly (Anastasia), find their lives turned upside down by various circumstances (a failed marriage, job loss, and a medical crisis). A chance encounter brings these three strangers together, and before they know it, Sally and Eve have agreed to drive Anastasia's narrowboat hundreds of miles to a boatyard in Chester so that Anastasia can remain in the London area for medical treatment. Despite
…more having no experience with narrowboats or canals, Sally and Eve discover that canal life suits them. The slow pace of the journey allows them to reflect on their lives—where they've been and, more importantly, where they want to go from there. The main characters are well developed, and the friendships that form during the journey are deep and abiding. I especially appreciated the largely drama-free interactions between Sally and Eve as they thoughtfully navigated their new friendship—it was a refreshing change from the stereotypical rivalry-type female relationships that are often depicted in novels. But my favorite character in the book is the canals themselves—the lyrical descriptions of canal life made me long for my own narrowboat summer. This novel would appeal to those who enjoy books by Helen Simonson, Phaedra Patrick, Rachel Joyce, and Fredrik Backman, as well as anyone who yearns to make a change in their seemingly settled lives. (less)I fell in love with this book the more I read. I have something in common with two of the women - I am older and I was disenchanted with my job and recently retired. I also fell in love with the English countryside as it was described in the book. It takes place mostly on the canals of England and made me want to take a boat trip of my own.
The story was interesting and I loved seeing the women grow and develop as they traveled. The inclusion of the younger couple was interesting as well although I do not want to hear more of their story.
I think this book will be excellent for book clubs with enough variety of
…more characters for everyone to find a favorite. It was a quick read for me but that may have been because I was so fond of everyone and wanted to see how things ended. (less)This is a delightful story of three women whose paths cross at just the right moment in each of their lives. While the book deals with some serious topics revolving around life changing events, it is ultimately joyful and uplifting.
The first of the three women in question is Anastasia, an elderly, independent, no nonsense woman, who finds herself in need of a life saving surgery, and who also owns what’s referred to as a narrow boat, apparently quite common in the canals that traverse the UK. Her boat needs to be navigated through this system of canals for some required maintenance, but she can’t do it on her
…more own because of her medical issues, and she’s worried about losing her boat and independence. Enter Sally and Eve. Sally has just recently informed her husband of many years that she’s not interested in being married to him any longer and wants out of their relationship. Eve is single and was just ousted from her long time corporate position with an engineering firm. Both are unsure of their next move in life. By chance, these three women cross paths, and Sally and Eve, not knowing each other and unfamiliar with boating, agree to help Anastasia by throwing their lots together and navigating the narrow boat through the canals to the place where it will be maintained. No easy business, as Anastasia is fiercely independent, not crazy about her anticipated reliance on others while having and recovering from surgery, and putting her beloved boat in the hands of strangers. Similarly, Sally and Eve are strangers to each other, with completely different backgrounds. Sally has been married for many years with two grown children, and has decided to leave her marriage. Eve is single and has focused on her life long career, but has been let go from her corporate position. Both are contemplating their next move, when the opportunity with the narrow boat presents itself. It is truly a delight to see how their friendships blossom, the characters and events they encounter along the way of their journey, and without a doubt, their adventures in navigation!
After reading this book I was inspired to do further research into narrow boats. They are quite fascinating and beautiful, used for part time or year round living, vacation, corporate events, etc. I also learned something about the canal system through the UK, which I had otherwise been unaware of.
Thank you to Book Browse and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. (less)Author Ann Youngson has a gift for taking the ordinary and using it as a background to explore complexities of friendship. Two complete strangers agree to ferry a narrowboat through canals in England as a favor to a third stranger. During their languid trip through locks, tunnels and bridges, Sally and Eve perform the quotidian chores of life on a boat while experiencing new relationships. These two women and Anastasia, the narrowboat owner, are each facing an uncertain future where they must decide their places in it. Their newly forged friendship will be the bond that helps them steer the path forward.
…more Beautiful, lyrical writing and a keen sense of place makes this a leisurely read through the English countryside much as the narrowboat glides through the canals. (less)Anne Youngson's three women meet by an unlikely (but believable) coincidence exactly when they need a change in their lives, and new people to help them carry it out. This Aga Saga working out of domestic problems also transports the characters - and the reader - to the quirky world of the English canal, awash in history and traditions. A pleasant few hours of escape to a world where the footing feels more certain.
Dorinne D. (Wickenburg, AZ)
Life on a Narrowboat
When two women at loose ends in their lives meet on the street one day, this story begins. Sally has left her husband and her home to seek some fulfillment in her life; Eve has lost her high-level job and is wondering how she will cope. They are both walking along when they encounter a gruff old woman with a problem – Anastasia. Anastasia lives on a narrowboat and travels the canals of England, but has been advised that she must have major surgery and is thus not going to be able to continue her lifestyle on the canals. Taking two rank amateurs under her wing to show them how to operate her narrowboat through
…more the locks on the canals is a bit of a challenge. But Eve and Sally take to life on the narrowboat well and find they really love the drastic change in their lifestyles. I found this to be a very enjoyable, different sort of story, full of interesting characters. (less)
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