The Night Child

The Night Child: A Novel [Anna Quinn] on leondumoulin.nl *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Nora Brown teaches high school English and lives a quiet life in .
Table of contents

Good book about a very tough subject! It is not a long book, but it is a powerful story! The more you read, the more you are drawn into the story! Nora sees a disemodied head floating about the desks in her classroom. No one else sees it. She puts it down to stress, although that really is stress. She sees it again and starts to become a bit discombobulated.

She starts to see a counselor but discusses nothing of any consequence until he hears a small child's voice during one of their sessions. Nora is totally unaware of anything. I do not want to give anything away, but the book is a real page-turner, and the end I certainly would recommend it to anyone.

Liked it a lot. This book felt very intimate, like you are living in the journal pages of someone undergoing profound trauma. Brilliantly done, and I applaud the writer for approaching this subject so closely. Anna Quinn takes on several sensitive subjects child abuse, mental illness, alcoholism, teenage suicide and she does an outstanding job of it. This book is very difficult to read due to the subject matter, yet it is a book we all need to read.

These things are far more common than most of us care to admit. This is an exceptional debut novel. My only complaint is that the story ended very abruptly. I wanted to know the rest of Nora's story. A harrowing and heart breaking read which doesn't sugar coat anything. Nora is a teacher of English literature and mother to Fiona. As her last class before her Thanksgiving break comes to a close an intense and terrifying event takes place whereby a child's face appears before her and then disappears.

She sees this as a sign she needs a break from work and keeping this to herself she sets off on her holiday with husband and daughter. However, this is just the start of things as Nora begins to experience utterly terrifying moments when she sees the vision of the child. Nora begins to meet with David, a psychiatrist who begins very carefully to explore what memories are buried deeply in Nora's mind.

As these memories flood over into her present life she begins to unravel and this shows what a fragile line exists with regard to mental health and well being. The novel focuses on some harrowingly hard to read events Nora endured as a child and moves seamlessly between present day and that time. I read with ferocity to reach the end and outcome. I found the content very moving and felt great empathy for Nora. In a nutshell it's a story of how resilient children can become and how they might manage situations beyond their control. Later it becomes a story of how an adult addresses this and finds the strength to go forward.

I would have loved to give this book a 5 star rating as the whole story was so raw, so heartbreaking, so terribly sad that I truly wanted a happy ending, and I suppose hope and the knowledge that she has started to resolve her issues are a happy ending but I just wanted more from the ending. I couldn't put this book down, it gripped me, it was compelling. The writing was sound and the build up of the characters were great, apart from Paul - I just could not connect with him, but perhaps that was the point?

For me the let down was the ending, what happened to Nora? It must seemed to leave a lot of loose ends! Other than that it was great!!! In a short pages, The Night Child offers a thrilling story about Nora Brown, who teachers high school English and lives a quiet life in Seattle with her husband and 6-year-old daughter.

On one November day, a girl's face appears above the student's desks and she is left with terror. The Night Child is Anna Quinn's debut novel, examining the impact of traumatic childhood experiences. There were some difficult topics in this novel that should be noted for those who are considering reading this because it maybe difficult for some people, or those who want to avoid situations involving childhood trauma.

The writing in this is incredible, and Anna Quinn did a great job as creating this world that grasps the reader and pulls them in. The emotions are genuine, characters are relatable and you feel for them. While at times a very difficult read, it was a powerful journey and story to read. The Night Child by Anna Quinn is written passionately. I was glued from the first page, and could not put down my Kindle. Nora, the main character, is faced with something many people fear.

The Night Child is an emotional, heartbreaking yet hopeful read that will have you calling into work so you can take a day to process your own emotions! This is a fascinating look at one woman's traumatic childhood and her attempt to block out the past. When Nora begins seeing faces and can't reconcile them with reality, she begins working with a therapist who believes she is suffering from PTSD.

Helping her unlock her family's secrets is a difficult process and it takes its toll on her six-year-old daughter and her inattentive husband. Fortunately, she finds inner strength and resilience that allow her to confront her demons and begin to repair the damage that her memories have been guarding all this time. This is a wonderful debut novel, Ms Quinn is an extraordinarily storyteller who has done her research well. Fast paced and full of details, the Night Child takes us on an incredible journey not soon to be forgotten. Nora is a high school English teacher who experiences severe trauma as a child trauma left vague here purposely to avoid spoilers.

Nora begins to experience visions of a six year old child with startling blue eyes. These visions lead her to undergo psychotherapy. Luckily she finds a remarkable therapist who is non judgmental and excellent in his field, he helps Nora get to the core of her struggle. As the story unfolds, we begin to see the power of the human brain. It never ceases to amaze me how effectively the brain will take over and protect the physical body from what it can't endure. The story goes into detail about Nora's current family life, work life, childhood, her tough road to recovery and finally healing.

