Fun for the Whole Family

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith, 368 pages

The four Endicott siblings didn't have the best relationship with their mom, who was mostly absent from their lives. However, every summer, she'd arrive and take them on a road trip to random states across the country, staying in crappy hotels, eating diner food, and stopping for odd roadside attractions. This continued until a fire at a hotel forced their dad to put a stop to their annual travels, and the siblings slowly drifted apart. Now estranged adults, straitlaced Gemma is trying to get pregnant (even though she's not really sure she wants to be a mom, after shepherding her younger siblings her whole life); author Connor has alienated his family with his largely autobiographical debut novel and is now fighting writer's block on his follow-up novel; and twins Roddy and Jude have excelled at their chosen professions, gaining fame and fortune as a professional soccer player and acclaimed actress, respectively. But when Jude calls them all for a final family vacation in snowy North Dakota, Gemma, Connor, and Roddy show up ready for a tense and hopefully cathartic reunion.

I'm a sucker for a dysfunctional family story, and this one had all the hallmarks of a great one, with well-developed characters, slightly unrealistic complications, and a lot of heart to tie it all together. As someone whose parents dragged her all over the country in an attempt to visit all 50 states (I just have Alaska left!), this book was particularly poignant for me, and I'll freely admit that the epilogue left me ugly-crying for a solid 10 minutes. However, unless you're a member of my immediate family, that probably won't happen to you. Highly recommended!

Run for the Hills

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson, 256 pages

Since her dad left when she was 9, Mad has been working on their Tennessee farm with her mom, slowly building a following for their organic crops and free-range eggs. Then one Saturday a man rolls up in a PT Cruiser, claiming to be her half-brother, Rube. His dad left him when he was a kid, and as an adult, Rube hired a private investigator to see what became of his absent father. As it turns out, his father, insurance salesman and mystery author Charles Hill, moved to Tennessee to become an organic farmer, then reinvented himself in Oklahoma, Utah, and finally California, each time leaving a wife and child behind. Before she knows what's happening, Mad is on a cross-country road trip with Rube, following the trail of their father, meeting siblings, and preparing to face the man that left them all behind.

I loved Wilson's dysfunctional-family novel Nothing to See Here, and I had high hopes for this one too. It's not bad, and really focuses on the bonds of siblings, rather than a multigenerational family. It's not entirely believable, if only because I'd find it really hard to hop into a car with someone I just met, even if he is my half-brother, though the story is a fun one. Still, it doesn't hold a candle to the spontaneously combusting children of Nothing to See Here.

*This book will be published May 13, 2025.

The Field Guide

 The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, 114 pages.

The Grace children move with their mother to their great-aunt's strange and broken-down old mansion. The strange sounds in the walls quickly escalate to worse things at the hands of an invisible tormenter, who just might be a creature from the world of faerie.

I remember tearing through this series as a kid, and given that it's been a whole lot of years, I wanted to see how well it held up. I'm glad to report that it is still a pretty neat kid's book! The illustrations throughout really add to the feeling of the book, and there's a really interesting atmosphere. That being said, this book almost feels like a prologue to the series, as we are only really introduced to the world of faerie in the very last pages. The book reminds me just a little of A Series of Unfortunate Events for slightly younger readers. I would recommend it for middle schoolers or older elementary schoolers with an interest in mythology and unraveling mysteries. 

A Letter to the Luminous Deep

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall, 391 pages

E. has lived most of her life in the Deep House, an architectural marvel built in a reef 14 fathoms deep, and as her Maladies of the Mind keep her from leaving or socializing much, she knows the place and its surrounding creatures pretty well. So when she observes a large aquatic eel-type creature, E. writes a letter to the author of her favorite sea creature classification novel, Scholar Henery Clel. When he writes back, they begin a correspondence that leads to a burgeoning relationship that forms mostly through the written word. But when both of them vanish in a mysterious seaquake, E.'s sister and Henery's brother come together to share their siblings' letters and see if they can figure out what happened to them.

