★★★★✰ 4 stars

“He and this boy were quite alien to each other, he decide. Yet, in an odd way, akin.”


Akintells the touching story of Noah Selvaggio, a retired seventy-nine year old chemistry professor, and his eleven year old great-nephew, Michael Young. Noah is a widower who has few remaining connections in the world and his fairly quiet existence is thrown out of balance when he is more or less cajoled into becoming Michael's temporary carer. Michael's mother is in prison, his father, Noah's nephew, died of an overdose, and his maternal grandmother has recently passed away. Noah is, quite understandably, reticent to the idea of looking after Michael...he is aware of the limitations that come with his age, and having never had any contact with Michael or his mother, he feels a mixture of guilt and unease at this sudden 'reunion'.
Yet, given the circumstances, not only does he find himself accepting to briefly take on this role but he is also forced to take Michael with him in a much overdue trip to Nice, Noah's place of birth.

“And Mr. Selvaggio is your great-uncle, which is another kind of uncle.”
“What's so great about him?” Micheal wanted to know.
Whether that was ignorance or wit, it did make Noah smile.”


The plain-spoken narrative takes us alongside Noah and Michael's in their stay in Nice. They walk and eat a lot, they visit museums and other historical sites. All the while Noah is also preoccupied with a mystery of sorts...having come across as some old photos Noah begins to fear that his mother might have been hiding something...his mind begins to formulate different kind of theories regarding his mother's actions in WWII.

“Such convoluted grammar death required: what tense to describe the hypothetical emotions of a woman who didn't exist anymore?”


Michael's constant presence however demands Noah's undivided attention. The child is rude and bratty, and treats Noah with suspicion and contempt. The two are at odds from the very start. Noah, who spend most of his days living in the past, attempts to make some sort of connection with Michael by acting as a tour guide of sorts. He also reiterates his and Michaels's family history (Noah's grandfather was a famous photographer) as a way of reinforcing their familial bond. Michael's attention however seems wholly devoted to his phone. He swears a lot, demands junk food all the time, and is bored by Noah and his 'lessons'.
There is a dissonance between the two: the things that have shaped Noah's life seems to be of little relevance to Michael. At the same time Michael has experienced hardships that Noah finds difficulty to comprehend.

“In the pictures Michael looked older, Noah thought; harder. But really, eleven — that was barely formed.”


The two wander about Nice, often a despondent Michael's following in Noah's stead. The city seems to stir something within Noah so that he finds himself compelled to discover the truth about his mother.
Their quarrels had a very natural flow to them; at time they seemed to escalate out of nothing, while in other instances they boiled down to nothing.
I found myself deeply caring for Noah. His attempts to reach Michael could be both sweet and awkward, and Michael too, in spite of his horrible behaviour, slowly grew on me.

“Why don't you start it now?”
“I'm good.”
Funny how that had come to mean no.


This genuine story offers us with plenty of thoughtful reflections regarding the differences and similarities between Noah and Michael's generations. The novel also broaches many subjects—topical and non—in a very frank and natural way; commentaries regarding America and France are embedded in a very smooth manner, so that it never feels overdone.

“How could you do your homework if you didn't even have a home to work in?”


I was moved by Noah's internal turmoils and by his introspection of his past. Filled with equal parts humour and heart, Akin is a wonderfully compelling novel, one that I would happily read again.

“He supposed it was always that way with the dead; they slid away before we knew enough to ask them the right questions. All we could do was remember them, as much as we could remember of them, whether it was accurate or not Walk the same streets that they'd walked; take our turn.”

4 Stars - review posted on my Goodreads/my blog (linked) with a link on my twitter @Bookreviewskb

Akin, by Emma Donoghue is an interesting story that is aptly named as it is about family, understanding and the generational differences between family members.

