Out of Touch: April Book Club

I really enjoyed this book too but I was a little disappointed in Ava using that poor lad Kyle (from the shoe department) for sex Poor Kyle.

I would love to read a follow up and find out how Michael and his wife's relationship pans out. After all the woman he had the affair presumably still lives within sight of their apartment.

I was really pleased to receive this book and read it in a matter of days. It has a gentle, quiet style and yet manages to explore relationships with some depth, however I did not find myself particularly warming to any of the characters or being concerned as to what became of them. The author shows a good understanding of the sorts of issues, with their complexities, which exist in families. I was less convinced by the relationship between Ava and Sam. I found the settings in London and New York to be well described, particularly New York. I look forward to reading the author's next book.

This book started off well then I lost interest in the middle. I picked it up again and did enjoy the rest of it. I think the problem was I didn’t like the main character Ava. I know she had been through a hard time with her mother but she just wasn’t likable. Her friend Jane did everything to help her and not once did Ava seem grateful or think about doing Jane a good turn. I hated the way she used Kyle for sex when she didn’t even like him.
Sam would have been better steering clear of her.
The book showed that some people like Ava and her brother never recover from a broken childhood. The book ended in a good way, although I’d like to see Ava doing something nice for people in her life. I’d like to ask the author about her second book,will it be a sequel (as I think there’s more to this story) or something completely different and has she started writing it?

I read the book over a few days and agree it was a gentle approach to what are always complex issues within families. I did find the characters a bit shallow and the book seemed to gloss over the effort it would have taken to reconcile with the past and how they did that. I would recommend the author and will certainly suggest others read it.

The story revolves around two siblings, Ava and Michael, who have lost touch with each other. It has a gentle, slow pace which is quite realistic of normal lives. Both were affected by the traumatic experience of growing up in a dysfunctional family, and both dealt with it by putting distance between the past and each other. Both are trying to come to terms with how the past has influenced their lives, both in the past and present, and potentially the future. They do eventually meet again and gain some insight into their lives, and begin to map their own futures.
I think everyone can identify with this idea of the past affecting the present and future, however ordinary it appears to be. I particularly identified with the childhood house being dismantled and sold, it feels like a second death, having to let go of processions and the physical place of memories– so sad.
A question – Did your own experiences influence the book?

Thanks for sending the book. For me it started of fine - I engaged with Ava, maintained some interest with Michael but then found it just did not grab me enough to keep reading. It could be that this is just the wrong time for me to read this, I need a bit more escapism. It was well-written but just didn't grab me. Sorry.

It took me longer to read this book than I thought it would, though in part, I think that is due to the circumstances we find ourselves in at the moment, as I'm flitting from one thing to another. However, I did find it a good read, overall and glad I persevered to the end. I think it dealt with estrangement quite sensitively and the ending left me feeling hopeful for the future of the relationship between the siblings.
My question is did Haleh do a lot of research on the dynamics of family relationships in order to write this book?

Sorry really struggled with this book made it to the end but only just .

My best lockdown read. This book is extremely absorbing. I like to read stories about underlying family conflicts, because I always compare them with my own personal life.

Liska

I found this book really absorbing, so much so that I finished it within a few hours of receiving it! The story explores some complex family dynamics while remaining very readable and enjoyable. I particularly warmed to Ava and I found her relationship with Sam really heart-warming. Without giving too much away, I felt that the author wrapped up the story perfectly and the ending felt very satisfying.

My questions for author:
What inspired you to write this book?
Which character (or characters) do you most identify with and why?

I’ve always enjoyed reading and watching stories about family—those intense relationships with people you can’t really choose. What fascinates me most about such stories is how each family member fits into a messy collective. How do we retain our sense of individuality? Are we doomed to repeat the same mistakes as our parents? Does the past have to tie us to the present and future? Stories about identity and time intrigue me, and I was able to explore those concepts through the novel.

In some ways, I identified with all the characters in my novel, and I can’t say that there was one more than any other. But it was initially easier for me to write Ava, and I wonder if it’s because I felt more comfortable at the start, because she’s a female character.

gma

Out of Touch is a brilliant read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. First book that I have started and finshed since lockdown began. The characters were so believable and I feel that I really got to know them. I loved the relationship between Ava and Sam. I hope that it will be on Book at Bedtime, I love listening to a story. American Dirt is on at the moment...last months free giveaway!
I would like to ask the author if she ever draws on people that she knows to base her characters on?
Thankyou again, fabulous book!!

As an author, I find that everything I write is inspired by something I have experienced. Characters are no exception, though I have to say that no one character is derived from a single person that I know or a character from a book or film I’ve seen. It’s a strange amalgamation. Through the process of writing—ie. characters being placed in different situations, they will make decisions that are unique to them and they develop on their own even if initially they were inspired by some aspect of a person—be that fictional or in real life.

Alygran

Thank you for my book.
I thoroughly enjoyed it particularly as the relationships between the characters played out. I felt there was an honesty about complicated family relationships that you rarely see in literature.
My question would be to what extent the distancing of family relationships in her personal experience fed into the story.

I actually have a very close relationship with my family! But of course, like in every family there are tensions, particularly the closer you are. My sister who read the book recently kept sending me snapshots of my book and referencing an experience in the past that she thought inspired the writing. I think we can’t help but write about what we know. Equally there is a tendency—I’ve noticed, in friends and family who read your work to make assumptions about the inspiration of your characters and the scenarios they are in.

Maggiemaybe

I enjoyed this book, which was a gentle read perfectly suited to sitting in the garden in the sun. I found all the characters to be believable and most of them likeable, the plot moved along at a good pace, alternating between the UK and the US, and for a welcome change there were no dramatic shock horror plot twists or time shifts. I'd certainly read more by this author.

I'd like to ask the author whether she has lived in New York. She really caught the essence of it in the chapters featuring Michael and his family.

Thank you again for the book and for the Book Club itself, GNHQ. It's definitely the best of Gransnet at the moment and I hope it can continue as things are.

I have never lived in New York though I’ve been many times as I grew up in Canada, a few hours from New York. I’m so pleased that you enjoyed this aspect of my book. I loved writing it and found that I longed to return to New York through the process.

gillyknits

A fascinating subject for a debut novel. The story of a very dysfunctional family that have grown apart. The tensions caused by alcoholism and infidelity influenced the memories of Michael and Ava. He lives in America and she in England. His struggle is being a husband and father and hers is relationships.
I enjoyed the book , the well drawn characters' , and quickly became involved in their lives. A thought provoking read for these strange times.
My question for Haleh would be will your next book be in the same format or would you do something completely different?

Thank you for asking this question. I wrote ‘Out of Touch’ a little while ago, and have since been writing my second book which is focuses on a group of old friends. There is more of a mystery element to it, and it’s told from a single perspective.

mrsHom

I really enjoyed this book and found it an easy read. The characters were well rounded and I could understand and almost sympathise with their motivation, even when they were in the process of making potentially disastrous mistakes - a girl, trapped by familial obligations, her brother fleeing from them and feeling guilty. We all know families like that!
My question is could there be a follow up with Ava continuing to discover her Greek family and her own 'Greekness' ?

That’s a very interesting question, and I could see how that could work. Though I loved spending time with Ava, I am writing stories about new characters.