This epistolary novel is set in a strange world that is mostly ocean, and between that and the formal ways of addressing one another, it feels somewhat Victorian, almost like a gentler and easier to read cousin of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The book says on the spine that it's fantasy, and I'm not sure I quite agree with that, but I will say that it was a lovely book that's worth putting a bit of time into reading.

Under the Pendulum Sun

Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeanette Ng, 412 pages

After several months without a letter from her missionary brother, Catherine Helstone is determined to travel to find him and assist him in his work spreading the word of Christianity. Unfortunately, Catherine's brother is on a mission in Arcadia, land of the fae, where the people aren't strictly human (and so may not have souls to save) and even such simple things as time and space pay no heed to "civilized" rules. Yet after him she goes, ending up in the tower room of the manor house in which he lives, accompanied by only a ravenous changeling, a seldom-seen fire spirit, and the one Christian convert in the land, a gnome that handles the manor's landscaping.

While the worldbuilding is suitably confusing (in a good way!) and the gothic atmosphere is on point, there are some plot twists and turns in this book that left me nothing more than unsettled. I finished reading this more than a week ago, and I honestly still don't know what I think of it. However, I can't wait to discuss it with the Orcs & Aliens on Monday, as I'm sure they'll have plenty to say!

Malibu Rising

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 369 pages

For most of her life, surfer and model Nina Riva has taken care of her three younger siblings, since her rock star dad abandoned their family and her mom hasn't handled it particularly well. Dropping out of high school, running the family business, taking any and all modeling jobs to get the money... all of it has been so Nina's two brothers and sister could get their education and follow their dreams (one of her brothers is a pro surfer while the other is a surf photographer). But now that her wealthy husband has left her for another woman, cracks are starting to show in Nina's tough exterior and everything comes to a head at the annual Riva end-of-summer party.

Told over the course of 24 hours (though interspersed with lots of flashback chapters), Malibu Rising shows the impact parents have on their kids, particularly when those parents are running away from their responsibilities. This was an enjoyable book, particularly for those who get vicarious glee out of the destruction of beautiful things at parties.

Malibu Rising

 

Malibu Rising / Taylor Jenkins Reid, read by Julia Whelan, 369 pgs.

Ouch...the last book was sooo good.  But Malibu Rising is just mediocre.  I usually love a good dysfunctional family but everyone here is saintly or horrible and not fleshed out enough to care about.  Mostly a tale of 4 siblings who were left on their own when their mom died to young, their famous dad abandoned them YEARS ago and they are too proud to force him to pony up.  They manage on their own and are planning their annual blow out party and unexpectedly their dad shows up.  Yes, this is about a thin a plot as you can imagine and you are hoping for more but 369 well read pages go by and you never really get more.  Skip this one and listen to "Daisy Jones and the Six" instead.

After Alice Fell

After Alice Fell by Kim Taylor Blakemore, 272 pages

Returning home after serving as nurse during the Civil War, Marion is surprised to discover that her brother and sister-in-law had Marion's troubled younger sister Alice committed to an asylum, where she recently died. And it was no normal death — officially, Alice's fall from the roof was an accident, but the doctors at the asylum say it was actually suicide. But Marion has strong suspicions that someone pushed Alice, and is determined to learn the truth. Unfortunately, someone is just as determined to keep Marion from digging around, and Marion may be in danger.

This is an excellent example of a historical thriller. The historical details are spot-on and truly place the reader in Reconstruction-era New England, while the plot is gothic and creepy and full of non-stop twists and danger. A wonderful mix of history and thrills.

The boy in the field

 

The boy in the field / Margot Livesey, 256 pgs.

Three siblings find an injured boy while walking home from school.  He has been stabbed and left to die, which would have likely been the result had they not found him.  Now the three have different ideas.  Matthew is tied up in trying to find the assailant. Zoe has a new life view and grows up quickly. Duncan starts to question his own origin story, he is adopted and becomes interested in finding his birth mother.  The family at the center of this story is solid and admirable but everyone has their own things going on and a few secrets.  I really enjoyed watching the kids grow and change after saving a life.  Maybe all of their progress would have happened anyway but the event is surely a starting point for their change. On top of the interesting story and insights is the wonderful writing.  Livesey says a lot in a few words.  You really get the feeling like you know these people.   

