Home Stretch
- Downloads：9679
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-06-24 07:19:17
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Graham Norton
- ISBN：B08N19TZQ4
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Sinead
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I really like Norton’s style of contemporary Irish fiction。 It’s relatable and avoids being twee。
Suzanne
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A car accident happens on the eve of a wedding in a small town and everyone dies except two young men。 Everyone in the car makes sense， in terms of friendship， except one of the young survivors。 And the other survivor brought the car and was known to have been the driver。 Yet， somehow， the town pins their vast sorrow upon the one outsider to the group。 And with that beginning， a tale of many decades begins， that requires a certain suspension of belief， or lack of further curiosity， as to what mi A car accident happens on the eve of a wedding in a small town and everyone dies except two young men。 Everyone in the car makes sense， in terms of friendship， except one of the young survivors。 And the other survivor brought the car and was known to have been the driver。 Yet， somehow， the town pins their vast sorrow upon the one outsider to the group。 And with that beginning， a tale of many decades begins， that requires a certain suspension of belief， or lack of further curiosity， as to what might have happened in that vehicle before the accident。 Author Graham Norton does a very good job of piecing together intertwined tales over many years， stitching together a fascinating web of life and deceit。 But ultimately HOME STRETCH depends upon the reader’s ability to suspend judgement and just go with the tale。 I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley。 。。。more
Kari
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My Review of HOME STRETCHBy Author， Graham NortonGifted & Published by HarperViaOn Tour with @BibliolifestyleOn Sale: 6/22/21*****This was a story in which the Author does a wonderful job demonstrating human strengths， weaknesses and foibles。 The relationships between family and a deep look into the characters’ selves were often heartbreaking and emotional due to the fear of living their own lives as they would without hiding their authentic selves。 Then it would have had been quite a different My Review of HOME STRETCHBy Author， Graham NortonGifted & Published by HarperViaOn Tour with @BibliolifestyleOn Sale: 6/22/21*****This was a story in which the Author does a wonderful job demonstrating human strengths， weaknesses and foibles。 The relationships between family and a deep look into the characters’ selves were often heartbreaking and emotional due to the fear of living their own lives as they would without hiding their authentic selves。 Then it would have had been quite a different story。 The plot involves a series of setbacks/challenges/misfortunes and secrets that will shock you and keep you wanting to read this book again and again。*****In 1987 there was an accident that killed three lives from a group of friends that were out for the day prior to a big wedding set to take place the next day。 One of the survivors named Connor is almost given the blame and shame from the community for having survived while others lost their children。 The secrets he holds must never be divulged either so he makes the decision to leave and find work in a brand new life。 His parents are devastated but they know it’s probably what is best for him。 Until one day they try to reach him and he is no longer working or living where they last talked to him; he’s gone without a trace。 Connor is alive but has decided to run from his past， his regrets and his secrets。 Until one day he meets someone that urges him to return home and confront the past and open up to all those he was trying to protect。 。。。more
Isabella | ilashreads
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Home Stretch was about secrets， lies， survival， and sexuality。 There were a lot of characters to keep track of at the beginning of this novel。 I had a hard time following the story line due to this and the changing timeline。 I did like that this book examined grief and how secrets and lies can tear families and people apart。 I also liked that the overall message seemed to be about accepting who you are
Shirley Johnson
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An interesting read around Ireland and the affects of homosexuality can have on a person and a family。 A tragic accident see's Conor leaving his home town in shame and blame。 The story unfolds over many years as we see how the way of the world changes including people's attitudes。 Some a bit predictable but I really enjoyed this book。 An interesting read around Ireland and the affects of homosexuality can have on a person and a family。 A tragic accident see's Conor leaving his home town in shame and blame。 The story unfolds over many years as we see how the way of the world changes including people's attitudes。 Some a bit predictable but I really enjoyed this book。 。。。more
Sara Clifford-gray
