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Perfect
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
29 posts | 43 read | 27 to read
A spellbinding novel that will resonate with readers of Mark Haddon, Louise Erdrich, and John Irving, Perfect tells the story of a young boy who is thrown into the murky, difficult realities of the adult world with far-reaching consequences. Byron Hemmings wakes to a morning that looks like any other: his school uniform draped over his wooden desk chair, his sister arguing over the breakfast cereal, the click of his mothers heels as she crosses the kitchen. But when the three of them leave home, driving into a dense summer fog, the morning takes an unmistakable turn. In one terrible moment, something happens, something completely unexpected and at odds with life as Byron understands it. While his mother seems not to have noticed, eleven-year-old Byron understands that from now on nothing can be the same. What happened and who is to blame? Over the days and weeks that follow, Byrons perfect world is shattered. Unable to trust his parents, he confides in his best friend, James, and together they concoct a plan. . . . As she did in her debut, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Rachel Joyce has imagined bewitching characters who find their ordinary lives unexpectedly thrown into chaos, who learn that there are times when children must become parents to their parents, and who discover that in confronting the hard truths about their pasts, they will forge unexpected relationships that have profound and surprising impacts. Brimming with love, forgiveness, and redemption, Perfect will cement Rachel Joyces reputation as one of fictions brightest talents. Praise for Perfect Touching, eccentric . . . Joyce does an inviting job of setting up these mysterious circumstances, and of drawing Byrons magical closeness with Diana.Janet Maslin, The New York Tiimes Haunting . . . compelling.Minneapolis Star Tribune [Joyce] triumphantly returns with Perfect. . . . As Joyce probes the souls of Diana, Byron and Jim, she revealsslowly and deliberately, as if peeling back a delicate onion skinthe connection between the two stories, creating a poignant, searching tale.O: The Oprah Magazine Perfect touches on class, mental illness, and the ways a psyche is formed or broken. It has the tenor of a horror film, and yet at the end, in some kind of contortionist trick, the narrative unfolds into an unexpected burst of redemption. [Verdict:] Buy It.New York Joyces dark, quiet follow-up to her successful debut, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, could easily become a book club favorite. . . . Perfect is the kind of book that blossoms under thoughtful examination, its slow tendencies redeemed by moments of loveliness and insight. However sad, Joyces messagesabout the limitations of time and control, the failures of adults and the fears of children, and our responsibility for our own imprisonment and freedomhave a gentle ring of truth to them.The Washington Post There is a poignancy to Joyces narrative that makes for her most memorable writing.NPRs All Things Considered From the Hardcover edition.
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TheEllieMo
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

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NovelNancyM
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Mehso-so

Bought a used copy as I loved the Harold Fry book. This one is so sad I almost didn't want to keep reading it, yet there it was compelling enough to finish. Few of the characters are likable. Jim has uncontrollable OCD - almost to the point he can't function in life. Byron, a young boy, learns his mother isn't perfect when over a summer an incident causes life to go out of control The plot alternates by chapter until the end when they converge.

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Victoriahoperose
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Panpan

This is another one that everyone else loved and I just couldn‘t get into. Maybe it‘s just me but I thought it was extremely slow and hard to follow. I just wasn‘t a fan of the style of the story.

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AmyK1
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

A lot can happen in 2 seconds. A mistake. An accident. Lives can change in 2 seconds.
The summer of 1972 proves this to be true for Byron and James.

Book 17 for #bookspinbonanza @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks I genuinely heard dramatic music after reading your synopsis 😂 4y
37 likes2 comments
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FairyFiona
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

Love love love this book!
I adored the characters, enjoyed the split between the 70s and present day, and the ending was sad but lovely.
I think this is one I'd read again.

WorldsOkayestStepMom Welcome to Litsy! 4y
15 likes2 comments
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rachaich
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Mehso-so

I finished this sooner than anticipated as the last part of the book is questions!
A heart felt story which was simple in style and plot. I'm not a huge fan of her work but appreciated the mental health aspects.
I liked the two narrators but wanted more from Jim!

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rachaich
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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After starting two others and not feeling enamoured by either, I'm trying this.

Libby1 This is beautiful and sad. I hope you‘ll like it. 4y
13 likes1 comment
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hdhubbard
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
Mehso-so

6/10 Had a tough time getting started with this book. Around the 1/2 way point, it started to get interesting. Decent read, but wouldn't read it again.

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erinjohns
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
Panpan

A rather dull and bizarre book. Not sure what else to say about this one.

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Sharpeipup
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Despite the name, I bailed. #irony

18 likes2 stack adds
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Eggs
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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"Sometimes it is easier, he thinks, to live out the mistakes we have made than to summon the energy and imagination required to repair them."

77 likes1 stack add
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Eggs
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Eggs
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Andrew65 This brought back memories of this book. Rachel Joyce will be on my horizon as part of the #EpicBuddyRead Of 6y
Eggs This will be my first RJ--read others by her?? @Andrew65 6y
Andrew65 Yes, 2 others on top of Perfect, which are my favourites by her, loved 6y
See All 6 Comments
Andrew65 And it‘s Partner book which tells the story from the other side 6y
Andrew65 Strongly recommend both 😊 (edited) 6y
Eggs Great 👍🏼 thanks for the rec.!! Have a lovely weekend 😊 6y
71 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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wanderlustforwords
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

I have found that I really really really enjoy Rachel Joyce‘s novels. Specifically her ability to take serious matters and by treating them with a light touch humor making them palatable. The depth, realness and quirkiness are incredible and unforgettable! I read Harold Fry last year and in the last 6 weeks I‘ve read The Music Shop, The Love Song Of Queenie Hennessy and Perfect. Perfect was great but dark and quite sad. 😭

Kaye I loved the Harold Fry book. I read it and liked it so much, I bought the audio copy to relisten. I just bought the Queenie book yesterday. 6y
wanderlustforwords @Kaye It‘s SO GOOD! It‘s my favorite! 6y
Kaye That‘s good to hear. I wasn‘t sure anything could top Harold Fry, so Queenie must be terrific. I‘ll be glad to have another good one to look forward to. 6y
10 likes3 comments
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TrishB
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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#perfectillusion #augustgrrrl
@Cinfhen
These books are not really my thing - I got sucked in by the hype. I was never going to read another one but see her new one is Goldsboro book club book - so I may give in! I'll wait for the reviews.

