Helpful Score: 1
Quite good. Some big, unexpected surprises in this story.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the story of a disfunctional family who lives in California. When ever i read a novel like this i find it so easy to stand where i am and look at the family and see all the problems but i suppose if you lived it, what you grow up with seems almost normal.I liked this read, it offered tragedy, courage, compassion,and was funny and disturbing at the same time. It is a story of sex, love & loss and what can happen when there is deceit that leads to jealousy. Multi layered, one step building up to another until it all falls down.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of those books that, when I started reading it, I thought it was rather odd somehow, but it grew on me a lot by the end. The particularly odd aspect is that, the characters never really did the same. I ranged from being deeply annoyed and/or frustrated to being mildly okay with individual characters, depending who it was. I never truly liked any of them. Yet, there was something about this dysfunctional family and their story, including their individual faults and weaknesses, which ultimately becomes extremely compelling and engaging. I wanted to know what happened to them, while wondering how they could possibly move forward from their current positions. There is definitely some rather messed up stuff in this book, which in many ways might leave you happy this family is not yours. Yet, at the same time, they are in many ways rather normal, at least in the sense that there is no such thing as a perfect family. In this way, the title is fitting, as it speaks to the truth of us all. I'd read it again.
I liked how each chapter came from the perspective of a different member of the family. An enjoyable read.
This was a nice story that read very easy!
ellen
ellen
Well written, but such a disfunctional family that I had trouble sticking with this book.
This is a book that sneaks up on you. When I first started it, I thought it was a little dull and not likely to be memorable. Halfway in, I was digging it more. And by the final third, I was totally in to it -- crying off and on, smiling now and then.... Exactly what I want from a good read. It's not the most dense material, and probably won't stick with me for years and years, but it's a warm-hearted family story. Anyone's mom would probably like it.