The other characters, Nora's daughter, husband, mother, principal of her high school and her brother are all key players and each brought important light and relevance to the story. Her daughter now six years old, a key age, probably triggering the trauma to resurface after being buried for so long.

Her husband who is unhappy with her and complains she's cold, only makes sense. Her brother who was there with her in her childhood and triggers some of the events by trying to locate their long lost father. Well done Ms Quinn. Take a deep breath and then plow head long into this psychological thriller. The author details how a secret kept can tear apart a life. I could not put this book down. I can't even say that much about it, because it will have spoilers. Two thumbs way up! This was a really creepy, strange sort of story, but once I got into it, I found it hard to put down.

Nora has very unsettling experiences, which make her doubt her own sanity. The unraveling of the mystery is artfully done, and the I truly felt for Nora and was anxious to hear what in her past had brought this nightmare back into her pesent.

The Night Child

Hard to believe this is a debut as it was so skillful! It twisted my insides…rattled my brain…tore my emotions asunder. Some scenes are more than a little hard to read, but the book is extraordinary, if one can endure those moments of helpless, emotional drowning. Any writer who can draw readers so thoroughly into a scene that all sense of self is lost, to merge completely with a character, has my vote. Any book that can make me lose myself, steal hours of sleep, and take me to the edges of my own sanity—that book deserves eight out of five stars.

Sensational to the nth degree. This novel rips open the heart of a family tragedy and leads you on a path of healing. Very interesting book Think many will enjoy. Really a solid 3. It is a searing story of how trauma can deeply affect a child and how powerful our minds are. It appears to be a tad autobiographical, but I'm not certain.

I did enjoy the story telling although I found the use of "date stamps" unnecessary and mildly distracting. The story focuses on the near disintegration of a young woman's mind after a Pandora's box of sorts opens in my memory. It is quite a quick, but at times uncomfortable read.

Might be triggering for any who've experienced sexual abuse. Definitely worth a read and would recommend. ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I think this is a great story told in a truthful heartfelt manner about a woman coming face to face with her buried memories and her struggles to survive and conquer her demons. I really am enjoying the writer's words and the way she brings the past alive.

The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Anna Quinn, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review. She decides to see a therapist, and together, they unveil the many layers of protection formed around her mind and soul. Disturbing and sad, this book was difficult to read, but the writer's style made it easier. In fact, Quinn's writing was quite beautiful at times.


  • Undersea Colonies?
  • Operators Manual M60 Machine Gun Cartoon 1970, Plus 500 free US military manuals and US Army field m;
  • Las piedras vienen cantando (Spanish Edition).

The book's synopsis explicitly states the plot, which can be frustrating for readers, but this isn't a book you'd read for mysterious intrigue. Readers should be warned that the writer explores both incest and child molestation, but that's all part of the main themes: One line of the book's synopsis beautifully describes this entire book: The Night Child is a story of resilience, hope, and the capacity of the mind, body, and spirit to save itself despite all odds.

Anna Quinn does an amazing telling of how Nora Brown uses this method to overcome an abusive childhood. Intense telling of a teacher who seeks therapy after a vision of a child appears.


  • The Reverse Immigrant.
  • Leonards Wife (Skeets Family Saga Book 1).
  • HOPEFUL HEART, PEACEFUL MIND: MANAGING INFERTILITY.
  • Inspired Marketing!: The Astonishing Fun New Way to Create More Profits for Your Business by Followi.
  • Internationalizing Higher Education: Critical Explorations of Pedagogy and Policy: 16 (CERC Studies .
  • ;

Story started a bit slow but eventually resulted in prose that caused tears and physical discomfort to finish. With so many psychological works available to read this one is made special by the authors talent in the telling. Would have liked an ending different than was written to leave Nora's future clearer.

Comments here are my honest opinion. This was a tough read due to the graphic and descriptive abuse. It was a very good story and well written. It's difficult to say too much without giving the plot away. This is a real page turner albeit gut wrenching, at times.

The Night Child: description and reviews | anna quinn

This is a powerful read and not for the faint-hearted. Graphic descriptions of emotional and physical abuse are rife.


  • .
  • Review of The Night Child () — Foreword Reviews.
  • The Ideal Man (Buchanan / Renard / MacKenna).

Her husband is not sympathetic and very wrapped up in his own life, No help there. She goes to see her doctor who runs every test he can, but with no result. Then she is referred to David, a psychiatrist. Therein the plot unfolds. I cannot describe more as it gives too much away but I enjoyed this very much. The characters came to life and added a great deal to the book. I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.

Thanks to Blackstone and Netgalley for a copy of this. I loved this one. Some of the phrasing is fantastic, heart-wrenching. I felt Nora so deep down in my core. My only hope is that it will go through another round of editing. This book was creepy and chilling which scores points with me. As I try to review this book I am realizing I cant say enough good things about it. This book was a book that made me lose sleep and trust me I like my sleep. What a wonderful book. Life experiences remain with us, some forever and this was a beautifully told tale of one.

