*Many thanks to Alan Robert Clark, Fairlight Books, and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
The novel is beautifully written in the style which reminds me of the early 20th century English fiction, and it does provide smooth flow regarding the plot. I was not fully convinced as regards the characters and some actions and behaviour seemed implausible to me, thus not allowing connecting to any of them, especially the female ones. The period is well presented with its mysogeny and tribulations of women who suffered in silence and of whom few dared to follow Isobel.

Lovely story, however a bit slow at times. The characters are interesting and complex. A good book for historical fiction readers.

I was browsing NetGalley, read the synopsis for "The Redemption of Isobel Farrar", and immediately requested the book. I was elated when I approved for an ARC because I’ve been craving historical fiction recently.

Alan Robert Clark’s story about a mother reunited with the son she gave up for adoption in the early 20th century was both tragic and heartwarming…In fact, it reminded me of the TV series of Evelyn Waugh’s beloved novel, "Brideshead Revisited".

Isobel Farrar returns to her home, Halcyon Hills in England after having lived in Ottawa, Canada. Upon her return home, she learns that the son she gave up for adoption – Frank Brodie – has come looking for her. We’re taken on several journeys as we learn of several characters’ backstories and what we’re given is a cast of characters who have experienced both profound tragedies and also truly gratifying joys in life.

Clark's novel "The Redemption of Isobel Farrar" is a story about the joys we can experience when we truly overcome the pain we’ve endured, something that no character is free from experiencing. One aspect I especially loved was Letty’s combatant outlook on how to face the future. Another aspect I loved was the idea of found family: how the bonds of the relationships we develop with non-family members can be just as strong and meaningful as those we have with our biological family.

Although I didn’t always love how Isobel’s character was made to feel by Frank because of her decision to put him up for adoption, it was tough not to love Clark’s writing, and that for me is the highlight of this novel: Clark’s beautiful prose!

There is very little dialogue in this shorter fictional work, so if you’re a fan of dialogue then this novel might not be for you. However, if you enjoy historical fiction, beautifully written descriptive prose, and character-driven stories, then this could be for you.

Many thanks to Fairlight Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of Alan Robert Clark’s new novel, The Redemption of Isobel Farrar in exchange for an honest review!

I have never read this author before,but what struck me from the first page was the exceptional prose. I felt for a long time that I was reading the greatest of nineteenth century literature-my favourite as the prose was so incredibly rich and precise. Every word fit perfectly and every scene was depicted with the greatest care and great emotion. It is a lovely book,a great novel that I will certainly recommend to all of the readers I know who love great writing.
The way in which the plot evolves and the delineation of the characters was just extraordinary. Arthur has to be my favourite character in the book.
I did feel a bit disappointed by the end of the book-when Frank-a great complex character ends up marrying Letty the maid of the house. The author does explain the relationship between Frank and Arthur and the reason for the love and affection that existed between the two men,but to my reading this would indicate that Frank would at least be identified as bisexual. But maybe for the time period in which the book takes place that is an issue to complex and foreign to include in this story.
I haven’t read a book as quickly as this one in over ten years. Mostly because I just wanted to bask in the incredibly beautiful prose. The author is a master craftsman who really understands how to use language to its fullest. There wasn’t one clunky passage in the work,I often wondered how does a contemporary writer write with such skill and such grace. There is such enormous restraint and gentility in the prose throughout the book. Reading a book as beautiful as this one encourages me to seek out other books or this sort. So much of contemporary prose reads so stilted and false. A wonderful read which gave me enormous pleasure and restored in me a great love of reading the best of books. Reading this was of the highest honour for me. Magnificent!

Wonderful proise. I thought the book was full of lovely descriptions while not bogging down the story. It helped me feel I was in the setting more than a lot of books do. The story involves a birth mother and son trying to find each other and a common ground. I thought the telling was realistic in feeling the fear, joy, anger and anxiety that would happen in this scenario. The story takes it's time building so we find the answers that we want. We are given many memorable characters who add their part to the story. I would recommend this book for those that just want a good story without a lot of action and adventure. The world needs more stories like this. Overall a heartwarming story of redemption and love as the title suggests.

