In a Moment (Finnerty)

In a Moment 
Caroline Finnerty, 2012
Poolbeg Press
359 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781842235300


Summary
Adam & Emma are a couple being torn apart by their past. Their relationship is only held together by a thread. As their marriage disintegrates around them, Adam tries desperately to salvage it—while Emma does everything in her power, not only to avoid the issue, but to avoid him.

But what has brought them to this point? Why is Emma traumatised by the very sight of him? And why is Adam having recurring nightmares?

Jean McParland has long been living her own nightmare, battling with her son Paul whose violent outbursts have terrorised her and his younger siblings in their own home. Torn between her love for her eldest son and fears for the other children, Jean has shied away from taking decisive action . . . while their lives continued to spin out of control.

Then, in just one moment, Adam, Emma and Jean’s lives became inextricably linked and were changed forever. (From the publisher.)

Author Bio
• Birth—November 6, 1980
• Where—Kildare, Ireland
• Education—N/A
• Currently—Kildare, Ireland


Caroline Finnerty is an Irish author and freelance writer living on the banks of the Grand Canal in the County Kildare countryside with her husband, their three young children and their dog. She is the author of In a Moment, The Last Goodbye, and Into the Night Sky. She also compiled the charity anthology If I Was a Child Again in aid of Barnardos.

Caroline has written articles for The Irish Daily Mail, The Star, Woman’s Way Magazine, as well as several parenting magazines. (From the author.)

Visit the author's website.
Follow Caroline on Facebook.

Book Reviews
The whole novel, in fact, wraps itself around the heartstrings and then yanks them like an overzealous bell-ringer. A great first novel—just make sure you keep a few boxes of tissues handy.
Irish Independent


An absorbing and emotional read.
Irish Examiner


So Enjoyable—an addictive and hugely moving story.
 Melissa Hill, bestselling author

Discussion Questions
1. Emma takes her anger out on Adam. Why do you think it is that as humans we hurt the ones we love the most?

2. Did you find Emma to be a likeable character?

3. If Paul were your son, what, if anything, would you have done differently while raising him?

4. Do Jean’s parents do enough to help their daughter or as a grown-up, should she be left to stand on her own two feet?

5. If you were in Jean’s position, would you inform on your son?

6. It is the age-old question of "nature versus nurture," but do you think that Paul is a product of his upbringing or do you believe that he would have turned out like that anyway?

7. Are there any parallels that can be drawn between the lives of Jean and her son Paul?

8. Did you have any empathy for the character of Paul?

9. Do you think when Paul is older that he is likely to repent for his actions?

10. The book deals with how a split-second action can change the course of our lives forever. Do you believe that we can change the outcome and events in our lives by the choices that we make or are we always predestined to do certain things?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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