This book is very well written, you can tell the author herself is amazing at what she does, and I look forward to reading more of her work. Now this book, is very disturbing There is a lot of graphic abuse and not much of happiness which I thought it could have done with more towards the end mostly. However this book had me gripped and I couldn't put it down! Nora Brown, an English teacher, is happily married to Paul and they have a six-year-old daughter, Fiona.

There is a terror in Nora, never before experienced and she desperately tries to hang on, to return to her normal self, but the girl does not give up and starts reappearing. Storyline Nora is shocked by the terror and agony she feels after seeing the girl and the next time she appears, the girl speaks to her: As Nora finds it harder to get a grip on her daily life and feels more and more sleep deprived, she decides to confront the situation with Psychiatrist, David Forrester.

Her parents married young, her mother was only sixteen and had the year before left home in Ireland to emigrate to America. From a happy person, she turned into an alcoholic which made life for her children, James and Nora, difficult. With David, Nora sets out on a journey filled with memories from the past. We have no idea what has happened, what causes present day Nora to have nightmares, and is slowly depriving her of her normal life with Paul and their little daughter.

David is certain, something has triggered the image of the little girl. He tries to establish whether she was happy before having the headaches and hallucinations and this seemingly simple question throws Nora off balance. With every insight Nora gives us, we form a picture of her youth and the girl she once was. And gradually, we come to understand why Nora is in this situation but we are powerless to lessen her pain. My Thoughts The Night Child is a gripping psychological novel — a story that captures your heart and does not let go.

You have to read on to understand — and then you are with her, questioning everything — foremost, her sanity. She has lived through something no child should experience, and to witness the cruelty bestowed upon her, it is hard. People you trust, you should be able to trust unconditionally, when they let you down it is the utmost betrayal. This novel takes you on an emotional journey into the darkness and evil — but also, shows how we carry with us what happened in the past, how we all have our coping mechanisms that keep us from losing track.

Still, something can trigger memories long hidden — and it is how you deal with it that counts. I admired Nora, she is very brave when she desperately tries to confront her past. This psychological novel stays with you long after you have closed the book. The characters are believable and their emotions are raw.

A story filled with marital turmoil, seeing things that MAY all be in your head, and a mystery of what's really happened in a past you can't remember? While the themes in this book can be a little tough i. Great job with writing in a way that grabbed my attention from the start and I can't wait to read more of your novels! The Night Child by Anna Quinn was a heart-wrenching and tragic story. This book definitely needs a trigger warning. Nora Brown is a High School English teacher.

She has a young daughter and husband. Her life is generally normal and uneventful. Until one day, she's teaching her class and she sees a ghostly figure of a young girl in the window. She thinks she is completely going crazy and begins seeing a Psychiatrist. And thus begins a journey into Nora's fractured mind. The best part about the book is Quinn's writing style. Not only is the writing beautiful and well-flowing, but Quinn's story-telling ability made the story so real. This subject matter is hard to read about but I flew through this book in just under 2 days. I really cared for Nora and liked her relationship with the psychiatrist.

Thank you to Anna Quinn, Blackstone Publishing, and Netgalley for the chance to read this novel in advance! I would highly recommend to people able to handle the subject matter. I love to read an author's new book very first one that's ever put out. Anna Quinn has now became my best new author. She puts her heart into a book when she writes it I haven't seen a book wrote this passionate for a while.

It is a powerful must read book. This book pulls you in and you feel like you were living this life with the people. This was a quick read finished in one sitting , but memorable, nonetheless. Nora, a high school AP English teacher, is eager to finish her last day of school before the Thanksgiving break so she can start her traditional holiday vacation by the Washington coast with her husband and daughter, Fiona.

Just after she releases the class and is getting ready to go she hears a whisper and movement in the empty classroom. Not sure whether she is dreaming or hallucinating Nora meets with neurologists and psychiatrists to help her determine what is going on. Through work with her doctors they discover that there is a very dark and deep secret that she has been hiding all these years, even from herself. This book has a few trigger warnings for child abuse and sexual violence.

I appreciate when I hear trigger warnings for a book, not because I am generally turned off by them, but because it allows me to prepare for the context of what I am about to experience and not be caught off guard. This book has fairly graphic depictions of both of the aforementioned warnings. The Night Child is a well written and suspenseful debut novel by Anna Quinn. It is dark novel that is sad, disturbing, and hard to read at times, but Quinn did a really good job making it believable and not over the top. The most impactful parts of the book for me were the flashback because they really make you understand what has happened to Nora, though they were the most difficult parts to read.

