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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. The unlikely trio makes new friends, learn more about each other, and Norman's wish to follow in the comedic footsteps of his grandfather flourishes. Amusing, touching, and at times heartbreaking, The Funny Story of Normal Foreman is a journey of self-discovering for a small boy with a big heart - and even bigger dreams. Norman Foreman and his best friend Jax have a five-year plan. This cheese-loving comedy duo are going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to live out their dreams. Not all goes to plan when Jax dies and Norman decides to change the plan slightly and go to the Fringe with a tribute show for his mate. For a 12-year-old, this is a lot but to add more confusion to his travels, he is looking for his real father – which his mum has narrowed down to one of 4 interesting candidates she had hooked up with all those years ago. In the midst of the sadness of losing a friend, Norman and his mum Sadie and an old gentleman named Leonard, cross the paths of many new faces that form part of Norman’s new family as he makes his way to Edinburgh to give the performance of his life. A heartwarming story of sheer endurance and hope told from the perspectives of mother and son – tells tales of not only their lives but those that intertwine with theirs as they move through the world. – Suzie, WA, 4 Stars
Norman Forman Book Discussion Questions The Funny Thing About Norman Forman
Norman and his supporting cast are wonderful, well drawn characters. I could visualise each and every one of them perfectly. 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! Little Miss Sunshine meets Wonder meets A Man Called Ove in this stunning debut novel that will touch your heart. “What do you get when you cross a painfully awkward son, lofty comedic ambition and a dead best friend? Norman.”An engaging story that both hurt my heart and warmed it. Loved the characters and their journey and growth. – Claire, SA, 4 Stars
The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman - Goodreads
Content Consideration: death of a child (of natural causes), suicide (childhood memory), grief, a painful and chronic health condition (psoriasis)
BookBrowse Review
One Never Knows - Anyhow, ‘ one never knows’ means, that no matter how much you ‘ think’ you know, even if you go to university and get honours in astrophysics and make a moped that can get you to Venus, which by the way one of Jax’s actual ideas - minus the honours degree, the one thing you’ll never be able to know is the future. Not even what’s going to happen in the very next second. No matter how many guesses or phone-a-friends you had. But when Jax dies, a heartbroken Norman decides to revise the plan. Despite the fact that Jax was the one with the comedic timing, Norman will enter the comedy festival in four weeks’ time to honor his friend’s memory. He also wants to find out who his father is—something that Sadie cannot answer. What do you get when you cross a painfully awkward son, lofty comedic ambition and a dead best friend? Norman." Jax – is the rambunctious, cheeky, extrovert to Norman’s ‘straight man’ persona, and is Norman’s bestest ever friend in the whole wide world. As Jax always said, one really and truly best friend is a hundred times better than having a whole bunch that aren’t quite sure.
Norman Foreman by Julietta Henderson The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman by Julietta Henderson
This is a debut novel and all I can say is wow! Try to picture a bittersweet memory, one that makes you smile or laugh but is tinged with some sadness - that encapsulates this book. This is a sweet, captivating, funny and utterly charming story that enthrals from beginning to end. The characters are absolutely wonderful (except for Sadie’s bah humbug boss), Sadie thinks she’s a rubbish mother, she is so not that, she’s the best. Norman, plagued by psoriasis, is simply fantastic as he’s brave, bold as well as funny and Leonard is a true friend. They meet some terrific characters along the circuitous route to Edinburgh such as Big Al, they stay in some less than salubrious highly rated Trip Advisor accommodation and get into some scrapes! Although Jax is obviously not present for these adventures you feel his exuberant presence and comedic pearls of wisdom. There’s a lot of wisdom generally in the book in particular endurance, keeping going no matter what life throws at you. There’s a lot of kindness including from strangers, there’s overwhelmingly the power of love and friendship which eventually enables the throwing off of weighty baggage. There’s sadness but there’s much joy and laughter as well as tears of happiness.I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.” Lightly yet movingly realised, The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman is one of those rare novels that is both whimsically sweet and soberingly sad, testament to the way in which life is rarely straightforward or cut and dried, with the good and the bad mixing together often in what feels like an unholy and bewildering mess. Plus, a very significant puzzle, a road trip that includes encounters with some interesting people, and comedy.... With a plot that includes dodgy accommodation, dubious venues, and a fanciful Facebook profile, then builds to a hilarious climax involving a bizarre laundry rescue, a daring break-and-enter, chef’s whites and escape on a speeding moped, Henderson’s debut novel is funny, moving, heart-warming and uplifting, and more of this talented author will definitely be welcome. Recommended!
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