Nora webster is the heartbreaking new novel from one of the greatest novelists writing today. Noras anger flashes, her real feelings bubbling up, even if just for a moment. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. The love of her life, maurice, has just died so she must work out how to forge a. Nora webster is, like toibin s best characters, iconoclastic, strong and deep. Nora webster is living in a small town, looking after her four children, trying to rebuild her life after the death of her husband. More praise for nora webster if there is a more brilliant writer than toibin working today, i dont know who that would be irish times, books of the year. Toibins portrayal of the intricacy and drama of ordinary lives brings to mind of the work of alice munro.
Id got no idea what it was about until i started reading it. If you are a reader who prefers a story filled with action, then mr. Widowed at forty, with four children and not enough money, nora has lost the love of her life, maurice, the man who rescued her from the stifling world to which she was born. There are a few fiction writers whose words reach out to us from the very first sentences of a book, compelling our assent and our delight. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading nora webster. Now available in paperback, a magnificent new novel from one of contemporary literatures most acclaimed and beloved authors. So does his affection for his characters how nora chooses to make her voice heard and how her children find ways to express their own pain provide nora websters plot and pleasurea socalled. The slowmoving narrative plods through every sad step on noras journey, the sentences. So toibin has learned well from henry james in many ways, nora webster would bring an admiring smile to the master s lips. This reading group guide for nora webster includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. Nora webster by colm toibin abebooks passion for books.
Colm toibin has 147 books on goodreads with 356269 ratings. Like brooklyn, toibins great novel of an irishwomans exile, nora webster is animated by a death in the family. So toibin has learned well from henry jamesin many ways, nora webster would bring an admiring smile to the masters lips. Atmospheric and emotional, colm toibin s brooklyn, the master seventh novel is the story of a fortyyearold widow in 1960s70s rural ireland whos on the verge of slipping back into the isolated life from which her husband had rescued her. The downloadable, digital audiobook edition of colm toibins new novel, read by fiona shaw. Its the late 1960s and nora webster is a middleaged mother of four living in rural ireland and recovering from the death of her husband. Nora webster by colm toibin overdrive rakuten overdrive. Nora webster ebook by colm toibin 9780670918218 rakuten kobo. Its humanity and compassion forge an unforgettable reading experience. So toibin has learned well from henry james in many ways.
Wounded, strongwilled, clinging to secrecy in a tiny community where everyone knows your business, nora is drowning in her. Im pleased and a little abashed to report that nora webster, colm toibins highwire act of an eighth novel, has made a fool of me. From one of contemporary literatures most acclaimed and beloved au. Nora webster is living in a small town, looking after her four children, trying to rebuild. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while. He is the author of nine novels including the master, brooklyn, the testament of mary and nora webster. Widowed at forty, with four children and not enough money, nora has lost the love of her life, maurice, the man who rescued her from the stifling world to which. Oct 14, 2014 nora webster, the stern heroine of colm toibins new novel, is just widowed as the book begins. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read nora webster. Oct 11, 2014 nora webster will remind readers of brooklyn. Colm toibins most recent book was about a grieving woman, too. As haunting as hedda gabler, toibin s latest offering a triumphant addition to his canon. Nora webster by colm toibin from one of contemporary.
Oct 02, 2014 nora webster ebook written by colm toibin. Nora webster book by colm toibin official publisher page. Widowed at 40, with four children and shaky finances, nora rejects condolences and pity. Nora webster s husband has died from cancer and she is learning to live again as a widow, she has to find a job to make ends meet. Nora webster book bellingham public library bibliocommons. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In nora webster, colm toibin returns to his irish home and the story takes place in wexford, ireland. It is the 1960s and nora webster is living with her two young sons in a small town on the east coast of ireland. Read nora webster a novel by colm toibin available from rakuten kobo. But if you are a reader, like me, who falls in love with characters, i think you will enjoy mr. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Colm toibins collection of stories the empty family will be published in the uk in october 2010 and in the us and canada in january 2011. But she was the mother of jesus christ, so the stakes seemed somewhat higher. From one of contemporary literatures bestselling, critically acclaimed, and beloved authors.
Sister thomas accepts the rage, recognizes it, and gives nora the rough push back into life that she needs. Colm toibins nora is a character as resonant as anna karenina or madame bovary and nora webster is a novel that illuminates our own lives. Last year, toibin made a remark about seamus heaneys poetry which applies to nora webster. Toibin artfully shows us a nora unmooredthis quiet, wrenching novel conceals considerable human turbulence beneath its placid surface. Nora webster is a novel that illuminates our own lives in a way that is rare in literature. Nora webster by colm toibin penguin random house canada. One of the washington posts five best audiobooks of 2014, nora webster is a wonderful listening experience. Nora webster book by colm toibin official publisher. It is the 1960s and nora webster is living with her two young sons.
In nora webster, toibin has created a character as iconic, engaging and memorable as madame bovary or hedda gabler. Toibin artfully shows us a nora unmoored this quiet, wrenching novel conceals considerable human turbulence beneath its placid surface. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting. Nora webster by toibin, colm and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Nora webster, the stern heroine of colm toibins new novel, is just widowed as the book begins. His work has been shortlisted for the booker three times, has won the costa novel award and the im. Oct 14, 2014 toibin s portrayal of the intricacy and drama of ordinary lives brings to mind of the work of alice munro. When the novel begins, it is the late 1960s in wexford, county wexford, ireland. Nora webster is an historical literary novel by colm toibin, dealing with the life of nora webster through three years after the death of her husband, maurice. Nora webster by colm toibin from one of contemporary literatures bestselling, critically acclaimed, and beloved authors.
Nora webster ebook the seattle public library bibliocommons. In nora webster, tobin has created a character as iconic, engaging and memorable as madame bovary or hedda gabler. Set in wexford, ireland, and in breathtaking ballyconnigar by the sea, colm toibins tour. I started nora webster in 2000 and finished it in 20. His most recent novel is nora webster, which is now out in paperback. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Nora webster ebook pima county public library bibliocommons.
485 61 703 1147 1448 184 874 1650 361 1185 525 1048 422 1049 1366 127 696 625 324 142 212 209 553 196 1616 517 1582 983 1353 1496 1034 116 1296 324 1097 743 529 523 971 263 794