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I bought this book via Audible as I've listened to Graham's two other stories and I love the way that he reads them and brings all the characters to life。As my family are from West Cork （close to where Graham has a home！） the accents and mannerisms of some of the characters really took me back there - especially at a time when we are unable to travel， it was a true comfort to hear his voice。If you haven't read or listened to one of Graham's books before - DO IT！！ The characters are true to life， I bought this book via Audible as I've listened to Graham's two other stories and I love the way that he reads them and brings all the characters to life。As my family are from West Cork （close to where Graham has a home！） the accents and mannerisms of some of the characters really took me back there - especially at a time when we are unable to travel， it was a true comfort to hear his voice。If you haven't read or listened to one of Graham's books before - DO IT！！ The characters are true to life， and the story line is hard hitting but sadly a true reflection of Ireland during the 80s when being gay was seen as being a sin and men and women were unfairly judged by their sexuality。A wonderful， amazing， first class read but I have one criticism and it is quite a big one。。。this book finished， and I just wanted it to go on and on forever， and live with the characters！！ 。。。more
Mindysue
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3。5 stars。 I enjoyed Graham’s novel Holding quite a lot but this one， while well written， was not as good， in my opinion。 I didn’t actually like any of the characters。 Every character was flat， almost as if they were incidental to the story， even when they were the major character being showcased at that moment。 None of them felt real or relatable。
Annabelle Goh
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i'm not one to be emotional but this book got to me。 from start to end was a page turner！ a thoughtful， compassionate and humanly quintessential book that show cases the power of stigma and secrecy， defo a must read！！ i'm not one to be emotional but this book got to me。 from start to end was a page turner！ a thoughtful， compassionate and humanly quintessential book that show cases the power of stigma and secrecy， defo a must read！！ 。。。more
Helen
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This book spanned over 30 years of life of 6 families affected by a tragic accident。 I sometimes got confused over who was related to whom。 It illustrated changing attitudes in Ireland to gay relationships over that time。 The plot hinged on a dubious coincidence， but， I admit， it became more gripping after that。 I did see the twist coming， but got to feel smug because of that， so that's a win。 I enjoyed his other 2 books more。 This book spanned over 30 years of life of 6 families affected by a tragic accident。 I sometimes got confused over who was related to whom。 It illustrated changing attitudes in Ireland to gay relationships over that time。 The plot hinged on a dubious coincidence， but， I admit， it became more gripping after that。 I did see the twist coming， but got to feel smug because of that， so that's a win。 I enjoyed his other 2 books more。 。。。more
Claire Fullerton
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Graham Norton is a masterful storyteller。 The layered crafting of Home Stretch is rife with pithy innuendo and story-driving personality。 His sharp eye captures the nuance of small-town Ireland in the process of evolution as he unfurls this interconnected story with spellbinding verve and finesse。”Home Stretch by Graham Norton is a vibrantly written， delightful story with coming-of-age elements operating within a family saga’s network that begins in small-town Ireland， travels to New York， spans Graham Norton is a masterful storyteller。 The layered crafting of Home Stretch is rife with pithy innuendo and story-driving personality。 His sharp eye captures the nuance of small-town Ireland in the process of evolution as he unfurls this interconnected story with spellbinding verve and finesse。”Home Stretch by Graham Norton is a vibrantly written， delightful story with coming-of-age elements operating within a family saga’s network that begins in small-town Ireland， travels to New York， spans 32 years， and sweeps back to where it started。Full Review in The New York Journal of Books https://www。nyjournalofbooks。com/book。。。 。。。more
Gillie
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A touching story of a young man in rural Ireland who leaves his family after a devastating car crash which affects the lives of the families of the victims in this small community。 The story takes us from his late teenage years through to middle age and follows him to America and back to Ireland。 In addition he has to come to terms with his sexuality and deal with "coming out" to his family after many years away from them。 As with other Graham Norton novels it is well written in my opinion and a A touching story of a young man in rural Ireland who leaves his family after a devastating car crash which affects the lives of the families of the victims in this small community。 The story takes us from his late teenage years through to middle age and follows him to America and back to Ireland。 In addition he has to come to terms with his sexuality and deal with "coming out" to his family after many years away from them。 As with other Graham Norton novels it is well written in my opinion and a good read。 。。。more
Akcherrybomb
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An enjoyable read， a kind of coming of age story filled with drama and heartache。 I like how it is set over a long period of years as you can see the community changes and the cultural shifts of acceptance。 I liked the tone and overall message that the book was trying to convey。
Brian Harris