I rated this book a 4. The Night Child is a book that will stay on your mind long after you finish. I would recommend it and am looking forward to more from her in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy. This was the first novel in a long time that really got me to feel what the protagonist was feeling. My heart raced as Nora panicked. The subject of incest and mental illness was treated fairly and delicately. Nora had her moments of feeling weak, but she retained her dignity and strength. One of the better books I have read lately, and a quick read at that.

I started this book on Monday night and read it whenever I had a minute at work yesterday, stayed up late last night to finish because I couldn't put it down!! Nora is a high school English teacher, married for 15 years to Paul and they have a 6 year old daughter Fiona. Nora starts having hallucinations, of a girls face, the first time happening in her classroom.

Over the next couple of weeks she has a couple more finally leading her to seek help. She ends up seeing a psychiatrist and over the next few months discovers some deeply hidden traumatic experiences she had while growing up. I was not expecting the twists in this novel! You will have a hard time putting it down, you might as well just plan on losing a weekend over this one. Can't wait for more from this talented author! Suppressed memories made for a compelling novel. Will be an excellent book for book club discussions. The Night Child leaps into action, with the protagonist, Nora, seeing an apparition of a little girl.

Her mental state, marriage, and relationship with her daughter and brother head into a downward spiral as she comes to grips with memories of her horrifying past. The book's cover, title, and opening scene led me to believe it was a contemporary ghost story or paranormal fiction, and I debated abandoning it altogether. Within a few pages, I was sucked into Nora's story. While it is a page-turner, I would have liked to have gotten to know more about the kind of woman Nora was before her psychotic break.

The ending of Night Child is subject to interpretation, which will make it popular with book clubs with members who are willing to explore topics of sexual abuse, suicide, mental illness, and alcoholism. I am grateful to Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The Night Child provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Anna Quinn's novel took me on a path of pain and discovery. Quinn's main character, Nora, has a vision one day after her last English class leaves the classroom. She sees the face of a young girl hovering in front of her. This begins a story that grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. I used all of my own experiences in life to imagine why Nora would have a hallucination.

My first thought was a brain tumor as that is a source of pain and grief in my family. I suppose that was my fear, but I couldn't square this with heavy emotional pain Nora seemed to carry with her. Nora is a good teacher, an empathetic adult in a world of high school teenagers. Nora lives in Seattle with her husband, Paul, and their six-year-old daughter, Fiona. Nora's closest friend and supporter is John, her principal. He is one of the few people Nora trusts with her emotions and concerns. But her visions remain a secret that she tells no one.

The girl's face appears again and then more frequently. Nora sees doctors and goes through a barrage of tests. I waited and read and kept reading. Eventually, Nora must confide in John after her behavior changes in class and she is becoming worn down physically and emotionally with her secret.

I understand the toll that keeping a secret has on people. Nora's secret is something she is cognitively aware of and must seek help from a psychiatrist. I hoped David, the doctor, could help Nora. I wanted her to get to the bottom of all her questions and fears. I wanted her to be healed so that she could be with her loving daughter and make a decision about her relationship with her husband.

I took this painful journey with Anna Quinn's character. I am impressed that this is a first novel, knowing it must have been extremely difficult to write. Often, this book was difficult to read. It was intense and filled with suspense, with bogeymen around every corner. If anyone wants to know what some people suffer in their lifetime and the price they must pay to save themselves, this is an important book to read.

I recommend it unconditionally. Publish date January 30, This book was both creepy and heartbreaking. This was a powerful story about a very difficult topic. I thought the evolution was described very well. I am glad I read it but I fear it may be triggering for many. I was reeled in after reading the description of this book. I have to admit, however, that I was a little scared. I'm a little bit of a chicken and I tend to avoid anything that will scare me.

Anything that will render me unable to go to the bathroom by myself at night. After reading about Nora seeing the floating head of a child, I was hesitant. I put my big girl pants on and gave it a try. I am so glad I did. This book was amazing. It's always disgusted me how an adult can do this much damage to a child. Any child, much less their own child.

The human mind is an amazing thing. To be able to bury painful memories down so deep that another personality is created, just to deal with that stress. Anna Quinn tells this story in such a way that I can almost feel what Nora feels. She's an amazing writer and I will gladly recommend this amazing book to friends. Thank you Anna Quinn, for taking me on this heartbreaking journey.

This book was not what I expected. Nora's vision in her classroom made me think the story would be about ghosts and hauntings. Instead, it's a powerful story about Nora's own personal ghosts and her journey to process repressed memories of her childhood. In every chapter, Nora remembers new details from her past. Her secrets come to the surface and she struggles to face the demons. I loved Nora and felt such heartache for her with each battle she faced.

Anna Quinn's account gives a very real and raw insight into Nora's trauma. I also liked her psychiatrist David, her friend John and her brother James. They were well developed and they gave the story hope. Anna Quinn's writing is excellent and flows easily through Nora's story. The content becomes difficult to read as the story unfolds, but Quinn proves exceptional at handling such a tender subject and the damage that child abuse can do to the young psyche.

