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The Empty Nest
Mothers' Day has always been a special day for Sandi, because her beloved kids spoil her rotten. But this year won't be the same. Her daughter, Gracie, has joined her brother Jack at boarding school and Sandi dreads waking up to a quiet house. Even her husband, Paul, seems distant and preoccupied with farm work. So she never could have guessed what the day has in store ...The Empty Nest includes an exclusive preview from Fiona Palmer's novel, The Sunnyvale Girls.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2014
3 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Palmer
26 books312 followersBestselling rural author of books set in outback Western Australia. Small communities, farming, great aussie characters and mother nature. Also writes YA.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews
July 26, 2016
Sandi has enjoyed having her children Gracie and Jack visit over the Easter break. She has been missing them dreadfully since they've been in boarding school. Although Sandi knew there was no other option with only having a primary school in town and they couldn't afford to move to the city. Sandi and Gracie spend their last bit of time together just strolling around the property enjoying each others company. Heading to their favourite spot on the property which was called Rocky located at the edge of the farm. Sitting on a large boulder at the top of Rocky, Sandi and Gracie chat about Mother's Day which is just around the corner and how Sandi will miss them. Gracie tries to reassure her mother by telling her that she'll be in their thoughts on the day.
On the morning of Mother's Day Sandi wakes to an awfully quiet house and instantly she is feeling so lonely and sad. Normally there'd be the sound of laughter and the kids would be jumping on her bed, but not today just total silence as she makes her breakfast. As usual her husband, Paul was up at the crack of dawn working hard on the property. It was going to a very long and lonely day for Sandi, or was it?
This is a beautiful short story about a mother's love and the bond she has with her children and the importance of family. A very enjoyable light read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
On the morning of Mother's Day Sandi wakes to an awfully quiet house and instantly she is feeling so lonely and sad. Normally there'd be the sound of laughter and the kids would be jumping on her bed, but not today just total silence as she makes her breakfast. As usual her husband, Paul was up at the crack of dawn working hard on the property. It was going to a very long and lonely day for Sandi, or was it?
This is a beautiful short story about a mother's love and the bond she has with her children and the importance of family. A very enjoyable light read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 20, 2014
Gracie and Sandi were having a last wander to their favourite place which they called The Rock on their property before Gracie and Jack left the farm the following day for boarding school. Sandi was not looking forward to them going back to school – she missed them dreadfully, especially with her husband Paul so busy on their property, out in the paddocks from dawn until dusk. With Mothers’ Day rapidly approaching, Sandi was wondering how she would cope with the loneliness – her two gorgeous kids had always spoiled her; it would definitely be different this year.
Suddenly Mothers’ Day arrived – the house was quiet as she made her breakfast; would she manage to get through the hours ahead of her without breaking down in tears?
This short story is a beautifully moving tale of a family’s love for one another, and the wrench the parents feel when their children leave home, especially the mother I think. In this case, the children were very young which made it even harder to “let them go”, especially Gracie who was only eleven. Aussie author Fiona Palmer will touch a spot in everyone’s hearts in this delightful story. Definitely recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
Suddenly Mothers’ Day arrived – the house was quiet as she made her breakfast; would she manage to get through the hours ahead of her without breaking down in tears?
This short story is a beautifully moving tale of a family’s love for one another, and the wrench the parents feel when their children leave home, especially the mother I think. In this case, the children were very young which made it even harder to “let them go”, especially Gracie who was only eleven. Aussie author Fiona Palmer will touch a spot in everyone’s hearts in this delightful story. Definitely recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
March 17, 2014
THE EMPTY NEST was the first of Fiona Palmer’s works that I have read and if this short story is anything to go by then I had better start looking up the rest of her books. The empty nest syndrome describes the grief that many parents feel when their children move out of home, more common in women as they are usually the primary carer and once the children have gone she may feel that her most important job is finished and not know what to do with herself – how to redefine her usefulness. This is not something I have experienced as when the last child left our home, how we reacted with great joy at finally having the place to ourselves! Sandi, however, is at a complete loss as to what to do with herself – exacerbated by being on a remote property and at a very busy time on the farm so her husband is not at home for much of the day. Fiona Palmer relates the story of Sandi’s first childless Mother’s Day with warmth, compassion and humour. A sweet and engaging story, and a nice way to spend half an hour.