The Redemption of Isobel Farrar is so gorgeously written it is like a beautiful landscape painting which exposes some details but hides others which are revealed upon close study. Characters have secrets and have suffered tragedies. They have physical and mental scars yet are proud and courageous.

Set in 1926 London, Isobel grieves the child she gave up years ago. She returns to England after being away.
War has changed the world. Frank has suffered in different ways and is able to find connection and comfort. Letty and Arthur experience sorrows, too. Letty is my favourite character, very real, human and stoic. The story itself is incredible as well with lovely descriptions. It reminds me of wondrous British Classics which pull at my heart and soul.

If you seek General or Literary Fiction which is simultaneously powerful and gentle, do prioritize this.

My sincere thank you to Fairlight Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this astonishing book.

Isobel Farrar has a secret that she's kept for nearly forty years. Frank Brodie has been carrying pain since he can remember. When Frank and Isobel find each other it takes a long time for the inevitable frost to be addressed but Clark's handling of this is masterfully handled. Although gentle and heartwarming, the story of their reunification is not overly saccharine. Instead, it feels wrought with pain, sadness and deeply disturbing memories. Both are damaged by the separation that took place in the later years of the 19th century. Frank has to forgive Isobel for giving him up and Isobel needs to forgive herself even more.
Clark's story is warm-hearted and I'm not ashamed to say poignantly sad. I had to stop reading it in public at one stage as the possibility of tears appeared inevitable. Each character from the several threads that come together over the book is well drawn and failures and flaws are written with respect and care. In such a short novel to have created believable, well-rounded characters is a skill. Clark masters the writing of some lovely characters, especially the more typically minor ones - Arthur and Letty are just wonderful and they play such important parts in the unfolding of this wonderful story. Light strokes and care all around make this a wonderfully pleasing book.

I enjoyed both Frank and Isobel's stories and how they merged in the end. Both of them had trauma and secrets and, unsuccessfully, moved through life alone and bogged down with sadness. Isobel was limited by being a women, despite her financial stability. Frank comes from poverty. Neither has a supportive family. Without the friends they found along the way, both would have been much worse off. The surprise regarding Frank's paternity is pretty predictable. There could have been a happy ending without this "twist". I also would have liked Frank's personal relationship included in the happy ending. Overall a quick read about the limited choices available in the early 1900s for everyone except wealthy men.

Wow.
I lack the words to actually convey everything this book has made me feel, but I will make one thing clear - this novel has just climbed to the top of my favourite reads of the year, and I am sure it will remain with me for years. I won't bore you with a synopsis of the book, you can find it elsewhere and it's something I hate to read in reviews, so I don't do it. I will say though that this tale isn't easy. It is painful, it is heartbreaking, there are moments where I was weeping - and oh so glad for it - and moments where I was just stunned, because there was just so much realism, so much colour, so much life in the pages of this book.
The writing is superb, reminiscent of old time favourites of mine like Maurice and Brideshead Revisited, the characters were alive before my eyes and in my mind, the prose filled with melancholy poetry. I cried, at certain passages, and yet, it is not a sad book, not in my opinion. It is a tale that moves and sweeps you off your feet, where every line seems to convey so much more than what you read through it, where the echoes remain beside you after you've finished and whisper in your ear, and fill you with love for this story of a mother and a son and a world in between them. I feel very lucky to have read it, as it has added so much to me - as a person, as a reader, as a writer, as well.
There aren't many more words I can use in praise of this book, only that I sincerely thank the author for having written it and NetGalley for having provided me with an ARC copy.

I quite enjoyed this book but I’m not happy that <spoiler>a gay character was killed for no reason.</spoiler> The story brings together some complex social realities, though the pacing was a bit slow at times.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

A wonderful read so well written the story the writing drew me in from the first pages.A heartwarming emotional tale.I will be recommending Alan RobertClark and this book .#netgalley #fairlightbooks