I was so invested in Nora that I held my breath and kept reading. I finished this in one afternoon but the story will stay with me for a long time. Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review. This is an atmospheric and chilling read. Great attention to detail from the author and a wonderful premise that definitely did not disappoint.

If you enjoy a chilling read rather than scream out loud horror, you'll enjoy this book. Anna Quinn has crafted a pageturner that never hints too heavily about what is coming next and simmers gently with menace. This was a perfect Halloween read that kept me turning the pages long into the night and had me checking the landing before going upstairs to bed. Thoroughly recommended if you like chills rather than gore. I enjoyed this novel. I found it easy to connect with each of the characters.

I appreciated the way 5he story was told, because it offered insights from each of the characters without getting repetitive. Even though this book is a challenging read because of the subject matter - child abuse and sexual violence - the author masterfully highlights the main character's fragile state and the ways her mind went to protect her. It was a captivating read. Thank you to Anna Quinn for an extremely well-written novel.

I would highly recommend that Night Child be on anyone's must read list. Right off I knew this was going to be an emotional read.

Description

It used to energize her and she felt lucky to be able to do what she did. However, now the large class sizes and government requirements have left her feeling worn-out. After class one day she suddenly feels a headache coming on but then feels like someone is whispering or breathing near her and suddenly….

But as quick as the face appeared it disappears. The next day she goes on vacation with her husband and six-year-old daughter, Fiona. Sometimes memories start to resurface when we least expect it and in ways we never would have anticipated.

However, this book was even more emotional than I expected. It deals with many very important issues but readers should be aware that the subject matter may be triggering for some. It's quite descriptive and I did find some parts very difficult to read. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. This book is just the reviews in the summary says, beautiful and remarkable. It kept me on the edge of my seat and left me wondering what was going to happen next.

I enjoyed this book so much, but at times it could be very slow! A child's face floats in front of you speaking only one short sentence This is what Nora believes to be the case first at her school then secondly on her holiday vacation. Little does she know this warning will awake in her more than she ever deemed possible. Mother of a six-year-old and wife of a big time commercial realtor, Nora begins to hear and see the face of this young girl desperate to share a message.

With the help of a psychiatrist, Nora uncovers happenings from her past which match with this girl's message only surfacing now as her daughter, Fiona, reaches the age in which she as a child faced the occurrences. After a hit and run accident puts Nora in a hospital forced to face these issues, the truth must be told from her therapist to her husband and brother. How will she deal with this from a psychiatric ward of the hospital? How will her husband and brother feel once they've heard these truths? How will she help her poor little Fiona who she fears is in imminent danger?

First book under her belt, Anna does a superb job of the feels here. I was grabbed by the story and felt so compelled to finish. I wanted Nora to be a strong character and was not disappointed. While heartbreaking and painful to read at times, I compulsively read this masterful narrative in one sitting.

Nora, Margaret and David are richly constructed character development at it's ultimate best. I usually avoid books dealing with such tough subject matter and didn't realize when requesting this that the subject matter dealt with the tough issues this creative author uniquely explores. In Anna Quinn's capable hands this book is written in stunning prose that illuminates the protagonist's Nora and Margaret's fragile psyche stemming from childhood. The events that mold and shape us psychologically early in life can be repressed and wreak havoc on us later on as an adult.

This emotional story is told in vivid prose. I was captivated by how realistically Nora, Margaret and the compassionate David's character development was depicted. Nora has been married many years to the emotionally distant Paul. They have a six year old daughter Fiona. Nora is an English teacher who one day sees a vision of a blue eyed apparition.

Nora think's that she hallucinated this vision, but she sees it again and begins to question her sanity. Like peeling back the layers of an onion Nora begins to slowly uncover with her psychiatrist fragments of long repressed memories of her childhood. David is a character that I liked and admired for his empathetic style while working with Nora and Margaret. I really liked John's character. While this amazing debut may not be for everybody due to the issues it tackles, I think Author Anna Quinn handles this difficult subject matter in a highly sensitive and unique matter.

I will be watching and anticipating anything she writes in the future. A huge amount of gratitude is owed to Net Galley, the talented Anna Quinn and Blackstone for providing me with my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. I recieved this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. I am not sure if anyone can say that they really loved this book because the content is hard to read, but I couldn't put it down and I really wanted to finish!

The best character in my opinion was little Fiona she was so sweet. I couldn't stand Paul the husband and felt as though he treated Nora horribly on her road to uncover the past. This book starts with Nora seeing an apparition of a little girl and her search to find out why she is seeing her. This book is a must read for everyone even though it has triggers for abuse and rape. I liked this book because it's not your ordinary childhood drama novel. It deals with a woman's struggle, Nora, the main character, to block what happened to her in her childhood. It's cruel and harsh, but it exude compassion.