THE EMPTY NEST is followed by an excerpt from Fiona Palmer’s upcoming new novel, The Sunnyvale Girls – which looks really good.
With thanks to Penguin Books Australia and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review
THE EMPTY NEST is followed by an excerpt from Fiona Palmer’s upcoming new novel, The Sunnyvale Girls – which looks really good.
With thanks to Penguin Books Australia and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review
May 30, 2016
Short story....just really a sampler of Fiona Palmer's writing.
May 13, 2014
The Empty Nest is a sweet and heartfelt tale about a mother’s love for her children and her loss when they aren’t around all the time anymore.
After having spent a happy Easter on the farm with the kids home from school, Sandi is feeling blue. She’s loved having the family back home and all together, with her son and daughter where they should be, especially Grace, her baby no-matter how old she may be now (12).
The Empty Nest is a story about Mother’s and how they cope when their kids eventually ‘fly the coop’. All though Sandi’s kids are only gone for the school term (living rural they need to attend a boarding school for high school), Sandi feels their loss keenly, and with no babies at home to look after, she finds herself lost. What should she do now that no body needs her attention 24/7? What will she do to keep herself occupied? Although she has more time for herself, she wishes the kids were home, and that her Husband could stay with her more instead of racing out each morning to slave away at his work, their livelihood. It’s not that she resents these aspects (school and work), it’s that she’s having trouble adjusting and misses how things used to be. With Mother’s Day fast approaching and no one at home to celebrate the day with, she feels the families absence more than ever.
I’m not a mother, so I’m not going to pretend to know what Mother’s feel and how they dread the day their kids leave home. But I know my mum and I’ve seen her react to her kids moving on with their lives, I’ve seen her deal with the stress and anxiety it brings her, and I’ve felt her miss each and everyone of us keenly and whole heartedly. It’s these feelings and the sense of family and togetherness, love and friendship that shine strong in this short story and mark Fiona Palmer as a truly great word-smith and author.
I highly recommend this narrative to everyone with older kids, who might be facing similar feelings and emotions and change in their lives. If for no other reason then to show them that they’re not alone.
Originally posted over on the blog => http://nevendbookshelf.wordpress.com/...
After having spent a happy Easter on the farm with the kids home from school, Sandi is feeling blue. She’s loved having the family back home and all together, with her son and daughter where they should be, especially Grace, her baby no-matter how old she may be now (12).
The Empty Nest is a story about Mother’s and how they cope when their kids eventually ‘fly the coop’. All though Sandi’s kids are only gone for the school term (living rural they need to attend a boarding school for high school), Sandi feels their loss keenly, and with no babies at home to look after, she finds herself lost. What should she do now that no body needs her attention 24/7? What will she do to keep herself occupied? Although she has more time for herself, she wishes the kids were home, and that her Husband could stay with her more instead of racing out each morning to slave away at his work, their livelihood. It’s not that she resents these aspects (school and work), it’s that she’s having trouble adjusting and misses how things used to be. With Mother’s Day fast approaching and no one at home to celebrate the day with, she feels the families absence more than ever.
I’m not a mother, so I’m not going to pretend to know what Mother’s feel and how they dread the day their kids leave home. But I know my mum and I’ve seen her react to her kids moving on with their lives, I’ve seen her deal with the stress and anxiety it brings her, and I’ve felt her miss each and everyone of us keenly and whole heartedly. It’s these feelings and the sense of family and togetherness, love and friendship that shine strong in this short story and mark Fiona Palmer as a truly great word-smith and author.
