Sadly, couldn't get into this one. Emma Donoghue has such a wide variety of work and though I really enjoyed the location of the French Riviera, the writing style took away from it a bit, so I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. Unfortunately, I put it down after a few chapters.

It took me a long time to get into this book, and then a long time to realise that nothing original was going to happen. I enjoy Ms Donoghue's writing and loved "Room", but for me this didn't have the extra je ne sais quoi to make it a stand out novel.
Thank you to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of this book.

A huge departure from the authors previous book ‘Room’. It tells the story of a childless 79 year old professor tasked with looking after his 11 year old great nephew Michael. Michaels mother is in prison and Noah is the only alternative to the foster system although the two have never met and come from very different backgrounds.
The story traces their time together during a week in Nice, which Noah left as a small child during the war. It is interwoven with his attempts to solve a mystery posed by some old photos taken by his mother. I enjoyed the insights into the war years and the burgeoning relationship that develops between the child and the old man.

This book got me interested for two main reasons: Emma Donoghue’s Room is a book that I really enjoyed and loved the film even more and was therefore curious to read more by her, and the fact that Atkin takes mostly place in my homeland, France.

This book is very different from what I usually read; it’s a contemporary literary fiction about Noah, an older gentleman, and his estranged 11 year old nephew, Michael, who end up having to spend time together as the boy’s parents are dead and in prison. Atkin follows their relationship as they spend more time together in Noah’s hometown, Nice, France.

I was really surprised by how much I ended up enjoying Noah and Michael bickering and strange but very real relationship. I was afraid of getting bored of this character driven story but ended flying through the pages without realising it! I really liked the scenery of Nice and the historical elements that Donoghue brought to the story.

However, I do have to say that no matter how nice the characters and writing were, I still found myself wishing for something to happen, anything really, that would put me on the edge of my seat. It is therefore a me situation here rather than the book being the problem as I knew what I was getting into when I first started it. And this is why I gave it a 3/5 stars and not anything higher and lower. It was really good and well-written but very different from what I usually read.

I was rather disappointed in Akin. Emma Donoghue certainly writes well, but I found the book a bit of a mish-mash of themes which in the end didn’t say anything very new.

The story is of Noah, a retired, recently widowed professor, approaching 80 with a comfortable life in New York and on the verge of a sentimental journey to Nice where he was a child before the war. He becomes temporary guardian of Michael, his great-nephew whose mother is in prison, whom he has never met and who comes from a much tougher background and they head to Nice together.

What follows is a mixture: the rather unoriginal story of the two hopelessly unmatched people beginning to understand and bond with each other, a love-letter to Nice, some history of the dreadful events of the Nazi occupation of the city and a rather unconvincing mystery about Noah’s mother’s activities during the war. I’m afraid it felt like a bit of a mess to me because it lacked focus as it jumped from one theme to another, and the supposed mystery didn’t convince at all as Noah jumped from one tenuous, ill-founded conclusion to another. I found Michael’s character and voice pretty unconvincing as he quite often showed an astuteness and vocabulary well beyond his years. I was also slightly uneasy at the use of some of the Nazi and Holocaust material which felt just a little exploitative to me – although that may be just a personal view as my antennae are rather sensitive to that because of my own family’s history.

Donoghue is a good writer, so it’s all readable and I did finish it (with a little judicious skimming), but I wasn’t bonkers about it and it’s certainly not a patch on the brilliance of Room.

(My thanks to Picador for an ARC via NetGalley.)

It took me a while to decide whether or not I liked this book but I didn't want to stop reading. The storyline, a nearly 80 yr old reluctantly taking on the care of an 11 year old great nephew - I thought initially would be stereotypical but it wasn't. They embarked on a trip to Nice to look into the background of the 80yr old's family. The story had humour. The Great Uncle shows empathy and understanding, he does not try to change the boy or impose his values on him. The family story developed alongside the development of the relationship between the boy and his uncle. It is a book well worth reading.

Emma Donoghue has written the novel I wish I had. She has clearly mastered the art of prose very well and her latest novel will not disappoint old and new readers.

