Acts of Kindness [Paperback]

Charlotte Vale Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1982

What are the boundaries of love, of human emotion? For Eugenie Elliott who loses her lover and her ability to speak above a whisper all in one terrible moment, this question would appear to have no answer. Everything is gone, except for the baby she is going to have in a few months' time.

For Adele Prewitt, well-born, desperately unhappy wife of the manipulative and charming Lawrence, the boundaries have been stretched beyond all endurance -- until Eugenie comes into her life, making an offer to buy the gatehouse on the property.

Two very different women find in each other sources of hope, of love, of pure elemental kindness. They help one another through the daily battleground of horrors that has become Del's life, until an act of violence forces them, and everyone around them, to reconsider their understanding of the capacities of human nature.

A powerful and revealing look at friendship and its limitless potential.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 229 pages
• Publisher: New English Library Ltd (October 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0450055132
• ISBN-13: 978-0450055133
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Charlotte Vale-Allen was born in Toronto and lived in England from 1961 to 1964 where she worked as a television actress and singer. She returned to Toronto briefly, performing as a singer until she emigrated to the US in 1966. She sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print. Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but it wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published. One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 39 books, Ms. Allen's work has been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages. The mother of an adult daughter and grandmother of twins, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written, about the friendship between 2 women., December 9, 1999

By 

Emily (MI< USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acts of Kindness (Paperback)

Gene is a woman who makes her living doing voiceovers, she is injuried during a studio accident. She rents a home from the second women in this story, seeking a quiet place to have her baby. A gentle, well written story, that takes many twists. I love this book and have read it at least 20 times.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profoundly affecting, June 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Acts of Kindness (Paperback)

This tale of the unlikely friendship between a voiceless, pregnant young woman and the deeply unhappy wealthy wife of an alarmingly abusive charmer is deeply touching in its exploration of how the bonds of a friendship get formed. Like the other reviewer, I, too, love this book. It has tremendous tension and great warmth. It also is an intriguing investigation of the insidious effects of domestic abuse. I once saw this book listed among the titles in a gay bookstore and found it interesting that the affection shown by the two women was interpreted as the foundation of a gay relationship. In reality, it's about the need of women for intimate friends and for warmth; it's not about a sexual relationship. The one scene that was clearly misinterpreted had to do with Del (who cannot have children) drawn to Gene's lushness in pregnancy because it represents everything Del can never have. This is a fine book, written with sensitivity and great understanding of the human condition.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading Material-Hard to Lay Down!, November 1, 2003

By 

J. Kirkman "book jen" (St. Petersburg, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Act of Kindness (Paperback)

Charlotte Vale Allen has become one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it.

Genie was grief-stricken from the loss of her lover Bill when he died of a massive heart attack. On top of everything else, she had an accident that caused her to lose her voice. In order to keep from going crazy, she had to re-locate from all the familiar surroundings.

In Genie's re-location she meets Adele, and the two women become fast friends. Adele has been trapped in a very abusive marriage and needs out. When Genie came into Adele's life, she offered her a new ray of hope for the better just by her very presence.
The two become close friends searching for love to fill their lonely souls.

The book could not have been better written.