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Joe Faber and the Optimists Paperback – September 1, 2020

by Gill Oliver (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 63 ratings
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'Administering hope and regular hearty laughs, it's a powerful antidote to despair...' - Susan Elderkin, co-author, The Novel Cure‘Things I love about it: the drama, the humour – particularly Joe's – which made me laugh out loud, the richness of the wider family, the tangible fierce love and passion between Fran and Joe, the eccentricity of the wider family, the evocation of the Scottish landscape, the immersion in the language and culture of the fiddle… It’s a very lively book that is VERY hard to put down’ – Pippa Wainwright'A thoroughly enjoyable read whether or not you've been affected by stroke, Joe Faber and the Optimists really ought to be recommended reading in stroke clinics around the world.' – Michelle Ryles, The Book MagnetJoe Faber's a funny guy, good with his hands, and great with words – until the stroke which leaves him severely disabled. But this is more than his story. There’s Fran, Joe’s wife, who draws up her manifesto and decides to act like an optimist; she hasn’t planned to be a carer. Their talented daughter Jess, who turns her trouble into music. While Jess’s fiancé Matt, the management trainer, innocent, positive and daft, will do his best to keep them all on target. Art School training made Joe a close observer of the world, but once he leaves hospital, how does the world see him? And care is erratic. So will Fran have to give up the job she loves? Can Matt’s energetic but insensitive sister be trusted to organise the wedding? There’s heartbreak and absurdity along the way; but humour is the family’s greatest asset in the drive to get Joe back on his own two feet. You’ll hear some wonderful fiddle music, and visit some magical Shetland places. Besides being fiercely honest about a tough subject, which the author has seen at first hand, Gill Oliver's second novel is marked by a zest for life, and will surprise you right to the end.

'Engaging and uplifting.... Moving, funny and unexpected.''A wonderful read... It feels very real and very poignant... It's also very funny.''... told with humour and grace.''A story of determination, optimism and love.''A book I will definitely share.'

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    346 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 1, 2020
  4. Dimensions
    5 x 0.87 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0993597645
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0993597640
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ah But Books (September 1, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0993597645
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0993597640
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.87 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 63 ratings

About the author

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Gill Oliver

Gill Oliver

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I was born in Liverpool, so I grew up with the belief that you could laugh at just about anything, starting with yourself. My earliest attempts at fiction were bedtime stories for my brothers and sister, which carried on long after they'd fallen asleep. Too much Chekhov at an early age meant I ended up studying Modern Languages instead of Eng Lit. I had to earn a living and found I loved teaching. I've worked in the Midlands, Essex and Dorset in a variety of roles, publishing teaching materials along the way.

In fiction, I'm drawn to issues that trouble, inspire or amuse me. And I love language, so I might just play with that. I feel a responsibility to reflect the way we live now, rather than leaving it to some future historian. It's not just a question of 'writing what you know' - in fact, it's a good idea to write about what you want to know. But I have this delusion that in reflecting on the present, we help shape the future. It's hard to find an art form which is better adapted than the novel to examining the light and shade of human experience, and taking us beyond events into the thoughts and feelings of others.

I'm interested in real people, who find themselves in real situations. Pace, surprise, emotion, humour, crisp description - these are all things I aim to create. And to have fun doing it.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
63 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

There are 0 reviews and 6 ratings from the United States

Top reviews from other countries

RP
5.0 out of 5 stars A story of determination, optimism and love.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
A story of determination, optimism and love, recounting the 'thrills and spills' of one fiercely independent man, Joe Faber, determined to recover from a debilitating stroke, and his immensely caring wife, Fran, who has a re hab plan in place and an undaunted spirit. It's a 'no frills' and account we nestle deep into the lives of Joe, Fran, their family and friends to share their dreams and anxieties.
There are other problems too. Daughter Jess is planning her wedding, but wonders if she's marrying the right man! Her prospective mother in law is a nightmare for her and the family and then there's the need to adapt "Joe Faber's Frenzy'!
I loved the vivid descriptions of music making, the wildlife and magnificent land, sea and sky scapes of the Shetland Isles. And despite providing a detailed, authentic insight into the trauma and frustrations facing Joe and Fran, the story never looses its vitality and humour.
A compelling and inspiring book for all ages.
4 people found this helpful
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Jeff Thorne
4.0 out of 5 stars It’s all in the title.
Reviewed in Australia on December 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a well-balanced, honest and enjoyable fictional version of a true life-changing event. It reminds us that a.though much is lost, much remains.
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Nicola Mckenna
4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2021
Verified Purchase
Joe Faber had a stroke which is left him paralysed down one side of his body but he doesn’t let this put him down and is determined to recover.

Fran his wife who has a “rehab” plan in place and an undaunted spirit, their daughter Jess is currently planning her wedding to Matthew but is she marrying the right guy??

This is a wonderful story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. The author has gone to great lengths with this book.
2 people found this helpful
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patou
5.0 out of 5 stars In the face of traumatic events, life stretches and rewards all who choose an honest path
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
This was such a heartfelt novel, I loved the relationships between the central family, feeling such warmth from Fran towards Joe and Joe to Fran. It is a good read for anyone who has ever been a carer to someone with a disability, or who might be in the future, we never know, as this novel tells us. The lightness of tone seems to come from Joe's own response to his stroke, he never whinges or places responsibility onto those he loves. The cleverness in all of this comes from intertwining a love story between daughter and Matt, and we see a parallel growth in their honesty together. I loved the descriptive passages of Scotland, birds, flowers and trees, all testimony to the author's talent in picking the meaningful and beautiful from everyday life.
2 people found this helpful
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Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book has reminded me how to smile in the face of adversity. The story is well balanced between the challenges that Joe and Fran face following Joe’s stroke and the journey that their daughter is taking towards marrying her fiancé and of course the two are intertwined. Joe and Fran’s story is heart rendering but inspirational while their daughter Jess’s journey captivates the reader’s interest by wondering what the outcome will be. The story reminds us that anyone’s world can be unexpectedly turned upside down and how this family deal with the devastating blow of having a stroke as well as the ongoing challenges of ordinary life. I have given it five stars as I enjoyed every page.
2 people found this helpful
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