Product Description

It is just a few weeks after Christmas, and the unforgiving New England weather has taken a turn for the worse. Doyle has dragged his reluctant sons, Tip and Teddy, to a speech by Jesse Jackson. Though his own political career is over, dealt a fatal blow by a family scandal, Doyle is still fired by Jackson's rhetoric and perplexed by his sons' indifference. The two boys, both adopted, are close enough in age to be taken for twins, but in character they couldn't be more different. Teddy - open, affectionate, the gentle dreamer - thinks he has found his calling in the Catholic Church. The elder by a year, Tip is more serious, reserving his own passionate interest for ichthyology: he is happiest alone in the warmth of his lab, labelling and categorising fish specimens. When they are involved in a violent accident in the treacherously icy road, the Doyles are forced for the first time to confront certain truths: about how the death of Bernadette, Doyle's beloved wife, has affected the family, and about the anonymous figure, never discussed, who is the boys' real mother. Full of warmth and humanity and singing, graceful prose, "Run" is a moving story about our fragile hopes and fears for our children and the lengths we will go to to protect our families. It is a stunning new novel from the prizewinning author of Bel Canto.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2662262 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Review
'Enthralling It's a skilled piece of writing, a jigsaw narrative that leaps from one character to another with apparent seamlessness' Observer 'Her books are so warm, so overflowing with love and affection, that when you've finished reading one your first inclination is to embrace it' Guardian 'A spectacular read Full of suspense, exciting and unpredictable, this is a novel that keeps you guessing until the end' Sunday Express 'Patchett's mastery means there are no slips on the ice for her readers It is a long time since I have read such a delicately nuanced novel, where the overall pleasure lies simply in reading an award-winning writer at the top of her game' Sunday Telegraph

Helen Dunmore, The Times
`Patchett tells this complex story of inheritance and loss with accomplished ease'

Evening Standard
`Engaging, touching and satisfying' David Sexton,

Customer Reviews

"The old man just never lets up, does he?"
When this novel begins with the story of a statue that has been in Bernadette's family for several generations, we can already predict that this book is a winner. We can already see that Patchett's narration is flawless and has a rhythm that keeps us mesmerized until the tale is complete. In a sense, reading about the statue, I felt like a five-year old listening to a bedtime story read by grandma. And then the "real" story begins, and luckily we see our expectations completely fulfilled.

Years ago, Bernadette and Bernard Doyle had a son and wanted to surround him with siblings; but they were having trouble to conceive. Thus, they decided to adopt a baby. But fate had determined that they got two babies instead, a newly born and his thirteen-month-old brother, who the Doyle's named Teddy and Tip respectively. This event brought bliss to the family and this status quo remained the same until four years later, when the men were left all alone, to fend off by themselves.

Nowadays, Tip is fully committed to being an ichthyologist and cannot stay away from his fish, and Teddy is following his uncle's example and exploring faith and religion. This is not what former mayor Doyle had in mind for his sons, since he has always hoped to see them succeed in politics. Now Doyle is trying to take advantage of his last chance to exert parental pressure and is dragging his sons to a Jesse Jackson speech. As they come out of the venue after the speech, Tip and Bernard get in an argument in the middle of a snow storm, an event that will change their lives forever.

Have you ever noticed that when you go against your parent's advice something usually goes wrong? Even if it is not directly related to the matter at hand. This case is no different, and Tip is almost run over by a car, only to be saved by a woman who pushes him out of the way and takes the hit instead. And this is the catalyst of a series of events that will shake every belief the brothers had and that will change their lives forever.

There are many aspects to praise in Patchett's writing, but I think that the most important one is how well she works at character development. By the end of this novel you will feel like you know the motivations, dreams and fears of each and every one of the characters involved in the story. Also, the way in which the author shares the character's thoughts is unusual and refreshing. In most books the character's thoughts are directly related to the situation at hand, but if you think about it, this is not how reality works. How many times do you find your mind wandering and you start thinking about events unrelated to what you are going through at the time? This is what the author allows her characters to do, which gives them an added dimension and makes them more real to the reader.