Akin follows the character of Noah 'Noe' Selvaggio, a 79 year old retired professor. Noah, having outlived his immediate family, lives a solitary and slow life - as he fails to see the point in rushing anymore- but he decides to visit Nice, France, as a return to his homeland where he spent his early and formative years. Looking forward to his trip, though doubting it will be fun, his plans are quickly disrupted when Rosa calls him and tells him that his 11 year old great nephew, Michael, needs a guardian- and Noah is the only next of kin they could find. Hesitant and unsure, Noah tries to find a way around this but due to the only alternative being the care system Noah, out of obligation to his sister, agrees to temporary guardianship, after his trip to France. Unfortunately, this does not work out and Michael ends up going on the trip with him. Once in Nice Noah tries to uncover his mother's history with the aid of some obscure pictures he found in his sisters room, while simultaneously struggling to deal with a screen-addicted, and foul mouthed 11 year old with whom he argues over everything with. As the two struggle to get along, and unexpectedly help one and other, they realise they are more akin than they originally thought.

I love Emma Donoghue's writing and I have done since Room- a book I absolutely adored after it had been recommended to me by a friend. So, when i saw Akin was available for me to request via Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to read it- and the writing was just as amazing as I remembered it to be.

Donoghue's writing is so tender, emotional and well crafted that I was immediately drawn into the story. Moreover, it is so easy to read and get absorbed into that I ended up reading the majority of the book in one sitting! This as also aided by the narrative choice used, we read from Noah's perspective so we get his thoughts and insights into each situation- with a little bit of his wife's too, a technique I really liked and thought it added a unique and interesting dimension to the story. However, having the story told solely through Noah's perspective was a brave choice as he is an elderly man- an age group that not many people can identify with (particularly readers like me who are in their 20's)- who has a different view of the world because he grew up in a different generation. For example, Noah is fascinated by his family history, his heritage, and the history of France and appreciates the smaller, educational elements of the world, something Michael does not. He also has many issues relative to his age from his health to his perspective on his own fate, something that younger people are less inclined to think about as often. However, despite his age and his perspective, Donoghue still manages to get the reader to connect with the character. Many a time while reading the book I sympathised and supported Noah's emotions and his thoughts and connected with him on a much deeper level than I thought I would.

Moreover, the lack of narrative from Michael's perspective was clever and helped me to connect more with Noah, but also with Michael. This was partly due to not knowing what Michael's train of thought was, so when he chooses to behave in a specific way or comes out with an enlightening comment it is surprising to the reader but also intriguing because it makes us appreciate Michael's character is suffering, but also connects us with Noah who cannot connect with Michael or simply understand him due to the generational difference, we too are left in the dark about why Michael does what he does.

Of course, as I previously said, I also felt I could connect with Michael, he is the new generation that is surrounded by screens. But, at his core he is only a child who is scared and stressed out with his current circumstances. His frustration is natural, though his behaviour is, at times, unnecessary- he is human, he has flaws and so you can connect with him.

The dynamic between Noah and Michael is what you would expect, it is awkward. The two have never met and are thrust together by unfortunate circumstances and they are worlds apart in personality. However, the relationship is interesting to read about as it is also comical. Watching the two learn about each other and develop their relationship is sweet and funny, the combination of the two generations is an interesting concept to watch unfold. This is primarily because, as they book moves on, you begin to see the family resemblance and the connections they do have such as Michael's obsession, but also hidden proficiency, with a camera - a familial link that is dominant throughout the story.

I also enjoyed watching the two as they try to uncover the mystery of Noah's mother's photos. This element of the story, though I wish there had been more of it, was definitely interesting as it created a strange dynamic and atmosphere in regards to the theme of family that has been built up. With the constant uncertainty and horror that could possibly lie behind the pictures; the flitting states of denial, disgust, fear and hope of Noah as he begins to create theories are emotional to watch as the bond of family is tested consistently during the trip. This concept is so important to the novel as family is so important to Noah, and should the bond of family be destroyed in regards to his mother then it makes you think what hope there could be for this new potential bond between Noah and Michael. Though initially it does not seem like Noah particularly cared for Michael, his family, it is made clear through smaller things as the book goes on and this only gets stronger. On the other hand, Michael also shares that trait. He is also invested in his family, particularly his mother, uncle and late grandmother, but has yet to see Noah as worthy of the title of family. But, as time goes on he begins to understand that he has more family than he realised and that Noah is the key to his family history.