I didn't feel like I got "to know" any character very well. I wish Elizabeth, Nora's student had been focused on more. I was more interested in how the author was to present the course of Nora's therapy and her psychiatrist's intervention. I didn't find it difficult to follow the progression of the story and of the unfolding of the problem.

What intrigued me was how in a relatively short period of time Nora could go from leading a perfectly mundane life to a totally uncontrallable one. For someone interested in the going-ons of the mind and psychiatry, this is a gripping novel. I might be easily impressed, but it kept me interested until the last pages.

Sure, some things were to be expected; sure, there could have been more depth of characters; but overall it was a good novel, dealing with a tough subject. What could have been left aside were the graphic descriptions. The novel deals with child abuse and the clear depictions were, in my opinion, unnecessary, as one can get the idea of the root of the whole issue Nora is facing. I think there was more to this novel than the mere desire to tell a story. The choice to pack so much into a short time span, the choice to set the story in Seattle in the mid s are elements I don't understand, but it sets the story apart.

I wouldn't recommend this novel to just anyone, and I would certainly warn of the difficult subject matter and the graphic aspect of it. This is the story of how the impact of traumatic childhood experiences can have on every day life. We know that olfactory, auditory and visual experiences can trigger memories and blur the lines between past and present.

This story evokes hope, and the power of the mind and spirit to save itself. Four stars from purplebookstand. What an incredible novel! Nora, a high school English teacher, starts down a long and painful journey when she sees a floating face in front of her one afternoon at school. Is uncovering the truth about yourself worth loosing your family? I, however, thought it was well written and very believable.

I felt myself drawn to a lot of the characters and hoped that Nora would finally get her happy ending. The Night Child was a quick, and enjoyable, read. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This book was intense, powerful, emotional and raw. That being said it was wonderfully written and I am happy that I read it even if it was quite disturbing at times and left me emotionally drained.

I would read more from this author for sure. She is a talented storyteller. I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book dealt with a lot of very heavy issues that I didn't anticipate from the description, but the author did a great job of discussing them in a healing way. The protagonist, Nora, begins seeing the eyes and hearing the voice of a small girl that leads her to see a therapist, where she delves into her traumatic childhood.

This was a heavy and heart wrenching read, but it's certainly a story that needs to be told. Very well written story about a difficult subject. This novel tugged at my heart strings.. I read this book in a day and a half I couldn't put it down. I have read many books on the topic of child abuse, but the author of The Night Child did such a wonderful job on describing the damage that it can do to you physically and emotionally.

There was an error trying to load your rating for this title.

The Night Child is an emotional journey into the main character Nora Brown's life, the secrets that she has kept not only from herself but the loved ones around her, the state of her mental and well being. This journey was nothing but heartbreaking for me, i felt for every character, even Nora's husband who i was not a fan of. One day Nora sees a girl's face floating. She is alarmed and wondering if she has gone crazy. With multiple fears going through her mind she attempts to go on like normal, but while away on a trip with her husband and daughter, she sees the little girl's face again. The girl speaks to her on this occasion about a Valentine dress.

Now even more alarmed, fearing she might be having a mental breakdown, she decides to seek medial advice and eventually meets with a psychiatrist. Together they slowly work out that Nora had been abused as a little girl and the girl in her vision is a character Nora has invented in a way with dealing with this tragedy. Kudos to Anna Quinn on writing this beautifully well written story. A definite page-turner, this books will have you thinking even after you have finished it. Anna Quinn is a brave writer. This wrenching debut novel occupies a place in literature that has lain dormant for decades; kudos to Quinn for bringing dark business out into the light of day for a good airing.

I received my review copy free and early thanks to Net Galley and Blackstone Publishers. It will be available to the public January 30, Nora is a high school teacher and the mother of a small child; her marriage is coming undone. Quinn takes some time to lay her groundwork. The first part of the story is unremarkable, and I briefly considered abandoning it. Character development seems limited to marital issues and time spent in therapy, and Nora lacks depth and originality until about the thirty percent mark.

I tell you this lest you abandon the story yourself. Those that face serious mental health issues themselves will see vindication. Recommended to those interested in reading about mental health issues through the approachable medium of literary fiction. The Night Child tells the story of Nora, a gifted high school English teacher I can tell this by her teaching style, not because we are told this in the book, but we are shown, and always better to show than tell He explains to Nora that when subjected to repeated trauma as children, some children find a way to dissociate themselves from abuse or whatever terrible thing happens to them as a way to minimize the horrific experience.

I felt a strong connection to each character and a genuine desire for Nora to figure herself out. I recommend it highly. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book. A carefully nuanced dive inside the mind of a woman who is suffering from PTSD as the result of childhood sexual abuse. It is an emotionally intense read but it is very short. Probably this is a good thing since I don't think the author or the reader could sustain this much longer.

