Finding Jo by Frances Ive was a thought provoking read and would relate to many people who have dysfunctional families. Jo leaves her family behind to visit a retreat in the Himalayas where she examines her life so far and the problems her family have. The novel shows how one person changing their life can have a big impact on those around her.
Jo has a disfunctional family and she is exasperated with them all. A sudden decision to take off and leave them all to it surprises Jo as she has always been the dependable one. She books into a retreat deep in the Himalayas. On her journey there she meets other travellers and likes one of them, but he heads off on his travels, and Jo continues to the retreat. She forms new friendships there and immerses herself in the tranquility.
As Jo relaxes her brother unexpectedly arrives with news of her family. much to Jo's surprise he also embraces this new world, but eventually returns to his wife to sort out their marriage. Jo becomes involved with her fellow traveller from earlier when he arrives at the retreat. When Jo returns to her family things have changed.
The story of Jo read almost like a travelogue in parts, this, enhanced the story and made it more real. Jo's character was very relatable, especially with the family with their problems. It seemed Jo going away helped the other members to sort themselves out. So many people have disfunctional families and to see it all laid bare in this novel must have made a few think about doing something similar.
An enjoyable story, set mainly in India, about one woman’s self discovery and it’s effect on her wider family,.
This is a quite short book and an easy read, but I found it quite absorbing.
It features Jo, who is part of a very dysfunctional family. Her parents are at loggerheads, teetering on the edge of separating. her brother is constantly sparring with this wife over her extravagant spending and aspirations, her younger sister flits from one disastrous relationship to another, destroying lives on the way, and Jo herself has a long term boyfriend who is controlling and unfeeling. After a particularly dreadful family Christmas sho makes the decision to get away from it all and books herself into a retreat in Northern India, where she not only finds inner peace but a new love.
This is a story of one woman’s self discovery and in the process acting as a catalyst for people around her to do the same.
The author must be very familiar with India and sets the scene so well I really wanted to be there. It’s a simple, uncomplicated story and I enjoyed it very much.
An interesting read about Jo’s journey of self-discovery in India
This book appealed to me from the outset, as I was intrigued to know where Jo had gone and what she was getting away from. We join Jo in India where she has escaped her family and friends without telling them and gone off on an adventure by herself. Her dysfunctional family and relationship prompted this trip, so I was intrigued to find out more about them too.
Her adventure in India involves her staying in a retreat in the Himalayas. Whilst there she meets several people who become her close friends and experiences some ups and downs in these relationships. The description of India, the treat and the scenery are fantastic and really make you feel like you are there with Jo.
While she is living in the retreat her brother, Michael comes out to visit and then we begin to understand more about her family background and what has happened in the past. Through Jo’s influence and the calming nature of the retreat, her brother begins to learn things about himself too with aim of improving relationships with his own family.
A very interesting and life affirming book, I would recommend!