I also enjoyed watching the two as they try to uncover the mystery of Noah's mother's photos. This element of the story, though I wish there had been more of it, was definitely interesting as it created a strange dynamic and atmosphere in regards to the theme of family that has been built up. With the constant uncertainty and horror that could possibly lie behind the pictures; the flitting states of denial, disgust, fear and hope of Noah as he begins to create theories are emotional to watch as the bond of family is tested consistently during the trip. This concept is so important to the novel as family is so important to Noah, and should the bond of family be destroyed in regards to his mother then it makes you think what hope there could be for this new potential bond between Noah and Michael. Though initially it does not seem like Noah particularly cared for Michael, his family, it is made clear through smaller things as the book goes on and this only gets stronger. On the other hand, Michael also shares that trait. He is also invested in his family, particularly his mother, uncle and late grandmother, but has yet to see Noah as worthy of the title of family. But, as time goes on he begins to understand that he has more family than he realised and that Noah is the key to his family history.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The characters were easy to connect with, the writing was amazing and the story was interesting. The theme of family was well crafted and the conflict and distress that threatened the familial values throughout made for an insightful read. Furthermore, the mirroring and contrast of the two families and their situations created a deeper level of connection between the two main characters.

The relationships between the characters was delightful to read about as it was the combination of different generations, socio-economic backgrounds, and different values. None of which could transcend the idea and bond of family.

*I received and eARC of Akin from #Netgalley #PanMacmillan in exchange for an honest review*

Emma Donoghue writes well and she writes about children particularly well. Best known for her unsentimental, gripping portrayal of five-year-old Jack in ‘Room’, her creation of Michael, a weary worldly-wise eleven-year-old is entirely different but just as convincing. There seems to be nothing lovable about Michael. He has created a tough layer of insolence, a self-protecting armour against the adults who have let him down. And yet, from the time when he and Michael, his distant elderly relation meet, there are glimpses of vulnerability, curiosity, wit and intelligence. No father, mother in prison, grandmother dead, it’s no wonder that Michael baulks at having to go to France with his octogenarian ‘sort of’ uncle Noah.
And Nice is anything but nice to Michael who is used to fast food, noisy streets, a rebellious peer group and gaming. As Noah struggle to entertain his young charge, he is also caught up in the mystery of his mother’s story during WW11. Why didn’t she travel to America with him? What was she doing in occupied France? The plot thickens when Noah discovers that she has links with Hotel Excelsior, requisitioned by the Nazis for the holding of three thousand Jews before sending them to Drancy. He begins to imagine all sorts of horrors.
Whilst this element of the story is interesting and linked to the author’s own history, the central focus is always on Noah and Michael, their very gradual understanding of the other and the relationship that develops. Love? Maybe, but as Donoghue shows, anything that goes that deep takes a long time to nurture. The novel’s title, referenced in the epigraph, tells us that it means:
1. Related by blood
2. Similar in character
This is the essence of the narrative drive; if it seems a little underwhelming, it doesn’t mean that ‘Akin’ is a slight novel. As she explores the notion of trust, Donoghue has plenty to say about the benefits of age as well as the vulnerabilities, just as she does about the advantages and drawbacks of youth. Well worth the read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Picador for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Akin is essentially about 79 year old Noah, a widowed retired professor living in New York and his 11 year old great nephew Michael who has led a troubled life. Noah is about to set off on a weeks trip to Nice, his birthplace and where he lived until aged 3. Noah’s sister has recently passed away and left him some photographs taken by their late mother in Nice, her homeland, this sets off his desire to know more about his and his family’s past. Just before Noah is about to embark on his trip he receives a phone call to say his great nephew, his late sister’s grandson Micheal, is homeless, he has been living with his maternal grandmother but she has passed away, Micheal’s mother is in prison and his father, Noah’s nephew has died. Noah is Micheal’s nearest relative. Noah and Michael’s Social worker make arrangements for Michael to accompany Noah on his forthcoming trip. The story of the relationship between Noah and Micheal, who is quite intelligent and perceptive, evolves during the week in Nice. Old meets young in both senses of two completely different generations and the present and an so very different past set during WW2 and Noah’s mother’s part therein.
The book is written beautifully, the characters are wonderfully drawn so much so the reader feels empathetic towards both Micheal and Noah as their burgeoning relationship develops along with Noah’s quest to uncover his past. I enjoyed the book and would not hesitate to recommend it

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan Picador for the ARC

I really enjoyed this, was a bit unsure diving into this but I’m so glad I did, a great story about crossing the generations and finding out there are no real differences only years divide you. A beautiful read, emotional and you really root for the developing bonds between them. Highly recommended

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A retired New York professor's life is thrown into chaos when he takes a young great-nephew to the French Riviera, in hopes of uncovering his own mother's wartime secrets .

Emma Donahue writes beautifully about relationships, especially between adult and child. I think this is her best book since her bestselling Room.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

An old man aged 79 suddenly finds himself responsible for his 11 year old great nephew just before a holiday in Paris. He takes the boy with him and the interaction between the two is fascinating. The boy has been brought up in a poorer district of New York and is wise beyond his years in many ways but yet there is a kind of vulnerability to him on occasions.
An interesting idea and storyline

I’ve read Donoghue’s six most recent works of fiction. As I was reading Akin I kept thinking to myself, “this doesn’t feel like an Emma Donoghue novel.” (What did I think it was like instead? Maybe a late Philip Roth or something.) But her books are all so different from each other in setting – a one-room prison in contemporary America, bawdy 1870s San Francisco, rural Ireland in the 1850s – that it’s hard to pin her down to one time period or set of topics. She never writes the same book twice, and that’s got to be a good thing.

Akin gets off to a slightly slow start but soon had me hooked. Noah Selvaggio, a childless widower and retired chemist in New York City, is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Nice, where he was born, to celebrate his 80th birthday. He never guessed that he’d have company on his trip, much less a surly 11-year-old. This is Michael Young, his nephew Victor’s son. Victor died of a drug overdose a year and a half ago; the boy’s mother is in prison; his other grandmother has just died. There’s no one else to look after Michael, so with a rush passport he’s added to the Nice itinerary.

In some ways Michael reminded me of my nephews, ages 11 and 14: the monosyllabic replies, the addiction to devices and online gaming, the finicky eating, and the occasional flashes of childlike exuberance. Having never raised a child, Noah has no idea how strict to be with his great-nephew about screen time, unhealthy food and bad language. He has to learn to pick his battles, or every moment of this long-awaited homecoming trip would be a misery. And he soon realizes that Michael’s broken home and troubled area of NYC make him simultaneously tougher and more vulnerable than your average kid.

The odd-couple dynamic works perfectly here and makes for many amusing culture clashes, not so much France vs. the USA as between these Americans of different generations:

“It was exhausting having to translate almost every word into vocabulary he imagined an eleven-year-old would know.”

The dialogue, especially, made me laugh. Donoghue nails it:

[Noah:] “The genre, the style. Is rap the right word for it? Or hip-hop?”
[Michael:] “Don’t even try.” Michael turned h is music back on.

(At the cathedral)
[Michael:] “This is some seriously frilly shit.”
[Noah:] “It’s called Baroque style.”
[Michael:] “I call it fugly.”