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Well written story although based round a couple of very unlikely coincidences。 Graham Norton does have an ability to write charming and thoughtful prose 。
Halat Sophie
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This book was very well written even though it wasn't really my style。 A little boring， but very sweet。 This book was very well written even though it wasn't really my style。 A little boring， but very sweet。 。。。more
Mark Ludmon
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A cracking good read。 Mainly set in Ireland， Home Stretch tells the story of a family and community ripped apart by a fatal car crash， charting its impact over the years on those connected to it， chiefly Connor and his sister， Ellen。 As the years go by， secrets are revealed as they all try to come to terms with the past and build their lives。 Stretching from the late 80s to the present day， it tackles the legacy of gay shame but offers hope of a better future。 At times very moving， it is ultimat A cracking good read。 Mainly set in Ireland， Home Stretch tells the story of a family and community ripped apart by a fatal car crash， charting its impact over the years on those connected to it， chiefly Connor and his sister， Ellen。 As the years go by， secrets are revealed as they all try to come to terms with the past and build their lives。 Stretching from the late 80s to the present day， it tackles the legacy of gay shame but offers hope of a better future。 At times very moving， it is ultimately an uplifting， heartwarming piece of storytelling。 。。。more
Sue
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This was an easy summer read with a concept of secrets， consequences and what we think we think isn’t always what others are thinking。 The story begin with a car crash and the lives of those effected by it， those who were in the crash and those family members left behind。 The themes of loss and love in all it forms are sensitively told。 Mainly set in Ireland it uses the situation of what will the neighbours think really well when you live in a small village and everyone knows your business。 I do This was an easy summer read with a concept of secrets， consequences and what we think we think isn’t always what others are thinking。 The story begin with a car crash and the lives of those effected by it， those who were in the crash and those family members left behind。 The themes of loss and love in all it forms are sensitively told。 Mainly set in Ireland it uses the situation of what will the neighbours think really well when you live in a small village and everyone knows your business。 I don’t think this was quite as good as Mr Norton’s first book but still a good read。 A bit predictable in places half way through i managed to see what was coming but it didn’t spoil the enjoyment of the read for me。 I would say read it you might learn something from maybe not judging people for what you think they are or actually who you think you are。 。。。more
Rhian
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This book is a brilliant read and was very hard to put down！ It addresses some important issues of homosexuality in ireland in the 80s， it's articulated so well and is a great read。 This book is a brilliant read and was very hard to put down！ It addresses some important issues of homosexuality in ireland in the 80s， it's articulated so well and is a great read。 。。。more
Helenreads
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4，5 rounded up。 Riveting！ Could hardly put it down。 First time reading Graham Norton， I had no idea。 Great story。
Celien
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Dit boek samengevat: slappe soep。Het begint hoopvol， met een beschrijving van een autocrash en de invloed daarvan op de betrokken families。 Door de continue switch tussen verhaallijnen bouwt er snel wat mysterie en interesse in de personages op。 Dat wordt volledig teniet gedaan door de keuze van Norton voor de meest saaie familie van ze allemaal。 Meer dan de helft van het boek moet je lezen over hoofdpersonage Connor Hayes， die （zogezegd） de crash heeft veroorzaakt en het dorp vervolgens verliet Dit boek samengevat: slappe soep。Het begint hoopvol， met een beschrijving van een autocrash en de invloed daarvan op de betrokken families。 Door de continue switch tussen verhaallijnen bouwt er snel wat mysterie en interesse in de personages op。 Dat wordt volledig teniet gedaan door de keuze van Norton voor de meest saaie familie van ze allemaal。 Meer dan de helft van het boek moet je lezen over hoofdpersonage Connor Hayes， die （zogezegd） de crash heeft veroorzaakt en het dorp vervolgens verliet （uit zogenoemde schaamte， want niemand is eigenlijk echt boos op hem）。 Dit personage heeft net als zijn zus， wiens saaie leven de andere verhaallijn is， geen character development of besef over het ongeval whatsoever。 Het enige wat Connor gedurende 25 jaar doet of zegt over het ongeval is een occasionele bedenking over "dat komt door het ongeval"， "ik denk aan het ongeval maar duw het weg in mijn hood"。 Heeft deze man gevoelens？ Ik betwijfel het。 Zijn 16 jaar lange relatie geeft een mooi beeld van hem als persoon: geen inhoud， geen mening， gewoon een meeloper。 Zijn zus is een egoïstische zielig mens zonder toekomst， wat blijkt uit het feit dat ze initieel stiekem blij is dat haar broer weg is omdat ze denkt dat mensen haar daardoor ook gaan haten （het gaat dus weer niet over het feit dat er 3 mensen dood zijn， let me tell you: they don't care at all ook al zou je denken dat het vrienden waren） （en hoe hard kan je het om jezelf maken？ ze heeft ook geen vrienden die haar zelfs nog maar kunnen verlaten。。。 het lijkt mij eerder aan haar karakter te liggen）， wanneer haar broer terugkomt naar het dorp na 25 jaar en de waarheid over het ongeval vertelt aan zijn ouders， kan deze meid enkel denken "hopelijk gaan ze niet boos zijn op mij omdat ik getrouwd ben met de echte dader"。 This is not about you！！！ Voor de rest zien we haar gewoon jarenlang kuisen， slecht koken， geen seks hebben en haar man haten。 En dan heeft ze plots 2 kinderen。Pas in de laatste pagina's komt helemaal aan het licht wat er echt gebeurd is: Martin， de man van de zus van Connor， Ellen， is een vuile rotzak die zijn homoseksualiteit wilde verbergen door Conner （3 seconden na het plegen van een dodelijk ongeval！！） de schuld te geven onder het mom "ik word dokter en anders vertel ik dat jij homo bent"。 Weird flex van Conner om dit te aanvaarden， want hoe kan iemand die in de gevangenis zit zelfs een roddel verspreiden in jouw miniscule dorp？ Plus， hij weet dat Martin zelf homoseksueel is， dus dat zou woord tegen woord zijn， lijkt mij？ Maar dus， Martin loopt dus gewoon al jaren vrij rond in het dorp。 Bovendien weet een van de slachtoffers， die nog in het dorp leeft， al die tijd gewoon al dat hij de echte dader is， maar vond het niet de moeite om dit te uiten？？ Mijn probleem hiermee is dat Norton letterlijk aan ieder personage de dekmantel van "schrome inwoner van klein Iers dorp in 1980" meegeeft。 Conner en Martin zijn te bang om hun geaardheid te uiten， Ellen te bang om toe te geven dat ze een kuthuwelijk heeft en een meid in een rolstoel is te lui om even tegen haar ouders te zeggen dat ze overreden is door de dokter （！） van het dorp。 Granted， het is 1980， maar dit is het enige argument dat Norton gebruikt iedere keer dat een personage iets niet wil toegeven aan een ander。 Daardoor is het dus de enige reden dat dit verhaal 350 pagina's （te lang） duurt。 Zelfs wanneer Ellen alles te weten komt over haar man， zegt ze niet tegen haar kinderen dat de bastard 3 mensen heeft vermoord en er nog over gelogen heeft ook， om "de band niet te verpesten"， hallo？？ Kortom， saaie， levensloze personages die hun lot gewoon aanvaarden， niet veranderen doorheen +25 jaar en wiens enige emoties gewoon worden beschreven door de schrijver in plaats van dat je ze als lezer kan beleven。 。。。more
MetLineReader
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I heard the author talk about this book on the BBC2 book club programme。 Sounded interesting but I wasn’t expecting this multi layered book which covers lies， hiding who you are， family dynamics， recovery， running away and so much more。 Because the author has an easy and fairly ‘simplistic’ style of writing， it’s fair to say that some people think they can dismiss his writing。 But that’s why he’s so good - he’s an intelligent man who draws you in with his easy straightforward and commonplace sto I heard the author talk about this book on the BBC2 book club programme。 Sounded interesting but I wasn’t expecting this multi layered book which covers lies， hiding who you are， family dynamics， recovery， running away and so much more。 Because the author has an easy and fairly ‘simplistic’ style of writing， it’s fair to say that some people think they can dismiss his writing。 But that’s why he’s so good - he’s an intelligent man who draws you in with his easy straightforward and commonplace storylines- that could be happening for you and me。 It’s not necessary to use overly complex words - the story jumps off the page and draws you in。A gentle read which allows you to wonder what you might have done in each character’s situation。 Enjoyable and not taxing due to the ease of the narrative。 4* an enjoyable and interesting read。 。。。more
Nancy Mijangos
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I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review。 After a tragic accident， Ellen falls in love and marries the son of the local doctor。 The marriage is not what she expected and she is shocked that the truths she had always known were not true。
Pat Housego
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Enjoyed this book。 Well written on what could have been a difficult subject。
Michelle Gaffney
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Good readGood read with a good read。 My heart broke for the main character， would love to know what happened to him next
Alexis
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I’d give 3。5 stars。 It was alright。 A good book but I think just not for me？ I found the characters to be pretty unlikeable and not in an interesting or endearing way。 It felt like a chore to finish
Róisín McAnallen
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 MAJOR SPOILERS: MINI PLOT SUMMARYConnor takes the blame for driving in a car accident in 1987 when it wasn't him who was driving which resulted in the deaths of fellow youths from his town， Mullinmore。This is so he isn't outed as gay。 He flees his family until he bumps into his nephew in NY。 His nephew is also gay。Connors sister marries the real driver， Martin。 Martin is also gay and a massive arsehole。Connor reconnects with his family and it all comes out that Martin was driving。A fairly short， MAJOR SPOILERS: MINI PLOT SUMMARYConnor takes the blame for driving in a car accident in 1987 when it wasn't him who was driving which resulted in the deaths of fellow youths from his town， Mullinmore。This is so he isn't outed as gay。 He flees his family until he bumps into his nephew in NY。 His nephew is also gay。Connors sister marries the real driver， Martin。 Martin is also gay and a massive arsehole。Connor reconnects with his family and it all comes out that Martin was driving。A fairly short， easy to read book。 。。。more