None of the characters are particularly likable but I had great sympathy for Nora and found the unfolding of her story very engaging. An interesting look at how one woman dealt with sexual abuse as very young child. This is the theme of the book and it deals with other young women who were not able to cope. I liked that the end of the book left one with HOPE.

The main character, Nora, is suffering from hallucinations and a mental breakdown, as memories of her childhood traumas begin to surface thanks to a little girl named Margaret that begins appearing as a hallucination to her. With the help of her therapist, Nora is able to confront these past traumas. It is easy to get swept up in the story.

The main plot of Nora dealing with her mental illness and her past traumas keeps the reader turning the page, and the secondary plots are interesting as well. The story is told by Nora, an English teacher, she has a passion for her career and a real interest in her students. She has been married to Paul for 15 years, and they have a 6 year old daughter. She was raised in a very dysfunctional family and has many scars that have recessed in her mind.

This is the story of how her subconscious helps her remember and try to overcome her anxieties, and other inadequacies she experiences. She has also had several very traumatic experiences throughout her lifetime which have made a profound impact on her. I found several sections of the book to be kind of creepy and unsettling, but the author does show how resilient human nature can be with the will to survive and overcome in order to have a full life filled with love and hope.

I think this book would be geared to anyone interested in reading about the debilitating effect of past experiences and how your mind copes. I want to thank Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review. I couldn't put The Night Child down and read the whole day.

I highly recommend buying The Night Child. Nora begins having cripling headaches, hallucinations and looses track of time. Soon she realizes that a memory of a Valentine's Day dress, her 6 year old daughter and the fact that Valentine's Day is near triggers hidden childhood memories. Nora must find the strength to uncover those memories so she can protect herself and her child. Descriptions of sexual abuse. All opinions and thoughts are my own. From its description, I anticipated a psychological thriller from a somewhat unreliable narrator.

This was partially accurate. However, I appreciated the tact used by Anna Quinn in describing the abuse. While I have heard about this split personality disorder before, I have never seen it painted in a way that explains its usefulness in enduring trauma. In this haunting, personal novel, Anna Quinn introduces us to Nora Brown, a teacher, mother, and wife, who experiences a sudden and terrifying break with reality. As a reader, I found myself pulled into a world--Nora's world--that felt like the one between wakefulness and dreams, where colors have different dimensions, time it twisted, and reality and dreams and nightmares intertwine.

Where Quinn shines is using the backdrop of reality--because there is nothing unreal about this story--to sharpen the sense of foreboding that pulls at both Nora and the reader until the very end. What does it take to heal a broken mind? What does it take to break a mind in the first place? What do you do when coping mechanisms stop working? One November day, moments after dismissing her English class for Thanksgiving, a young girl's face appears above the students' desks.

She writes well, showing how Nora became the woman she is and how she survived unspeakable evil. Anne Marie B, Reviewer. I have not experienced sexual abuse, but some of my friends have and I feel like I understand them much better having read this beautiful novel.

It is written with elegant yet deeply impact-full and emotional prose that brings the reader directly into the mind and heart of the main character, Nora. The main theme here, for me, is the story of one woman's journey back to herself after a lifetime of living in denial about what happened to her when she was 6 years old.

It is a long, arduous journey, but fortunately Nora is not alone. She has her own loving 6 year old daughter, Fiona, and a longtime friend named John who is also the principal at the high school where she teaches. Also by her side is her deeply compassionate, thoroughly realistic therapist, David. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling to deal with the aftermath of childhood trauma of any kind. It drew me in from the very first page and I couldn't stop reading until the very end.

Wow - This story about a mother, wife dealing with repressed memories was written so beautifully. At first it was a little disconnected for me, but as the story got into its stride it came together beautifully. The topic is such a hard one, abuse from those we trust most, and the reckoning of it from an adult with the memories of the abuse from a child's intellectuals ability to understand it. I really think Anna Quinn is wonderful writer, her writing not overwrought and yet captures the emotions of the characters.

It is sparse in descriptions of others motivations, you wonder about various characters, but stays true to the inner story of her emergence to her whole self. I look forward to new works from this very talented author. Anna Quinn does an outstanding job with her debut novel, The Night Child. After a bit of a slow start, her writing soon had me engrossed in the story and I read right through until the end.

Nora, a young teacher and mother, sees a vision of a small child and from there, she embarks on an emotional rollercoaster as past events from her childhood come to light.

See a Problem?

We all have those moments when a smell, a song or a situation will churn up a memory from our childhood. Just imagine if those memories caused intense fear. This is just part of what Nora endured as she discovered the truth from her past. Readers should be warned there is sensitive subject matter relating to child abuse and references to suicide.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review. Not for the fainthearted reader, but what a powerful, tragic, heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story written by a Pacific Northwest writer. Anna Quinn knows Seattle and places her story in a realistic time back in the 's, when the trauma of sexual abuse was starting to make it more and more into the public eye. As a former public school teacher myself, I was impressed with her depth of knowledge of both setting and career.

