Labor Day in Ask Joyce Maynard - Friday, September 20th!

Dec 31, 2015 L Y N N rated it it was amazing

Shelves: absolute-favorite-authors

I read this a year or so after it was released and loved it. Can't believe I have never entered a review for it on Goodreads before now. Honestly, after reading the synopsis, I couldn't imagine an author who might pull this off and make it believable, but Maynard is more than capable of that and she accomplished it brilliantly, in my opinion! ...more

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Aug 17, 2023 May rated it really liked it

I read this wonderful novel shortly after it was published. Don’t remember the year. Just remembered that is was a really good read!!

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Jul 20, 2010 Ti rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-sent-to-me

The Short of It:

This is a story about love, loss and the struggle to find yourself. It’s proof that in this great big world, it is possible to find happiness and a place to call home.

The Rest of It:

Henry is thirteen-years-old and a bit of a recluse. As the other boys in the neighborhood spend their time outside, Henry spends his time indoors, watching TV and taking care of his divorced mother, Adele. Their meals consist of canned soup and quiet conversation. This is a typical day for them. Howev The Short of It:

This is a story about love, loss and the struggle to find yourself. It’s proof that in this great big world, it is possible to find happiness and a place to call home.

The Rest of It:

Henry is thirteen-years-old and a bit of a recluse. As the other boys in the neighborhood spend their time outside, Henry spends his time indoors, watching TV and taking care of his divorced mother, Adele. Their meals consist of canned soup and quiet conversation. This is a typical day for them. However, during one, long, hot Labor Day weekend, they head to the local Pricemart to pick up a few items. This, in itself, is rare as Adele does not enjoy being outside anymore. She’d rather stay in the comfort of her home but on this particular morning, she decides to enter the store with Henry.

While she is shopping, Henry is confronted by a man named Frank. The man, obviously injured, is in pain and simply asks if Henry and his mom can help him. Although Adele has her issues, she has been known to help those in need in the past, so Henry takes Frank to his mom, and their lives change forever.

Frank has a story of course. A sketchy past involving a mistake he made when he was younger, but through Frank’s actions, Adele sees a man who is solid and true. A man who cares deeply for those close to him, and when he manages to bring happiness into their home, happiness that hasn’t existed for years, Henry becomes fond of him too.

Labor Day is a wonderful read. The characters are forced to look within themselves and the interactions between them are so beautifully orchestrated. I say orchestrated because their interactions are seamless and subtle but speak volumes as far as what’s going on within these people. It takes an author’s delicate hand to push that envelope. Pushing it too much creates a “staged” feel and not pushing it enough creates hollow characters without substance.

Labor Day is my favorite type of book. It’s the kind of book that you read, experience and then once done, think about for days on end. I highly recommend it.
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Aug 08, 2010 Tamye rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: family-drama, fiction-adult

This book, which takes place over the course of five days, was compulsively readable. It's narrated by Henry, a lonely, friendless thirteen year old boy who lives with his emotionally fragile, long-divorced mother, Adele. Henry spends most of his time watching television, reading and daydreaming, but everything changes on the Thursday before the Labor Day weekend, when a mysterious, bleeding man named Frank asks him for help. Over the next five days, Henry learns some valuable lessons about jeal ...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Ann rated it liked it

This was a good casual read. Curled up by my fireplace while it snowed outside, trying to kick-start circulation in my fingers and toes, I enjoyed retreating into Henry's steamy Labor Day weekend and imagining the sun on my back as we all sat in the backyard sweating through a game of catch. Henry's teenaged-boy narration is unique and (I thought) believable--though, lacking the "part" that Henry is still struggling to label, I'm probably not the most qualified judge.

Maynard has a gift for addin ...more

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Jan 11, 2024 Jo rated it it was ok

Shelves: fave-authors, contemporary-fiction

I found it very hard to get past the " puberty / sexual ramblings " of the main character as it relates to his mothers relationship with the strange houseguest they acquired .
Will watch the movie since other s have raved about it .
Personally , not-my-cuppa -tea reading .
I think the premise was great, but this read is very Young Adult , and the narration was irritating . ...more

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