This is a novel that has an enthralling plot, involving many secrets that Patchett reveals in layers, as if she was peeling an onion. But on top of that, the writing is so inspiring, that even when we figured out one of these secrets, we will get goosebumps when the truth is finally revealed in the beautiful prose. This is the first novel I have read by this author, but I have made the firm commitment to go back and visit her previous works. Her ability with the pen has to be present in those other novels too. I recommend this book without reservations!

Sacrificial Love Triumphs Over All
Run is one of the most satisfying family novels I've read in some time. I was very impressed by the many ways that Ann Patchett gently portrayed love among family members within a smooth, comfortable story-telling flow. At another level, the book provides a subtle allegory for the ways that God's love is portrayed in the New Testament. The writing shines with a caring outlook for everyone that provided me with much joy, even among the sadness that will be any reader's natural reaction to parts of the book.

What is a family? Most people define that as a mother and father and some kids. Those from cultures where extended families are more important will include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ann Patchett clearly feels that wherever the family feeling is present there is a family. The book will give you much room for thought on that point.

Bernard Doyle and his sons aren't typical in some ways of most nuclear families, but in other ways they are. Sullivan is Bernard's oldest son, the surviving memory of his great love for his deceased wife, Bernadette. Wanting a larger family than God gave them biologically, Bernard and Bernadette sought to adopt. Because they didn't specify sex or race, a beautiful African-American baby boy, Teddy, joined the family. In an unexpected surprise, Teddy's mother asked if the Doyles would like to also adopt Teddy's brother, Tip. They did and the family was blessed with one more son.

Bernard had three loves, his political career in Boston (which led him to become mayor), his wife, and his boys. But due to Bernadette's death, his loves fell to two areas . . . and then to one as his political career evaporated. But he still wanted political success for his sons, much like Joe Kennedy once plotted for Joe Jr., Jack, Bobby, and Teddy.

But like all sons, the three boys developed loves of their own, none of which included politics. As the book opens, that tug of war is illustrated by a missing Sullivan, Tip reluctantly leaving his fish specimens at Harvard, and Teddy absent-mindedly leaving his priest uncle's side to join their father at a talk by Jesse Jackson at Harvard.

You can see their future spread out ahead of them . . . as they will inevitably grow further apart. But fate steps in, and none of them will ever be the same.

I felt like Run is one of the best new novels of 2007, and I definitely encourage you to read and enjoy it. I couldn't put the book down and didn't finish it until 1:27 last night. The character development is wonderfully done, even for the characters on which the story pays less attention like brother Sullivan and Father Sullivan. You'll feel like you know and like these people. What could be nicer?

After you read the book, ask yourself where and what you would be willing to sacrifice for those you love.

9 out of 10
Ann Patchett has written a beautiful book.
I loved the way the reader suddenly finds that his preconceptions are jolted and a new reality takes their place.

Having had one child, Sullivan, Bernard Doyle and his wife Bernadette find themselves unable to have more. They decide to adopt, taking into their family an African American baby, Teddy, ten years younger than Sullivan. They can't believe their luck when Teddy's one-year-old brother, Tip, is also offered to them. Life is perfect - until the tragic loss of Bernadette throws out their comfortable existence.
The loss affects the boys differently and Sullivan is the hardest hit. His life loses its direction and he eventually goes to live in Africa.
The younger boys compensate by doing everything they can to please their father, right up to their college days.
When a passing stranger saves Tip from walking in front of a car, she and her thirteen-year-old daughter suddenly become part of their lives.
Nothing will ever be the same again.

My only hesitation with this book was the ending which I found abrupt and frustrating. So many questions that could not be answered and sudden changes in direction that I did not feel warranted.
In spite of this I gave it 5 stars as I unjoyed every page until I reached the last chapter.
Excellent.