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Absolution's Child
Denny Hensworth was convinced that God gave him his wife, a woman so good for him not even perfection could compare. He never understood why on that cold and icy January night, God took her back. She is left with no sign of neurological response, lingering in a comatose state on assisted life support for weeks. Finally accepting his wife's condition and believing she would want to be set free, he requests her life support be removed. The neurology clinic refuses, insisting she can recover with the help of their ongoing clinical studies and trial drug and stimulus therapies. There are credible indications that their promises are misleading and again he demands they allow her to die. When the issue is forced into the courts, the judge rules in favor of the clinic, citing a reasonable chance of rehabilitation. Denny sacrifices everything to end his wife's suffering. He is convicted and sentenced to life in prison, separating him from their two year old son.
One year later, the same clinic is famed for the development of a groundbreaking therapy that has proven to bring many patients back from neurological death. This only adds to Denny's torment, knowing she might have been saved. The son is raised hating his father and years later, upon his Aunt's death, he uncovers an old crate stuffed with letters, news articles and discovery documents from his father's trial. He can now see the sense in what his father did but is unable to forgive or reconcile. When he welcomes the birth of his first child, unexpected emotions surface and he suddenly understands the deep motivations love can bring and knows he must see the man who took his mother from him. He wants a father, but wonders, after all the anger and years of separation, if his father wants a son. To find each other, they both first must forgive. The boy, his father........ The father, himself.
One year later, the same clinic is famed for the development of a groundbreaking therapy that has proven to bring many patients back from neurological death. This only adds to Denny's torment, knowing she might have been saved. The son is raised hating his father and years later, upon his Aunt's death, he uncovers an old crate stuffed with letters, news articles and discovery documents from his father's trial. He can now see the sense in what his father did but is unable to forgive or reconcile. When he welcomes the birth of his first child, unexpected emotions surface and he suddenly understands the deep motivations love can bring and knows he must see the man who took his mother from him. He wants a father, but wonders, after all the anger and years of separation, if his father wants a son. To find each other, they both first must forgive. The boy, his father........ The father, himself.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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June 28, 2011Absolution's Child
I am desperate to find this book -- to borrow, rather than buy, however. Money is simply non-existant since my divorce, while the medical bills are still coming in way too fast.
If you have a copy you wouldn't mind loaning me -- or a copy of any of Anna Kavanaugh's other books on my wish list (ALL of them are on my wish list ... I'm not picky other than that I prefer to read them in the order in which they were published, and I also prefer to read unabridged editions) -- I would be indebted to you and most appreciative if you'd please consider loaning them to me!
Please note, though: If you do loan me one or more of Anna Kavanaugh's books, it will probably take me longer than most people to return them to you ... This is because my narcolepsy is making it increasingly difficult for me to read for long periods of time; I tend to fall asleep whenever I try to read. And I was a slow reader in the first place, LOL. However, I ***WILL*** return anything you lend me, I'll return it in the same condition I receive it, and I'll gladly keep you posted on my reading progress so *you* will know when I'll be preparing to return the books to you.
Thank you in advance for your help, :D
Heather
I am desperate to find this book -- to borrow, rather than buy, however. Money is simply non-existant since my divorce, while the medical bills are still coming in way too fast.
If you have a copy you wouldn't mind loaning me -- or a copy of any of Anna Kavanaugh's other books on my wish list (ALL of them are on my wish list ... I'm not picky other than that I prefer to read them in the order in which they were published, and I also prefer to read unabridged editions) -- I would be indebted to you and most appreciative if you'd please consider loaning them to me!
Please note, though: If you do loan me one or more of Anna Kavanaugh's books, it will probably take me longer than most people to return them to you ... This is because my narcolepsy is making it increasingly difficult for me to read for long periods of time; I tend to fall asleep whenever I try to read. And I was a slow reader in the first place, LOL. However, I ***WILL*** return anything you lend me, I'll return it in the same condition I receive it, and I'll gladly keep you posted on my reading progress so *you* will know when I'll be preparing to return the books to you.
Thank you in advance for your help, :D
Heather
October 25, 2009
I enjoyed reading this book. Not only is Absolution's Child a story that touches the heart in deep places and makes you feel the pain of the characters in a personal way, it also has an element of mystery as the story unwinds in the court trial. The euthenesic theme is something that is drawing more and more attention but not talked about enough as far as I'm concerned. I believe the book very accurately conveys also our broken and sometimes unjust healthcare system. More than this, the book tackles something I believe we all deal with in our lives and that is our own guilt trodden circumstances of the terrible what if's or the people we love that we've hurt. The prison sentence for Denny is only a manifestation or physical representation in the book that really is only a picture of the prison sentence he is reeling from inside. The concurring theme found in Kavanaugh novels is once again present in this one. It is the sentence he imposes on himself that is his true punishment, but it wasn't one that was deserved. Absolution's Child is a beautiful but painful story and well worth the read.
April 4, 2010
I felt Kavanaugh shot the arrow off the target and missed the bullseye. I don't know if she was exploring a different style or if she was still a greenhorn but this is not typical of what captivates me about her work or makes it so worthy or my interest. Now I'm not saying it's a terrible book and in fact there are many of these types of stories out there on the shelves as I'm writing this that are best sellers. That's precisely the issue for me with this book. Kavanaugh does not write frozen genre but I felt this particular book didn't have a lot of room to move. I like the story in general and I attached to the characters. The plot was interesting but was smothered by the stiff momentum to reach the resolution of the book. A little forced. Felt like the publisher was forcing the direction to bland general fiction for a quick sale to bored housewives looking for a new heart tugger. I love Anna Kavanaugh but I did not love Absolution's Child.
November 29, 2009
I liked the book but in comparison to Kavanaugh's later works it felt to me she was still finding her footing or the degree of boldness she shows in the face of controversary in later releases. It's a great story with all the necessary emotional connectors to the characters and their plight but it was somewhat stale in the Kavanaugh X-Factor her fans know and love her for. Maybe the nature of this story didn't call for some of the pulls and plunges her other novels are known for so my review isn't fair but it's still a great story either way.
January 27, 2010
I didn't get to read this until I got the box set collection. I didn't love this one. It was a fair story not lacking in drive or intention, and very well written with intelligent researchism behind it, but the book lacked the luster I was looking for. Possibly it didn't have enough of the fantasy/spirituality element I love most about Kavanaugh's writing. This was a little bland for me after reading her other books in done in her trademark clinch style.
October 23, 2009
Absolution's Child was a heart jerker for sure. Really good story about the toughest of all decisions we have to make for who we love and the mending of relationships damaged by those decisions. Great book!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews