Iris and I were selling the first Tandy TRS-80s out of our shop before most people in Penzance even knew what a personal computer was.” While it’s an interesting description, the bar reference seemed a little out of place when talking about a twelve-year-old. When Norman meets Jax, a boy who shares his love of comedy, and has big plans for their joint futures, his life seem perfect, but tragedy strikes, and so Norman’s Mum comes up with an idea to save her little boy from the awful depression he’s sunk into. Enter Leonard, the elderly janitor at the car yard where Sadie works. They share a quiet smile every day when Leonard secretly, silently, gives the finger to the bullying boss who takes such pleasure in insulting Leonard every morning. Only Sadie can see the gesture.

Julietta Henderson grew up in the rainforests of North Queensland, and developed her passion for the written word producing 'magazines' for school friends and neighbours with her sister. She has worked her way through jobs as diverse as bicycle tour guide in Tuscany, nanny in the Italian Alps and breakfast waitress in the wilds of Scotland. Like many Australians, her love affair with Europe began when she came to London and stayed for more than a decade. I enjoyed The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman. It’s not perfect but it avoids most of the pitfalls which could have spoiled it and I found it readable, amusing and touching. The funny thing about Norman Foreman is that he's wheedled his way into my heart, and I suspect I'll have a Norman shaped hole there forever. * Clare Pooley, author of THE AUTHENTICITY PROJECT * We know that moving on is inevitable but we also feel guilty, as Norman does, that we are somehow doing a disservice to the person we have lost by not dwelling in that grief forever. Norman is a loveable character. You instantly feel for him and want to take him under your wing. Leonard is another loveable character. He's the grandpa we all wish we had. Sadie has a lot going on in her head which doesn't help with her mothering. She has her own hangups with her father which has transferred to fear for her son.

BookBrowse Review

Norman is brought up by his mother and never met his father. Sadie herself is unsure of who the sperm donor might be.

Charming, warm and uplifting...there is so much to love about this book."—Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This is How It Always Is In this book, readers are introduced to twelve year old Norman and his mother, Sadie. Norman was part of a comedy duo but his best friend, the funnier half of that duo, passed away suddenly. In an effort to help her son cope, Sadie sets out on a journey with Norman to find his father. But Sadie isn’t really sure who he is, as there were a lot of candidates! Let me say at the outset as a reader you will definitely need to suspend disbelief, more so the further on the book gets as some of it is over the top. But by then you’ll be happy to because these quirky characters will have worked their way into your heart and you will be cheering for them to achieve their goals. Filled with wisdom, gentle humour, and some laugh aloud moments, this definitely takes the reader on a fun filled and yet poignant journey. courtesy Allen & Unwin Book Publishers) We live in a grievously unbalanced world. No surprises there you say; one look at the 24/7 news cycle or at the place we work or the society in which we live and it becomes clear that fairness very rarely rules the day and Continue ReadingTwelve-year-old Norman Foreman and his best friend, Jax, are a legendary comedic duo in waiting, with a plan to take their act all the way to the Edinburgh Fringe. But when Jax dies, Norman decides the only fitting tribute is to perform at the festival himself. The problem is, Norman's not the funny one. Jax was. Thanks to Mira Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman for an honest review. Best friends Jax Fenton and Norman Foreman are twelve, they love comedy and are a duo like Morecambe and Wise. They have a five year plan with the objective of the Edinburgh Fringe. The unthinkable happens and Jax tragically dies but Norman’s mum Sadie, more than able assisted by colleague and pensioner Leonard Cobcroft, resolve that Norman WILL do the Fringe this year. What evolves is a road trip of fun and discovery. The story is told alternately by Norman and Sadie. Norman and Jax are a legendary comedy duo in the making, with a five-year plan to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe by the time they’re fifteen. But then Jax dies before they even turn twelve.