But there’s another dimension to the novel that keeps it from being pleasant but forgettable. Noah’s grandfather was a famous (fictional) photographer, Père Sonne, and he has recently found a set of peculiar photographs left behind by his late mother, Margot. One is of the hotel where they’re staying in Nice, known to be a holding tank for Jews before they were sent off to concentration camps. The more Noah looks into it, the more he is convinced that his mother was involved in some way – but what side was she on? Though he’s always trying to play it cool, Michael gets invested in the mystery, and in his constant selfie-taking he’s unconsciously reproducing a family hobby. This is feel-good fiction in the best possible sense: sharp, true-to-life and never sappy. With its spot-on dialogue and vivid scenes, I can easily see it being made into a movie, too. It’s one of my favorite novels of the year so far.

As Noah prepares to celebrate his 80th birthday on a journey of discovery in Nice, he becomes the unexpected caretaker of 11 year old Michael.

Emma Donoghue is so brilliant at capturing those small, seemingly insignificant, moments that make us who we are, this book is a perfect example of how the mundane makes us extraordinary. The complexity of the relationship between an old man and a young boy are beautifully told and ultimately a story of familial love and trust are explored.

Interweaving this complex dynamic is Noah’s determination to discover the role his mother played in Nice during WW2, fearing that she wasn’t the courageous heroine he imagined her to be, his dogged determination and Michaels fresh perspective help him to piece together her true narrative, one which was equally as fascinating to follow.

This was a story I really enjoyed and would thoroughly recommend.

Akin by Emma Donoghue
I was really excited to read another book by the hugely talented Emma Donoghue and I was not disappointed. The theme of “an old man dealing with a challenging young boy” is not new but in Donoghue’s hands the story is in a different league.
The novel opens in New York with Noah Selvaggio contemplating a solitary trip to the city of Nice which he left aged just 4 years. He is alone in the world. His beloved wife is dead (Although he does constantly consult her and hear her opinions of his actions.), his sister too has died, as has his nephew. His union with his wife was never blessed with children so he is alone in the world. Set in his routines and looking forward to his 80 birthday when he is contacted by Rosa, an overworked social worker, she informs him that he is the only relative of his great Nephew Michael and asks him to take the child on, while his mother is in prison, in order to prevent Michael ending up in care.
Reluctantly Noah agrees and the relationship between this ill matched pair is essential to the joy of the book. Noah is an irascible old chemistry professor and Michael is a seemingly street wise kid from one of the toughest areas of New York. Noah has some unanswered questions about his mother’s life in Nice during the war and is desperate to unravel her story before he dies. Michael has no interest in history and culture and as companions on a trip to the Carnival in Nice they are ill matched. I was entranced by the conversations between the two as Noah begins to gain a partial understanding of those things which are vital to Michael. The book is a joy to read and one which I will definitely be recommending. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

A slow moving book which fits perfectly with the characters involved. The relationships of the main character Noah were beautifully portrayed and you could really relate to them. The story was gentle and softly spoken with a hard core to it, representing well the theme of the story. I really enjoyed reading this one.

Thanks for allowing me to review this book

Noah, a 79 year-old man living in New York has planned a trip to his birthplace in France, Nice. At the eleventh hour, he's called upon to look after his great-nephew, Michael, who's mother has been imprisoned and whose father has died. With little choice, Noah has no alternative but to take his outspoken, cussing eleven-year-old relative with him. From different walks of life, the two characters start off like chalk and cheese, but soon discover unusual similarities and interests and begin to learn from each other. The story is a gentle one, covering the pair's unlikely relationship and slowly blossoming bond as they try to uncover a mystery surrounding Noah's mother.

The setting was fantastic. Having been to Nice I could picture everything the writer described, from the flight in to the market and promenade. It truly is a beautiful city and was captured well. The characters were well drawn out and their contrasting views was often entertaining. It was wonderful how the uncovering of their family history helped to build a bridge between the pair.

I did find some of the background information a bit heavy at times, particularly in the first ten percent or so but after that, it was more well entwined in the story and interesting for the most part. It's quite a slow paced book, which reflects Noah's character and the the fragility of the relationship with his nephew and I think the ending suited the story well.