All Adults Here

All Adults Here by Emma Straub, 356 pages

An upstanding resident who knows EVERYTHING about what's going on in her small upstate New York town of Clapham, Astrid is the mother of three grown children — Elliot, Porter, and Nicky — all of whom have complex relationships with Astrid. Single-mom-to-be Porter runs her own dairy in Clapham, and Elliot's still there too, trying to live up to the expectations of his late father. Meanwhile, although Nicky left home right out of high school, he turns to his mom to take over when his teenage daughter has some trouble at her Brooklyn school. Astrid agrees, despite the fact that she's still reeling from witnessing a fatal accident and subsequently reexamining her own life. Soon Nicky's daughter is living in Clapham, and is clearly the most grown-up person in the family, despite being one of the youngest. 

I love a good dysfunctional family story, and this book certainly fits the bill. That said, I'm not sure how much I like any of the adult characters, all of whom needed a good smack upside the head for one reason or another. (Nicky's daughter, Cecelia, and her new friend, August, though? LOVED them.) There's a lot to think about in this book, particularly about failure and communication. I'd be interested to check in on this family again in a few years to see what new problems they have.

The Nest

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney  368 pp.

The four Plumb siblings have been somewhat patiently waiting for their inheritance, called the Nest, which their father delayed to be a nice mid-life supplement to each of them. However, Leo, the oldest brother has fouled things up in a big way by inebriated driving and a wreck. According to the terms of the will, the matriarch can use the money for emergency purposes and she does this to cover up Leo's scandalous actions, pay off the family of the teenage waitress with Leo in the accident, and to pay for Leo's treatment at a substance abuse facility. The remaining siblings have to band together to ensure that Leo finds a way to repay them at least in part for their lost inheritance. It's an okay story but parts were very predictable. I just didn't find it engaging enough.

The Immortalists

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin  346 pp.

This book was not what I expected but I enjoyed it. The four Gold siblings, two boys and two girls, sneak out to visit a fortune teller and are told when they will die. Even though they think what they were told is all phony, those revelations go on to affect their lives. Only one was given the prediction of a long life. Simon, the youngest and sister Klara escape to the west coast for the party culture and show business, Daniel, the elder brother, becomes an army doctor, while older sister, Varya, does longevity research. The book explores the question "Are we the victims or the perpetrators of our own fate?" I listened to the downloadable audiobook which is well read by Maggie Hoffman.

My Sister the Serial Killer

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite  226 pp.

This book has been making the rounds of the library and has been blogged here and here. This story of a pair of Nigerian sisters is unusual and intriguing. Just how far should a sister go to protect her irresponsible younger sibling? Is cleaning up and disposing of the body after she kills someone enough? What if it happens more than once? What if the man you want for yourself may be the next victim? And should a book about this be so enjoyable? I will be on the lookout for more from this new, young author.

Far from the Tree

Far from the Tree by Robin Benway, 374 pages.

Grace has grown up knowing that she had been adopted. Her parents have always told her that they will help her find her biological family when she was ready. Grace discovers she is pregnant and when she tells her boyfriend, his parents decide that he has to break up with her.. With her life spiraling a bit, Grace decides that it's time to seek out her family. When she finds her younger sister Maya, and her older brother Joaquin, she also finds that they have their own problems and questions. They get on relatively well together and they do their best to look out for each other as they try to unravel their shared past. It's a beautifully written book that brings tears to your eyes. Great characters too. Ably narrated by Julia Whelan.

Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, 521 pages.
Zelie lost her mother during the Raid, when all of the practicing maji, the wielders of magic, in Orisha were killed by King Saran's men. The maji, their powers signified by their white hair, had been the rulers of Orisha throughout history and Saran feared them and their power. His quest to completely eliminate the maji threatens Zelie, her brother and her father. As Saran's plans unfold, his daughter Amari and his son Inan must decide where their loyalties lie. Overall, a great YA adventure story.