I loved the dynamics between the characters and the way Nice was brought to life in the present as well as in it's unfortunate past when it was occupied by the Germans.

Will definitely be recommending!

Emma Donoghue’s latest book, “Akin”, tells the story of Noah and Michael. Noah is an 80 year old widower who is about to embark on his first trip back to Nice, where he lived as a child. Michael is his 11 year old great-nephew who he has never met and who now needs a temporary guardian. Can the two put aside their differences and learn to get along?

Donoghue’s writing is simple but effective. I don’t feel like she overwrites her descriptions and her characterisation is lovely. I loved the burgeoning relationship between Noah and Michael. It’s hard to imagine how each must feel in the circumstances they find themselves in and I loved seeing them trying to figure each other out. I can see a little of myself in both of them and I loved when Noah let his slightly more playful side out occasionally. I really felt for Michael, it must be be so difficult to lose the only family you’ve known and be suddenly paired with this elderly gentleman who is supposed to be your relative but you’ve never met him before. Couple that with the feelings of anxiety and excitement you must feel about going to a foreign country for the first time and I have absolutely no idea how Michael kept it together.

There are a few different plots running through this one and I loved the way they intertwined with each other. The main plot of Noah looking into his Mother’s past definitely intrigued me and I felt like Donoghue executed it well but I would have liked to have seen more of the plot surrounding Victor’s death. Some parts were, unfortunately, a little predictable as well but it didn’t take a great deal of enjoyment away.

I enjoyed the historical facts about Nice and Noah’s family’s time there during World War II. I actually learned a lot from this book, which I love. Much like “Room”, “Akin” has left me thinking about it long after I stopped reading.

On the whole I’d say “Akin” is a great book. Donoghue’s writing completely hooked me in and I couldn’t put it down. The subject matter is obviously very different to “Room” but I’d still say if you liked “Room” you’d probably like this too.

A return to form for Emma O’Donoghue, this was an easy read with a good balance of humour and emotion. The two main characters, 12 and 79 respectively, were drawn really well, exposing their differences due to circumstance and age but also where they crossed over. However, two thirds in I did think it became slightly drawn out and repetitive and could have been a bit tighter,but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book too much.

I loved this, I loved the generation gap between Noah and Michael and how they had to navigate it. I loved the South of France setting, and I liked learning all about Noah's family.

What’s it About?
Noah, almost 80, is planning a solo trip to Nice to figure out some stuff from his childhood that's eluding him. Then he gets lumbered being the guardian to an 11 year old nephew he's never met. This book is the two of them getting to know each other on the French Riviera whilst Noah tries to work out his past.

What I liked:
Oh, but this book. France. And old man. A little boy. A wartime history. This book. Noah's never had children, so being handed the year old son of his dead sister and being told to take care of him is a shock to the system and watching the two of them get to know each other, locking horns and bickering over everything is so so wonderful. This book warms my heart. Running alongside Noah and Michael's voyage of wonderful self discovery is Noah's look into his past, looking for clues to some old photographs taken by his Mother, in Nice, in the war and that element of the story was so so fascinating and so well done. This book is just a treat to read - such good character studies you don't even know. I was enchanted.
What I liked less:
I don't actually know, if I'm honest. I just really really really liked it. I think occasionally I felt a tiny bit patronised - if that's even the right word? I was a little bit like yes Emma, I know, but it's hard to put that into words and really, this was such a wonderful wonderful book.

This is the second book by Emma Donoghue that I have read. the other being Room. I was disappointed with this book but it was an easy and quick read. I didn't find the characters at all engaging or particularly interesting. The 'mystery' was not much of one and the outcome was obvious to me from the beginning, but I do read a lot of WW2 fiction and nonfiction. The writing is ok but the story is very repetitive, of course some of this may have been edited out as I read an unproofed edition.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this unproofed e-ARC

Well written mystery that’s easy to read and keeps you interested.

The dynamics between the characters make it stand out and I enjoyed the grandparent angle.

Akin is a wonderful read. The story of old man Noah and young lad Michael who are brought together is the most bizarre way and set off on a trip to Noah's birthplace and early memories. This journey is laugh out loud funny and very sad in parts, I confess this was a slow burn for me initially, however I soon got into it and loved the book. It is a fabulous read. I cannot wait for more from Emma Donoghue.

It is hard to define this excellent book - the story of 79 year old Noah travelling on a holiday to Nice with his troubled 11 year old grand-nephew, Michael. As Noah discovers more about his past and the story of his mother during war-time Nice, he also learns about the present world through Michaels eyes. Theirs is a spiky relationship and we come to care about both as they navigate their way through the pitfalls of their new life together.
Another thought-provoking novel from Emma Donoghue. Recommended.

An amazing second novel easy to see why the first was bestselling, I imagine this will be too. Very descriptive telling of nice in France and the bond of the two main characters is heartwarming and so funny. The way the two different generations adapt and differ. Definitely one to buy as a present loved it so much. Its immersive.

The heartwarming tale of a young boy and his Great Uncle, thrown together and tracing back their family history through a haphazard series of events. I very much enjoyed the relationship between Michael and Noah, and feel privileged to have journeyed through Nice with them. I will miss them!

You can never say if you’ve read one Emma Donoghue book, you’ve read them all. Here she sets out a story different in time, place and genre to others she’s written before.
With the main character she writes from the perspective of an 80 year old New York academic but the portrayal of his 11 year old great nephew, whose life has been very different, is equally strong.
In the story Noah simultaneously finds out about the hidden early life of his French mother, while learning how Michael lives and deals with his less than desirable circumstances.
Well plotted, well brought together, funny, believable and moving, we also understand it’s never too late to do something new.

Highly recommended.

Akin is the new novel from master storyteller Emma Donoghue,who weaves a snippet of historical fact into a heartwarming, entrancing novel with her customary aplomb.
Featuring the unlikely duo of 80 year old Noah and 11 year old Michael, I think this will appeal to a wider audience especially those who loved ‘ Room’. Every novel by this author is completely different which makes her stand out from the crowd which is refreshing given the market is saturated with novels following similar plot lines. Multi layered, this book explores themes of love and friendship, the joys of discovery and how it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks!
Set mainly in Nice, Noah, great uncle to Michael has been thrown into the role of the boy’s guardian due to exceptional circumstances and so the two embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment despite being virtual strangers. For Noah this is a trip down memory lane, revisiting old haunts and the first time he has set foot on French soul in decades. With the aid of a few photographs he has a chance to discover more about his mother’s life in France during the Second World War since they were separated when Noah was sent away to America to join his father. The historical element of the novel highlighting the role French individuals played as part of the resistance is fascinating. Michael is a somewhat reluctant companion but useful in helping slot together the pieces in this puzzle giving Noah an insight into the mystery surrounding his mother’s life during this time of separation.
The pair have much to learn from each other. Noah, a scientist and childless and Michael, a streetwise kid who is addicted to technology and fast food negotiate their way through this fledgling unusual relationship that is delightful and often humorous. Both characters are brought to life extremely well to the point by the end of the novel these are two individuals who you can’t fail to love in equal measure. Noah’s deceased wife Joan converses with him in his mind, often berating him and guiding him through tricky situations which I think is a lovely touch.
I loved this book and having been fortunate enough to listen to the author talk about her novel ‘Frog music’ a few years ago, I can appreciate the huge amount of research she undertakes for each novel and what a labour of love it is! Highly recommend and thanks as always to the author and publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read ahead of publication.

I enjoyed this rather heartwarming book.
The developing relationship between the childless almost 80 year old and his streetwise great nephew kept me engaged. Throw in the stories of his childhood and Nice during WW2 and it is an entertaining read.
I especially liked the interactions between the two main characters, coming from very different backgrounds caused some difficulties but you could see both points of view.
The reminiscences of Noah were enlightening and took the reader back to different times. There was a lot of other historical information too, some of it interesting but not all. At times I felt like Michael - too much education!
Michael’s upbringing was not an easy ride either and you found out more about him as the book went on.
All in all this is a book that I would recommend to friends.