Quinn's main character, Nora, is fully developed as a high school teacher who sees for herself the outcome of students' home lives and the impact on their school lives. Nora, however, also has demons of her own as her young daughter is soon to turn six. As the author slowly and insidiously pulls secrets out of Nora, through visits with her therapists, moments with students, and an unhappy marital life, the true tragedy unfolds.

This is a powerful tale of mental illness, childhood trauma, and abusive parenting that will rivet you, make you turn pages, cry a few tears, and cheer for the heroes found in the end. I look forward to Quinn's next book after this powerful debut. I received this as an ARC from net galley - thank you!

This was s quick, page turner little novel. I initially thought it was going to have supernatural elements but it turned out be a psychological portrayal of a woman who has been abused as a child and has developed a dissociative disorder as a result. I felt that the book portrayed her mental illness fairly accurately and without I over dramatizing it.

It was a good insight into the trauma as well as the treatment. There were no crazy twists I this book but it was interesting and good to read. This is a well-written book that begins slowly and builds in complexity until it suddenly goes off in a totally unexpected direction! It was fascinating to feel Nora's emotions as she tried to make sense of her sudden visions. Where did they come from? The journey with Nora as she discovered answers to her questions was at times painful and horrifying.

The thought that there are many adults harboring these secret feelings is sobering This is an excellent portrayal of a serious issue. A good debut novel from Anna Quinn. Nora is a high school teacher, married for 16 years, not entirely happily, and has a 6 year old daughter who she adores. All, however, is not as it seems when she starts hallucinating. Is she going mad, as she fears she may be. This is a painful journey deep into her past.

She fears she may lose her daughter and may be losing her mind but has a therapist who is determined she will uncover the truth from her past, however painful, as the only way she can face the future. It is a hard read at times, but very well done. Just look at this cover! I'll admit, I was totally judging this book by its gorgeous cover, hoping the story inside would be as exciting as it sounded from the blurb.

I was not disappointed in the least. The Night Child has everything I look for in books - twisty, deeply emotional, and boasting a strong storyline. Though this is Anna Quinn's debut novel, she is no novice. This explains her sharp writing, emotional storytelling, and well-paced plotting. Unexpectedly, Nora sees a young girl's face, with bright blue eyes floating toward her after class.

I queried twenty-four agents and within a month, received nine requests for partial manuscripts and three requests for full manuscripts. The NY agent wanted significant developmental changes that involved sensationalizing certain scenes for commercial purposes, and Gordon loved the book enthusiastically as it was, so I accepted his offer. Many months later he called to say Blackstone Publishing had offered a fabulous contract. After an additional three months of editing with Blackstone, my book was ready for publication and will be released Jan.

What kind of research did you do for this book? I used notes from my own personal history of dissociation, and spent hundreds of hours reading about psychiatric therapies, and interviewing psychiatrists and people who had experienced, or were experiencing dissociation. What did you remove from this book during the editing process? However, the editing exercise that helps most regarding cutting words is to read the entire manuscript aloud underlining all the places that cause me to falter or lose attention. Later, I go back and either cut those sentences or rewrite the passages. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

One of the most exhilarating things about writing is the mystery and complexity of it, so while I have a sense of big what if questions when I begin, I allow my imagination free rein during the first draft— I become a combination of interviewer, recorder and witness. I observe my characters, follow them around, ask them things along the way like: What do you want?

Why does this matter so much to you? What are you looking for? What are you afraid of? Over time they lead me into scenes, into answers, and a story emerges—the structure revealing itself as I write. Can you share your writing routine? How do you carve out your writing time? Where do you normally write? I write from 7 a. The rest of the week I write at home for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. If yes, how do you overcome it? Taking long walks, taking photographs, practicing yoga, listening to music or reading, eventually opens up spaces within me where words once again find their way to the page.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Write whatever you want and write it without apology—there are no forbidden, unspeakable, illicit, feelings or experiences in writing. Do you have any writing quirks? I have to write the first draft of anything in long hand with a Uniball pen. Tell us about yourself. I can be sociable, but it seems for every hour I socialize I need hours of solitude to recover. Running a bookstore is like attending an all-day bookish cocktail party, and though I love placing great books into new hands, I do limit my time at the desk.

I also teach workshops, so I pace myself there too, keeping my teaching time to a couple of hours, a few days of the week. I also have three grown boys I love to hang out with whenever I can. Both Esther and Nora offer raw perspectives about the experience of a breakdown. The Bell Jar opened up conversations about mental illness and I hope my book does the same. She has thirty years of experience teaching and leading writing workshops across the country.