Go ask Fannie

Go ask Fannie / Elisabeth Hyde, 294 pgs.

The three Blaire siblings meet back in their hometown to visit their father and evaluate situations.  Mostly, nothing has changed.  Oldest child Ruth is a hard charging lawyer in DC who still irritates her siblings.  George a nurse with commitment issues spends his time resenting Ruth and youngest, Lizzie is closest to Dad but just ending a relationship that was never terribly serious but took a turn for the worst.  Patriarch Murray is hopeful that his children can get along for an entire weekend but they disappoint him at every turn.  Then a discussion starts, the family talks about their shared tragedy when mother Lillian and brother Daniel died in an accident.  As the drama of the weekend unfolds, you learn a lot about the family and how each became who they are today.  Mostly a family tale with a few characters that irritate but see their way to becoming united.

The diving pool

The diving pool: three novellas / Yoko Ogawa, 164 pgs.

Three novellas that are each a bit bizarre which makes them memorable.  The first is The diving pool which tells of a one-sided obsession of a girl towards her foster brother.  She has a few issues of her own but is the one biological child of her parents who run a large foster home.  She obviously feels some neglect but is also counting on her actions not being noticed.  Over time, she realizes Han, the focus of her obsession seems to know of all of her slightly evil deeds.

Next is Pregnancy Diary which is the diary of the sister of a pregnant woman.  She recounts all the odd behavior of her sister and then sort of reveals that it isn't really the pregnancy that is to blame for much of it, her sister is just pretty odd.

Finally Dormitory takes a woman back to the place she lived in college and the manager of the dormitory.  An out of town cousin is coming to go to school and is too late for regular housing so she gets him into the private dorm where she used to live.  She becomes obsessed with the manager, a man she had few dealings with as a student, and returns each day to care for him. A strangely moving tale.

Japanese literature with more than a passing resemblance to Murikami.

The Obsidian Chamber

The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child  403 pp.

This is the sequel to the Agent Pendergast novel Crimson Shore. While all the books in the series connect to one another, this one is has the most direct relationship its predecessor. Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast was missing and presumed drowned at the end of the previous book. Still believed to be missing, his companion, the mysterious Constance Green, has retreated to her private rooms in the basement of Pendergast's mansion on Riverside Drive in New York. An apparant kidnapping by Pendergast's evil brother Diogenes sends Pendergast's aide and security guard, Proctor, on an international wild goose chase. Meanwhile Diogenes convinces Constance of his love for her and takes her to his secret home in Florida. As is the case in all the books in the series, things get strange and people die. Pendergast reappears and Diogenes appears to have given up his evil ways at least until the end of this installment.

Commonwealth: a Novel / Ann Patchett, 322 pp.

I always love Patchett's smooth, flowing writing style and the truth of her stories.  This one tells of the lives of the Keatings and the Cousins, 2 families blended by divorce and remarriage.  Spanning about 40 years and set in southern California, Virginia, and Chicago, among other places, it's about ordinary people in love and in conflict, and how those people define family.  I enjoyed reading Commonwealth and was sorry to finish; it felt like the skeleton of a big American epic novel that was never quite fleshed out.

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley  331 pp.

Less than 24 hours after arriving home to Buckshaw after being kicked out of Miss Bodycote's Academy in Canada, Flavia de Luce stumbles upon a dead body while running an innocent errand for the vicar's wife. With her father hospitalized with a serious case of pneumonia, her sisters ignoring her, and her disliked cousin Undine being a pest Flavia feels like her only friends are her father's valet, Dogger, and her trusty bicycle, Gladys. Flavia begins her own investigations into the death of the woodcarver and his connection to a famous author and a local singer. This is not a typical whodunit. The main focus is Flavia herself, her thought processes, and her emotions around her feeling of being left out by her family. The twist at the end of the story has left Flavia facing a whole new existence in the next book.