Every parent faces it at some point or another – empty nest syndrome. In Liam’s Going, Cathleen and Noah prepare to start this new and unfamiliar stage of their lives after their son Liam leaves for college. As Cathleen drives with her son to drop him off at college and Noah stays behind to give mother and son much-needed alone time, each of them flash back to the defining moments of their lives, both together and apart.
Author Michael Joyce has a sensitivity to language that brings an almost poetic feel, quite appropriate for a story whose protagonist Cathleen is a poet herself. Join that with realistic character building, wonderful dialogue, and a touching plot, you’ll find you have a book that’s both a pleasure and a heartbreak to absorb.
3 Ways to Win:
1.) Leave a comment telling me if you’re an empty nester; or were you the one who left the nest? What do you remember about that? Have fun with your comment! Winners are randomly chosen, but if the name drawn doesn’t respond, I choose the next winner by comment.
2.) Email subscribers are entered into this and all future giveaways, for as long as their subscription is active. Simply place your email address in the little white box at the top of my sidebar on the right. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)
3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post.
Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Monday, September 22, 2008, to enter.
My son left home at 19 and I was happy for the peace and quiet. My husband however was teary for a long time. He even asked friends to convince him to move back home and he tried to bribe him too. lol And my son called home every day anyway so it was almost as if he was there. He’s 35 now and came back home to help us out as we’re both disabled now and he hates living alone or with other guys. We wouldn’t want it any other way now. Please enter me, I’d enjoy reading this. Thank you.
I am the one who left the nest. I still have awhile to go before my own children leave as they are still small. I remember my mother having a hard time. This sounds like an excellent book, I would love the chance to read it.
My son left the nest when he became married and I told him I guess it was time to get a hot tub for his room! I instead made it into a computer room.
Both my kids left within a couple months of each other about a year ago. It was hard at first – I actually had to talk to my husband! I think it is easier now days because of cell phones. I still talk to my daughter at least once a day, and my son calls every day also. Now that they’ve been gone awhile, it’s an adjustment when they come home for a visit!
This is a book I would like to read. Please count me in. Thanks!!
My oldest left after she graduated last year. Im still not over it. She is very busy with her new life and doesnt call much. It hard. Thanks for the giveaway.
I was the one that left the nest. I am the youngest, and when I left for college my parents were on their own. My mom did call a lot and was clingy, but on the other hand she was so strong when I needed her to be. I remember calling home from college, very homesick, and she was the one that enouraged me to stick it out that first semester. After that I was fine on my own, and enjoyed college a lot.
When my oldest moved out I thought he would be back every other day. But I got over it. It is hard at first. But they know where to run when the need you. lol
My daughter left the nest two years ago and while I am happy for her and have a good life myself, I still feel and love her presence as it remains in her old room. My soon will be leaving the nest this year and my heart breaks for the ways it will change our relationship yet soars knowing he is soaring.
well, I am not an empoty nester- but recently had one leave the nest and was upset but knew he had to go to grow and learn..and the handprints of many are still around and by the way it looks I will have kids here running around till the day I die- which doesn’t bother me at all but each time one leaves yes my heart drops but I have to be strong so they can have the courage to grow
I would like to read this. Please enter me.
I would love to have this it is where I am in my life.
I’m an empty nester and am divorced so it’s just me now. The day that my son moved out on his own reminded me of the first day that he went to school. My heart was breaking but I also so happy for him. My son lives in another state now but we talk at least 4 times a week and feel that we are much closer than ever before.
I’m thrilled on how he is building his career and life all on his own but still miss him every single day.
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When I moved out after high school my mom moved too. I was the last of 3 kids and she had done her duty. She lives in Italy and enjoys her life now after always working hard when we were growing up. Great giveaway, thanks!
I sm an empty nester and have adjusted to my 2 sons being independent and successful adults. They both live nearby and I speak to them each week and we get together on special occasions. I know that this is another stage of life and I am pleased for the new lives that they lead.
Oh we are a little of both, my youngest is 23, where my children are concerned, yes an empty nester. (Alright by me) Although, we just married in ’06. In 07 my hubby’s youngest turned 18, we left her with the house and moved into my home. Love it!
Am already a subscriber.
I am an empty nester too. Our only daughter is an attorney who lives five hundred miles away and though we are oh so proud of her accomplishments, we miss her terribly
This looks very interesting. A tad melancholy but a good read, I am sure. My son left when was 18 but I had a then 4 yr old so the house wasn’t quite so empty.
BUT anytime anyone that I love is gone, for however long, it doesn’t matter how many others are in the house, it feels empty.
I also was the last to leave my parents nest and now, I understand.
I’m an empty nester. Our only child married five years ago, and I have been so lonely ever since. But the one good thing that came from it, is now we have a 2 year old grand daughter.
We aren’t an empty nester yet but when the times come I know I will have mixed feelings
i will be an empty nester per se when my youngest turns 18 in Nov however my oldest is bipolar and will never truly leave the home for good because he cant function on his own and always ends up coming back to mom
I’m not an empty nester yet, but I am anticipating this pleasure soon. My boys are both in their teens.
We’re not empty nesters… yet. But we talk about it all the time. When we got married we didn’t live together due to work commitments. As time went on I got pregnant so it was important for us to buy a place together. So I quit my job and we bought a home. Our daughter was born a month later. So technically it’s never been “just us” as a couple. We lived as husband and wife in our home for a month before our daughter came along and then a couple of years later our son.
We talk about when both our kids are grown and on their own and it’s just us as a couple we joke that we’ll have nothing to talk about. Everything revolves around the kids and if it’s just us…. it would be the weirdest thing! LOL!!
The book sounds very interesting. I think my dad would enjoy reading this too.
Thank you for the giveaway.
We have 6 children and are down to just 1 at home. The transition has had quite a few bumps, but is getting better as a few of the kids are still in town and a crowd gathers once a week for brunch and an afternoon together. We still have another 6 years or so until we are empty nesters and perhaps by then we will have grandchildren to gather and create the chaos that has been integral to our lives.
What a great topic for a book! My parents in law are empty nesters starting this month – I’d love to share this book with them. Thanks for the chance!
I left the nest ten years ago… and now I’d give anything to move back in!
I am not an empty nester yet. My kids are still fairly young (6 and 14). I always say I look forward to them leaving, which in some ways is true, however, I know that when the time comes it will be harder than I imagine. Heck, just putting them on the school bus was a feat…lol.
All three of my boys have left the nest. I freaked most when the first left and cried for a couple of months. Prozac helped. Now I see them often and enjoy them as adults. It does get better.
I am an empty-nester whose nest is far from empty. I really had little problem when my children were both grown and on their own, because my job required that I travel a lot. Now that I have retired, my children are the ones who are traveling, and my grandchildren are in and out of my house all the time–they are also grown and don’t live WITH me, but are certainly here a lot. This is both a joy and sometimes an irritation!
I had my daughter when I was young so we became empty nesters earlier than most. My husband and I worried that we wouldn’t have anything in common once she left the nest because it was always the three of us. Things have worked out for the best – hubby and I get along beautifully, daughter visits regularly and I don’t cry about her being gone(as much anymore).
I left home when I was 18 to go to school. I have an older and a younger brother, and they still live at home. I know its hard on my Mom because she and I were really close and she lost her female presence in the house. Now she lives with three loud and funny smelling boys…. well only two smell.
I’m an empty-nester, so this book is very relevant to my life. Hope to win!
My kids left quite awhile ago, but lately I have missed them alot.
I am the one who left- I am an only child of a single mother and when I went away to college she just followed me! She moved to a town nearby. Then when I got married and moved she followed me again!! Now she lives in my basement.
So I guess I should say I TRIED to leave but failed spectacularly!
I adore the cover of this book! I was the much younger, youngest child in my family. When I finally decided to get married at age 30, and move to a nearby town from my parents, you would have thought I was moving to another country. My dad took my husband and me to see every older home in my hometown hoping we would love one of them! Well, we moved to the other town. My parents adjusted! Our oldest son had just finished his first year at Purdue, we live in IL.,
and I was a wreck. Well, he has moved back home and goes to an University right in our town. He didn’t like being away. Our youngest son is a Junior in High School. I am not far from the empty nester stage. Thanks, Cindi
We’re empty nesters from way back, so we’ve already adjusted and the “kids” visit often.
One is gone, one is 1/2 gone & 1 to go…mixed feelings
I’m actually in college at the moment, and have yet to leave home….so far, none of my siblings really have, but we aren’t that old yet! LOL
-Lauren
lauren51990 at aol dot com
empy nester
I’m the one that left home, although I was lucky enough that I didn’t move to far away so I was still able to visit my family.
I was the one that went! And away I did go.. I am a flight attendant so I come back home but now I have two little chicks ofmy own
and they are growing up so fast!! Its so sad! Thanks for the chance to win!
i have been an empty nester a long time .
My Mother became extremely ill after a fall at her home. We brought her to our home after her hospital stay. At the time, Pam, my daughter, was enrolled in a sign language at a local college and I was working 60 hours a week at “the telephone company.” Mom developed dementia and believed I was HER Mom. Exhausted, as I walked in the door each night, she would begin crying for me. Her mental age was about 5, and as a 5 year old, she wanted her Momma’s attention. After 2 months I was becoming ineffective at work and unbearable at home. Observing my condition, my daughter declared she was quitting school and taking Grandma back to her home. It was the only option we had, but certainly not a popular one. When the first night of being an empty nester came, I was devestated! My best friend and beloved daughter was not here. I spend copious hours each day on the phone with her….but it was not the same. All the times we shared with each our now my favorite precious memories.
Empty nest is a wonderful part of life!
We didn’t have children so I guess that makes our nest empty.
I was the one who left…and it was so hard for my mom…but actually, in the long run, we became closer, because we actually talked more once I was gone. THANKS
i’m the empty nester
I wish I was an empty nester! My oldest son lives with me, and my youngest visits nearly everyday and sometimes spends the night.
Count me in!