I highly recommend this narrative to everyone with older kids, who might be facing similar feelings and emotions and change in their lives. If for no other reason then to show them that they’re not alone.
Originally posted over on the blog => http://nevendbookshelf.wordpress.com/...
March 27, 2014
You can read my other reviews at My Written Romance.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by Penguin Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 out of 5
Fiona Palmer is one of my favourite Australian authors, her tales of rural life and love both real and romantic.
The Empty Nest is a sweet and moving short story about the gap that absent loved ones leave. In this case, Sandi's children have left for boarding school - a reality for many families in rural Australia. I felt for Sandi - I cannot imagine what it would be like to do this, as when my daughter is old enough for school, it is 900m from our house. There was a real sense of love and genuine emotion in these few short pages, and that lovely visual quality that Fiona lends to her writing is ever present throughout.
At the conclusion of this, there is a short teaser for her upcoming novel, The Sunnyvale Girls. I cannot wait for that one - it sounds awesome!
I was provided with an ARC of this book by Penguin Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 out of 5
Fiona Palmer is one of my favourite Australian authors, her tales of rural life and love both real and romantic.
The Empty Nest is a sweet and moving short story about the gap that absent loved ones leave. In this case, Sandi's children have left for boarding school - a reality for many families in rural Australia. I felt for Sandi - I cannot imagine what it would be like to do this, as when my daughter is old enough for school, it is 900m from our house. There was a real sense of love and genuine emotion in these few short pages, and that lovely visual quality that Fiona lends to her writing is ever present throughout.
At the conclusion of this, there is a short teaser for her upcoming novel, The Sunnyvale Girls. I cannot wait for that one - it sounds awesome!
August 27, 2016
I was provided with an ARC of this book by Penguin Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4 out of 5
I have only read one other of Fiona Palmer’s books prior to THE EMPTY NEST.. This short story is a great introduction to her writing.
This is the story of a farming family whose children have to leave home and attend boarding school to continue their education. Mother Sandi however is at a complete loss as to what to do with herself now that her children have left home. Sandi now finds herself alone for most of her days whilst her husband Paul is busy running the farm.
As Mothers Day approaches Sandi is at a loss missing her children.
I found this to be a sweet and engaging story, and a nice way to spend an hour.
THE EMPTY NEST is followed by an excerpt from Fiona Palmer’s upcoming new novel, The Sunnyvale Girls – which looks really good.
4 out of 5
I have only read one other of Fiona Palmer’s books prior to THE EMPTY NEST.. This short story is a great introduction to her writing.
This is the story of a farming family whose children have to leave home and attend boarding school to continue their education. Mother Sandi however is at a complete loss as to what to do with herself now that her children have left home. Sandi now finds herself alone for most of her days whilst her husband Paul is busy running the farm.
As Mothers Day approaches Sandi is at a loss missing her children.
I found this to be a sweet and engaging story, and a nice way to spend an hour.
THE EMPTY NEST is followed by an excerpt from Fiona Palmer’s upcoming new novel, The Sunnyvale Girls – which looks really good.
August 22, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
This is a very short - but sweet - story of Sandi; a farmer's wife and mother of two children who's youngest has just joined her brother in boarding school. She is suffering from the Empty Nest Syndrome and, as Mother's Day approaches, she is missing her children even more. Then she gets the surprise of her life...
While this is a very short piece, it gets to the heart of what it is to be a mother (or a parent of either kind) and tugs at our heartstrings quite commendably.
The only thing that I didn't really like about it (apart from the length) was the lack of any real depth or background to Sandi. I would love to have seen this twice as long a story with some real growth of character.\
Paul
ARH
This is a very short - but sweet - story of Sandi; a farmer's wife and mother of two children who's youngest has just joined her brother in boarding school. She is suffering from the Empty Nest Syndrome and, as Mother's Day approaches, she is missing her children even more. Then she gets the surprise of her life...
While this is a very short piece, it gets to the heart of what it is to be a mother (or a parent of either kind) and tugs at our heartstrings quite commendably.
The only thing that I didn't really like about it (apart from the length) was the lack of any real depth or background to Sandi. I would love to have seen this twice as long a story with some real growth of character.\
Paul
ARH
June 30, 2014
A quick novella about the very real hardship faced by many country families - what happens when the nearest school is over 3 hours away and there is no other option but to send your child off to boarding school.
Sandi is faced with a lonely Mother's Day after her 'baby' girl Gracie has to join her brother at boarding school. But Sandi soon learns that the best surprises are those which we least expect.
I was reading this on my kindle and totally forgot that it was a novella when I started, I was so getting into it and then it was over - I just wished the story kept going - but I did love the way Fiona handled this heartbreaking issue.
A great little 'taster' to keep Fiona Palmer fan's happy til her next book is out!
Sandi is faced with a lonely Mother's Day after her 'baby' girl Gracie has to join her brother at boarding school. But Sandi soon learns that the best surprises are those which we least expect.
I was reading this on my kindle and totally forgot that it was a novella when I started, I was so getting into it and then it was over - I just wished the story kept going - but I did love the way Fiona handled this heartbreaking issue.
A great little 'taster' to keep Fiona Palmer fan's happy til her next book is out!
May 28, 2014
This was a short story which I literally read over coffee waiting for the washing machine to do a couple of loads.
The storyline was pleasant about a woman Sandi devastated to lose her young daughter to boarding school so young. This is something alot of women face when their youngest is off to school let alone boarding school.
Sandi's whole life revolves around her children. Her husband spends long hours out working the farm. The book talks of the dilemmas rural families face with education.
I felt there were so many opportunities to take this story much further and in more depth. The story gave the impression that Sandi had no contact or activities outside of her children who were 12 and 14. That alone is sad.
The storyline was pleasant about a woman Sandi devastated to lose her young daughter to boarding school so young. This is something alot of women face when their youngest is off to school let alone boarding school.
Sandi's whole life revolves around her children. Her husband spends long hours out working the farm. The book talks of the dilemmas rural families face with education.
I felt there were so many opportunities to take this story much further and in more depth. The story gave the impression that Sandi had no contact or activities outside of her children who were 12 and 14. That alone is sad.
May 16, 2014
As much as I love Fiona Palmers work, I was disappointed here. Don't get me wrong, it was a delightful "short" read and subject matter that I can certainly relate to; having recently gone through the emotional roller coaster of my daughter leaving home to venture into the big wide world.
The part I was disappointed with was the length of it - only 17 of the 40 pages was the actual story (including cover etc) I paid for :( It was over before I knew it, with the rest of the pages filled with the first chapter of her next release and advertising for previous novels. I feel I didn't get value for my money as I will read the first chapter of her next book when I buy it!
The part I was disappointed with was the length of it - only 17 of the 40 pages was the actual story (including cover etc) I paid for :( It was over before I knew it, with the rest of the pages filled with the first chapter of her next release and advertising for previous novels. I feel I didn't get value for my money as I will read the first chapter of her next book when I buy it!
April 17, 2014
A nice short story about family and a Mother's reluctance at celebrating Mother's Day while her children are away at boarding school. A story about growing, moving forward and enhancing life in more ways than one.
An uplifting read with charming characters that has many moving moments, surprises, family importance and love.
A short uplifting read.
4 Stars
*ARC received from the Publisher for an honest review.
An uplifting read with charming characters that has many moving moments, surprises, family importance and love.
A short uplifting read.
4 Stars
*ARC received from the Publisher for an honest review.
April 20, 2014
Always enjoy Fiona's books. A nice easy read and refreshing book.
July 22, 2014
A light enjoyable book but I could not really appreciate the characters as it was far too short!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews