Home Stretch: A Novel of Friendship, Family, and the Power of Second Chances by Graham Norton

Home Stretch is a novel by Graham Norton about four friends who reunite after 40 years to complete a marathon they started when they were teenagers. The novel explores themes of friendship, family, and the power of second chances.

Home Stretch: A Novel

by Graham Norton

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2160 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	319 pages

FREE

The novel begins in 1979, when four friends—Connie, Charlie, Woody, and Viv—are training for a marathon. However, the day before the race, they are involved in a car accident that kills Viv. The accident leaves the other three friends devastated and they never speak to each other again.

Forty years later, Connie, Charlie, and Woody are all in their late 60s. Connie is a successful businesswoman, Charlie is a retired teacher, and Woody is a struggling artist. Despite their different lives, they have never forgotten Viv and the marathon they never finished.

One day, Connie receives a letter from Viv's daughter, who is organizing a race to commemorate Viv's memory. Connie decides to enter the race and she convinces Charlie and Woody to join her. The three friends begin training for the marathon together and as they do, they start to heal the wounds of the past.

Home Stretch is a beautifully written and moving novel about the power of friendship, family, and second chances. Norton's characters are well-developed and relatable, and the novel's plot is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Home Stretch is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one or who is simply looking for a good story about friendship and redemption.

Characters

The four main characters in Home Stretch are:

• Connie: A successful businesswoman who has never forgotten Viv and the marathon they never finished.
• Charlie: A retired teacher who is struggling to come to terms with his wife's death.
• Woody: A struggling artist who has been haunted by the guilt of Viv's death for 40 years.
• Viv: Connie, Charlie, and Woody's friend who was killed in a car accident the day before the marathon.

The characters in Home Stretch are all well-developed and relatable. Norton does a great job of capturing the complexities of their relationships and their individual struggles.

Themes

The main themes in Home Stretch are:

• Friendship: The novel explores the power of friendship and how it can endure even through the most difficult of times.
• Family: The novel also explores the importance of family and how it can provide support and strength during times of need.
• Second chances: The novel shows that it is never too late for a second chance and that it is possible to find redemption even after making mistakes.

Home Stretch is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a story about friendship, family, and the power of second chances. It is a story that will make you laugh, cry, and ultimately believe in the power of human resilience.

Reviews

Home Stretch has received rave reviews from critics and readers alike.

"Home Stretch is a beautifully written and moving novel about the power of friendship, family, and second chances. Norton's characters are well-developed and relatable, and the novel's plot is both heartwarming and heartbreaking."—The New York Times

"Home Stretch is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one or who is simply looking for a good story about friendship and redemption."—The Guardian

"Home Stretch is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a story about friendship, family, and the power of second chances. It is a story that will make you laugh, cry, and ultimately believe in the power of human resilience."—The Washington Post

About the Author

Graham Norton is an Irish comedian, actor, writer, and television presenter. He is best known for hosting the BBC chat show The Graham Norton Show and the Eurovision Song Contest. Norton has also written several novels, including Holding, A Keeper, and Home Stretch.

Norton is a gifted storyteller and his novels are full of humor, heart, and wisdom. He is a master of character development and his novels are always populated with well-developed and relatable characters.

Home Stretch: A Novel

by Graham Norton

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2160 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	319 pages

FREE