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There are currently 38 member reviews
for Golden Child
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Kathy (ME)
Recommend with Reservations
This is a difficult book to rate and review. The prose and characters are four to five stars, but the plot and details of the third book within Golden Child diminished my overall enjoyment of the book greatly.
Having read A Place for Us, the first book under SJP's imprint, I was incredibly eager to read Golden Child, the second book published by SJP. I was immediately drawn into Adam's straight-forward but lovely prose, and the dialogue of the already realistic characters places the reader in the setting of Trinidad so effectively. Adam introduces her characters in the first book of the novel largely through Clyde, a husband and father of twins, but the second book takes the reader back in time several years and shifts mainly to Paul's perspective (one of the twins), as well as that of a kindly priest/teacher. I typically don't enjoy this technique of shifting back in time and shifting perspectives at the same time (it can feel gimmicky), but these techniques are incredibly effective to the plot and structure of Golden Child. Adam's pacing and revealing of contrasting perspectives serves to show Paul in two starkly different lights - that of a trouble-maker who is incapable of learning, and that of a gentle boy who feels his fate has been sealed by his retardation (using the term from the novel, not my own). The plot comes to its climax in the third book and this is where the novel began to disappoint me. I don't read for happy endings or plots that are easily tied up in a neat package - I like complex characters and dynamics. However, Adam steps too far into gratuitous violence/abuse in the third book; it is both difficult to stomach and not fitting with the tone of the rest of the novel. Without providing spoilers, Adam could have achieved the same end result through less gruesome means. This is a stunning debut novel but one I would recommend with reservations.
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Rebecca G. (Havertown, PA)
Family Tragedy
Peter is a golden child; he's intelligent, well behaved. He's the perfect child. His twin brother is brain damaged, considered retarded; a frustration for his father. This story is not so much the story of a boy that disappears but of a family, not so different than most families. It's a family that loves and struggles and, at times, resents each other. But then, the resentment takes a tragic turn. The family endures difficulties; a tragic car accident, a murder, betrayal and, finally, the disappearance of their frustrating child. In the end, they pull through with hope carried by their golden child. I liked this book, though at times it was hard to identify with the family, mostly I think because of cultural differences.
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Melissa S. (Rowland, NC)
Choices and Consequences
I struggled with this novel. The prose is beautiful leading the reader to very vividly picture Trinidad and it's dry dusty environment. I feel like I have physically sat in Clyde and Joy's living room, maybe even petted their dogs' eager heads. I felt real fear regarding the sketchy men that hung around the park and the so-called bodyguard spying on the family. So, for all of that, Claire Adam crafts an artful story of the life of a family that struggles both financially and emotionally. However, by the end of the novel, I truly hate Clyde, the father. I vehemently disagree with his view that he had a choice to make. My thoughts drifted back to this family for many days after I finished it. Isn't that the mark of a great novel? However, my feelings about Clyde and my deep disgust for him cause me on the one hand, to wish I had never read it, but on the other hand, I know Adams did exactly what she is supposed to do - invoke strong, unsettling emotions that stick with the reader. One thing is for sure - as much as I would love to, I will never forget this novel. One man's choice directed the fate of four lives. Father Kavanagh is correct when he says God will grant forgiveness. I just don't think I can though. I need to see the innate goodness in people and this novel shows exactly the opposite.
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Kathy D. (Spotsylvania, VA)
A bit slow in the middle
After finishing this book, I realized why so much of the text in the middle of the book, which I found difficult to plod through, was necessary for background to understand the characters, what happened and why. I also got slowed down a bit by the cultural vocabulary. This book is all about family interactions. Telling the story through the different characters' points of view helped me understand the characters and their family relationships. The ending left me unsatisfied, however. I felt like there were so many unanswered questions. With family dynamics and interactions the focus of Golden Child, there is much to discuss here, which would make this book a good selection for book clubs.
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Catheryne Z. (Plano, TX)
Golden Child Review
Golden Child is about twin boys in Trinidad. They are treated very differently based on their intellect. Peter is known as the smart one who is given the advantages in life by his parents. Paul was born slow and his parents regard him as intellectually slow. Others don't believe he is as behind as his parents do. Paul goes missing and his parents, specifically his dad, Clyde, has to make some heart wrenching decisions. The story revolves around those decisions and the preceding events and outcome.
The author gives a good description of Trinidad and the difficulties of living there as well as the corruption that occurs there. The story also deals with the guilt associated with the results of Clyde's decision.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The first part was a little slow. Then, part 2 backtracked to the boys early lives leading up to Paul's disappearance. Part 3 involves Clyde's decisions and the outcome. It was a sad story overall.
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Amy
Decent Debut Novel
I should've loved this book. The plot is solid, the characters are well developed, the setting is beautifully described by an author who clearly loves Trinidad, & the message is important. However, the story moves too slowly, is a bit predictable, and Ms. Adam steps too far into gratuitous violence/abuse in the third section of the book. It is both difficult to stomach and not fitting with the tone of the rest of the novel. As I was reading the abusive scene, I was immediately jarred out of the story. It doesn't fit with the rest of the story and feels as if it was included solely for shock value. Although I didn't particularly love this book, I am interested in seeing how the author's writing skill grows as she gains more experience. This is a decent debut novel & it is evident that Ms. Adam is a skilled writer. I think as she becomes a more seasoned novelist her writing choices will mature.
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Bess W. (Marlton, NJ)
Choices
Trinidad--crime and corruption running rampant. I found the detailed discussion of the social and economic structure to be the most interesting part of the story. Through all this the family highly values education and what it means to the next generation. The choices a family makes are not always easy. I'm not sure what my choice would be. Although the book was enjoyable I couldn't connect with the characters and therefore a lower rating.
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