AceOnRoam I read it a couple of months ago. It's not bad but I'm having trouble remembering the story. I loved her other books better. 7y
Cinfhen The blurb sounds awesome and I feel like I read this because I recognize the US cover but...can't remember a damn thing...if you give it a go tag me! I'm curious about this one xx 7y
TrishB @Cinfhen I'm thinking it's not getting near the top of the tbr for a while! 7y
84 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Equinm
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

I went back and forth with this book. Jim's story broke my heart and also gave glimpses of hope in difficult situations. James' story frustrated me as his mother consistently failed her children by not taking responsibility for her actions and allowing others to control her. The author did a wonderful job pulling everything together at the end.

2 likes1 stack add
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BkClubCare
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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I am NOT enjoying the young James side of this novel - this story line causes me anxiety but I am liking the older Jim storyline. It is taking me FOREVER to get through this book! Should I give up? I haven't because I have read that the ending makes it all worthwhile and I don't have another book to read next waiting impatiently. Ugh... grin, read and bear it, I guess.

BkClubCare Ok, I powered through and it was a tender sad heart-wrenching and yet hopeful ending. ❤️💕👍 7y
BkClubCare And it has lots of pie. 7y
12 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BkClubCare
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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cathysaid
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

I just finished this one and am having a hard time describing it, so I'm cheating with this description from OverDrive. Definitely recommend this one, but the material is a bit darker than The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Still with wonderfully haunting and detailed descriptions of internal landscapes (a talent of Joyce's) and some acerbic wit, there's also a shade of Chopin's The Awakening. I enjoyed 👍

Libby1 I adore this book. It is deep and sad and beautiful. 7y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Yeah_I_Read
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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My first roses of the year 😍😍😍

Cinfhen Lovely 🌹🌹🌹🌹 7y
EllieDottie Those are beautiful!! 7y
Graciouswarriorprincess Beautiful!🌹🌹 7y
Yeah_I_Read Thanks everyone 😊 7y
CrowCAH Beautiful gorgeous 🌹 7y
86 likes1 stack add5 comments
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noseinabookagain
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
Pickpick

Intelligently and beautifully written, this book stayed with me for a long time after finishing it. Very emotional book, Joyce kept me intrigued at a teasing, but effective pace.

Would recommend if you want to get lost in a book for a few hours on an emotional roller coaster. Persevere if you can't get into it straight away!

BkClubCare Thank you - I did have to slog through it and mostly because the 1972 story was just TOO tense and anxiety provoking. 7y
4 likes1 comment
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vandeblogger
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
Pickpick

I don't want to say I enjoyed this, because the book is quite sad, but I definitely got caught up in the story and the characters. Worth reading.

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kyraleseberg
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

This is my second Rachel Joyce novel and I am in awe of her ability to create characters I become emotionally invested in almost immediately!
In 1972, a hurried drive to school leads to an accident that changes the course of a family's life forever. We get to know these characters with ease and the motives for their actions led to both anger and tears on my part!
A heartbreaking story with beautifully flawed characters.

saresmoore I like this cover! 7y
17 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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kyraleseberg
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Off to bed with a book from my TBR pile that I've actually purchased! (A dollar store find about 2 months ago)
Library stack completed this evening 🙌

Libby1 I loved this. It broke me, but I loved it. 7y
kyraleseberg @Libby1 I just finished it this afternoon and I'm still recovering! Rachel Joyce has a knack for writing characters that you care about so much it hurts!! 7y
Libby1 I agree, @kyraleseberg . 7y
13 likes3 comments
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2BR02B
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Weather permitting, my favorite place to read is the three season porch overlooking my backyard. #WhereIRead #RiotGrams @bookriot

Brenley The best place to read is next to kitties!! 7y
16 likes1 comment
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Libby1
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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#17BookLove
#AuthorILove
@jess.how

Another February photo challenge? Whyever not?!?

I love Rachel Joyce's books. I have rarely laughed and cried so much, or been touched so deeply.

TheWordJar I loved Perfect so much! I actually read it a few years ago, and I had no idea she had other books. Definitely going to stack those now! 7y
Libby1 @TheWordJar - you are in for a massive treat. 7y
slhbooks I love them too! Especially Queenie Hennessy💗 7y
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emilyesears I loved Harold Fry, but Queenie Hennessey annoyed me. Haven't read Perfect. 7y
Libby1 @slhbooks - I loved them ALL. Queenie was very special. 7y
Libby1 Oh no, @emilyesears ! I thought Perfect was a tough read but I loved it. 7y
57 likes6 comments
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BookendsAndDaydreams
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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"If only James had never told him."

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kyraleseberg
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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Today's Dollar Tree finds

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BookendsAndDaydreams
Perfect: A Novel | Rachel Joyce
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My October book haul, so far! Really happy to have found all these for $1 each! But I think I'm most excited about Perfect by Rachel Joyce. I absolutely loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye so I'm really hoping this one will be as good. :)