The Stolen Child by Ann Hood
Fiction
2024
Finished on February 10, 2025
Rating: 3/5 (Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
For decades, Nick Burns has been haunted by a decision he made as a young soldier in World War I, when a French artist he’d befriended thrust both her paintings and her baby into his hands—and disappeared. In 1974, with only months left to live, Nick enlists Jenny, a college dropout desperate for adventure, to help him unravel the mystery. The journey leads them from Paris galleries and provincial towns to a surprising place: the Museum of Tears, the life’s work of a lonely Italian craftsman. Determined to find the baby and the artist, hopeless romantic Jenny and curmudgeonly Nick must reckon with regret, betrayal, and the lives they’ve left behind.
With characteristic warmth and verve, Ann Hood captures a world of possibility and romance through the eyes of a young woman learning to claim her place in it. The Stolen Child is an engaging, timeless novel of secrets, love lost and found, and the nature of forgiveness.
Having read several books (both fiction and nonfiction) by Ann Hood, I was happy to see a copy of her most recent publication on the new release shelf at my public library. The cover art is lovely, the historical references to World War I intriguing, and the setting (both in France and Italy) enticing, so I didn't hesitate to bring it home with me. I wish I could say that this is a great novel, but it lacked the depth and literary quality that I was hoping for. I struggled with the three nonlinear timelines (which at times were abrupt, pulling me out of the story), and grew impatient with the drawn-out search by Jenny and Nick. The rich details of both France and Italy kept me from giving up on the novel, but I'm guilty of looking ahead to see how many pages remained before I could start something new.
I loved Hood's Morningstar: Growing Up with Books (memoir), as well as Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food (another memoir). The Book That Matters Most and The Knitting Circle are two of her novels that I also enjoyed a lot. The Stolen Child isn't one I need to own or will read again, but for those who are looking for a lighter read during these stressful times, this book may be just the ticket.
This cover really is lovely. I think I read Kitchen Yarns, ages ago. I would pick this up.
ReplyDeleteTi, I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on this one, should you give it a read.
DeleteWhat a shame that this one didn't live up to your expectations. The WWI era is such a great backdrop for a novel and would have appealed to me.
ReplyDeleteHelen, it was a bit of a disappointment. The majority of the time period was after World War I and mostly during the 1970s. FYI, my favorite World War I novels are In Memoriam (Alice Winn), The Absolutist (John Boyne), and Losing Julia (Jonathan Hull).
DeleteIt's been quite some time since I read a book by Ann Hood. I have a couple here that I want to reread - The Book That Matters Most and also The Red Thread. I think I'll concentrate on getting to both of those in upcoming weeks. We'll see if I run across this one at the library perhaps.
ReplyDeleteKay, I'd like to reread TBTMM, too. I'm interested in your thoughts on The Red Thread and will look forward to hearing about that after you read it again.
DeleteI've never read this author but the plot intrigues me. Lovely cover.
ReplyDeleteTina, she has written some wonderful books, both fiction and nonfiction. This one just wasn't a good fit for me. Yes, it's a lovely cover. I'd buy a print of the art if it were available somewhere!
DeleteToo bad it wasn't as good as you thought it would be. The premise and setting sound promising. I have not read this author yet. I think I used to get Ann Hood and Ann Leary mixed up but their books are pretty different.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more had I not had so many books on my nightstanding, vying for my attention. ;) I'm now reading All the Colors of the Dark and can't put it down (and don't want it to end). I love it when a book sucks me in like this one has.
DeleteI liked this book, maybe a little more than you did. I liked how Hood intertwined the stories.
ReplyDeleteDeb, it was nice to see how the stories came together at the end.
DeleteI've enjoyed both of Hood's memoirs, but have not tried her fiction. I'm curious about this one, especially since I've been reading a WWI memoir all month (!) but am not likely to get ot it any time soon.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, I think there are better novels about WWI. In Memoriam, The Absolutist, and Losing Julia are my favorites.
DeleteLes - Thanks for reminding me about In Memorium! I added it to my tbr list after your review. Will give that a try if I want to read more about WWI this year. I read The Absolutist on your recommendation and thought it was excellent.
DeleteJoAnn, In Memoriam is one I'd read again. It's outstanding!
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