Bookgrrl
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4。5 starsI am only familiar with Graham Norton from his British talk show; this is the first of his books I have read， and I really really enjoyed it。 It reminded me a bit of the writing style in The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher （this is an old favorite of mine， so I mean no offense to compare Mr。 Norton to an old lady 😁）。 There were a couple of twists in the book that were very well done。 The book is told from different timelines， both from the point of view of different characters but al 4。5 starsI am only familiar with Graham Norton from his British talk show; this is the first of his books I have read， and I really really enjoyed it。 It reminded me a bit of the writing style in The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher （this is an old favorite of mine， so I mean no offense to compare Mr。 Norton to an old lady 😁）。 There were a couple of twists in the book that were very well done。 The book is told from different timelines， both from the point of view of different characters but also different times （it starts in 1987 and ends in 2019）。 I know some people aren’t a fan of that style but I enjoy it， and the breaks between different characters and different times were very clear so there really was no confusion。 My only small objection is how much booze factors into this book; everybody drinks and everybody drinks every single day。 As a non-drinker I don’t really get the appeal of being buzzed or drunk every single day。 But that’s just me。Thank you to NetGalley & HarperVia for this advanced reader copy。 All opinions expressed in this review are my own。 。。。more
Liz
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I enjoyed this more than his previous books， though they were fine too。 I loved this one because I loved the plot， though I saw the last twist coming a mile off， but not the first one。 The Irish mammy Chrissie did seem over the top， but that may be because I’ve never meant one！
Lisa Leone-campbell
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British television host Graham Norton has written a beautifully touching coming of age story about a group of families whose lives become intertwined after a horrific accident occurs in their small Irish town。 As lives are torn apart from the accident， it’s the intertwined secrets kept buried which seem to cause even more damage。A group of young adults decide to go to the beach the day before two of them will be married。 But the marriage will never occur。 A terrible car accident will destroy all British television host Graham Norton has written a beautifully touching coming of age story about a group of families whose lives become intertwined after a horrific accident occurs in their small Irish town。 As lives are torn apart from the accident， it’s the intertwined secrets kept buried which seem to cause even more damage。A group of young adults decide to go to the beach the day before two of them will be married。 But the marriage will never occur。 A terrible car accident will destroy all their lives。 Three of them die。 And as the town mourns the dead， their wrath turns to the driver of the car， Connor。 Unable to bear this terrible burden on their family and their son， Connor’s parents decide to send him away to Liverpool to work in hopes he will return when the shock subsides。 Little do they know it will be years before they even know he is still alive。Connor， who has secrets he can never share， is thrown into a job and apartment with strangers。 Then something happens to him and he is tossed onto the streets， a lost， guilty boy who feels he does not deserve to even be alive。 He then spends many years of his life running。 Running away from the accident， his life， himself and the embarrassment he thinks he is to his family。As Connor’s parents give up hope of ever seeing their son again， their daughter Ellen has married one of the survivors of the accident。 This marriage she realizes is very tangled。 Connor has no idea of the situations back home as he has found his way to residing in New York。 But a chance meeting with a stranger will once again change his life forever。 Those secrets he has kept buried for years once again will surface and he must decide what to reveal and what must be taken to his grave。Home Stretch examines the true love of family as well as the forgiveness we have to not only absolve someone of mistakes， but liberate oneself from the horrible burdens some carry。 But for others， their ego is too great and they would rather feel nothing rather than be free to live the life they truly want。Norton’s novel deals with love， loss and pain。 But in the end his most important lesson is that the truth will always set you free。Thank you #NetGalley #HarperCollinsPublishers #GrahamNorton #HomeStretch for the advanced copy。 The book will be coming out in late June。。 。。。more
Helen Gibson
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Written with empathy and a warm heart。 Ireland has made progress in terms of equality legislation and how it treats LGBRQ community but there was a lot of hurt and pain along the way。 This book examines that hurt and the lives damaged as a result。。 Very worthwhile read。
Sharon Bartlett
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