Genre: General fiction
rating: 4*

This book has several different threads and themes and so it took a while to engage me as each element took time to set up, but once it had me hooked, I really enjoyed it.
I liked the rawness of both Noah ( aged 79 and investigating his history and set in his ways) and Michael ( a young man unwillingly left seeking somewhere to stay and disenchanted with the world around him). They felt very real and the you felt the discomfort of the social and generational gap between them. I loved the slight element of mystery in Noah's mother's photos and I'd have liked a little more of that thread but Donoghue is most certainly a master of portraying the human condition in all its guises. Another great read!

I've loved Emma Donoghue's other work so looked forward to this, but despite an upcoming trip to Nice, I wasn't able to engage with this novel in the same way I did her previous books. I liked Noah, the avuncular curmudgeon from New York and was moved by his lonely widowhood, but - slightly shamed to admit it - I genuinely disliked Michael. I'm a teacher who has worked in some challenging environments with some vulnerable kids but don't think I have ever come across an 11 year old so committed to being unpleasant and rude, whatever his background. My inability to warm to Michael left me uninvested in his journey and I also felt it was unrealistic that a childless 80 year old would be able to be so instantly patient and forgiving, and to decide within a week to commit the remainder of his life to the rather shallow and greedy child he agreed to chaperone for a vacation.

The historical backstory was pretty much exactly what I read about the Marcel Network on Wikipedia, so didn't add a lot to the story and I didn't buy into an octogenerian Googling his way to solving a complex family history with nothing but a handful of vague old photographs. And even if he did, what of it? If you've made it to the end of your life loving your mum, why the impulse to figure out secrets she clearly chose to keep to herself?

Three stars for the sake of past literary treasure but if I hadn't loved Room so much, I'd have probably put this at two stars.

A voyage of discovery for two very different family members - an enjoyable read.

This novel brings together an elderly retired and widowed professor of chemistry living in Manhattan and his young great-nephew from a reasonably deprived background. They end up going to Nice to uncover family secrets. As events unwind, the gap between them narrows as they try to interpret their findings. The characters are possibly the most important element of the book as they develop and change as well as their interpretation of events during the Nazi occupation. It reads well and is quite entertaining. I recommend it and I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a gentle story about an elderly man and a young boy who are thrown together through circumstances. It is well written with sharp humour at times and is a study of well observed behaviours of the two generations. There are only two main characters although others do enter the story as it progresses. They are well drawn and cleverly accurate as they start the journey entrenched in their own thinking and are gradually pulled together.
The reader is aware of how the man thinks, the boy just does his own thing!
The underlying problem is ever present and the major difficulties of the two travelling together are obvious but the gradual building of a friendship is cleverly done.
Recommended.

I loved everything that happened between Noah and Michael. Their relationship was the best thing about this book. It was funny, endearing , truthful and real. Unfortunately the historical fiction part of the story didn't engage me at all and I ended up skipping paragraphs and pages. I loved Room and had alot of expectations with regards to this book.

If I was to rate only the relationship between the 2 main characters then I would give this a 5 ☆ rating. But sadly that is not the whole story. So I will give this a 3.

After the success of Room I was excited to read Emma Donoghue's latest novel and I was not disappointed .
Akin tells the story of Noah a widow on the cusp of his eighties who has resigned himself to his retirement years after a holiday to the place of his childhood -Nice France. .
He is then thrown a couple of curve-balls in the shape of being temporary guardian to his 11 year old great nephew Michael and finding an envelope containing mysterious old photos of what he believes were taken by his mother during the war ...
We are then taken on a wonderful journey around Nice where Noah and Michael struggle to find a bond with each other and Noah tries to solve the mystery of the photographs..
A delightful story - I loved it !
Thank-you NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review

Many apologies but I am having to DNF this book. I loved ROOM but found this a little tedious and I can't finish it.
Apologies again.

This is a gorgeous, sympathetic, engrossing and most importantly kind story, much needed in today’s world. The author clearly understands 11 year old boys too!